Make camping more enjoyable with these 20 fun and engaging camp activities for kids and adults alike!
1. Fire Making
Building a fire is the perfect skill to hone while camping. It can brings individuals together, quite literally, as they huddle around the flames and soak in the warmth.
There’s something innately primordial about fire making. For kids, it’s hands on and captivating, and truly a lesson they’ll keep forever. For adults, it’s a great excuse to see who has the most outdoor experience!
If you need need a step-by-step guide, check out this article on How to Build a Fire. It’s a fun camp activity and definitely a camping must-do activity.
2. Fishing
If you end up camping near a large body of water, why not try your hand at fishing! It’s low impact, low stress and the perfect way to spend a morning or an afternoon.
Fishing gear for beginners is relatively inexpensive. You can easily pick up a rod, reel and some lures at your local outdoor store and you’re all set.
Spend countless hours practicing casting, reeling and patience. And, when you get a bit, the thrill of the catch!
3. Wood Whittling
Cut, carve and create unique pieces of art or tools for yourself while camping. Wood whittling is a fun craft and skill that hones your knife and fine woodworking abilities.
Although you’re dealing with sharp knives, whittling can be enjoyed by a wide variety of ages. Younger generations can learn safe knife handling skills, as well as flex their creative muscles carving out something out of a blank canvas.
Make sure you bring a good carving knife to whittle. Check out the Best Camping Knives for my recommendations!
4. Bird Watching
Bird watching is a classic outdoor favorite for kids and adults. It’s a great way to slow down and pay closer attention to the natural spaces around us.
Depending on the location and time of year, you can see anything from herons and hawks, to bald eagles and blue jays. Bring a local bird spotting guide to catalogue what you see.
And, if you’re eager to get a closer glimpse of nesting birds, invest in a good pair of beginner binoculars. A mid-ranged, compact pair will do the job just fine. I’d recommend these binoculars on Amazon – they’re fantastic!
5. Photography
Capturing the wilderness in all of it’s natural glory is captivating and fun. I could spend hours in a single location snapping pictures, highlighting different aspects of the animals, plants and landscape around me.
When camping, you can photograph as you go or allocate dedicated time to shooting your environment. To capture images, just use your camera phone! We all have them, and most phones take pretty decent quality photos and video.
Or, if you’re seriously thinking about photography, you can pick up a proper DSLR camera and lens package. They’re fairly inexpensive these days, and the results they offer are amazing. Check out this great beginner DLSR camera bundle on Amazon. It has everything you need for so little!
6. Star Gazing
Since most of us live in cities, we often forget that light pollution masks the intense beauty of the night sky. So, if you’re camping in a remote area and it’s a clear night and there’s an open area nearby, you have to try star gazing!
Orion’s belt, the big dipper, the milky way, and if you’re lucky enough, a shooting star are mesmerizing to witness. Just pull up a chair, or lay down a blanket and stare into the twinkle of the night sky.
If you bring a DSLR, this would also be a great opportunity to try astrophotography and long exposure shots.
7. Stone Stacking / Balancing
Whether it’s Stonehenge, the pyramids, or Machu Pichu, stone stacking has shaped our history since the dawn of man. So, why not mark your own place in history by building your own (mini) world heritage site out of stone!
Test your balance and building skills with this fun and engaging camp activity. All you need are rocks which are usually scattered throughout a campsite. The best rocks can be found along the banks of a river!
See if you can build your own inuksuk or balance multiple rocks on top of each other without them toppling! So, let your creativity guide you as you master stone monument masterpieces.
8. Biking
Whether you’re in the mood for a relaxed tour of the countryside or want to tackle a more intense trail, biking is the perfect activity that let’s you see and do more.
Bring your own bikes or see if can rent bikes closer to where you stay. Pick up a local cycling guide and see what routes are doable for you and your family!
9. Board Games
A personal favorite, board games are a fantastic way of bringing people together while camping. Day or night, rain or shine, a little friendly competition or engaging cooperation makes time fly.
There are many board games that are perfectly suited for a camping trip: Monopoly deal, Carcassonne, Coup, Citadels, and Codenames. They’re easy to learn, have low set up time, and offer hours of fun.
See why these games are great by checking out The Best Two-Player Games and The Best Office Board Games.
10. Slacklining
Release your inner high-flying, circus loving inner child and give slacklining a try! Essentially, it’s tightrope walking but on a strap that is usually wider and with more slack.
It’s great for older kids and adults young at heart. Although it’s extremely challenging and fun for hours on end, it can be risky too, so exercise extreme caution.
Pick up an inexpensive slacklining kit online (here’s a perfect beginner set on Amazon!) and try it out during your next camping trip.
