Camping Activities for Kids: The Best Ways to Make It Fun
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These camping activities for kids are creative ways to take your outdoor adventures and learning themes to the next level.
I've gathered some of our favorite ways to enjoy activities with camping themes. My boys and I have had a blast with these games, crafts, and printables. We hope that you and your children do, too!
Get ready to make your camping fun with kids shine!
RELATED: Use our free printable minibeast scavenger hunt for more creative outdoor fun!
Easy Ways to Enjoy Camping Fun with Kids
Need simple and creative ways to learn about camping? Or maybe you're planning a camping trip for your family and want frugal activities to enjoy? Perhaps you're looking for cool ways to have camping fun in your own backyard?
If you're planning and preparing for camping fun with kids, you'll love these ideas and resources!
Although my boys and I don't go camping per se, we visit my grandparents' cottage at Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. This beloved cottage was built in the 1950s and doesn't have many modern features. To us, it feels like one step above camping!
And we enjoy so many wonderful camping activities while we're there! Campfires and s'mores. Hiking and swimming. We even bring sleeping bags just for the fun of it.
I decided to put together all of our favorite camping activities for kids so we had a list to refer to - and to share with you. Some awesome ways to use these ideas include:
- Celebrate Great Outdoors Month (June)
- Summer camp themes
- Summer homeschool fun
- Backyard activities
- Camping-themed parties
- Family picnics
- Library events (like storytime activities for books with camping themes)
Recommended Supplies for These Camping Activities
These activities for camping fun with kids includes a variety of printables, games, and crafts. I'm adding this list of supplies that are handy to have ready so you can jump right in (and not be disappointed if you're missing something!):
- construction paper
- washable paint
- nature objects: pine cones, leaves, sticks, acorns, rocks
- crayons
- scissors
- gluesticks
- rocks
- yarn
- empty toilet paper roll tubes
- empty plastic bottle
Colorations Construction Paper for Kids - 7 Bright Colors - 600 Bulk Sheets of 9Neenah Exact Vellum Bristol, 8.5Paint Set with Art Supplies Included, Washable Paint With Paint Brushes and Cups for Kids And Toddler, Complete Painting Supplies64-Pack Crayons with SharpenerWestcott 13168 Right- and Left-Handed Scissors, Kids' Scissors, Ages 4-8, 5-Inch Blunt Tip, Assorted, 2 PackElmer's Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks, Washable, 22 Grams, 3 CountRed Heart Super Saver Super Yarn Craft Kit for Crochet & Knitting & Amigurumi ProjectsHESESOH 100 Pack Cardboard Tubes for Crafts - 1.57 x 3.94 Inches - Brown Toilet Paper Empty Rolls Round Thick Tubes Sturdy for Classroom Family Handmade DIY Projects
RELATED: Free printable camping word search
Easy Ways to Extend Your Fun with Camping Themes
Some of the best ways to boost an activity (educational or fun) are books, games, and cool accessories. Here are some of our top picks for camping:
I Spy Camping Book For Kids Ages 2-5: Learn The Alphabet Camping Things And Coloring Activities Guessing Games For Kids Boys Girls Preschoolers And ... 2-5 (I Spy Book Collection for Kids Ages 2-5)My 1st Book of Camping: An Exciting Kids' Guide to Outdoor Adventures, Nature exploration, Camping Book for KidsThe Little Explorer's First Wilderness Survival Guide: Learn How to Build Shelter, Catch Fish, Signal for Help, Start a Fire, Forage for Food, Perform First Aid and Other Practical Survival SkillsA1diee 1000Pcs Travel Camping Stickers in 2 Rolls Happy Camper Tent Bonfire Guitar Map Camera Travel Bag Car Themed Self Adhesive Decals for Birthday Gifts Bag Party Supplies School Activity RewardZygomatic Spot It! Camping Card Game (Eco-Blister)| Matching Game | Fun Kids Game for Family Game Night | Travel Game for Kids | Great Gift | Ages 6+ | 2-8 Players | Avg. Playtime 15 Mins | MadeHershey’S S’Mores Perfectly Toasted Game by Spin Master Games, Kids Toys & Kids Games & Camping Games, Board Games for Family Night, for Kids Ages 6+FANCY LAND Camping Bingo Game for Kids 24 Players Outdoor Party Camp Adventure Activities SupplyCampfire Stories Deck--For Kids!: Storytelling Games to Ignite Imagination
The Best Camping Activities for Kids
Camping trips are a fantastic family activity. For some families, it’s a yearly thing that everyone looks forward to once the weather starts warming up. Just spending time out in nature provides loads of opportunities for family fun.
Of course, most usual activities aren’t a great fit for a camping trip, but outdoor activities are perfect. That’s where this list of 20 camping activities for kids comes in handy - it’s loaded with fun outdoor ideas.
