11 No-Fuss Camping Activities with Kids

11 Fun Camping Activities with Kids that Don’t Require Extra Stuff

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This list of fun Camping Activities for kids focuses on what you can do with what you already have when camping. There are so many things to bring with you when camping, that some trips you really don’t want to have to pack extra activities and games or crafts with lots of pieces that will get lost. 

Don’t get me wrong, crafts and cards while camping are fun, but sometimes you just need a list of activities for your kids to do while camping that skip the set up.

So next time you go camping with your kids, pick one (or more) of the following and keep it simple.

Camping should be relaxing. You should be able to de-stress and connect with quality family time. Leave behind the responsibilities of chores at home. This includes the stress of packing a bunch of toys you’ll have to keep track of, clean, and pack.

Here we go: 10 Camping Activities with Kids- without the hassle of packing more stuff.

1. Play Make Believe

Sometimes as adults it’s hard for us to come up with the story line to follow for make believe.

That’s ok.

You don’t need to come up with anything.

That’s right, even if your kid is a tiny toddler, they can and should be the one calling the shots here.

All you have to do is let them lead you. They will oftentimes tell you exactly what to do and say to match up with whatever role playing is going on in their magnificent imagination.

Do you want a bit more guidance or a way to help keep the kids on track? Maybe they are stuck in a rut of boredom and need your ideas to spark their game play.

Pretend you’re on a cooking show or looking for fairies or a superhero there to save the day.

Act out being their favorite TV show or book characters.

Climb on a rock and roar like lions.

Make Believe Kid Games/Activities

• Mimic book/TV show plot
• Pretend to be superheroes
• Pretend to be dinosaur hunters
• “Cook” something up in a pretend kitchen
• Be a protector of fairies
• Ride make-believe horses around camp
• Pretend to be animals
• Plan a pretend birthday (or un-birthday) party
• Have a tea party
• Pretend to be mythical creatures (mermaids, dragons, etc.)
• Run away from “monsters” or “ghosts”

Creative play doesn’t have to be perfect or make sense.

Oftentimes, the sillier the scenario, the better. Bring on the cupcake eating aliens who are friends with BigFoot!

This is one of my favorite camping activities with kids. It’s so entertaining and rewarding to watch little imaginations at play. It’s amazing how much kids mimic what they hear you do and say when they play pretend.

2. Walk around the Campgrounds

Hopefully you have a hike (or more!) built into your time camping, but that doesn’t mean you should skip a simple walk around the campgrounds. 

Check out what the other campsites look like, see if there’s a ranger station or gift shop. Stretch your legs and soak in the beauty of where you decided to live for a couple of nights.

We found a “Fairy tree” at one campsite. The side of it truly looked like a little door and window.

Many campsites have fun little extras. Hermit Gulch on Catalina Island had a rock maze pictured above. Boulder Basin had giant boulders the girls could easily climb. 

Sometimes there is a stage in the campgrounds (usually if they have group camping programs). Stop your campground walk and let the kids put on a show while you sit for a bit on the benches- everybody wins!

3. Sing & Dance

You know that stage you just found? 

Use it as a kid camping activity while you rest, or join in the fun as well.

Disney songs, kids songs, your favorite songs- whatever you know your kids like at home, sing and dance to it from memory.

If there is a cell phone signal, you can even bring a bluetooth speaker to play music- if you really want to pack extra.

Just keep in mind quiet hours. And if it is in the middle of the day, still be respectful and don’t blare your music full volume.

Let the kids make up songs, laugh and dance a bit, then move onto the next adventure.

4. Play Games

Games are the perfect kid camping activity. We love board games and card games, but also games that don’t require any pieces.

Games that create movement and use energy are perfect to help keep the peace at camp.

If kids get bored and have no outlet for their energy, that’s when the whining can get really bad.

Active Camping Games for Kids

• Red Light Green Light
• Simon Says
• Follow the Leader
• Races
• Hokey Pokey

Some games are more word or rhyme games, or hand clapping games (like patty-cake)

Word Camping Games for Kids 

• Going on a Picnic (alphabet game)
• Eye Spy
• Down by the Banks (clapping game)
• Ms. Sue from Alabama (clapping game)
• Guess the Animal 
• Rock, Paper, Scissors

Of course, toddlers may not play exactly by the rules so don’t get hung up over those details. Just introduce the concept and have fun with it!

5. Interact with Nature

Make sure you do your homework on this one. You can’t take anything from a National Park. Leave No Trace is also a big movement to ensure nature can continue to be enjoyed by everyone.

