25 simple and fun family camping activities

25 simple and fun family camping activities

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So you’ve arrived at your destination, set up camp and are settling in enjoying the beautiful surroundings. And then come the questions… “what now?”, “what can I do?” or even worse, the dreaded…”I’m bored!”

Here are 25 boredom-beating ideas for fun family camping activities that will appeal to children (and adults) of all ages.



Fun family camping activities

fun family camping - walk | Photo by Jon Flobrant on Unsplash


1.  Go on a walk or hike

Whether it’s a gentle stroll or a more demanding day-hike there are sure to be trails you can explore on foot near your campsite. Do some research before you arrive so you know what’s in the local area.  Be sure to take into account the ages and abilities of all of your family before deciding where to go.

2.  Have a photographic scavenger hunt

A photographic scavenger hunt is a great activity to do while you’re on a walk or hike, or even just around your campsite.

3.  Make a journey stick

Making a journey stick is an easy and fun activity. All you need is a stick and some twine or wool.  Wind a piece of twine or wool around the stick then when you are out on a walk or hike, attach interesting leaves, moss, feathers, flowers and other natural bits and pieces you find along the way. It keeps children engaged with the journey and It makes a great memento of your walk (you may not want to bring it home with you, in which case take a photo of it).

Birdwatching | Photo by Phil Botha on Unsplash

4.  Go bird watching

How many different birds you can see and hear? Can you identify them? Take along a bird identification book or chart if you have one.

Fun family camping | climbing an apple tree

5.  Climb a tree

It doesn’t have to be a big tree. Strong trees of any size are fun to climb.

6.  Identify wildflowers and trees

Take along a wildlife identification book or chart, or take photos of the wildflowers or trees for identification when you get home.

7.  Make your own tic-tac-toe game

Use sticks, pebbles and other natural items you find to make a tic-tac-toe (noughts and crosses) game.

Dragonfly | Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on Unsplash

8.  Identify insects

How many different types of insects can you find? Are they same as you see at home or very different? Can you identify them? Take a photo or keep a log of all the different ones you see.

fun family camping activity - building a den

9.  Build a den or fort

See what you can find to build a den or a fort. We made this great den when we camped at the wonderful Greenhillock Glamping campsite in Angus, Scotland.

10.  Make miniature stick rafts

Use sticks, grass, and foliage to make miniature stick rafts. If there is a stream or pond nearby you can see if they float and try to race them.  You can even try out your rafts on puddles if it rains.

11.  Create some leaf rubbings or bark rubbings

Bring along some paper and crayons and get creative.

Cairn | Photo by Sean Stratton on Unsplash

12.  Make a small cairn

A cairn (a Scottish Gaelic word) is a man-made pile of stones or rocks. Is there anything more satisfying than finding the perfect rock to balance on top of another? Once you’ve finished your cairn, take a photo and put the rocks back where you found them.

13.  Play football, frisbee or catch

Start kicking around a football, or throw a frisbee or ball.  If you are camping near other families inevitably various children will join in, so it’s also a great way to make new friends.

fun family camping - read a book | Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash

14. Read a book

Brings books for everyone to read on their own for some quiet time, as well as a book to read aloud as a family.

15.  Go on a bike ride

Hop on your bikes and check out the local trails around your campsite.

Clouds in blue sky | Photo by Sam Schooler on Unsplash

16.  Watch the clouds

What shapes can you see in the clouds? Do you know your cumulus from your cirrus? See how many different types of clouds you can spot.

17.  Gather firewood

Before you start gathering firewood be sure to check whether it is permitted where you are camping. Tip: those massive blue carrier bags from Ikea (FRAKTA) are perfect for collecting and carrying firewood. We always have a couple in the car as they store flat and are handy for so many things.

18.  Make a campfire

This is our favourite camping activity.  There’s nothing quite like sitting around a campfire for creating cosy feelings of well-being.

Marshmallow toasting over flames | Photo by Leon Contreras on Unsplash

19.  Roast marshmallows

Use your roasted marshmallows to make s’mores or other yummy treats.

20.  Tell ghost stories around the campfire

At an age-appropriate level of scariness of course.  Remember this is supposed to be fun family camping. You don’t want to end up with kids too scared to go to sleep!

fun family camping - hot chocolate | Photo by Rachael Gorjestani on Unsplash

21.  Make hot chocolate

We normally have hot chocolate at breakfast, but really, any time is a good time for hot chocolate!

22.  Identify constellations in the night sky

Away from the light pollution of the cities and built-up areas, it’s amazing how many more stars you can see in the night sky. Can you identify any constellations? Use a night sky chart or planisphere to help you.

Owl sitting in a tree | Photo by Gunilla S-Granfalk on Unsplash

23.  Listen for owls

Can you hear any owls hooting? What kind of owls are they?

24.  Play charades

An oldie but a goodie. Charades is traditional but is still a great fun family camping activity. Take along pen and paper and make up your own charades, or bring along a charades game such as Charades for Kids.

25.  Play a board game, dice game, or card game

Board games, dice games and card games are perfect for winding down at the end of the day, or for beating boredom when it rains. Take along travel versions of your favourite family games, or try out some new ones. Our favourites for camping are Pass the Pigs and Uno.

So there you have it, 25 fun family camping activities for your next trip into the great outdoors. Lots of great ways to spend time together and make happy memories with your family.




 

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fun family camping | campfire in fire bowl