45 Super Fun Camping Activities For Kids

It’s camping time! You’ve snagged a camping spot, planned the menu, and packed your gear. You can’t wait to head out with your kids to explore the great outdoors. But the kids aren’t quite as excited by the idea of being away from their screens. Uh oh! Don’t worry, we’ve got you – these fun camping activities with kids will have them asking when your next trip is, even before this one is over!

Why You Should Take Your Kids Camping

Camping is a wonderful opportunity to slow down, unplug, and reconnect with your kids. It’s also a fantastic chance to be active and explore nature together. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t without its own challenges at times. There’s no doubt we are more connected than ever these days and not all kids are excited by extended time in nature.

Camping offers loads of great benefits for kids. It introduces them to the wonders of nature, teaches essential life skills, promotes physical activity, and helps create lasting family memories.

Camping allows kids to unplug from screens and connect with the world around them, encouraging creativity and curiosity. Plus, who doesn’t love the idea of sleeping under the stars and roasting marshmallows over a cozy campfire?

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Fun Camping Activities For Kids

Keeping your kids happy, active, and engaged on your next camping trip doesn’t need to be daunting. A little planning goes a long way, by having some of these fun kids’ camping activities up your sleeve to make sure they have a blast.

When planning camping activities for kids, think about combining elements of fun, education, and creativity. The natural environment provides endless opportunities to engage and inspire young minds. Here are some fantastic activities for your next family camping trip:

1. Bike, Trike, Skate or Scooter Around the Campsite

Rolling around the campsite on a bike, trike, or scooter is a popular activity for kids, depending on where you’re camping. If you’re in the middle of a bush and there’s no flat surfaces, this might not work, but anywhere with a flat area or holiday parks with paved surfaces make wheels a must!

Kids can often entertain themselves for hours while on wheels, trying new maneuvers or making new friends as they explore. Just be sure to set a boundary on how far they can go before they head off.

2. Play Ball Games

Balls of various sizes are easy to pack and great for impromptu games of football, soccer, piggy in the middle or catch. Bring your cricket set, badminton or scoop ball set for something a little different, without requiring a flat surface to play.

3. Water Activities

Water play is a must-do summer camping activity. Many campgrounds are close to lakes, creeks, beaches, or slow-moving rivers. Bring along swimwear, life jackets, ride-ons, and water toys for fun and safe water play. Kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards or giant inflatables are all fun for the whole family.

You can also try creative beach activities like building sandcastles, collecting shells, or digging moats if you’re camping at the beach.

4. Spikeball

If you’re looking for a group activity, Spikeball is a great game for the whole family. It’s something between handball and tennis (maybe that’s a terrible description) but it involves soft balls and a firm round net in the centre, played 2 vs 2. You can get compact spikeball kits that you can easily throw in with your other camping gear and challenge the family to some friendly competition.

5. Go on a Real-Life Treasure Hunt

Geocaching is the world’s biggest treasure hunt—people hide “caches,” containers with log books and goodies, for others to find. To find the caches, you need a GPS-enabled device (your smartphone will do). Download the free Geocaching app and discover a geocache near you.

There are over 350,000 caches worldwide, and many campsites have caches waiting to be discovered. Geocaching is a great way to get your family outside, moving, and having fun! It might be worth doing a little research ahead of time to see if there are any locations near your campsite.

6. Build A Stick Maze

Get creative with what you have around you and challenge the kids to escape from your stick maze. This is a fun twist to get the kids excited about collecting firewood too! Or yo

7. Nature Walk

Nature walks are perfect for kids of all ages. Turn it into an educational adventure by pointing out different plants, animals, and geological features. Encourage your children to use their senses—touch the bark of trees, smell the wildflowers, listen to the birds.

A simple nature journal can add another layer of engagement, allowing them to sketch or write about their findings along the way. This can be a basic lined notebook, a sketchbook with space to draw or a printable journal with prompts.

8. Read A Book Around The Campfire

There’s something magical about reading aloud by the glow of a campfire. Choose books that align with your camping theme—nature stories, adventure tales, or wildlife books. This calming activity promotes a love of reading and provides a cozy end to an active day with younger kids.

For big kids, encourage them to bring a chapter book they can read during some solo downtime. Hang a hammock as a cozy reading nook they will love spending time in.