11. Paddling
Canoeing, kayaking, or the even standing up variant, paddling is a relaxing activity for everyone to enjoy. Just being on the water on those cooler mornings, paddling across a calm, reflective lake is absolutely grounding.
I find renting canoes and kayaks close campgrounds the easiest and most convenient option. Most outfitters usually offer car roof-top kits so you can strap it on and take it whenever you go if needed.
Make sure you and everyone else on the water, including dogs, wear a personal flotation device.
12. Swimming
Whether you’re just planning on getting your feet wet, or back flipping off a 30-foot cliff, swimming while camping is refreshing and cooling especially on those hot summer days.
Bring your bathing suit, a towel, waterproof sunscreen and perhaps even goggles. Make sure to check the depth and see if there are any protruding objects in the water before cliff jumping.
Lifejackets are recommended to be worn by kids and weak swimmers.
13. Scavenger Hunt
Kids (and some adults) utterly go bonkers during a scavenger hunt. Solving puzzles, cracking codes and following directions is a great way to distract and keep anxious and restless campers busy. Hey parents, hide surprises like deserts or snacks to make the game that more rewarding!
Before leaving, or during your stay, plan out a few clues and hide them around your campsite. When the time is right, present the first clue to the participants and let the hunt begin!
Channel your inner Nickolas Cage and go searching for that illusive national treasure. Who knows, the declaration of independence could be hiding in the forest right behind you!
14. Archery
A bow, a few arrows and a target can result in hours of fun while camping. Channel your inner Robin Hood and turn it into a competition to see who’s got the best sights and can hit a bulls-eye.
Archery kits for beginners are relatively inexpensive. This one on Amazon is great for young kids just learning how to shoot, whereas this one is geared towards adults. Make sure you watch an archery safety video first before shoot!
15. Sling Shooting
If archery seem too cumbersome, sling shooting is just as fun and much more portable. It can be easily learned and you can get really good really quickly!
You can easily build your own sling shot with rubber bands or bungee chord – just find the right Y-shaped branch. Or, better yet, purchase one online. This sling shot on Amazon is perfect for kids and adults, and it comes with BB’s. No need to look for pebbles!
16. Geocaching
Depending on where you stay, you might be able to participate in a geocaching adventure!
For those unfamiliar with the term, geocaching is when you search for items that are hidden on land and to find them you need to follow specific coordinates and instructions.
Before leaving to camp, perform a google search on your campground and add the term “geocache”. You’d be surprised at home many places have hidden items scattered around. It’ll keep kids and adults occupied all day long.
17. Rock Climbing / Bouldering
For hard-core adventure seekers, outdoor rock climbing is the perfect sport to include while camping. Setting up a top rope or lead-climbing can be both challenging and fun. Outdoor rock climbing does require some previous experience and should only be conducted by competent people.
Bouldering is a great option for those who want to climb, but would also like to stay relatively close to the ground. Bouldering is climbing on rock formations without a harness or rope, on obstacles or terrain that isn’t too high. Most people boulder with a partner and use crash pads to soften any falls.
If you do end up climbing, make sure to be extra careful. Do not attempt anything that is beyond your skill level, or anything that risks serious injury. Remember, the goal is to have fun!
18. Perform a Séance
Well, since you’re in a forest, usually with a roaring campfire, and potentially with a group of like-minded people, why not gather around and perform a séance!
For those unfamiliar, here’s a short video on how to perform a séance yourself. You’ll be conjuring up the spirits, and seeing who’s truly present from the forces beyond our realm in no time.
However, there is a slight chance that you may conjure up a bunch of ghost bears. If that ends up happening, just make sure you use ghost pepper spray…
19. Food Crafts
Food crafts are always a sure fire way to get campers perked up and munching on delicious snacks or treats.
A few favourites include banana-boats, s’mores and spider-dogs – they’re all relatively simple to make!
If you’re interested, check out these how-to videos for creating your own culinary crafts:
20. Sports!
There are a variety of land and water-based sports you can enjoy with your friends and family while camping. All you need to bring is enthusiasm (and the right sports gear!).
Here’s a helpful list of sports activities that you can consider, depending on where you end up staying:
- Badminton
- Baseball
- Body boarding
- Touch football
- Marco-polo
- Parkour
- Soccer
- Surfing
- Tag
- Ultimate (Frisbee)
- Volleyball
Just be sure to keep teams evenly matched and you’re guaranteed to have a blast!
Camp activities are awesome! Remember to be inclusive and ask your fellow camp neighbours if they’d like to join in too. It’s a great way to break the ice and to meet more people while outdoors.
What activities do you enjoy while camping? Let us know your favorites in the comments below!
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