Stay In The Loop

Follow Our Socials

Everything You Need to Plan an Outdoor Birthday Adventure Without the Stress

Planning a kids’ birthday party can feel like a full-time job. There’s the guest list, invitations, food, activities, decorations, gifts, weather – and somehow you’re also supposed to make sure everyone has a good time.

If you’re looking for a birthday party that’s a little more memorable than another afternoon at an indoor play place, an outdoor adventure could be the perfect answer.

A Go Ape birthday party combines climbing, obstacles, ziplines, fresh air, and plenty of opportunities for kids to cheer each other on. And with birthday packages designed to take care of some of the logistics, you can spend less time organizing and more time celebrating.

We’ve created this free printable Kids’ Birthday Party Planning Kit to help you keep everything organized before, during, and after your adventure.

Why Choose an Outdoor Birthday Party?

Kids’ birthday parties don’t have to happen in a party room.

An outdoor birthday gives kids the chance to run, climb, explore, and try something new while spending time with their friends away from screens.

An adventure party also creates something traditional party games sometimes can’t: a shared experience.

Kids can encourage each other through an obstacle, celebrate someone’s first zipline, or laugh about that one challenge nobody thought they could complete.

And at the end of the day, they leave with more than a goodie bag – they leave with a story to tell.

Step 1: Choose Your Go Ape Adventure

Before sending your free invitations, make sure you’ve selected the right activity for your birthday crew.

Go Ape offers different experiences depending on the location, including Treetop Journey and Treetop Adventure. Participation requirements vary by course and location, so check your local Go Ape’s age, height, weight, and supervision requirements before booking. Go Ape does not make exceptions to these requirements.

For younger adventurers, Treetop Journey can provide an introduction to aerial adventure. Older or taller participants may be eligible for the longer and more challenging Treetop Adventure.

Not sure which experience is right for your group? Take our quiz to help you determine which option fits your party.

Step 2: Make Your Guest List

Once you’ve chosen your adventure, it’s time to figure out who’s coming.

Start with:

Birthday child
Friends
Siblings
Family members
Adult supervisors, if required (check your location’s requirements by activity)
Any guests who plan to watch but not participate

Keep in mind that participation requirements and adult supervision rules vary by location and activity, so it’s important to check your specific Go Ape course before inviting your entire class or friend group.

Pro Tip: Give Parents the Important Information Up Front

When sending invitations, include:

Party date and time
Go Ape location
Activity being booked
Expected arrival time
What kids should wear
What they should bring
Waiver information
RSVP deadline

The fewer questions you have to answer individually, the easier party planning becomes.

Step 3: Send Invitations Early

Once you know the date, don’t wait too long to get invitations out.

Go Ape birthday packages currently include free printable invitations, making it easy to get the party details into everyone’s hands.

Ask guests to RSVP by a specific date so you have an accurate headcount before the big day.

And don’t forget to ask parents to let you know about anything you need to plan around, such as allergies or other important considerations.

Step 4: Don’t Forget the Waivers

One of the easiest ways to make check-in smoother is to take care of waivers ahead of time.

Go Ape provides waiver information through the reservation process, and guests are encouraged to complete their waivers before arriving.

Add “Complete waiver” to your party checklist and send parents a reminder a few days before the event.

Trust us: future-you will appreciate not having to chase down paperwork while a group of excited kids waits to start their adventure.

Step 5: Plan What Everyone Should Wear

Outdoor birthday parties are much more fun when everyone is dressed for the adventure.

For a Go Ape treetop experience, participants should wear:

Comfortable athletic clothing
Weather-appropriate layers
Clothing that allows plenty of movement
Fully enclosed shoes
Gloves, which are required for treetop activities

Go Ape does not allow sandals, open-toed shoes, or slip-on shoes on treetop activities. Long hair should be tied back, and jewelry and body piercings should be removed or secured as directed.

Parent Tip

Put the footwear requirement directly on the invitation or reminder message. It’s much easier to prevent a footwear issue before the party than solve one at check-in.

Step 6: Figure Out the Food

Good news: you don’t have to choose between an adventure and birthday cake.

Depending on the location, Go Ape birthday parties can include options for food and gathering space. Current birthday offerings may include scheduled pizza delivery, reserved picnic tables, pavilion rentals, or the option to bring your own food, although availability varies by location.

