Camping Activities for Kids for a Great Adventure

Camping activities for kids are on the agenda today. Summer is here, and it’s the perfect time to get camping. Roasting marshmallows, star gazing, exploring the great outdoors – all of these and more are all part and parcel of a great camping trip.

This goes for both indoor and outdoor camping. Yes, I said camping indoors. An indoor camping adventure with the kids is just as much fun as an outdoor one, and it’s perfect when the weather isn’t cooperating.

However, another important part of camping is making sure you have fun camping activities planned. Kids have short attention spans, so it’s important to make sure their camping experience is full of, well, experiences. From indoor camping to backyard camping and, of course, the classic camping trip, we’re talking about camping activities for kids.

Indoor Camping vs Outdoor Camping

You might be wondering why indoor camping would even be a factor in a post about things to do with kids on a camping trip. After all, everything you need is already at your house, right? Well, yes and no.

Of course, you have everything you need for daily life in your home, but it’s how you use it when it comes to indoor camping. Camping is an experience, and while you can’t replicate the great outdoors when you’re indoors, you can do things to make the time feel more like actual camping. It’s definitely more than just staying up late as a family.

There are pros and cons to both indoor and outdoor camping, so let’s take a look at those.

Indoor Camping

Pros

Climate control
Furniture
No packing required
Plumbing
Electricity
No bugs
Family memories
Some kids are more likely to be happier with this option

Cons

No outdoor exploration
No interesting wildlife
Loss of the true camping experience
Opportunities for kids to lose interest

Outdoor Camping

Pros

Adventure
Interesting sights
Wildlife
True camping experience
New places (depending on where you go)
Family memories

Cons

Lots of packing
The elements
Bugs
If you forget it, it’s gone
Potential boredom

As you can see, there are pros and cons to each of these camping scenarios, and both have their place when it comes to family camping trips. The classic camping trip is an excellent idea for seeing new parts of either the country or your immediate area, and indoor camping can be a great bonding experience when you don’t have the time or the inclination to get out and rough it.

Camping with Kids Checklist

Depending on your needs, a lot can go into packing for an outdoor camping trip, especially if you have kids. Packing is key for outdoor camping trips because if you forget it, it’s gone. The following checklist will help ensure that you have everything you need when you set out on your camping adventure.

Gear

Tent(s)
Extra tarp or canopy
Sleeping bags for everyone
Sleeping pads for everyone
Repair kit for mattresses, pads, tents, tarps, etc.
Pillows
Extra blankets
Chairs
Headlamps or flashlights
Batteries
Lantern
Lantern batteries

Kitchen Items

Stove
Stove fuel
Matches or lighter
Firewood
Frying pan
Pot
French press or other portable coffee maker
Roasting sticks for marshmallows and hot dogs
Food storage containers
Trash bags
Cooler
Ice
Water bottles
Plates, bowls, forks, spoons, and knives
Cups and mugs
Cutlery
Cutting board
Foil
Biodegradable soap
Sponge, dishcloth, or dish towel
Paper towels
Extra bin for washing dishes

Clothes

Clothes
Sleepwear
Swimsuits
Rainwear
Shoes for hiking and water activities
Extra layers
Gloves
Hats

Personal Items

Sunscreen
Bug repellant
First aid kit
Prescription medications
Toothbrush and toiletries
Soap

Miscellaneous Items

Camera
Campsite reservation confirmation and phone number
Maps and area information
Bikes and toys
Pet supplies and food if needed
Arts and crafts supplies

Outdoor Camping Activities for Kids

One of the best parts of camping is all the family time you get to enjoy, however, you won’t enjoy it very much if your kids are complaining and miserable the entire time. Now that we’ve gotten all the other nuts and bolts of camping out of the way, it’s time to look at some fun camping activities you can do with the kids while enjoying the great outdoors.

Make hot dogs and S’Mores
Horseshoes
Nature scavenger hunts
Fishing
Swimming
Simple arts and crafts (nature themed is great)
Tell spooky stories
Hide and seek (near the campsite)
Identifying animals and plant life
Hiking
Biking
Lawn darts (safe versions now available)
Sing-alongs
Movie nights (if camping in a camper)
Stargazing
Naming constellations

Indoor Camping Ideas for Kids

Camping indoors is a great way to enjoy family togetherness when you don’t want to travel or the weather doesn’t allow for outdoor camping. Like outdoor camping, it offers the opportunity to connect as a family. However, unlike outdoor camping, indoor camping offers many more distractions that can take the focus away from family time.

Because it’s all about family togetherness, having fun camping activities for kids to enjoy while “camping” indoors is vital to making sure that the kids remain engaged and interested.

Make a fort for an indoor camping tent
Get the fort cozy as a family
Make snacks together
Arts and crafts (especially great camping activities for preschoolers)
Movie night
Board games
Party video games for the family (think Mario Party)
Hide and seek
Tell spooky stories
Make a “campfire” out of a battery-operated lantern

Indoor/Outdoor Camping Activities for Kids

Finally, we come to indoor/outdoor camping activities for kids. Camping in the backyard is sort of the best of both worlds. The family can get outdoors, as it were, while still remaining in close proximity to the bathroom, kitchen, and all the comforts of home. It’s an especially good introduction to camping for younger kids that have never camped before.

Perhaps the best part of camping in the backyard is that it offers almost all the activity options for both indoor and outdoor camping. Outdoor games and activities are all easily done in the backyard. You can swim if you have a pool. If you have a fire pit, you can even make S’Mores and roast marshmallows outdoors.

If the weather changes or if the kids get bored, head inside to do some arts and crafts, make a snack, watch a movie, play a board game, or do anything else that promotes family togetherness.

Camping Activities for Kids Promote Family Togetherness

The biggest point of camping is family togetherness and these camping activities for kids keep children interested and engaged so you can keep that family time going. Whether you’re road-tripping to a National Park, camping in the backyard, or building a fort and “camping” indoors, these fun camping activities will make for an adventure filled with family memories that last a lifetime.