Swimming, bunking with new friends, enjoying the great outdoors. These are the kinds of things we associate with camp. We’d like to introduce a new tradition: big, beautifully projected, outdoor movies.

It may seem like an unusual combination at first glance. Isn’t camping about getting away from it all, including technology?

But we enjoy being a little bold in that arena. Melding awesome activities with great movies is what we do. We’re good at it, we really love it and, of course, our clients love it too.

Here are the top five reasons why it’s a seriously fun idea to have an outdoor movie event at camp:

1) A “camp-in”, as we like to call it, gives kids a taste of the creature comforts they miss from home. We understand putting a hiatus on cell phones, computer games and other devices that keeps us glued to screens and away from each other and the outdoors. But showing a movie is a great way to incorporate both.

Are your campers sleeping in tents? Here’s a chance to show a big-screen movie as the last activity before vittles or bedtime.

Will you be having camp during the ultra-hot summer months where the kids are dying to be inside? Have an indoor movie event inside a large facility to beat the summer heat! The kids will have a movie theater experience at camp, which would be a blast for them and camp planners.

We’ve even had clients have a camp-in on the beach! For cool nights, our clients have improvised to stay toasty by building small campfires in drums.

2) Having a big movie event at camp can serve as a reward for a long day of activities. Depending on the type of camp you are operating, it seems pretty likely your kids will be totally tuckered out. A movie on our theater-quality projection screens is just the thing to surprise your campers and give them an opportunity to relax.

3) What would make for a great close-of-camp experience than to show a great flick? Perhaps this could be the last activity the campers can enjoy before going home. Or maybe this is an event where you can invite the kids’ parents and other family members along.

Memorizing a farewell camp song or putting on an impromptu play for the grown-ups is fun, but treating them to a free movie is simply the ultimate thank-you.

4) If your movie ends up being a big event for more than just your campers, you can incorporate sponsors or have concessions open to raise money for the camp or alleviate the costs of screening. S’mores supplies for the campfire, hot dogs, popcorn, candy, cold beverages, you name it. These yummies can also be a reward to your campers!

5) Camp-ins are the ultimate opportunities to pull out classic camping flicks! Our favorite camp movies include: “The Parent Trap” (either version is awesome), “Camp Nowhere,” “Space Camp” and “Heavyweights.”

Having an outdoor (or indoor!) movie event at camp is ideal for local organizations, day camps, summer camps and neighborhood associations.

Did we forget any awesome camp movies? What would have been your favorite movie to watch when you went to camp? Talk to us on our Facebook page!

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Southern Outdoor Cinema
www.SouthernOutdoorCinema.com

Living in a nursing home or a retirement home and adjusting to a new lifestyle away from home and familiar things can be difficult for residents. Special activities to help residents relax and bond with other residents are common in nursing and retirement homes. Movie nights make an excellent addition to a nursing home’s activity list. Here’s how to create a movie night to remember for nursing home or retirement home residents that will bring back special memories and allow them to create new memories.

Set the Scene

Movie events are great because modern technology can be used to create wonderful, nostalgic events. Nursing home residents, depending on their individual ages, are likely to have been young during the peak of the drive-in movie in the 1950′s and 1960′s. A large movie screen, like an inflatable one, can create an authentic drive-in movie or indoor movie theatre experience.

You can choose to create an outdoor event on a warm summer night, using an inflatable movie screen set up in a courtyard or even the parking lot. Create a true drive-in movie experience by adding concessions like popcorn, other movie snacks and drinks to the event. Be sure to provide comfortable seating for residents to enjoy the experience.

Alternatively, the event could be held indoors any time of the year. Make it a night to remember by setting up a red carpet, and providing comfortable seating. Decorate in keeping with the theme of the movie, or in the style of the 1950′s or 1960′s. Movie theatre style candy, popcorn and drinks can be served to create an authentic movie theatre experience.

Choose the Film

Choose a film that will appeal to residents, or let the residents vote on a movie for the evening. Offer options or choose a film that was popular during the 50′s or 60′s, and fill the residents with special memories of the drive-in movie theatre.

Movie nights are a great choice for a nursing home or retirement home activity because a movie night can both transport residents back to fond memories in their lives, and give residents a chance to relax and meet and spend time with others living in the residence. Activities that combine fond past memories and give residents a chance to create new memories will help residents who might be having a difficult time adjusting to feel more comfortable in the nursing or retirement home setting.

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Southern Outdoor Cinema
“Bigger Screens. Brighter Images. Crisper Sound.”

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Southern Outdoor Cinema is the largest producer of PREMIUM outdoor movie events in the country. They are leading the industry with NEW & UNIQUE outdoor movie events. To begin planning your outdoor movie event contact Southern Outdoor Cinema at www.SouthernOutdoorCinema.com or visit their online photo gallery at www.facebook.com/SouthernOutdoorCinema for event ideas.