9. Make a Solar Oven

Teach your kids about renewable energy by making a solar oven. Use a cardboard box with a lid, aluminum foil, plastic wrap and a few other basic materials to trap some of the sun’s energy. This will make the inside of the box hotter than the outside air temperature, making it like a mini greenhouse. Once it’s ready, you can cook solar oven s’mores or melt cheese on tortilla chips!

It’s much slower than campfire s’mores but the process is so much more satisfying! This activity combines science, creativity, and yummy treats.

10. Create a Nature Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt can turn a simple walk into an exciting quest. Create a list of items for your children to find, such as a pinecone, a feather, or a specific type of leaf. This activity enhances observational skills and can include educational aspects about local flora and fauna. Make it more exciting with small prizes for completing the list!

You can grab our free hiking scavenger hunt bundle which also includes a camping and road trip list.

Tip: If doing a scavenger hunt with younger kids, use images. For older kids, a written list is fine with more challenging items.

11. Sing Songs

Singing campfire songs is a timeless camping tradition. Choose fun, interactive songs that kids can easily learn and participate in. Singing together will add a sense of community and creates a vibrant camping atmosphere. Don’t forget to create silly campfire lyrics—think “Old McDonald” but with forest animals or re-imagine your favourite popular songs with silly camping-themed lyrics!

12. Outdoor Obstacle Course

Set up an outdoor obstacle course using items from around the campsite. Jump over rocks, crawl under tables, balance on logs—get creative! Time each other to see who can complete the course the fastest. This activity is great for physical exercise and adds a competitive twist if you add a timer.

13. Water Balloon Dodgeball

If you’re camping near water or it’s a hot day, water balloon dodgeball is great fun. Fill balloons with water and divide into teams. The goal is to dodge the water balloons thrown by the opposing team. It’s a refreshing way to cool off while having loads of fun!

Just remember the important “nature rule” of leaving the environment as it was before you arrived, cleaning up any busted balloon pieces afterwards.

Tip: We prefer to use reusable silicone water balloons instead since you can use them over and over again. They have magnets to hold the two halves together making them easy to refill in a bucket of water.

14. Play Flashlight Tag

As the sun sets, break out the flashlights for a game of flashlight tag. One player is “it” and uses a flashlight to find the others hiding in the dark. When they catch someone in the light beam, that person becomes “it.” It’s an exciting way to extend playtime into the night. You need at least 3 people to play this night camping game.

15. Storytelling with Shadow Puppets

Use a flashlight on the tent wall or a flat surface and use your hands to create shadow puppets. Tell stories using your shadow creations, or have the kids come up with their own silly or creepy tales. This activity encourages the kids to get creative, using their big imaginations.

16. Cook Over the Campfire

Involve your kids in campfire cooking. Let them help prepare simple meals like hot dogs, foil-wrapped potatoes, or marshmallows for s’mores. Cooking over the campfire teaches basic culinary skills and gives them a sense of accomplishment. Even if it’s a meal they might not typically enjoy back home, they may suddenly think it’s the best meal of their lives knowing they helped make it! #parentinghack

17. Nature Photography

Give your kids a disposable camera or an old digital camera and let them document their camping experience. Encourage them to take pictures of plants, animals, and interesting landscapes. It’s a fun way to develop their photography skills and create lasting memories that they can turn into a scrapbook or photo album once back home.

18. Build a Fairy House

Gather natural materials like leaves, twigs, and moss to build tiny houses for fairies. This whimsical activity can spark imagination and keep the kids entertained for ages as they create intricate little homes. Creep down after dark with your spotlight and see if you can spot any fairies coming to visit.

19. Have a Talent Show

Hold a family talent show around the campfire. Each member performs a song, dance, magic trick, or any special talent they have. This activity builds confidence and is a fun way to showcase everyone’s unique abilities or have a few big belly laughs trying.

20. Star Gazing and Constellation Mapping

Introduce your kids to the wonders of the night sky. Use a star map or a stargazing app to identify constellations, planets, and other celestial bodies. This activity can spark an interest in astronomy and the enormous universe we are part of. Share myths and legends about constellations for an added storytelling element that will engage younger kids for much longer.

21. DIY Nature Bracelets

Wrap a strip of masking tape (sticky side out) around your kid’s wrist and go on a walk to collect small flowers, leaves, and twigs to stick on. By the end of the walk, they’ll have created their own beautiful nature bracelet unlike any other.

