Camp Bennett Family Campout: Unplug, Play & Sleep Under Sandpoint Skies

Camp Bennett Family Campout is a 24-hour, family-oriented overnight at Camp Bennett in Sandpoint, Idaho, United States. Built around old-school field games and simple camp routines, the event revives the kind of screen-free, hands-on play that defines many folks’ summer memories. Families check in Saturday morning, collect wood-cookie name-tags, and set up a tented basecamp among the property’s open playfields and conifer groves. From there the weekend runs like a neighborhood block party scaled to a campground: scheduled rotations through arts and crafts (friendship bracelets and God’s eyes), a nature scavenger hunt, tug-of-war, and a cool water-balloon toss that’s perfect for hot Idaho afternoons. The program peaks in a property-wide game of Capture the Flag, followed by a sunset Flag Ceremony and a communal campfire dinner of roasted hot dogs and s’mores. After the fire, families settle into tents beneath clear northern Idaho skies; with limited light pollution the stars feel close enough to wish on. Sunday morning brings a pancake breakfast and plenty of time to trade stories before packing up at 10:00 AM. What makes this offering notable is its membership-based stewardship. Camp Bennett Community Association runs the campout for a small, private community—only 25 campsites—so the feel is intentionally intimate and cooperative. That structure keeps group sizes manageable, programs hands-on, and the pace relaxed for little kids and grandparents alike. The requirement for a signed member agreement and adherence to quiet hours (10:00 PM–7:00 AM) emphasizes safety and neighborliness, and organizers enforce common-sense rules around tools and obstacle activities. This is an ideal first overnight for families new to tent camping as well as a nostalgic weekend for veteran campers. Practical benefits include on-site programming (no need to plan activities), structured check-in, and a built-in community of participants. The site’s grassy fields and tree edges provide flexible tenting areas and plenty of room for games, while volunteers staff stations so parents can join in or take a break. If you’re visiting Sandpoint and want a low-pressure, high-connection outdoor experience, this campout is a seasonal highlight that puts family play back at the center of summer. Bring a tent, warm layers for the night, and a willingness to be part of a communal weekend—this short, deliberate retreat is all about shared memories, simple pleasures, and the kind of game-day triumphs kids and parents still talk about years later. Check-in opens at 10:30 AM Saturday; the campout ends at 10:00 AM Sunday. Arrive on time to collect wood-cookie name tags and claim one of 25 campsites. A signed Camp Bennett Community Association member agreement is required for each family. Organizers ask guests to avoid parking on East Shingle Mill Road. Quiet hours begin at 10:00 PM—use soft voices and camp lanterns only.