9 Best Camping Activities to Do With Your Children

You want to create lasting memories, strengthen family bonds, and spark your children’s love for the outdoors – and camping offers the perfect opportunity to accomplish all three. While pitching a tent gets you there, it’s the activities you choose that’ll transform a simple overnight trip into an adventure your kids will treasure for years. The nine experiences ahead aren’t just time-fillers; they’re carefully chosen activities that’ll turn even reluctant young campers into nature enthusiasts.

Key Points

• Build and maintain a family campfire together, teaching children fire safety while creating a focal point for stories and marshmallow roasting.
• Organize nature scavenger hunts with age-appropriate lists including rocks, leaves, pinecones, and animal tracks while following Leave No Trace principles.
• Practice stargazing using constellation apps to identify major star patterns and encourage children to invent their own constellation stories.
• Involve kids in camp cooking by having them wash vegetables, mix ingredients, and help prepare foil packet dinners or banana boats.
• Teach basic outdoor skills like compass navigation, knot-tying, and wildlife safety to build confidence and survival knowledge in nature.

Build and Maintain a Family Campfire Together

When you’re ready to create lasting memories with your kids, building a campfire together transforms an ordinary evening into an adventure they’ll never forget.

Start by teaching them to gather three types of materials: tinder (dry leaves, paper), kindling (pencil-thin twigs), and fuel wood (thumb-thick branches).

Successful campfires require three essential materials: fine tinder for ignition, pencil-thin kindling for catching, and thumb-thick fuel wood for sustaining flames.

Show them how to arrange tinder in the center, surround it with kindling in a teepee shape, then add larger sticks gradually.

Let older kids strike matches under supervision while younger ones help arrange materials.

Once lit, demonstrate how to feed the fire by adding wood slowly and explain safety rules like staying seated and never throwing objects into flames.

Take turns tending the fire throughout the evening, teaching responsibility while creating a magical focal point for stories and conversations.

As the evening progresses, you’ll discover that campfires create the perfect setting for romantic moments even when the whole family is gathered around sharing stories and roasting marshmallows.

Go on Nature Scavenger Hunts Around Your Campsite

After you’ve enjoyed the warmth of your campfire, transform your surroundings into an exciting treasure hunt that’ll keep kids engaged for hours. Create age-appropriate lists featuring items naturally found around your campsite. You’ll discover this activity sharpens observation skills while encouraging exploration.

Design scavenger hunts based on your children’s ages and abilities. Younger kids can search for basic items like rocks or leaves, while older children can identify specific plants or animal tracks. Make it educational by including colors, textures, and shapes in your hunt criteria.

Essential scavenger hunt items to include:

• Smooth river rocks or interesting pebbles
• Different colored leaves (green, yellow, brown)
• Pinecones of varying sizes
• Feathers from local birds
• Animal tracks or signs of wildlife

Remember to establish clear boundaries and emphasize the “leave no trace” principle throughout your adventure. For families who enjoy regular camping adventures, consider investing in a motorhome to make these outdoor experiences even more convenient and accessible at Britain’s Motorhome Show.

Try Stargazing and Learn About Constellations

Have you ever wondered what stories the night sky holds above your campsite? Stargazing transforms ordinary camping nights into magical learning adventures for children.

Start by downloading a constellation app or bringing a star chart to identify major constellations like the Big Dipper, Orion, or Cassiopeia. Lay blankets away from campfire light and let your eyes adjust for fifteen minutes.

Point out bright stars and share constellation myths—kids love hearing about ancient warriors and mythical creatures mapped across the heavens. Bring red flashlights to preserve night vision while reading star maps.

Time your session after sunset when stars become most visible. Challenge children to spot planets like Jupiter or Venus, which appear brighter than surrounding stars.

Create lasting memories by encouraging them to invent their own constellation stories. If you’re planning camping trips near water, consider whether renting or buying a boat might enhance your outdoor adventures for future stargazing sessions from the lake.

Set Up Fun Outdoor Games and Challenges

While nighttime brings stargazing opportunities, daylight hours offer endless possibilities for active outdoor entertainment that gets kids moving and laughing. You’ll want to pack lightweight games that don’t require electricity or complex setup. Focus on activities that work with your campsite’s natural terrain and encourage exploration.

These outdoor games will keep children engaged throughout the day:

• Nature scavenger hunts – Create lists of items like pinecones, smooth rocks, or specific leaf shapes
• Obstacle courses – Use logs, rocks, and trees to design challenging pathways
• Water balloon tosses – Perfect for hot days and builds hand-eye coordination
• Flashlight tag – Ideal for dusk when it’s not completely dark
• Campfire storytelling contests – Encourage creativity with themed story prompts

These activities require minimal equipment while maximizing outdoor adventure and family bonding time. For families planning winter ski trips, consider adapting these games to snowy conditions and colder temperatures.