22. Practice Knots

Teach your kids some basic knots and lashing techniques used in camping and survival skills. Practice tying knots like the square knot, bowline, or clove hitch. This practical skill can be extremely useful and builds their confidence in handling ropes.

23. Nighttime Nature Sounds

After dark, sit quietly and listen to the sounds of nature. Discuss the different noises you hear and try to identify them—crickets chirping, owls hooting, leaves rustling. This relaxing activity helps kids appreciate the quiet beauty of nature at night and it can be a really great way to wind down ready for sleep after an active day of fun activities in the outdoors.

24. Leaf and Bark Rubbings

Show your kids how to make leaf and bark rubbings using crayons or pencils and paper. Place the paper over tree bark or leaves and rub the crayon across to reveal the texture. This creative activity results in beautiful artwork and teaches kids about different textures in nature. This is a good activity to keep kids entertained for a few minutes while prepping meals.

25. DIY Bird Feeders

Create simple bird feeders using pine cones, peanut butter, and birdseed. Have your kids spread peanut butter on the pine cones and roll them in birdseed. Hang the feeders around the campsite and enjoy watching the birds that come to visit. Don’t forget your binoculars to do a bit of bird watching to see what types of birds come for a snack.

26. Play Card Games

Card games are great for camping since they are compact to pack and you don’t need a lot of space to play. There are some great camping card games that are suitable for kids and adults alike, and a card session is a fun way to relax in the afternoon or after dinner.

27. Create Your Own Checkers Set

This is a camping activity for kids that can be done in part while at the campsite and back home. Leave the painting of the checkers board for when you get home instead of taking a huge rock from nature. Or bring a large sheet of paper with a checkers board drawn onto it as a temporary set. But you can definitely work on finding smooth rocks to create your own checkers pieces.

28. Lawn Games

Lawn games are the perfect games to pack for camping, just like there’s so many games you can play with a simple ball. A few lawn games can provide plenty of entertainment for kids of all ages and the rest of the family too.

Here are some great outdoor games to take camping:

• Ring toss
• Cornhole
• Croquet
• Egg & spoon races
• Bocce
• Giant Jenga

29. Use A Flower Press

Introduce your kids to the art of flower pressing. Bring a portable flower press or make one using heavy books and paper. Have your children to pick flowers, leaves, and interesting plant materials they find around the campsite – off the ground ideally. Once pressed, these can be used for craft projects like greeting cards, bookmarks, or framed art. This was such a popular activity for us 90s kids, so why not bring it back!

30. Play Board Games

Pack a few compact board games for some family fun. Classic games like Connect Four or Trouble are great for travel. Or bring something new and try for the first time. Many popular games also have travel versions that are more compact and easy to transport.

One of our favourite travel games is Banangrams. We pack it on every trip. It’s a bit like a cross between Scrabble and a crossword, minus the board!

31. Glow Stick Disco

Transform your campsite into a dance party with glow sticks! Hand out glow sticks to everyone, play some music, and have a glow stick disco. It’s a fantastic way to burn off energy before bed and adds an element of festive fun to your camping trip. You can even create a mini dance-off to see who has the best moves.

Just be mindful of fellow campers that are nearby. Keep the music to a reasonable volume and don’t party too late into the night if you have neighbours.

32. Glow Stick Bowling

Set up a nighttime bowling alley using glow sticks and empty water bottles. Put a glow stick inside each bottle to act as pins and use a ball to knock them down. This fun and creative game will keep kids entertained after the sun goes down and adds a unique twist to traditional bowling. A slightly dodgy, unpredictable twist, but oh so fun!

33. Hide & Seek

Hide and seek is a timeless game that’s perfect for the spacious outdoors. Choose a safe area with clear boundaries and let the fun begin. Kids love the thrill of hiding and finding, and it’s a great way to explore the campsite. Add a twist by playing “Sardines,” where one person hides and everyone else seeks; once someone finds the hider, they join in the hiding spot until the last seeker finds the group.

This is the type of game that almost every child knows how to play so it can be a simple way for children to create friendships with other kids camping nearby, by inviting them to join the game.