Also steer clear from plants that may be harmful. Stick to your campsite and don’t wander too far into the brush, especially if there’s poison oak nearby.

This doesn’t mean you can’t pick up some rocks or leaves or sticks.

Use the small stones in your make believe cooking show, or use a stick as a magic wand.

You can also draw in the dirt with a stick to play tic-tac-toe or just create a picture. There are lots of kids activities you can do with nature while camping.

I always loved making little houses out of sticks and leaves, and it’s fun to help my girls now do the same.

Just remember to be respectful and put things back as you found them.

6. Cook Meals

This may not seem so much like a fun activity for kids, but hear me out.

Let them help you get dinner ready. By stirring the chili or setting out the dishes, they will feel proud and part of the team. 

For little ones you don’t even need to try and hype up how “cool” it is to help cook at the campsite- they already want to help and just be a part of what you are doing.

It may take a bit longer to get stuff done, but it’s worth the time.

The more the help, the more they learn, the more natural it will be to keep helping as they grow.

As for it being a game- everything is a game when you’re little. Especially if you get to spend time with your parents.

7. Wash Dishes

Speaking of helping- our girls both went/are going through phases of washing dishes being the most fun thing ever. Talk about a beneficial kid camping activity.

Lean into that full force while it lasts.

Think about it…they get to play with water and bubbles?

Yes please! It’s a little kid’s dream.

Drying the dishes can also be a fun game for them. If you’re rolling your eyes right now because your kid is no longer at an age where chores are fun, think back to when they were at least interested. 

Find that nugget of family collaboration. Things that might help would be to let them pick out their own camping spoon or dish set. Letting them help get the dish water can also be an adventure- especially trying not to spill it on the way back!

8. Make S’mores

Always a fun- and delicious- activity!

Have the kids pick out some special s’mores ingredients then let them make their creation.

Even the littles can help “hold” the marshmallow (with you actually holding it of course- please supervise responsibly).

Our favorites are to use Reese’s Pieces Hershey Bars or white chocolate .

The cinnamon Graham crackers were not our favorite…

What’s your favorite s’more combination? Let us know in the comments!

9. Tell Jokes and Campfire Stories

This kids’ camping activity cracks me up. Even if the jokes aren’t funny, it’s funny hearing what they think is funny.

We always bring a book with us, but you don’t actually need one to just make up jokes and stories.

Just like the make believe games, let your kids speak from their imagination. Even if it doesn’t make a lick of sense.

Uh-oh. Is it your turn to tell the joke or story?

Here are a few campfire story prompts we made up.

Campfire Story Prompts

• Why would a bunny be late for school?
• A princess ran into a dragon on a hike…
• A haunted mansion with a silly ghost.
• A scary noise in the woods at night (turns out to be an owl).
• Recount your day as a story with your kids as the characters.

And this book, The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids, is a gold mine of short, easy, and (I think) funny jokes– perfect for the whole family! Think your stereotypical “dumb dad joke” status here with short jokes, knock knock jokes, tongue twisters, and more!

10. Learn New Skills

Learning is fun for kids. That’s why it’s easy. As adults we are tired and forget how fun it can be to learn something new or interesting. 

If you don’t know these things yourself, then learn them together! With the internet there are countless resources out there.

Of course, your kid’s age will determine what camping activity and how much they can actually do, but each of these items can be simplified. 

I’m not saying to give a 2 year old a flint and striker, but you can let them help hand you some smaller pieces of firewood.

Camping Skills to Learn

• Stargazing
• Using a compass
• Starting a campfire
• Setting up the Tent
• Identifying plants
• Finding signs of wildlife

11. Participate in Ranger Programs

Still feeling crafty? A lot of State and National Parks have Ranger Programs for kids. This can range from educational talks to scavenger hunts to creating crafts.

At Doheny State Beach our girls made bird feeders out of large pine cones, peanut butter, and seeds and nuts.

Zion National Park the ranger was able to show us a horn from a big horned sheep and talk to our girls about their hooves.

Check out California State Parks for a  Junior Ranger Program schedule and activity list. Don’t forget to look into the Junior Ranger Program for the USA National Parks as well.

Camping Activities with Kids Summary

There you have it! A list that mixes fun and practical together to fill up a great family weekend camping trip!

If you ever wonder how we spend our time camping, add in a hike and this is it. The idea is to keep it simple, fun, and rewarding.

What will you choose for your next camping trip?

Anything you would add to this list?

Let us know in the comments, then be sure to sign up for updates and our FREE camping checklist.