Camping is an adventure, and there is so much to do. My kids love going camping and doing fun new activities every trip. There is never a lack of anything to do! While it may feel like you’re isolated in nature, there are many things to keep kids having fun.
Here are some ideas to keep kids busy while on a camping trip.
Explore nature
There are so many things you can do by exploring the campground or other natural areas. This can be anything from checking out bugs to identifying flowers.
Go on a nature scavenger hunt
Make your own or check the internet for some good lists. A scavenger hunt is a good way to get kids exploring, searching for everything from pinecones to a variety of colors in nature. I always bring baggies for the stuff my kids collect, from rocks to pinecones. Keep in mind that there are often park/preserve rules about not removing things from nature, and I always remind my little ones to respect nature and try to leave as small of a footprint as possible. You can put together your own scavenger hunt, or purchase nature scavenger hunt games.
Geocaching
Check beforehand to see if there are geocaching sites around where you are camping. This GPS-guided scavenger hunt is a fun way to keep kids entertained.
Go hiking
Most campgrounds will have their own trails, but chances are you can also find trails nearby. Here are some Tips for Hiking with Kids.
Guided walks, nature centers, ranger programs
Many state parks or campgrounds offer programs for kids, whether it is an on-site nature program or a self-guided program. My kids have also loved earning their own “Junior Naturalist” badges offered by New York and Vermont State Parks.
Campfire activities
One of our favorite things to do as a family is sit by the campfire and cook, make s’mores, and tell stories. And my kids love to put on their share of dramatic shows for us!
You can also buy campfire colorant that makes your campfire flames more colorful!
Read books
My kids love reading stories before bed, but they also love relaxing by the fire with a good book. What better time to dig into a good book than on summer vacation!
Games
There are plenty of games you can do without bringing actual board games, or at least not much more than a deck of cards. My kids use their imaginations and come up with lots of great games when we go camping, from playing with pebbles and sticks to balancing on logs.
Go fishing
Bring the fishing gear and see what fish you can catch.
Stay active
Many campgrounds have different ways to keep kids active, whether it is a playground, beach, open fields, etc. You can always bring things like a kite, Frisbee, soccer ball, bikes, and so on to keep the kids busy.
Explore the area
There may be some fun things to do in the local area around your campground, from hikes to getting lunch, or visiting museums or other attractions.
What do your kids like to do while camping?
One activity that has become an annual tradition is our “wombat” hunt. I started this years ago and it creates a buzz among the little kids throughout the year. The “hunt” starts out by showing the kids a picture and then myself and another adult talk about where they hide, what their footprints look like and how they sound. Then we walk out and look for them – at night of course. The older kids are hiding in the shadows and make screeching sounds and rustle the leaves. The hunt ends with us spooking the kids and running out of the woods.
My daughter wants to camp, but I need a real bed, so it would be more like glamping for me. I can’t do the tent thing. I think the only thing about camping that I’d like would be the s’mores.
I’ve never been camping and neither have the kids but they’d love it. Me, I’m more like what Amber said of needing a bed and toilet to be happy!
These all sound like really fun activities. Looking forward to trying them.
I cannot wait to go camping with our kids and grandchildren. These activities will be perfect no matter the age.
I love all of these ideas for kids when camping! I want to take my 3 kids, but always worried they could get bored at night.
Fantastic list of activities. I will definitely remember them and try them next time we go camping. Thanks!
I love camping. There is just something special about being outdoors and cooking on a fire. Great memories.
We love camping. One of our favorite things is to sit around the fire in the evening. We would listen to music or just talk. Special memories.
wow! yes! So many things to do while camping. The best way for kids to discover the nature!
When we go camping we love exploring the area to find animals and plants, so much fun to discover nature
We love camping! When our kids were little they loved to explore, climb, and observe nature. We also always bring a deck of cards for some family fun at night.
Guided walks, nature centers, ranger program. Many state parks or campgrounds offer programs for kids, whether it is an on-site nature program or a self-guided program.
We generally do a lot of fishing and a lot of hiking. Of course books are a daily thing too.
Trekking and campfires are an amazing set of activities for my 10 year old niece. I am sure she would love both of them on our next trip!
These are all great ideas for kids to do while camping! Exploring outdoors and nature are always so therapeutic
I love camping and bringing my nephews with me. I want to them to experience the basics and just being with nature.
This is awesome! I have no idea there is such a thing as geocaching but will definitely check them out as my kids love scavenger hunts.