Board Game Summer Camp Merit Badges
It’s time to check in for Board Game Summer Camp! Here’s how to earn your badges!
This summer we’re hosting a virtual camp of sorts. We’ve created this fun and FREE printable filled with Merit Badges all centered around games. When you earn one of the badges, color it in on your poster! (Or color it all in at once, we won’t judge!)
Grab your FREE printable!
You can print the poster out as many times as you’d like. Grab one for each member of the family or print off a large one for the family to complete together. If you’d like to print off a large scale poster print, I highly recommend doing so through Staples. You can get a Blueprint printing for just a few dollars and it’s perfect for coloring in! (the size i’m holding is 18″x24″ and is perfect for sticking onto the fridge!)
You can go through each badge at your own pace or follow along with our weekly summer camp program. Each week during the summer, we’ll send an email about the week’s theme along with some of the badges that pair nicely with the theme. We hope that along the way not only do you fill your summer full of fun days and special memories, but that you try some new things too!
Learn more about what to expect here!
If you’re needing a little help to earn your badges, this post will give you a few ideas to help you get going!
You’ll also be needing some colored pencils! We recommend this set of 48 colors or this set of 72 colors! Our kids love both!
Board Game Summer Camp Merit Badges
Take part in a two player game and challenge someone to a duel!
Try one of these games:
Quarto
Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle Defense Against the Dark Arts
Patchwork
Lost Cities
Or check out our two player date night series with tons of ideas!
Work together and play a cooperative game!
Try one of these games:
Sky Team
Miller Zoo
Horrified
Marvel United
Or check out these posts featuring cooperative games for families and cooperative games for kids!
One of the most fun styles of card games is the Trick-Taking game.
Try playing one of these:
Skull King
Potato Man
The Crew (This one’s Cooperative!)
Win three games and earn this badge! Simple as that!
You can’t win them all! The only way to earn this badge is by losing three times! Hopefully coloring it in will lessen the sting!
Games can take you on a journey all across the globe! Earn this badge by playing a game set in a location you’d love to visit!
Try one of these location based games:
Next Station Tokyo
Ticket to Ride: Berlin
Get on Board: Paris and Roma
Enjoy the fresh air by taking a game outside!
Play under a tree, at the beach, or on your porch!
Try one of these outdoor friendly games:
Hive
Cinco Linko (also called: Ok Play)
It’s not camp without some frantic games of Speed!
Maybe you’re already a Speed Champion or maybe you need a little bit of practice. Keep at it to win a game to earn this merit badge!
Take some time to plan a themed game night!
Plan 2 or 3 games all with a similar theme and create a narrative around the order in which you’re playing them!
Play a game with some classic meeples!
Try the meeple filled classed: Carcassonne
Plan and host a game night with your friends or family and earn this badge!
The arts and crafts cabin is open!
Try your hand at miniature painting! Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect and you truly don’t need artistic skills to start!
It’s field day! Bust out the sweat bands and get ready for fun!
Try one of these great yard games:
Bocce Ball
Corn hole Also a fun DIY project
Ladder Golf
Sharpen your pencils and grab the dice to try your hand at a roll & write! You can try a new modern game or the classic Yahtzee!
Here are some of our favorites:
Qwixx
Qwinto
Encore
Three Sisters (challenging)
Ready to go it alone? Win or lose, complete a solo game to earn this merit badge!
Here are a few we recommend:
Legacy of Yu
Warp’s Edge
Dorf Romantik
Grab your friends for a party game or two! There are lots of different styles of party games; try a few to find your favorite style.
Here are a few to check out:
Just One
Hues and Cues
Blank Slate
Prevent the summer learning loss with a few educational games!
Math: Outnumbered
Science: Peptide
Reading: Lily Pond
History: Trekking Through History
When you’re wanting a game without a theme, turn to an abstract game and earn this merit badge! These abstract games come in all shapes and sizes (literally!) and can be light and fun or brain burningly challenging.
Try one of these:
Quarto
Donuts
Azul Summer Pavilion
Cook up something tasty in the kitchen!
Make a new game night treat to earn this badge!
Try this jalapeno popper dip which your guests will love at your next game night!
This badge is pretty self explanatory but don’t let that fool you — it can be pretty hard to get a game to the table 10 times!
Do you go for the easy win and pick a short and sweet game? Or are you ready for a challenge with a bigger strategy game?
One of the best parts of gaming is getting to make memories with our family that we’ll cherish forever.
Earn this merit badge by playing a game with players in multiple different generations. Don’t forget to snap a picture for the family album!
If you need some ideas for games that work well for the elderly members of our families, this post is for you.
Have you visited your Friendly Local Game Store?
Your FLGS can’t wait for you to stop by! Attend a store event, play a game in the demo room, or just pop in to pick up your next game!
Practice teaching a new game!
Learning how to play a game is a skill. Learning how to teach a game to new players is another skill entirely! Practice your game teaching skills by teaching a new game to someone and earn this merit badge!
Parents! This is a great skill for your kids to learn so definitely give them the chance to teach YOU a game too!
Schedule a virtual game night!
Phone up your friend from out of town for a virtual game night! Win or lose, you’ll have a great time and earn this merit badge!
See this list for some of our favorite board game apps.
Or play online on Board Game Arena!
It’s time to head outdoors!
Take the time to enjoy the summer sun with your favorite outdoor game or maybe try a new one!
Here are the one’s our family is loving right now:
Pickleball Set
Blitzball Set
Combine your love of reading and gaming together to earn this badge!
Here are some great games based off books:
Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle
The Lord of the Rings Exit the Game
The Adventures of Robin Hood
3…2…1…GO! Grab a real-time game to play and earn this merit badge!
Here are some of our favorites:
Quicksand
Fuse Countdown
Put on your detective’s cap, to earn this badge you’ll need to crack the case and solve the mystery! It’s elementary, my dear!
Here are a few suggestions for great mystery games:
Suspects: Claire Harper
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
