What’s your favorite way to maximize camping fun on your trips?
One of my camping tips that I am most passionate about is cutting the cord.
Camping has the ability to bring a family together as everyone unplugs from their digital devices and connects with each other … we call it a “digital detox” and it is good for the ENTIRE family.
Knowing how to plan a successful camping trip is key.
Here are my best camping ideas and tips to create fun camping activities kids love!
Psst we’re compensated…see our disclosures.
Fun Camping Activities Kids Love
There are soooooo many fun camping games and activities for kids … they might even learn something without knowing it! LOL
Plan Daytime And Nighttime Camping Activities
Think about kids activities around the campsite. It’s good to have daytime fun planned as well as nighttime entertainment.
Consider this: If you are camping in the middle of summer you will have shorter periods of darkness; camping during the winter-ish month’s means less daylight.
Here are a few ideas for daytime and nighttime activities for the kids around camp.
Best Daytime Camping Ideas For Kids
There are tons of outdoor activities kids can enjoy on good weather days at camp.
Geocaching
What kid doesn’t love a good treasure hunt?
There are loads of geocache sites across the planet that include hidden objects along hiking trails and other fun areas in the wilderness.
The entire family can play a geocaching camping game that is suitable for all skill levels.
Kids can navigate to cache treasures using a free app on a smart phone or use a rugged handheld navigator that comes with a preloaded worldwide basemap, is a WAAS enabled GPS receiver with HotFix and GLONASS support resulting in fast positioning and reliable signals.
Garmin eTrex 10 Worldwide Handheld GPS Navigator
Fishing For Kids At Camp
For many adults, camping activities automatically include fishing, so why would it be any different for the kids?
It is especially fun with the right gear!
This Kids Fishing Pole with Travel Bag is designed especially for kids with a telescopic fishing rod, reel combos, fishing line, tackle and it fits neatly into the travel bag.
Kids Fishing Pole with Travel Bag, Telescopic Fishing Rod and Reel Combos with Spincast Fishing Reel Full Kits for Kids
Ring Toss Game
Kids of all ages love to get in on a good Ring Toss Game.
Ring Toss Yard Games, Easy To Assemble, With Compact Carry Bag For Transportation And Storage
It is one of the most popular camping yard games that can be played with just kids, just adults or as an entire family.
Campsite Games
For many people, camping is a family activity to be enjoyed as a group.
If your family has lots of energy, these active camp games are totally fun!
If you are looking for different types of fun camping games we have suggestions for rainy days, board games and more!
Camping Photo Scavenger Hunts
Get our FREE Printable Photo Camping Scavenger Hunt Game, split up into teams and go explore the wilderness to hunt for these cool objects in nature and around the campsite!
If you have a kid that is more of an artist than a scientist and would rather capture bugs and birds through the lens of a camera, this VTech Kidizoom Camera is the answer!
This thing is a REAL CAMERA: 2.0 mega pixels camera with 4x digital zoom!!!
Beyond that, it has four built-in games, a video recorder, voice recorder, photo collage templates, plus, static and animated photo effects!!!
Seriously, kids that play with this camera are learning skills they need for future employment in the digital age.
Making technology and nature exploration fun has tons of benefits!
VTech KidiZoom Camera Pix
Safari Hunting For Butterflies And Insects
Getting up-close and personal with bugs and birds … those activities shoot to the top of the list of fun things to do while camping.
Kids love catching and investigating critters!
Those activities can be educational too!
The Bugs A To Z book has fun facts and full-color photos of locusts, caterpillars, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, ants, praying mantis, and more!
Bugs A to Z
How To Attract Hummingbirds To Your Campsite
Kids get a real bang out of actually interacting directly with hummingbirds using Handheld Hummingbird Feeders and the whole experience is fun and very natural to them.
Others think these are really fun camping activities kids want to participate with but may be a bit frightened by the little flying critters that seem to move as fast as the speed of light.
They tend to enjoy this activity as long as it is guided by an adult … and really … how many adults do you know that wouldn’t want to play with the hummingbirds too?
