13 Fun Camping Activities For Families

Last Updated on September 20, 2022 by Rose Morah

Camping with kids can be hard, especially if you are doing it for the first time.

However, with proper planning and some fun camping activities, you will be sure to enjoy and have a successful camping experience.

In this article, we are going to discuss the best ways to have fun and enjoy your camping experience with your family.

Table Of Contents

Camping activities for families
How to enjoy a good family camping experience

Camping activities for families

1. Let them find their own fun activities. Just let them be!

One thing I would really recommend to parents or guidance is to let their kids be free to use their imagination and enjoy mother nature in their own ways.

Allow them to make decisions and give them their space. This means not being afraid to let them invent their own activities.

Additionally, let them run around, throw things, climb trees and rocks and play with pots and pans outside the camp. That’s what makes camping with family awesome.

You will be surprised to find that, there will be no yelling and the campsite will be at peace for the better part of the day because you have given them the opportunity to let their imaginations run!

2. Get everyone involved

Getting everyone involved always brings out some form of fun when you’re camping out with the family.

This is because everyone gets to be busy, and this ensures that there’s no room for boredom.

Additionally, most of the tasks that everyone can do while camping are usually awesome outdoors life lessons that make them better people.

The following are a few ways of getting everyone involved:

Collecting firewood
Collecting water
Let them make s’mores with different ingredients
Cooking
Helping set up the camp

Think of camping as a learning experience that exposes and shows you new things in a fun way!

You could also get walkie-talkies for the kids so they can run around talking to each other as they fetch firewood e.t.c

3. Take photos

Taking photos when camping is another fun activity that you will all love as you create memories together.

When camping with kids, you could buy them a disposable camera to take pictures of anything they want.

They could also use a digital camera, and later on, you go through the pictures with them at the campfire. This is actually amazing because it’s like being given an opportunity to see the world through their eyes.

4. Build “fairy villages” together

This is another fun activity that you can do together as a family, especially with kids. You can work as a team to gather sticks, rocks, and leaves then build little “fairy villages”.

Alternatively, you could also collect rocks and build towers.

This is definitely a great way to keep the kids busy and entertained while camping with your family.

5. Carry camping toy essentials

Camping toys are great when you are camping with kids because they get them entertained, and you also get your own time.

Here is a list of some of the best camping toys:

Sparklers.
Sand toys.
Bucket/shovel toys.
Digging tools/toys.
Squirt guns.
Water toys.
Inflatable pool.
Binoculars for bird hunting.
Plant identification.
Balls to play or toss with.
Frisbees.
Giant Jenga.
Bow and Arrow.
Ropes. You can hang anything from a tree using the rope and have them hit it to win rewards. To make it more entertaining/pass time, keep losing track of the scores.

6. Scavenger hunts

Scavenger hunt is a fun game that you can include in your fun camping activities. However, I recommend using Pinterest to get great and fresh ideas.

7. Play a water gun fight

If you are camping during summer, I would recommend that you get water guns and have fun together!

8. Go fishing together

Fishing is one of the best ways to keep everyone busy while camping.

My kids can spend hours on end just catching little things with their little kid poles and watching them in a clear bucket.

9. Have some evening activities to keep everyone entertained

Some of the fun camping activities that can be done in the evening at the campfire include:

Roasting marshmallows.
Telling stories. To make this even more interesting each person can add a made-up story or share memories.
Singing songs.
Cooking together.

10. Make a paper fortune teller

This is a fun activity that keeps the family entertained when it’s raining at the camping site.

Therefore, don’t forget to carry some pens and paper.

11. Play volleyball

This is yet another fun way to keep the whole family entertained. You will hence need to carry a small net and a ball to play.

The good thing is that you don’t need to carry poles from home especially if you are camping in the woods.

If you do not have a net, you can improvise or use the clothesline to play.

12. Go hiking and rock climbing

Hiking is the most fun activity to do with the family if you are looking to catch spectacular views and take pictures together while camping.

You can also try night hikes, they are awesome if you are not camping with younger kids.

Rock climbing is also another great and fun camping activity for families.

13. Go swimming in lakes and mountain streams

Personally, I have had a lot of fun swimming in lakes and mountain streams when camping with my family.

Other than swimming you could go canoeing/kayaking.

How to enjoy a good family camping experience

When you go camping with the family, avoid carrying their electronic devices(smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc).

Otherwise, what will the purpose of taking your family camping if everyone will be glued to their phones or tablets?

As a parent or guardian, while camping as a family, try not to lead everyone in everything!