Camping with kids is a great way to disconnect from screens, get closer to nature, and create lifelong memories as a family. The fresh air, scenic views, and the opportunity to learn about the environment offer countless benefits. However, keeping kids entertained outdoors can sometimes be a challenge. The good news is that camping offers endless opportunities for fun! Camping games not only engage children but also encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and creative thinking. Whether you’re on a weekend camping trip or a week-long adventure, these exciting camping games for kids, curated by The Kids Point, will make your outdoor experience unforgettable.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
A nature scavenger hunt is a classic outdoor game that combines exploration and learning. This game encourages kids to interact with their surroundings, develop observation skills, and learn about different plants, animals, and natural elements.
How to Play:
- Before you go camping, create a list of things the kids need to find. Include items like pinecones, specific leaves, animal tracks, different types of rocks, or certain birds.
- Divide the kids into teams or let them play individually.
- Provide each team with a list and a bag to collect the items (for items like rocks or leaves).
- Set a time limit for the hunt, and the team or individual who finds the most items within that time wins.
Tip: To make it educational, you can add facts about each item on the list, such as the type of tree a leaf comes from or the species of bird they need to find.
Capture the Flag
Capture the Flag is a fast-paced, strategy-based game that’s perfect for larger groups of kids. It’s a fantastic way to burn off energy and get kids moving.
How to Play:
- Divide the group into two teams and mark off two territories using natural landmarks like trees or rocks.
- Each team hides their “flag” (this could be a bandana or a piece of brightly colored cloth) somewhere within their territory.
- The objective is for one team to sneak into the other team’s territory, find the flag, and bring it back to their own territory without getting tagged.
- If a player is tagged in the opposing team’s territory, they are “frozen” until a teammate tags them to free them.
Tip: Make sure the playing area is free of hazards like steep hills or dense brush, and establish clear boundaries to ensure everyone stays safe.
Glow Stick Hide-and-Seek
As the sun sets, you can turn a traditional game of hide-and-seek into an exciting night-time adventure with glow sticks. This game is sure to be a hit once it gets dark.
How to Play:
- Give each player a glow stick to wear around their neck or wrist.
- Designate one player to be “It.”
- The rest of the kids hide while “It” counts to a certain number.
- Once the countdown is complete, “It” searches for the glowing players hiding in the dark.
- The first player to be found becomes “It” for the next round.
Tip: Use glow-in-the-dark bracelets or necklaces that are easy to spot, and ensure that the camping area is safe for night-time play, with clear boundaries for hiding.
Campfire Charades
Charades is a timeless game that can be easily adapted for camping. All you need is some imagination and a campfire for warmth and ambiance.
How to Play:
- Write down simple camping-themed actions, animals, or objects on small slips of paper, such as “tent,” “bear,” or “canoeing.”
- Fold the papers and place them in a hat or bag.
- One player draws a slip, then silently acts out what’s written on the paper while the rest of the group guesses what it is.
- The person who guesses correctly takes the next turn.
Tip: You can add an educational twist by using nature-related items and encouraging kids to act out animals or natural events like “rain” or “eagle.”
Sack Races
Sack races are a fun, high-energy game that never fails to bring laughter. They are easy to set up and require minimal supplies—just a few burlap sacks or large cloth bags.
How to Play:
- Each player stands inside a sack, holding the edges up around their waist.
- At the sound of a whistle or a “Go!” signal, they hop as fast as they can toward the finish line.
- The first person to cross the finish line wins.
Tip: Sack races can be made even more exciting by adding obstacle courses with logs, branches, or cones.
Camping Bingo
Bingo is a relaxing game that can be enjoyed around the picnic table or campfire. Camping Bingo offers a nature twist to the traditional game, encouraging kids to observe their surroundings.
How to Play:
- Before your camping trip, print out Bingo cards with pictures or words of different outdoor items like trees, animals, insects, and camping gear.
- As you explore the campsite, the kids mark off the items they spot.
- The first player to get five in a row shouts “Bingo!” and wins.
Tip: Customize the game for your specific camping location by including local wildlife and vegetation, or create cards with different difficulty levels based on the age of the players.
Forest Olympics
Turn your campsite into an Olympic arena with this series of competitive games that test both physical skills and creativity.
How to Play:
- Create different “events” using natural materials. For example, you can have a rock toss, log balancing, stick javelin, or a pinecone throwing contest.
- Keep score for each event, and award gold, silver, and bronze “medals” made from leaves, sticks, or stones.
Tip: Make sure all events are age-appropriate and safe, and allow the kids to help design their own challenges for added creativity.
Trail Tag
Trail tag is a version of tag that’s played while walking or hiking on a trail. It’s a great way to add excitement to a nature walk, especially if you’re exploring new terrain.