Handheld Hummingbird Feeders
Bug And Bird Watching
Being out in the wilderness allows kids to see much more bug and bird activity than they normally see in the city.
Bug and bird watching gadgets make learning and investigating the critters waaaaay more fun for kids.
The Outdoor Exploration Kit has just about everything a kid could need to explore for days!
The lightweight binoculars have a protective soft case that can attach to a belt, the simple hand crank flashlight has bright LED lights,
the pocket sized compass is great for locating positions on maps and learning about wayfinding and direction …
the 3x magnifying glass is perfect for inspecting plants and bugs, the whistle is a nice little safety device and all of that comes in a little backpack.
Adventure Kidz – Outdoor Exploration Kit, Children’s Toy Binoculars, Flashlight, Compass, Whistle, Magnifying Glass, Backpack. Great Kids Gift Set for Camping, Hiking, Educational and Pretend Play.
The National Geographic Kids Bird Guide Of North America helps kids understand and identify 100 species of birds plus it includes interesting information about eating habits, birdsongs, names, wingspans and more!
National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America
Bug And Critter Catching Activities
For help capturing and inspecting the critters, kids love using gadgets like butterfly nets and bug vacuums.
So far, I have been unable to understand why a kid will WANT to vacuum a bug from the ground around the campsite but WON’T vacuum dirt from the carpet around the house!
Oh well, that mystery is waiting to be solved some other day! LOL
Melissa & Doug Cutie Pie Butterfly NetNature Bound Bug Catcher Vacuum with Light Up Critter Habitat Case for Backyard Exploration – Complete Kit for Kids Includes Vacuum and Cage
Charades Camping Game
The fun thing about playing charades is that you can play with kids and adults, indoors or outside, rain or shine!
Get our FREE printable game here!
Yield: One fun camping game activity!
Camping For Foodies Camping Game: How To Play The Charades Camping Game
How To Play The Charades Camping Game, The Camping For Foodies Camping Game
15 minutes
15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
FREE
Materials
- Slips of paper
Tools
- Pen
Instructions
Each player creates several “Charades Camping Slips” by writing one camping-themed activity on each slip of paper and placing it in some sort of bucket (camp Dutch oven, camp coffee cup or whatever camping utensil you have handy.) LOL
Now, mix up the slips.
Each player picks out a camping charades slip then acts out clues (without speaking, of course) until someone guesses correctly.
The winner is the person who guesses the most correct answers.
Here are some example camping activities to write on your Charades Camping Game slips:
- Trying to roast a marshmallow but accidentally catching it on fire.
- Trying to light a campfire in the rain.
- Putting up a tent in the dark.
- Hooking up a camper to a tow vehicle.
- Seeing a wild elk at your campsite.
- Hanging your feet in a stream on a hike.
- Fishing but catching nothing.
- Getting lost on an overgrown hiking trail.
- Finding the Big Dipper in the sky.
Notes
Get more camp game ideas that will provide hours of fun in our post Camping Games: Prove You Are A Super Hero Camper
Recommended Products
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Camping Flexible Cutting Mats
Cool Nighttime Camping Activities
One super fun part of the sun going down is the ability to play games that glow!
Glow In The Dark Puzzles
Some kids camping activities span from day to night … like this Learning Journey Glow-In-The-Dark Space Puzzle!
The awesome thing about camping in the great outdoors under the mind-blowing views of a nighttime sky make kids curious about the outer space creation.
Shhhhh, don’t tell the kids this fun puzzle will be a learning experience!
The Learning Journey Puzzle Glows in the Dark
This cool puzzle is colorful in the day and glows in the dark at night!
Who knows, camping kids that play with this space-themed puzzle might become the next Neil Armstrong.
The Learning Journey Puzzle Ages 3+100 Piece Glow in the Dark 3 x 2 feet Puzzle
Glow Stick Activities
When the sun creeps down below the horizon and the kiddos start getting feisty, it’s time to break out the glow toy activities.
