20+ Ideas for Camping with Kids Your Family will Love
There’s something so special about camping with kids. If you’ve never experienced a campout with your kids, you’re in for a real treat. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite ideas and activities for camping with kids.
If you’ve been a reader here any length of time, you already know how much I love camping with my kids! Whether it’s a weekend camp out or a full-blown week (or more) in the great outdoors, camping just has a way of bringing families closer together.
So, there’s no way I could do a series on Summer Fun without including ideas for camping.
20+ Ideas for Camping with Kids
Here are some of my favorite ideas for camping with kids:
- 6 Reasons Why I Love Camping with My Kids
- Simple Round Sit-Upons {Sewing Machine}
- Bandana Sit-Upons {Easy for Kids to Make}
- Memory Rocks
- Botany Scavenger Hunt
- Grilled Pineapple on a Stick
- Bread on a Stick
- Roasting Marshmallows and/ or Making S’mores
- How to Survive Weekend Camping with a Toddler
- Glow Sticks
- Melted Crayon Rocks
- Nature Walks or Hikes
- Fundanas
- Walking Tacos
- Campfire Muffins
- Family Worship on a Camp Out
- Campfire Stew and Baked Apple or Banana Packets for Dessert
- Camping Safety Tips
- Ice Cream in a Bag
- Catching Fireflies {Be sure to bring along some recycled jars!}
- Hiking a Trail
Of course, part of the joy of camping, in my opinion, is often those moments that “nothing” is going on. It isn’t necessary to plan a ton of “events” for your camp out.
If you’re camping near a creek or lake, for example, just let the kids be and explore without an agenda for an afternoon. Be sure to supervise your kids! My life is so busy on a day-to-day basis that having time to just relax in the peace and quiet of nature and sunshine (or even rain) is so refreshing!
If you decide you want a true wilderness adventure, like the 24-mile backpacking trip I took with my girls last fall, there will be less downtime as you hike from campsite to campsite and work on getting food prepared and tents up each day, but there is still something incredibly therapeutic about braving the wild together.
One of my favorite things about camping is the food {really I just love food no matter where I am}, so I always plan easy, but tasty meals like my Campfire Stew.
Here are some of my favorite camp foods:
- Breakfast Burritos
- Campfire Stew
- Haystacks
- Chili and Cornbread Patties
- Fajitas
- Pancakes and Eggs
- Grits
- Oatmeal
- Hamburgers and Hot Dogs
- Trail Mix
- Chips and Dip
- Potato Salad or Baked Potatoes cooked in the fire
- Baked Beans
- Macaroni and Cheese
I suggest that when planning what food to bring that you plan your menus for each day, servings, and snacks. I hate over-packing.
Camping is just such a fun time, I hope you’ll give it a try this summer!
P.S. Not ready for a wilderness experience? Why not host a Backyard Campout with friends!
