Camping with kids? It doesn’t have to be a drag. You can still enjoy nature and each other’s company in all its glory, even if you’re not roughing it with your tent and sleeping bags.
These activities are guaranteed to keep your kids entertained for hours on end, whether they prefer being outdoors or indoors.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| There are many fun activities to keep kids entertained while camping. |
| Planning ahead and bringing the right gear can make camping with kids easier. |
| Glamping can be a fun and luxurious alternative to traditional camping. |
| There are many family-friendly national parks in the USA that offer great camping opportunities. |
| Hiking, fishing, and playing games are just a few of the many activities that are perfect for family camping trips. |
Nature Walks
Nature walks are a great way to get your kids out of the campground, and into the woods. As they walk around they will be able to explore new areas, collect leaves and flowers, look for animals and listen to the sounds of nature.
This can also be a good time to teach them about plants and animals that might otherwise not be found in their backyard city park.
Are you planning a camping trip with your kids? Our guide on how to plan the perfect camping trip with your kids will show you how to make it a fun and memorable experience for the whole family.
Scavenger Hunts
One of the best ways to keep kids entertained while camping is by doing a scavenger hunt. A scavenger hunt is a game where players are given a list of items that they must find within a certain amount of time.
Some examples include finding objects listed on paper or in an app, taking photos of unusual things at the campsite, etc. You can set up scavenger hunts for your kids before you go camping so they have something fun to do when everyone is ready to relax after dinner!
One way to ensure that the scavenger hunt stays entertaining for children is by making sure each item on their list has something interesting or funny about it (like “take a picture with someone wearing camouflage”).
Another way would be adding some tasks outside the scope of finding items off their list but still related: either completing tasks together as groups or competing against each other individually in order not only entertain themselves but also bond with siblings/friends who are participating too!
Recommended Scavenger Hunt Activities for Kids
| Scavenger Hunt Activity | Brand Name | Benefits | Recommended Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature Scavenger Hunt | Nature Bound | Encourages learning about nature and the outdoors | 5-10 years |
| Photo Scavenger Hunt | PiccaGo | Develops photography and observation skills | 8-14 years |
| Alphabet Scavenger Hunt | Melissa & Doug | Helps develop reading and observation skills | 3-7 years |
| Treasure Hunt | The Purple Cow | Provides an exciting adventure for kids | 6-12 years |
| Geocache Scavenger Hunt | Geocaching | Encourages exploration and adventure | 10+ years |
This table recommends various scavenger hunt activities for kids, along with brand names, benefits, and recommended age groups for each activity.
Crafts
Crafts are a great way to pass the time when you’re camping, especially if you have young kids. Crafts can be done in groups or individually, and with or without supplies. You can also craft indoors or outdoors!
Here are some fun ideas for kids crafts:
Playdough (or clay) sculptures – make playdough or clay sculptures of your favorite animals and characters from movies. This is perfect for older kids who want to get their creative juices flowing!
T-shirt tie-dye – Have each child choose a shirt they would like to dye, then use food coloring and salt to transfer the design onto their shirts using stencils made out of cardboard paper plates covered with plastic wrap.
Once it’s done being dyed, wait until it dries completely before wearing it again so that it lasts longer than one camping trip!
Looking for some accessories to take your glamping experience to the next level? Check out our list of 15 must-have glamping accessories for the ultimate outdoor experience.
Flashlight Night Hikes
Take a flashlight and explore the campsite. Kids love to sneak around in the dark and have an adventure, so this is a great way for them to get their excitement out of their system before bedtime.
You can look for animals, walk through the woods or find a good spot to sit and watch the stars with your family.
If you are feeling up to it, you can even use your flashlight as a game board! Just go back into history by playing some old-fashioned “flashlight tag” with your kids!
Recommended Flashlight Night Hikes
| Flashlight Night Hike | Brand Name | Benefits | Recommended Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED Headlamp Night Hike | Black Diamond | Hands-free hiking and stronger illumination | 8+ years |
| Starlight Night Hike | Celestron | Stargazing and astronomy exploration | 10+ years |
| Animal Scavenger Hunt Night Hike | Nite Ize | Encourages wildlife observation and respect | 6-12 years |
| Night Photography Hike | Petzl | Photography opportunities with lower light | 12+ years |
| Ghost Tour Night Hike | Ghost City Tours | Spooky fun with storytelling and history | 7+ years |
This table recommends different types of flashlight night hikes, along with brand names, benefits, and recommended age groups for each activity.
S’mores Contests
S’mores are a great way to keep the kids entertained. They’re easy to make and even easier to eat! There are many different ways you can enjoy them: in a traditional fashion, by roasting your marshmallow over an open fire; or by making s’mores on the grill or stovetop if it’s too cold outside.
Here are some fun ideas for s’more games that will keep everyone entertained!
- S’mores contest
- Campfire cook-off
- Build-a-s’more contest
Have you ever tried glamping? If not, you’re missing out on 10 surprising benefits of glamping that will make you want to try it on your next camping trip.
Bird Watching
Take a walk in a park, forest, lakeshore or river and look for birds. Children will enjoy watching birds fly around and singing.
Recruit your son or daughter to help you with the bird-watching adventure. They might find an interesting bird that you haven’t seen yet!
Keep binoculars handy so you can see the birds clearly while they’re far away—and if the kids want to use them too!
Recommended Bird Watching Equipment
| Bird Watching Equipment | Brand Name | Benefits | Recommended Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binoculars | Vortex Optics | Magnification for close-up bird observation | 10+ years |
| Birding Scope | Swarovski Optik | High-quality zoom for distance bird watching | 12+ years |
| Field Guide | National Geographic | Identification and description of bird species | 8+ years |
| Bird Call Whistle | Audubon | Imitation of bird sounds to attract birds | 6+ years |
| Digital Camera | Canon | Capturing high-quality photos of birds from a distance | 8+ years |
This table recommends essential bird watching equipment, along with brand names, benefits, and recommended age groups for each item.