Pine Cone Art- Simple Painting Craft For Kids
Painting is always fun for kids, but here’s a way to make it even more fun. Have them collect art supplies by gathering pine cones and then paint with them. See the post for tips on making this work well.
by Fox Farm Home
Colors Of Nature Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are an excellent activity for kids, but sometimes the list can get too specific. This neat variation has kids looking for colors in nature instead of specific items.
by Messy Little Monster
Leaf Rubbings Idea for Kids
Speaking of art supplies that can be gathered from outdoors, leaf rubbings are a perfect camping activity for kids. Just some paper, crayons, and leaves from around the campsite will keep the kids entertained.
by Life with Darcy and Brian
Nature Crown Craft for Kids
This nature crown craft is just the thing for younger kids. They can show who the monarch of the woods is with a crown decorated with things they’ve picked up while outdoors.
by Homan at Home
Pinecone Bowling
Pinecone bowling is a crazy, unique game that kids will love. They can gather everything they need from the area. Be sure to review the rules to ensure everyone knows what to do.
by Red Ted Art
Tic Tac Toe Board Game with Rocks
There are multiple ways to set up this next camping activity, but they are all quite simple. Gather up some rocks and mark or paint them for Xs and Os, then mark off a Tic-Tac-Toe board on a slice of wood or even a tree stump.
by The Country Chic Cottage
Nature Weaving with Found Object Art
This idea is a fun, unique activity for kids to keep busy with. Build a frame with collected sticks, wrap yarn around it, and then kids can weave found nature items into the frame.
by Little Bins for Little Hands
Free Insect Scavenger Hunt
Another fun scavenger hunt activity that doesn’t require kids to bring back the items they find. In fact, you’d probably prefer if they didn’t since this list is nothing but bugs.
by The Soccer Mom Blog
Leaf Faces – An easy, low-mess, nature craft
Everything you need for this craft project can be collected outdoors. Kids gather leaves of different sizes and shapes and use them to build faces.
by Picklebums
How to Play Duck Duck Goose
Sometimes, it’s nice to choose an activity that requires no supplies at all. Duck Duck Goose is a classic children’s game that kids love to play. Check the post for rules and variations on the classic game.
by Mommy Made That
Free Printable Nature Story Cards That Help With Expressive Language
These nature story cards are perfect for helping kids develop and improve their speech skills. They are also good prompts for storytelling around the campfire.
by Simple Everyday Mom
How to Make a Bug Hotel
Bug hotels are such cool ideas that kids are sure to love them. This one needs to be created at home before the trip, but it can be set up at the campground to observe the local bugs.
by Fireflies & Mudpies
Cardboard Tube Binoculars
There is interesting new wildlife, beautiful vistas, lake shores, and much more to see on a camping trip. Kids can make their own “binoculars” and then use them to observe all the new sights once on the trip.
by Crafts By Amanda
DIY Nature Explorer Kit
Here is another “make and take” project that should be set up at home. Once it’s ready, be sure to bring it to help little explorers observe and document everything they find outdoors.
by Barley & Birch
How to Make a Wormery
A wormery is a fun, interesting project that kids will love. Similar to an ant farm, this is made with an old plastic bottle, so it avoids one more plastic going into the trash. It’s perfect to set up at the trip's start, and the worms can be observed as the days pass.
by Rainy Day Mum
Leaf People Craft
This nature craft is so much fun and could be a fun keepsake reminder of the trip. Kids gather up leaves and then piece and glue them together to make little people. They are perfect for framing once you are back home.
by My Mommy Style
Nature Stick Pirate Ships Craft
Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the best ones. Have kids gather up a bunch of sticks, then break them to size and glue them together to make little pirate ships. Be sure to check the post for tips to make this turn out great.
by Our Kid Things
Nature Painting Kids Activity To Get Creative And Explore
This camping activity idea is entertaining and can be replicated at home, too. Take the kids on a nature walk and have them gather various supplies: sticks, twigs, leaves, flowers, etc. Then, they figure out how to use their findings as brushes to paint some pictures.
by A Little Pinch of Perfect
Bird Nesting Material and Food Holder
One thing about camping is that you need to make sure you have all your supplies together ahead of time: tent, sleeping bags, pots and pans, and an old egg carton. Yes, that is correct. You can use it to make a holder for nesting materials and food for local birds. Then, enjoy watching them visit the holder throughout your trip.
by Mom Wife Busy Life
DIY Kids Camping Tradition: A Creative Campsite Sign
Kids, especially younger kids, tend to love helping with things. But their “help” can also make more work, not less. Creating a sign customized to the campsite can help them feel involved without them getting in the way.
by The Crazy Outdoor Mama
Fun Outdoor Activities for the Win!
I'm doing a major happy dance about all of these outstanding outdoor activities for camping fun and more. I mean, you can really enjoy any of these activities in your backyard, too!
We'd love to know which of these camping activities that you'll be trying first. Please share in the comment area at the bottom of the post!
Wishing you and your kids a bunch of camping fun!