Camping games and activities are the backbone of a great camping trip. Not only do we have fun with our family and friends but we also are making memories that will last a lifetime. Here are a few ideas of some of the things you may want to include on your next camping trip.
Outside Games
- Scavenger hunt. Create a list of things that can be found near the campground. Set out in groups and try to find the listed items. At the designated time everyone gathers back at camp and sees who found the most things on the list.
- Skip rocks. Great fun to teach the kids
- Disc golf. Out in the wild, trees or rocks can be substituted for the basket as the goal for each hole. For the rules of disc golf visit this site.
- Horseshoes. Some campsites have this game available. Kids sets are available that you could bring along as well.
- Badminton. Net, rackets and birdies and you are good to go. If there isn’t a suitable area to set up the net, batting the birdie in a volley can work just as well.
- Ice cream ball. Make dessert while playing a game! Just fill the ball with the ice cream ingredients, close it tight and roll it and toss it between you and your fellow campers.
Camping basics
- How to use a compass. Good skill for everyone to learn. Visit this site for full instructions.
- How to build a campfire. Show your children how to get that campfire going. Campfires are where many great camping memories are made – sitting around the fire roasting marshmallows, staring at the flames and sharing stories.
- Cooking over an open fire. Campfire cooking is a bit of an art. Grab some great recipes here, camping stoves and best Gas lanterns for camping.
Related: No Cook Backpack Meals for Camping
Inside camping activities for a rainy day
- Charades. This game has been around forever – and you won’t need anything except a vivid imagination… oh, and pencil and paper. Charades can also be played at night around the campfire.
- Board games. Too many to name and we all have our favorites. Bring some along. Dominoes, backgammon and a deck of cards can provide many hours of pleasant entertainment.
- Journal your experiences. This activity isn’t only for children! Writing about our experiences helps solidify them in our memories. This will also come in handy if your child is asked to write about their summer vacation.
Related: Best Family Tents for Bad Weather
In search of wildlife
- Identify wild plants that are edible. Berries are a common edible food found around many campsites but we definitely need to know which ones are edible. Check out this site for information on edible berries. If you are interested in finding a wider variety of edible plants this book is a good resource.
- Identify wildlife. There are many types of birds, squirrels, deer, bears in different parts of the country.
Record your experiences.
- Don’t forget your cameras! Pictures are a way of stopping time. Take plenty. And making movies – whether real or scripted – can be a lot of fun!
Using your imagination and some of the ideas from this list will ensure a fun filled trip for you and your loved ones.
Engaged with other fun activities should keep essentials things for camping before moving out for outdoor adventure.
Tips on great family camping games and Activities
Packing up the tent and accessories is only part of the fun adventure of camping; activities like swimming, hiking, biking and more are perfect ways for families to spend quality time together in the great outdoors.
There is just something about spending one on one time with your family in an atmosphere with little interruption from the outside world that makes camping such a wonderful event. A fairly inexpensive treat as well, once the initial investment in the appropriate gear has been made. Not much is needed for the family to enjoy themselves in the woodsy environment; a tent, some sleeping bags, a good battery powered lantern, cookware that is durable enough for open flames, dishes to eat from, a family sized cooler and food is enough to get the family started on a weekend adventure. Other accessories can build upon these essentials, depending on the individual family’s needs. But once the basics are in hand, a wonderful memory is just waiting to be made.
As relaxing as being in the outdoors can be, there are many exciting and fun camping activities that families will want to participate in. The location of the camping trip can be planned around the things that interest the family members. A mountain setting would be great for those who enjoy hiking, rock climbing and hunting. With the tent perched next to a burbling stream, incredible and memorable adventures in canoeing, kayaking, tubing and fishing can be enjoyed.
Numerous campgrounds across the country cater to families who enjoy the camping experience. Providing swimming pools, basketball courts, volleyball courts, arcades and miniature golf, every moment of the family’s time can be spent participating in a variety of camping activities either individually or as a family unit. Miles of country roads can be explored and viewed on bicycles or motorcycles. Playgrounds offer great amusement for the younger set, and games such as horseshoes, shuffleboard, badminton, baseball and Frisbee throwing will keep the entire family entertained.
One of the most enjoyable and memorable family camping activities comes with nightfall; seated around a crackling, blazing campfire roasting marshmallows or just being mesmerized by the dancing flames. A simple yet profound pleasure; one that serves to bond family members and reunite them at the end of an eventful day.
Few family adventures can be as satisfying, inexpensive and memorable as camping. Activities that are enjoyed may differ from family to family depending on individual interests, but what truly matters is that they are enjoyed by the family as a whole.