50 camping ideas to make it easier (and more fun!) to camp with kids.
Camping with kids can be a little challenging but it’s much easier when you’re prepared with a few tried and true camping ideas just for kids.
“Let’s go camping” is one of my favorite things to hear (and since we live where the weather is beautiful all year long we can go camping pretty much anytime). Lucky us!
I did a little internet searching and Pinterest digging and came up with an incredible camping resource. I found so many yummy camping recipes, activities to keep the kids busy, tips for successful camping, DIY supplies, and even supplies I would love to buy that I had to put all these camping ideas in one place!
Now I’m totally ready for the next time M and M yell “LET’S GO CAMPING!!!!”
(For tips on camping with toddlers click here.)
Yummy Camping Recipes
If you love the idea of cooking with real food while you camp kids check out The Camping Family Handbook. I’m a proud affiliate of Kitchen Stewardship.
- Rolo Marshmallows
- Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Foil Packs
- Broomstick Pies
- Fruit Cones healthy camping snack
- Skillet Nachos
- Walking Tacos (tacos in a bag)
- Eggs on the Grill
- BBQ Chicken Nachos
- Cheesy Dutch Oven Potatoes
- Breakfast Burritos
- BONUS! Campfire Churros
Fun Kid Activities Perfect for Camping
No list of camping ideas for kids would be complete without some fun activities. Make sure to include some camping themed yoga to your day. And to help make #5 even better, check out how to make bubbles.
- Glow in the Dark Baseball
- Firewood Building
- Target Practice
- Make a Compass
- Bubble Station
- Books about Camping
- Ring Toss
- Bean Bag Toss
- Camping with Kids (what to pack)
- Little Explorers
Awesome Camping Ideas and Tips for Camping with Kids
- How to Sleep Well in a Tent
- How to Make WaterProof Shoes
- Tick Safety
- How to Choose a Camping Tent
- How to Keep Food Cold While Camping
- Non-Toxic Fly Repellent
- How to Locate a Leak in an Air Mattress
- Home-Made Bug Spray
- Campsite Organization
- How to Treat and Avoid Poison Ivy
Camping Supplies to Make
- Ketchup bottle pancakes
- DIY Ladder Golf Game
- Bottle Cap Candles
- Camping Washing Machine
- Make your own mini spice containers
- PVC Tent Weights
- Glow in the Dark Pathway
- Tablecloth Anchor
- Mason Jar Oil Lamp
Camping Supplies to Buy (contains affiliate links)
- Portable Radio
- 10 must-have camping supplies (plus more in the comments)
- Portable Highchair
- Pack-Away Kitchen
- Hammock
- Disc Swing
- Cooking On A Stick: Campfire Recipes for Kids
- Portable Toilet
- Flashlight
- The Camper’s Journal
- Organic Brushing Rinse
- Mystical Fire
BONUS! Print, cut, and pack up these Camping Jokes and Camping Puns.
Your turn! What camping tips, activities, and supplies make camping more fun or easier for you?
Now that the camping season is getting closer your post is a must read.
I really liked the post on how to choose a camping tent.
Thanks for sharing.
always looking for different ways to enjoy camping. Portable homemade cloths-washer looks like a winner.
Thanks Bill!
Here’s a couple of others —
To repel mosquitos… rub dryer sheets on places they bite most or just loop one through a belt hoop on pants. You won’t be the camp “no-pest strip” anymore!
To keep soot from the fire off cooking pans, coat with dish soap before putting on the fire. It washes right off!
My sister is going to LOVE the dryer sheet tip, she always ends up the center of every BUGs attention.
This an awesome collection of great ideas and tips! (And thanks for including a link to my “tick safety” post. 😉
I pinned this to my camping board – appreciate the work you put into gathering it together! We haven’t got to camp nearly as much as I’d like, due to me and my husband’s opposite work schedules, but I’ll definitely be referencing this again when we do.
Thank you so much Tami! It was a really fun post to research. I can’t wait to go camping. 🙂