How to Play:
- Choose one person to be “It.”
- As the group walks along the trail, “It” tries to tag another player, who then becomes the new “It.”
- You can introduce variations such as “freeze tag,” where tagged players must remain frozen until another player frees them, or “shadow tag,” where players are only tagged if their shadow is touched by “It.”
Tip: Ensure that the game is played on a safe and well-marked trail, and establish rules about staying together and respecting nature.
Animal Relay Races
An animal-themed relay race adds a creative twist to a classic activity. It’s perfect for getting kids active and laughing as they imitate different animals.
How to Play:
- Mark a start and finish line.
- Divide the kids into teams.
- Assign each team a different animal for each leg of the relay, such as hopping like a frog, crawling like a bear, or waddling like a duck.
- Each child must complete their leg of the race using the assigned animal movement before tagging the next player to go.
Tip: To make the game even more fun, let the kids take turns choosing the animal movements.
Story Stick
This creative game combines storytelling with the outdoors and is a fantastic way to wind down after a day of activities.
How to Play:
- Sit around the campfire or in a circle and pass around a stick.
- Each player adds a sentence or two to a collective story when they are holding the stick.
- The story can be funny, spooky, or adventurous, with each player contributing to its twists and turns.
- The game continues until the story reaches a satisfying or silly conclusion.
Tip: To tie the story into nature, encourage the kids to incorporate elements of the camping trip into the tale, like animals they’ve seen or experiences they’ve had during the day.
Leaf Art Contest
Engage kids in nature-based art by holding a leaf art contest. This activity is not only fun but also encourages creativity and an appreciation for nature.
How to Play:
- Gather leaves of various shapes, sizes, and colors from around the campsite.
- Provide the kids with paper and glue, or let them arrange the leaves directly on the ground to create artwork.
- Encourage them to create animals, landscapes, or abstract patterns using the leaves.
- At the end of the contest, everyone votes on the most creative or colorful design.
Tip: To make it more eco-friendly, have the kids collect leaves that have already fallen rather than pulling them from trees.
Tug of War
Tug of War is a fun, energetic game that gets kids working as a team. It’s easy to set up and can be played almost anywhere.
How to Play:
- Find a long, sturdy rope.
- Divide the group into two teams.
- Mark a line on the ground to serve as the midpoint.
- Each team grabs one end of the rope and pulls as hard as they can, trying to drag the opposing team across the line.
- The team that pulls the other over the line wins.
Tip: Make sure the playing area is free of rocks and sharp objects to ensure safety.
Cloud Watching
For a more relaxing outdoor activity, cloud watching is a wonderful way to spark kids’ imaginations while they enjoy a calm moment.
How to Play:
- Lie on your back with the kids and look up at the sky.
- Encourage them to point out different shapes and figures they see in the clouds, such as animals, faces, or objects.
- Take turns describing what you see and let the kids use their imaginations to create stories around the shapes.
Tip: Cloud watching can be a soothing way to relax and reflect on the day’s adventures, making it a perfect pre-bedtime activity.
Bird Watching Bingo
Bird watching is a great way for kids to learn about wildlife and connect with nature. By turning it into a Bingo game, you can make it even more engaging.
How to Play:
- Create Bingo cards with pictures or names of common birds in the area.
- Give each child a pair of binoculars and a card.
- As the kids spot different birds, they mark them off on their cards.
- The first player to complete a row wins.
Tip: Provide bird identification books or use apps to help kids learn about the birds they’re spotting.
Fishing for Prizes
If your campsite has access to a lake or river, consider organizing a fishing contest. This can be both educational and fun, especially for kids who have never fished before.
How to Play:
- Provide fishing rods, bait, and basic fishing instruction to the kids.
- Set a time limit for the contest, and offer prizes for different categories, such as the biggest fish, the smallest fish, or the most fish caught.
- Even if the kids don’t catch anything, they’ll still enjoy the excitement of casting their lines and waiting for a bite.
Tip: If actual fishing isn’t an option, you can create a “fishing” game with a kiddie pool, magnetic fishing rods, and toy fish. Camping is a fantastic way to create lasting memories with kids while immersing them in nature. By incorporating these exciting camping games, you’ll keep them entertained, active, and engaged throughout the trip. Whether they’re hopping like frogs, finding hidden glow sticks, or participating in a scavenger hunt, these outdoor games are guaranteed to bring fun, laughter, and learning to your camping experience. At The Kids Point, we believe that these games foster creativity, teamwork, and a love for the great outdoors. So, the next time you set off for the great outdoors, pack these game ideas along with your tent and sleeping bags for a truly unforgettable adventure!