A fun Glow Sticks Set will keep the entertainment going during the evening hours before the kids need to crawl into their sleeping bags for the night.
Glow Sticks Set
A quick note of caution, clear the camping area of any tripping hazards before the kids begin to run around in the dark with these fun glow-in-the-dark activities.
Camping Activities Need To Include Rest
There is nothing worse than fun camping activities being spoiled by cranky kids that did not get enough sleep.
To keep your campers smiling you need to keep them comfy and dry.
If you are tent camping there are lots of ways to stay comfortable; it all starts with a buffer between sleeping campers and the cold, hard and sometimes wet ground.
Stay Off Of The Ground When Tent Camping
There are many ways to add a barrier between your kids and the ground, some of the most popular include using Kids Play Mat Set, Kids Inflatable Airbeds and Kids Camping Bunk Beds over your tent floor.
Cots are fabulous for this task but they are bulkier to pack and more expensive than the alternatives; the benefits outweigh the challenges for many campers and cots are the first choice.
The combination of a mat below an inflatable air mattress works wonders and packs up for easier transporting; it is also a cheaper option which is always a plus.
Kids Play Mat SetKids Inflatable AirbedKids Camping Bunk Beds
Tent Or RV Camping? Let The Kids Snuggle-Up In Their Own Sleeping Bag
Even when camping in an RV, kids prefer sleeping in a sleeping bag rather than just sheets and blankets.
Sleeping bags designed especially for kids make nights more rest-filled which makes daytime happy instead of cranky and tired!
Make sure you get the right size bag for kids and let them pick a bag with their favorite colors and characters.
One of the most popular bags for little girls is the Ladybug Sleeping Bag and boys love the Moose Sleeping Bag.
For more traditional types of bags, a Mummy Sleeping Bag is great when camping in colder weather but some kids may feel a little claustrophobic in that style of bag.
As an alternative, a more traditional style bag can be a great option like this Coleman Coleman Kids Sleeping Bag.
This one happens to be rated for 50 degrees but they come in all sorts options ranging from extreme hot to extreme cold weather.
Ladybug Sleeping BagMoose Sleeping BagLadybug Mummy BagKids Sleeping Bag
Great Indoor Camping Ideas
If the campfire and glow-in-the-dark outdoor activities are not doing the trick, move the party inside your tent or RV and play a few of the best board games for camping.
Indoor Rainy Day Camping Activities
Make sure you are prepared for those dreaded rain days!
It is no fun sitting inside a tent or under an awning staring at each other with raindrops falling in the background!
These rainy day camp games are a blast!
Make sure you get our FREE printable Charades Camping Game too!
Rainy day fun camping activities can only happen if you are not floating away! LOL
Don’t let a wet camping trip get the best of you, check out our Tips For Camping In The Rain (and hacks so you don’t float away) post for more info!
Creative Camping Crafts For Kids
Participating in a rock painting camping activity is a simple and fun craft project kids can do rain or shine.
You can make the rock collecting part of a day hike activity so you just need to bring some paint and brushes from home.
Or, you can just get a kit that contains everything … even the smooth river rocks!
Rock Painting Kit for Kids – Arts and Crafts for Girls & Boys Ages 6-12 – Craft Kits Art Set – Supplies for Painting Rocks – Best Tween Paint Gift, Ideas for Kids Activities Age 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Awesome Campfire Activities For Kids
From roasting marshmallows to singing songs, campfire activities are always popular with kids of all ages!
Roasting Marshmallows Over The Campfire
What kids wouldn’t want to roast their marshmallows with Telescoping Marshmallow Sticks … or even their entire hot dog dinner!
Telescoping Marshmallow Sticks
Making Unique Smores At Camp
Try some fun new smores camping variations for an interesting twist to the old classic campfire dessert!
Kids can also pop their own popcorn over the campfire using a Campfire Popcorn Holder while sitting in a totally fun Kids Camp Chair!