Explore Local Hiking Trails and Nature Walks

Though outdoor games provide excitement at your campsite, hiking trails offer children the chance to discover wildlife habitats, geological formations, and diverse ecosystems up close.

Hiking trails transform curious young campers into nature explorers, revealing hidden wildlife sanctuaries and fascinating geological wonders beyond the campsite boundaries.

Start with shorter trails suitable for your children’s ages and stamina levels. Pack lightweight snacks, water bottles, and a basic first-aid kit before heading out.

Turn hikes into treasure hunts by creating checklists of items to spot: specific birds, insects, wildflowers, or rock formations. Encourage kids to collect interesting leaves, pinecones, or stones for campfire discussions later.

Download nature identification apps to help identify plants and animals you encounter.

Choose trails with engaging features like waterfalls, bridges, or scenic overlooks to maintain children’s interest.

Remember to practice Leave No Trace principles, teaching kids to respect nature while exploring.

Before heading out on longer hikes, ensure your family’s gear is properly maintained by learning essential waterproofing techniques for your tent and equipment.

Create Nature Crafts Using Found Materials

After returning from your nature walks with pockets full of treasures, you can transform those collected materials into memorable keepsakes that’ll remind your family of the camping adventure for years to come. Nature crafting encourages creativity while teaching kids to appreciate their natural surroundings.

Set up a designated craft area at your campsite using a picnic table or blanket. Bring basic supplies like glue, string, and markers to complement your found materials. Guide your children through simple projects that showcase their discoveries.

• Leaf rubbing art – Place leaves under paper and rub with crayons
• Pine cone animals – Add googly eyes and pipe cleaners for creatures
• Rock painting – Transform smooth stones into colorful characters
• Twig picture frames – Glue small branches around cardboard frames
• Pressed flower bookmarks – Flatten flowers between wax paper

While crafting outdoors, keep some basic first aid supplies nearby since nature activities can sometimes result in minor scrapes, and knowing how to handle insect bites will help keep the creative fun going smoothly.

Practice Outdoor Cooking and Camp Meal Preparation

Getting kids involved in outdoor cooking transforms mealtime from a simple necessity into an exciting hands-on adventure that builds confidence and practical skills. Start with simple tasks like washing vegetables, mixing ingredients, or skewering marshmallows.

Teach them fire safety basics before letting them help tend the campfire or camp stove.

Try easy recipes that don’t require precise measurements—foil packet dinners, grilled cheese in cast iron, or banana boats stuffed with chocolate chips. Let them practice using camping utensils and learn proper food storage techniques to prevent wildlife encounters.

Assign age-appropriate responsibilities like gathering firewood, setting up the cooking area, or cleaning dishes. They’ll develop independence while contributing meaningfully to family meals, making every camping trip more collaborative and memorable.

These outdoor cooking experiences will become some of the most cherished memories from your family camping adventures.

Tell Stories and Share Camping Tales Around the Fire

When darkness settles over your campsite and the fire crackles to life, you’ve created the perfect stage for storytelling that’ll captivate kids and create lasting memories.

Gather everyone in a circle around the fire and encourage each person to share tales. You can tell classic ghost stories, recount family adventures, or invent new characters on the spot. Keep the atmosphere engaging by using different voices and dramatic gestures.

• Start with gentle, funny stories for younger children before progressing to spookier tales
• Encourage kids to create their own stories using camping objects as inspiration
• Share real family camping adventures from previous trips or your childhood
• Use a “story stick” that gets passed to the next storyteller
• Create ongoing serial stories that continue each night of your camping trip

Since fall weather can be unpredictable and chilly, consider having biker friendly camping gear ready to keep everyone comfortable during your storytelling sessions.

Teach Basic Outdoor Skills and Survival Techniques

Teaching children essential outdoor skills transforms camping from simple recreation into valuable life education. You’ll want to start with basic navigation using a compass and map, showing them how to identify landmarks and read trail markers. Demonstrate proper knot-tying techniques like bowline and clove hitch, which they’ll use for securing tarps and hanging bear bags.

Fire safety becomes vital knowledge—teach them to clear ground debris, build proper fire rings, and always keep water nearby. Show them how to identify edible plants versus poisonous ones in your area, and practice basic first aid skills like cleaning wounds and applying bandages.

Water purification methods, shelter-building with natural materials, and weather pattern recognition round out essential skills that’ll boost their confidence and outdoor competence. Before heading out, help them determine their ideal camping style by asking the right questions about their comfort level and adventure preferences.

Sum Up

You’ve got everything you need to create unforgettable camping memories with your kids. From campfire stories to nature crafts, these activities’ll turn your family trip into an adventure they’ll treasure forever. Remember, it’s not about having the perfect gear or flawless execution—the best-laid plans often go awry, but that’s where the real magic happens. Embrace the chaos, laugh at the mishaps, and watch your children fall in love with the great outdoors.