If you’re bringing food, consider keeping things simple:

Easy Birthday Party Foods

Pizza
Sandwiches
Fruit
Chips
Cookies or cupcakes
Water
Juice boxes

And don’t forget the birthday cake!

Important: Food can’t be eaten while participants are wearing a Go Ape course harness, so plan your food and cake time before or after the aerial adventure.

Step 7: Add a Few Birthday Extras

You don’t need elaborate decorations to make an adventure party feel special.

A few easy additions can make the celebration extra memorable:

Birthday banner
Matching T-shirts
Goodie bags
Custom water bottles
Birthday crown or sash
Instant camera for group photos
Favorite snacks
Personalized thank-you notes

Go Ape also offers birthday goodie bags and merchandise add-ons, with options based on age and location.

The best part? The adventure itself is already the main event.

Step 8: Prepare for the Weather

Outdoor parties require one additional planning step: check the forecast.

A little rain doesn’t necessarily mean the party has to be canceled. Go Ape operates in most weather conditions, although severe weather can affect operations. Check your local location’s policies and the forecast before heading out.

Depending on the season, remind guests to bring:

Sunscreen
Water
Light layers
Rain gear if appropriate
Bug spray
Extra clothes if needed

And if the weather looks questionable, check with your local Go Ape location before making any last-minute changes.

Your Go Ape Birthday Party Timeline

Here’s a simple timeline to keep the planning process manageable.

3-4 Weeks Before

Choose your Go Ape location and activity
Pick a date and time
Book your party
Create your guest list
Send invitations

1-2 Weeks Before

Collect RSVPs
Confirm your final headcount
Plan food and drinks
Order goodie bags or party extras
Share clothing and footwear requirements

2-3 Days Before

Send a reminder to parents
Confirm waivers are completed
Check the weather
Confirm your reservation
Prepare decorations and party supplies

Party Day

Arrive early
Check in
Make sure everyone is ready for the adventure
Climb, swing, and zip!
Celebrate with food and cake
Take plenty of photos
Head home with some very tired – and hopefully very happy – kids

Download Your Free Kids’ Birthday Party Planning Kit

Planning a birthday party involves enough details without trying to remember all of them yourself.

That’s why we created a free printable Kids’ Birthday Party Planning Kit to help you keep everything in one place.

Use it to track:

Guest list and RSVPs
Invitations
Waivers
Food and cake
Party supplies
What guests need to bring
Weather
Day-of details

Print it, stick it on the fridge, and check things off as you go.

Why Go Ape Makes Birthday Party Planning Easier

An adventure birthday party should be fun for the parents, too.

Go Ape’s birthday packages are designed to take some of the work off your plate, with offerings that can include the treetop activity, printable invitations, picnic-table reservations, and optional extras such as goodie bags, merchandise, food, and pavilion rentals. Exact packages and add-ons vary by location.

You also have trained staff and instructors on hand, while participants receive the necessary equipment and safety training before heading into the trees.

That means fewer details for parents to coordinate and more time to enjoy watching your child celebrate with their friends.

Make Their Birthday One They’ll Never Forget

Kids may forget what color the napkins were or which decorations were hanging on the wall.

They’re much less likely to forget the day they climbed through the trees with their friends, conquered an obstacle they weren’t sure they could handle, and soared through the forest on a zipline.

That’s the magic of an adventure birthday party.

With a little planning – and your handy printable checklist – you can create a celebration that’s exciting for kids and manageable for parents.

Ready to start planning? Check your local Go Ape location, choose your adventure, and let the birthday countdown begin!

PLAN YOUR PARTY

DOWNLOAD THE PLANNER

About Go Ape

Go Ape believes in creating spaces where people of all ages and abilities can escape the ordinary, rediscover their courage, and embrace the thrill of discovery. Here, in the treetops or along scenic paths, lifelong bonds are forged, confidence is renewed, and laughter echoes through the canopy. Go Ape isn’t just an activity; it’s a movement to reconnect with what truly matters: people, place, and purpose.

Go Ape isn’t just an activity. It’s a movement to reconnect with what truly matters: people, place, and purpose. Let’s rise above together. Visit goape.com.