Geocaching
Geocaching is a great way for kids of all ages to get outside and explore their surroundings. But it’s also a fun activity for parents, grandparents, and other family members.
Like any good treasure hunt, geocaching involves searching for something hidden. This “something” could be either a container or logbook that is found in the woods or another natural setting (as in the picture above).
When you find a geocache, you sign the logbook if it’s there and replace any items you remove from the container with something else of equal value like coins or rocks then put everything back exactly where you found it so someone else can also enjoy finding that same cache!
It doesn’t matter how old your kids are; they’ll love this activity while camping because they will not only be having fun but learning about nature at the same time!
If you’re planning a camping trip with your family, be sure to check out our guide to the top family-friendly national parks for camping in the USA for some amazing destinations that your whole family will love.
Collecting Bugs And Critters
If you’re planning a camping trip, this is one activity that will keep your kids occupied for hours on end.
Collecting bugs and critters can be done in the wild or right at home.
Collecting them in the wild will give your kids an opportunity to explore the great outdoors and learn more about nature they might even be able to identify some of the animals they find!
Collecting them at home may be more convenient for you as parents; however, there are fewer opportunities for educational experiences here because most of these critters are still alive when purchased from a pet store (and thus require little maintenance).
As such, it’s recommended that parents encourage their children to bring any purchased animals into their own backyards where they can get acquainted with them before releasing them into more natural environments.
Tadpole Hunting
Tadpoles are a great source of protein, and they can be cooked in many different ways, depending on what you like.
You can boil them and eat them with garlic butter or black pepper, or you can make frog legs by boiling them in salt water for ten minutes. You could even sautee ’em with olive oil and lemon juice.
Tadpoles are also good for baiting fish if you’re catching your own dinner. It’s best to use small tadpoles because bigger ones might break off from their tails when you try to hook them through the gills. And don’t forget that some people say tadpole quiche is delicious!
Tadpoles are a good source of calcium and vitamin D so don’t be afraid to snack on these mini-amphibians whenever you feel like it!
Camping with kids can be a lot of fun, but it does require some planning. Check out our comprehensive guide on the ultimate guide to camping with kids in the USA to make sure you’re prepared for your next family adventure in the great outdoors.
Picnics
Picnics are the perfect way to spend a day outdoors in the summer. You can pack sandwiches and salads, as well as any other food items that you want to eat on the go.
Pack a thermos of hot chocolate or tea if you want something warm and comforting! You can also bring along some apple cider if you want something refreshing.
Bringing water is always important, especially when you’re camping. If your kids like drinking water out of plastic bottles, make sure to pack enough for everyone you don’t want anyone getting dehydrated!
Playing Games Like Tag, I Spy And 21 Questions By Flashlight In The Tent
Playing games like tag, I Spy and 21 Questions by flashlight in the tent. You can also play checkers or other simple games like tic-tac-toe.
There are tons of camping activities that you can do with your kids to keep them entertained on a camping trip, but it’s important not to let them get bored because then they’ll just be running around causing trouble!
There’s nothing wrong with letting your kids run around if they’re being responsible about it and staying out of the way of adults who need to do work or relax after a long day hiking or fishing.
However, if you want some peace and quiet while you sit around a fire with friends or family members at night, it’s important to have something for kids to do indoors as well.
If you’re looking for ideas for keeping little ones entertained during your camping trip this year (or even on short weekend getaways), here are ten ideas that might help:
Stargazing With A Map Of The Night Sky (There Are Apps For This)
Your kids will love learning about constellations and planets, as well as their phases. Different types of stars also exist, so you can narrow down the field by focusing on one star type at a time.
Leaves And Flowers Pressings
This is a great activity that involves collecting leaves and flowers. The kids can press the flowers and leaves in a book, or you can make a beautiful leaf and flower press book for them to keep. This way, you can use it as a teaching tool to teach your child about different types of flowers and leaves.
Conclusion
These fun activities will allow you to have a great time with the kids while camping, and give them something to look forward to each day.
We hope that these ideas help make your next camping trip an even more memorable one!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to help you plan your next camping trip with kids:
25 Camping Activities for Kids: A list of fun and engaging activities that will keep your kids entertained while camping.
17 Camping Activities for Kids: Another great resource for camping activities that your kids will love.
Best Camping Games and Activities: A collection of games and activities that are perfect for family camping trips.
FAQs
What are some good camping activities for kids?
Some good camping activities for kids include hiking, fishing, making s’mores, telling stories around a campfire, and playing games like scavenger hunts or capture the flag.
How can I make camping with kids easier?
To make camping with kids easier, it’s important to plan ahead and bring essentials like appropriate clothing, plenty of food and water, first aid supplies, and activities to keep them entertained.
What should I pack for a family camping trip?
Pack essentials like a tent, sleeping bags, camp stove, cooler with food and drinks, water bottles, first aid kit, and appropriate clothing and footwear.
How can I keep my kids safe while camping?
To keep your kids safe while camping, make sure to supervise them at all times, teach them basic camping safety rules, and bring appropriate safety gear like first aid supplies and any necessary medications.
What are some fun camping games and activities for the whole family?
Some fun camping games and activities for the whole family include hiking, playing card games or board games, telling stories around a campfire, roasting marshmallows and making s’mores, stargazing, and fishing.
I’m Hellen James, and I am a camping enthusiast. I’ve been camping since I was a kid and have always loved it the fresh air, the beautiful scenery, and the great outdoors. In fact, it’s one of my favorite things to do in the summer!
