Repeat After Me Camp Songs: More of Your Kid’s Favorites!
When you think back to going to camp as a child, you may instantly remember all of the fun repeat-after-me camp songs that were always a major part of the camping experience.
One reason these songs evoke such nostalgic memories is that when everyone is singing the same song together, it helps bring people together and create a sense of unity.
These camp songs are also great for learning! They can help to promote teamwork and cooperation since everybody needs to work together for the song to sound good. Teach these songs to everyone at your campsite!
Nostalgic Campfire Songs
Singing those songs around the campfire or to keep our spirits up while waiting out a rainstorm was one of the best parts of girl scout camp!
We sang all of the most popular repeat after me camp songs. These tunes are sure to get you in the camping spirit!
Let us take a look at some super fun and timeless camp songs that you can use for your next camping trip or summer camp.
The Other Day I Met a Bear
This is the one song I think of when I think of repeat after me songs. As kids we sang this song everywhere, hiking, sitting around the campfire, on the bus for a field trip.. everywhere.
The first 4 lines are classic repeat lyrics, and the on the last line everyone sings all the words at the same time.
The Other Day I Met a Bear Lyrics:
The other day (the other day)
I met a bear (I met a bear)
Oh, way out there (oh way out there)
The other day I met a bear, out in the woods, oh way out there.
He looked at me (he looked at me)
He sized up me (he sized up me)
I sized up him (I sized up him)
He looked at me, I looked at him, he sized up me, I sized up him.
He said to me (he said to me)
Why don’t you run (why don’t you run)
I see you ain’t (I see you ain’t)
Got any gun (got any gun)
He said to me why don’t you run? I see you ain’t got any gun.
And so I ran, (And so I ran)
But right behind, (But right behind)
Me was that bear (me was that bear)
And so I ran away from there, but right behind me was that bear.
Ahead of me (Ahead of me)
Oh lucky me (Oh lucky me)
There was a tree (there was a tree)
Ahead of me there was a tree, Oh Lucky me, There was a tree!
The closest branch, (the closest branch)
Was ten feet up (was ten feet up)
I’d have to jump (I’d have to jump)
And trust my luck (and trust my luck).
And so I jumped (and so I jumped)
Into the air (into the air)
But I missed that branch (but I missed that branch)
Oh way up there (oh way up there).
And so I jumped into the air, but I missed that branch oh way up there.
Now don’t you fret (now don’t you fret)
Now don’t you frown (now don’t you frown)
‘Cause I caught that branch (‘cause I caught that branch)
On the way back down (on the way back down)
Now don’t you fret, now don’t you frown, ‘Cause I caught that branch on the way back down.
This is the end, (this is the end)
There ain’t no more (there ain’t no more)
Unless I meet (unless I meet)
That bear once more (that bear once more).
This is the end There ain’t no more, Unless I meet that bear once more.
There are a few alternate endings, have fun making up your own lyrics and verses!
Princess Pat
There is another song that uses almost the same tune as “I met a bear” but it’s all about Princess Pat.
We’ve never done this one before but it has some cool hand gestures, and songs with movements are always great to get our wiggles out before bedtime.
The Princess Pat Lyrics:
The Princess Pat (The Princess Pat)
Lived in a tree (Lived in a tree)
She sailed across (She sailed across)
The seven seas (The seven seas)
She sailed across (She sailed across)
The channel too (The channel too)
And she took with her (And she took with her)
A rick-a-bamboo (A rick-a-bamboo)
A rick-a-bamboo (A rick-a-bamboo)
Now what is that? (Now what is that?)
It’s something made (It’s something made)
By the Princess Pat (By the Princess Pat).
It’s red and gold (It’s red and gold),
And purple too (And purple too),
That’s why it’s called (That’s why it’s called)
A rick-a-bamboo (A rick-a-bamboo)!
Now Captain Jack, (Now Captain Jack,
Had a mighty fine crew, (Had a mighty fine crew,)
He sailed across (Had a mighty fine crew,)
The channel too (The channel too)
His ship did sink (His ship did sink)
And yours will too (And yours will too)
If you don’t take (If you don’t take)
A rick-a-bamboo (A rick-a-bamboo)
A rick-a-bamboo (A rick-a-bamboo)
Now what is that? (Now what is that?)
It’s something made (It’s something made)
By the Princess Pat (By the Princess Pat).