Campfire Popcorn HolderColeman Kids Camp Chair
Campfire Activities And Games
Roasting marshmallows and cooking around the campfire are not the only fun activities kids enjoy.
Games are a fun way to enjoy an evening around the campfire too!
Check out these 10 fun campfire activities and games for more ideas!
DIY Dryer Lint Fire Starter Project
Making DIY dryer lint fire starters is a fun camping crafts project for kids at the campsite.
While they make the starters, they can answer the Smokey Bear trivia questions on the paper wrappers.
Then, when they are finished making the starters, they can use them to build a campfire (with adult supervision, of course).
Other fire-related camping activities for kids include gathering kindling and wood for the campfire.
Cook From The Scout’s Cookbook
The culinary creations only kids can make are outrageous!
They will love recipes like ‘Snake on a Stick’ and ‘Dirty Marshmallows’ from The Scout’s Campfire Cookbook For Kids!
Whether the kids are camping with the family or with a Scout troop, this cookbook will keep them having fun cooking like little chefs in the wild!
Scout’s Campfire Cookbook for Kids
Campfires are such a big part of the camping experience, including activities for meal prep and cooking.
So, make mealtime part of the fun adventure; let the kids participate in preparing the campsite and food at whatever level is age appropriate.
Kids love my Hobo Stew Recipe For A Campfire That Cooks In Foil Packets.
They can pick and choose what ingredients they want in their meal.
Pie Iron Cooking
Some of the “most favorite kid camping recipes” include cooking with campfire pie irons.
Sure, you can use the regular square or round irons … but … when you use a Heart Shaped Pie Iron, it suddenly becomes one of the most fun camping activities kids just can’t get enough of!
Kids just love these things and they make super fun camping gifts too!
Pie Iron – Love
Good Educational Camping Activities For Kids
Learning in the great outdoors can be really fun for kids!
Wildlife Safety Educational Experience
Kids of all ages can get really excited about experiencing wildlife on camping trips … especially large animals like bears.
Make sure the entire family is prepared for a safe encounter and use these safety tips while camping in bear country as an educational opportunity for kids.
Camping Safety Tips For Families
If kids are enjoying fun camping activities near the water, around the campfire, on hiking trials or anywhere else while camping … they can stay safe and secure with a few tips.
Adults should use our camping safety tips for families to help guide discussions before all of the fun begins.
It is a great time to combine fun with educational opportunities and being good stewards while in the outdoors.
Camping Food Safety Educational Opportunity
If kids are participating in meal preparation and cooking, it is a great time to turn fun camping activities into exciting learning opportunities.
Check out our tips on camping food safety for keeping everyone safe from food poisoning with educational camping ideas for kids to learn about safe food handling outdoors.
Fun Road Trip Activities For Kids
Coloring books are the “old standby” when it comes to travel entertainment but if you are looking for other ideas for your camping road trip, check out these 10 Fun Camping Road Trip Games To Play In The Car!
The entire family can interact together!
Cute Camping Gear Just For Toddlers
Some of the camping gear designed especially for toddlers will make you want to be a kid again yourself!
These are so fun … and … the kids love them too!
Child’s Outdoor ChairKid’s Camp Chair
Use A Camping Checklist
Forgetting to pack the sleeping bags (or anything else for that matter) can negatively impact your camping trip.
Organize at home and you’ll be sure to arrive at your campsite fully prepared for a fabulous weekend.
My Ultimate RV and Tent Camping Checklist will keep you on track and you can download a free printable version here.
Looking for interesting camping food ideas for your next trip? We’ve got loads of them!
No time to look for recipes, create a menu and write a grocery list? No Problem! Get our 3-Day Dutch Oven Camp Menu Plan here!
Our Cool Camping Products Make Great Gifts!
Cutting MatMat SetShaker SetHammock
If you need camping recipes and menu ideas, you can find them here at the Camping For Foodies Camping Recipes list.
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The post Fun Camping Activities Kids Love (and adults will too!) appeared first on Camping For Foodies.
