5 No-Brainer Camping Activities for Children
Pre-planned camping activities for children will keep kids entertained and happy for an entire weekend.
During your Dads & Kids Camping Weekend, you’ll find that no matter what the activity is, everyone will have a good time. The trick is that you have to provide the activities.
In many of our group trips, we’ve hired magicians and other performers to come in and entertain the kids. We’re talking about keeping over 100 kids happy, so it should be no big deal to spend a little extra money on some quality laughs.
In general, our yearly camping trip is a wonderful way for dads to bond with their kids and enjoy a weekend together in the great outdoors. There are many fantastic camping activities for children and even the dads can have fun participating in them. In fact, most of these activities you’ll have to do anyway!
Pitching a Tent
Dad can show his kids the proper and safe way to pitch a tent. You’re going to have to pitch a tent anyway, so you might as well recruit some helpers to keep it on the ground. Not only will the kids have fun sleeping in the tent, they will also enjoy knowing how to set it up the right way. Truly great camping activities for children should also teach them how to be safe.
Making a Campfire
Dad should certainly be on hand when a campfire is needed and by taking this time to show the kids how to make one safely and quickly, dad will have a helpful fire-starting sidekick for life.
Make sure to put on your “dad hat” when showing the kids how to build a fire, so that you’re not encouraging them to start fires in your backyard when you get home.
Cooking on the Fire
When you’re done building a fire, you can do the next best thing and show them all the fun and delicious ways to enjoy it! Break out the marshmallows, wieners and other food. Most kids and adults agree that everything tastes better when cooked on a campfire.
Teaching Fire Safety
This is also a good time to teach the kids fire safety and how to keep the campfire away from any bushes or trees that may catch on fire.
With a little research and practice beforehand, dad can even teach them the old-fashioned way to start a campfire.
Put your ego away and try the old standby of rubbing two sticks together or by using a flint and steel (the Boy Scouts have a kit for both). If (when!) it works, dad will surely be a hero.
Making Nature Trails
Other simple and no-brainer camping activities for children that will keep them moving and active include making a nature trail. Kids can use field guidebooks, field glasses, baggage tags and a marker. This is a great way for the kids to learn more about nature. While walking on a nature trail, they can look up certain leaves, animal homes, rocks and other items.
When they see one that matches, the kids can tie on a baggage tag, use the marker to say what it is, and keep moving along the trail to find more.
The field glasses will help them enjoy birds and animals along the way. By marking the items, they can invite other children to come and walk the trail and read about what they find.
These fun and educational camping activities for children will make for avid campers and long-lasting memories.
If you want to learn more about how to start your own Dads & Kids Camping Weekend, check out my 45-page Dads & Kids Camping Handbook.