It’s red and gold (It’s red and gold),
And purple too (And purple too),
That’s why it’s called (That’s why it’s called)
A rick-a-bamboo (A rick-a-bamboo)!
The Princess Pat (The Princess Pat)
Saw Captain Jack (Saw Captain Jack),
She reeled him in (She reeled him in),
And brought him back (And brought him back).
She saved his life (She saved his life),
And his crew’s too (and his crew’s too).
And she saved ’em with (And she saved ’em with)
A rick-a-bamboo (A rick-a-bamboo)!
A rick-a-bamboo (A rick-a-bamboo)
Now what is that? (Now what is that?)
It’s something made (It’s something made)
By the Princess Pat (By the Princess Pat).
It’s red and gold (It’s red and gold),
And purple too (And purple too),
That’s why it’s called (That’s why it’s called)
A rick-a-bamboo (A rick-a-bamboo)!
Boom Chicka Boom
This is a funny nonsense song that can be changed up an infinite number of ways! Leave a comment with your favorite variation!
Boom Chicka Boom Lyrics:
I said a boom chicka boom (I said a boom chicka boom)
I said a boom chicka boom (I said a boom chicka boom)
I said a boom chicka rocka chicka rocka chicka boom
(I said a boom chicka rocka chicka rocka chicka boom)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Alright (Alright)
One more time (One more time)
Underwater style (Underwater style)
[Sing the same lyrics, but flick your lips to make it sound like you’re underwater]
I said a boom chicka boom (I said a boom chicka boom)
I said a boom chicka boom (I said a boom chicka boom)
I said a boom chicka rocka chicka rocka chicka boom
(I said a boom chicka rocka chicka rocka chicka boom)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Alright (Alright)
One more time (One more time)
Valley Girl style (Valley Girl style)
I said, like, a boom chicka boom (I said, like, a boom chicka boom)
I said, like, a boom chicka boom (I said, like, a boom chicka boom)
I said, like, a boom chicka totally chicka totally chicka boom
(I said, like, a boom chicka totally chicka totally chicka boom)
Barn-yard Style:
I said a moo chicka moo (I said a moo chicka moo)
I said a moo chicka moo (I said a moo chicka moo)
I said a moo chicka, rooster chicka, rooster chicka moo
(I said a moo chicka, rooster chicka, rooster chicka moo)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Alright (Alright)
One more time (One more time)
Janitor style (Janitor style)
I said a broom sweep-a broom (I said a broom sweep-a broom)
I said a broom sweep-a broom (I said a broom sweep-a broom)
I said a broom sweep-a mop-a sweep-a mop-a sweep-a broom
(I said a broom sweep-a mop-a sweep-a mop-a sweep-a broom)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Alright (Alright)
One more time (One more time)
Racecar Style!
I said a vroom chicka vroom (I said a vroom chicka vroom)
I said a vroom chicka vroom (I said a vroom chicka vroom)
I said a vroom chicka rocka shifta grinda shifta vroom
(I said a vroom chicka rocka shifta grinda shifta vroom)
You can make up your own verses! Use your last name as a style and see if you can fit everyone’s names into the verse!
Down By The Bay
This is a classic Raffi song, Momma Critter loved Raffi songs when she was young and Tiny Critter went through a 2 year phase of loving all of Raffi’s songs too. There are many videos of the many different lyrics, choose your favorites!
Down by the Bay Lyrics:
Down by the bay (Down by the bay)
Where the watermelon grow (Where the watermelon grow)
Back to my home (Back to my home)
I dare not go (I dare not go)
For if I do (For if I do)
My mother will say, (My mother will say):
Did you ever see a Moose kissing a Goose? Down by the bay!
Repeat the song and use a different rhyming joke for the last line! Get your kids involved and see how many you can come up with!
Did you ever see:
A bear combing its hair?
A whale with a polka dot tail?
A fly wearing a tie?
A llama eating pajamas?
A spider drinking apple cider?
Have a time where you couldn’t make a rhyme?
Have Fun With These Repeat After Me Camp Songs
Repeat after me camp songs are a great way to get back in touch with your childhood memories. They are very fun, silly, and easy to remember.
Try singing them at home or around the office today for some good laughs, and definitely have fun enjoying them with your kids!
Happy Camping!
I’m Molly Foss, aka Momma Critter. I’ve been camping since I was 9 years old and I always wanted to be Robin Hood and live in the forest when I grew up. I’m excited to share my love of camping with my son as he grows up. My favorite thing to do while camping is roast marshmallows over the fire.