34. Go Fishing

If your campsite is near a lake or river, fishing can be a relaxing and rewarding activity. Teach your kids how to cast a line, bait a hook, and hopefully catch some fish. It’s a wonderful way to connect with nature and learn about local aquatic wildlife. Remember to follow all local fishing regulations and practice catch-and-release if required.

35. Make Friendship Bracelets

Bring along some colourful embroidery floss, yarn or paracord and teach your kids how to make friendship bracelets. These cardboard circle friendship bracelets are so easy to make!

This simple craft can keep them engaged for a while as they create new patterns and designs. Once finished, they can exchange bracelets with family members or new friends they meet at the campsite.

Another option is teaching them how to make paracord bracelets, which can prove to be a useful tool in an emergency!

36. Teach Survival Skills

Teaching kids basic survival skills can be both educational and empowering. Show them how to build a fire safely, purify water, set up a shelter using natural materials, or navigate with a compass. These skills not only increase their confidence in the outdoors but also prepare them for future adventures.

37. Find a Favorite Stick for Creative Play or Make a Journey Stick

A stick is not just a stick. It can be a wand, a sword, a pencil, a musical instrument, a horse, or anything your child imagines! Get your child to find a favourite stick at the campground and encourage them to engage in creative play.

Older kids can find a sturdy walking stick and turn it into their very own camping journey stick. Journey sticks were used by Indigenous people in Australia to keep track of adventures. They would attach collected items along their way to remind them of their journey.

Wrap the stick with some yarn so they can attach feathers, cool rocks or leaves along the walk.

38. Nerf War

Pack your Nerf essentials and battle it out around the campsite to see who has the best aim. Just try not to hit any unsuspecting fellow campers while you play!

39. Nature Painting

Use leaves, sticks, bark and rocks to create your own nature art. Leaves can make great paintbrushes dipped in kid-safe paints. Rocks and leaves can become stamps. Sticks can be rolled to create cool textures. This is a fun messy play activity that kids will love.

40. Throw Throw Burrito

Not quite a board game or a card game, this hilarious active game combines cards and dodgeball with squishy burritos you launch at fellow players. Throw Throw Burrito is a game my niece and her husband introduced us all too and often play around their campsites, much to the amusement of fellow campers, since they are adults! Kids love it and you’re all going to end up laughing.

41. Pickleball

Pickleball is a fantastic game that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, making it a perfect activity for a family camping trip. If your campground has a flat, open space, set up the portable net, paddles and ball. The game is easy to learn and can be played by all ages, making it great for family bonding and friendly competition. You can get some great portable Pickleball sets to take camping.

42. Rock Painting

Collect smooth rocks from around your campsite and let your kids’ creativity run wild with rock painting. Bring along non-toxic, washable paints and brushes so they can create colourful designs, patterns, or even little characters on the rocks. This hands-on activity enhances fine motor skills and leaves them with a special keepsake from the trip. You can also turn it into a game by hiding the painted rocks around the campsite for others to find.

Tip: We’ve found that paint pens are much easier if you’re wanting to create more intricate designs. Less messy too!

43. Kids’ Subscription Box

Surprise your kids by bringing a special delivery from home to your campsite with a kids’ subscription box! Many companies offer adventure-themed boxes filled with crafts, educational activities, and outdoor games. These boxes can provide structured activities that are both fun and educational, keeping your kids entertained and engaged. Whether it’s nature exploration kits, DIY science experiments, or creative art projects, a subscription box can add an extra layer of excitement to your camping experience.

Our favourites are the KiwiCo subscription boxes that incorporate STEM learning concepts in a variety of learning areas. The Tinker Crate is great for older kids or the Atlas Crate for learning about the world.

45. Outdoor Cinema

Create a magical movie night under the stars with an outdoor cinema. Bring a portable projector and a white sheet to hang between trees or on the side of your tent or just prop up your laptop and watch a downloaded movie off Netflix. Set up some cozy seating with blankets and pillows, and pop some popcorn over the campfire. Choose family-friendly movies and enjoy a unique cinematic experience surrounded by nature. It’s a fantastic way to wind down after a day full of adventures and it means a little screen time for those techie kids.

Camping with kids can be an incredible adventure filled with learning, exploration, and bonding. Don’t be put off by disgruntled kids who don’t want to be away from their computer games for a few days. Most kids end up having many of their best memories on a family camping trip and these fun camping activities for kids will help make that happen!