Fun Camping Ideas for Kids & Dads
Coming up with some fun camping ideas for kids can make or break a camping trip
When dad takes the time to pre-organize ideas, it keeps the days fun and interesting for kids on a camping trip. There are plenty of camping ideas for kids out there that dads can employ during Dads and Kids Camping weekend to have a great time while spending quality time with the children.
Dads, keep in mind what your kids like and dislike. The menu and activities should reflect this. Everyone loves s’mores and hot dogs that are roasted over an open fire, but there are more things to do out there than just sit around the campfire watching dads marshmallow catch fire and get flung into the nearby woods.
Treasure Hunts: A grand treasure hunt or a nature hike is an excellent way to build excitement with the kids. All the exercise will also help them fall fast asleep at night so that you can sit around the campfire with a couple of beers and the other dads to relax.
A more inventive approach to the traditional treasure hunt is a photo hunt. What you used to do for a photo hunt was provide every kid with a disposable instant Polaroid camera. Since Polaroid is now out of business and instant cameras are hard to come by, a digital camera will do.
All you have to do is come up with a list of items the kids have to take pictures of. The child or team that gets a picture of everything on the list first, gets some kind of reward. Examples could be:
a caterpillar
two campers talking
a pile of rocks
an orange leaf
a pyramid of campers
Emphasis on getting the kids to do something fun so that they can take pictures will go a long way. You’ll come home with a camera full of memories and the kids will be proud of their newly honed photog skills.
Games: Games are also great camping ideas for kids. Flash light tag at night should keep their reflexes sharp, while a magnifying glass for finding different types of plants and insects will come in handy while dad is busy. Remember to take along a first aid kit that includes bug spray and a form of calamine lotion, just in case someone falls into a poisonous bush.
Collecting: Children love to collect things and as long as it isn’t something that will hurt them, Dads can be all for it. Here are a few items you can encourage kids to run around collecting:
firewood for the campfire
sticks to roast marshmallows
leaves off of certain types of flora
colorful pebbles or seashells that can be saved for art projects when they get home
Stories & Singing: Stories are a creative and lively way to get children to interact with parents and each other. Singing funny campfire songs around the campfire can be one of those forgotten but timeless camping ideas for kids. Most children love to sing with their parents and they’re not going to judge you if you can’t carry a tune.
Tie Dye: If the dads don’t mind a slight mess, then you can set up buckets for doing tie-dye with the children and everyone can make their own t-shirts to commemorate the camping trip. The Jacquard Tie Dye Kit makes up to 15 t-shirts.
Kiddie Stuff: For younger kids, there are some basics that you can bring along and they’ll reflect the same items you find around your house on a regular basis:
color crayons & markers
construction paper
coloring books
Sure, these items aren’t exact outdoorsy, but they’ll go a long way in keeping younger kids occupied and comfortable in this new environment.
Do you have any fun camping ideas for kids that you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!
If you want to learn more about how to entertain kids during your own Dads and Kids Camping Weekend, check out my 45-page Dads & Kids Camping Handbook.