17 Fun Camping Activities for Kids

Build a Campfire

Get kids fired up for an evening around the pit with these tips from Richard Wiese, author of Born to Explore: How to Be a Backyard Adventurer. First, have your child collect small twigs and bark (tinder), short sticks (kindling), and larger logs (fuel).

Put the tinder in the designated fire pit, and set the kindling up tepee style over it. Use a match to light the tinder, slowly adding the additional sticks and logs as the fire builds. Stay safe by drawing a zone in the dirt 3 to 5 feet around the fire and instructing kids not to pass the line.

Sing Campfire Songs

Does your family love music? Then sing campfire songs around the fire! Here are some ideas (although the possibilities are endless):

• "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain"
• "We're Going On a Bear Hunt"
• "The Campfire Song Song" (from Spongebob Squarepants)
• "The Wheels On The Bus"
• "Home on the Range"
• "Baby Shark"

Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts can entertain before it gets dark: Compile a list of objects to find—like specific leaves, flowers, and plants—or hide items like marshmallows, bottle caps, marbles, and other little things around your campsite.

Study Bugs

Your kids can search for particularly icky bugs underneath rocks. "Observing insects is an excellent way for kids to learn respect for nature," says Melissa Chapman, editor of The Staten Island Family. "Bugs shouldn't just be stomped on, they're an integral part of our ecosystem."

Take a Hike

What better way to explore your surrounding than with a family hike? While hiking, sing or talk so you don't surprise any unsuspecting critters; they'll stay out of your way if they know that you're coming. And make it a rule for everyone to use the buddy system, even for short walks to the restroom.

Analyze Animal Prints

Help your kids match photos of animals with their footprints. It's a great way to teach them about wildlife!

Make Nature Rubbings

Pack some paper and crayons, and make nature rubbings. Pick an interesting leaf, lay it down on a flat surface, put a piece of white paper over it, turn your crayon lengthwise, and rub over the leaf. Or press leaves and flowers into a book as mementos of your camping adventure.

Go Zen With Cloud Watching

During the day, search for hidden images in the clouds. From hippopotamuses to floating castles, you never know what your kids might find!

Stargaze at Night

Stargazing is a popular camping activity, but identifying constellations isn't easy. Get an updated version of Find the Constellations by H. A. Rey (the author behind Curious George) or use an app like SkyView that lets you point your phone right at the night sky to identify the constellations you're looking at.

Create Pebble Pets

Hunt for pebbles (or shells) with your child and decorate them with markers or paint to resemble wild creatures. Hide them around the campsite for others to find!

Host a Shadow Puppet Show

Using a flashlight as a spotlight, host a shadow puppet show on the tent walls. Make a bunny, a wolf, or a snake, and have your child concoct stories about its escapades.

Tell Campfire Stories

A classic camping experience isn't complete without stories by the fire. For older kids, try out some spooky tales, like those from Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories. Younger kids probably prefer less frightening stories, such as the ones in Woo! The Not-So-Scary Ghost or The Not-So-Scary Monster Handbook. You can also encourage kids to make up their own narratives around the fire!

Ask Fun Questions

Without technology or distractions, camping is a great bonding experience for families. During your downtime, ask your kids some interesting questions: If you had to give everyone in the family new names, what would they be? Where would you like to travel in the future? What's a memory that makes you happy?

Get Out Lawn Games

Consider bringing some lawn games from home, like cornhole, lawn darts, or ring toss. You can also take the opportunity to teach kids classic outdoor activities like Ghost in the Graveyard, Capture the Flag, SPUD, and Kick the Can!

Play Charades

Charades is the perfect camping activity for kids—you don't need any special supplies, and you can play it anywhere!

Cook Up Something New

Spice up camp cuisine—and teach kids some cooking skills—with these eats from Catherine McCord, creator of the kiddie foodie site Weelicious.

• Sunny Start: Cook oatmeal in a pot over the campfire, then stir in walnuts and raisins for a protein-packed breakfast that'll keep you going all day.
• Pizza Party: Spread tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese on a whole-wheat tortilla and add toppings such as veggies and shredded chicken. Cover with another tortilla, and wrap in foil. Come dinnertime, place the foil-wrapped quesadillas directly on your campfire's embers or unwrap and heat in a cast-iron pan or directly on a grill. When the cheese melts, cut the tortillas into wedges and serve.
• Fruity Fun: Skewer a whole, unpeeled banana and grill over the campfire, like you would a marshmallow. When the banana is soft, split it down the middle and sprinkle with chocolate chips or sauce and scoop straight out of the peel with a spoon. Your crew will be begging for s'more bananas!

Quiz Them With Trivia

Brush up on your kid's knowledge with some fun-loving trivia questions. You can make a list of camping-specific questions about animals, nature, and plants. But you can also cater the questions to your child's interests, whether it's Harry Potter, science, or Disney movies.