Camping is one of the few activities that can bring a family with children closer together. Cooperative effort, time spent together exploring the outdoors and new places, and shared laughter all have the potential to create lasting memories. For many of those folks, camping is all about slowing down and appreciating the simple things, such as sitting by a crackling campfire, spending quality time with loved ones, gazing at the sky, or going on a nature walk. However, with more free time than usual, it’s the ideal time to participate in one-of-a-kind activities that you wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to perform.
If you want to step beyond your comfort zone, camping offers several opportunities to challenge yourself and acquire new skills! We’re passionate about helping families make the most of their camping and RV excursions, so we put up this guide full of exciting and imaginative camping activities for all ages. Read on to make your next journey memorable!
Classic Camping Activities for Any Age
Let’s start off with the classic camping activities…
Build a Campfire:
At any campsite, the campfire serves as the hearth, gathering area, and focal point of activity. It’s where you start your day with a cup of hot coffee, eat your meals, and conclude it with the warmth and glow of the fireplace. Building a campfire is perhaps the most common camping pastime, whether you’re alone, with a partner, with friends, or with the whole family.
Get Cooking:
Although simply relaxing and enjoying the campfire is a wonderful way to pass the time, it’s much more enjoyable to challenge yourself to some campfire cookery. This might be as basic as roasting a hot dog on a stick, but with the right skills, you can cook complete meals over coals and open flames.
Take a Hike:
One of the main reasons people go camping is to get outside and reconnect with nature. That’s why walking or trekking in the wilderness is another popular camping activity. Many people pick their camping spot based on nearby treks or natural attractions.
Explore Your Surroundings:
Camping can take you to beautiful villages and places that you would never have discovered otherwise. Another enjoyable activity to do while camping, especially if the weather isn’t cooperating, is to take a day trip to the nearby town and see what there is to see. Explore the local food, learn about its history, attend a farmer’s market or festival, and support small, local companies wherever possible.
Exciting Camping Activities for Kids
The activities below are some of our favorite ways to keep the kids entertained while camping:
Try TeePee Camping:
Nothing excites children more than trying something new and different. Staying in a genuine teepee will have your children happily counting down the days before your camping adventure. Furthermore, it’s an excellent opportunity to teach kids about indigenous culture and history.
Go fishing:
If you stay at a campground near a body of water, you will have access to additional activities such as fishing.
Set Up a S’mores Station:
Anyone can enjoy roasting marshmallows over a fire, but it’s especially fun for kids. To make things even more interesting, set up a s’mores station with a variety of fun, unusual toppings. Traditional toppings include graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows, but other options include sliced strawberries, bananas, peanut butter, chocolates, Nutella, and jam.
Play Lots of Games:
Camping and gaming go hand in hand. If you don’t want to bring too many games, consider basic ones that need little equipment, such as capture the flag, flashlight tag, or a handmade scavenger hunt. These games will help your children expend all of their energy, allowing them to sleep through the night.
Get Creative:
You don’t have to buy games to enjoy camping. Instead, explore what fascinating things you can make from the natural resources around you. For example, encourage your children to create little cottages for “fairies” out of scrap wood, pebbles, leaves, pinecones, and so on. You will be astonished at what they come up with!
Fun Activities Camping Games for Teens
Stay Somewhere Fun:
Older children and teenagers can also enjoy games like capture the flag, ladder ball, and spike ball. A deck of cards or a few board games might also come in useful if you become bored!
Pack Games for Older Kids & Teens:
Games like capture the flag, ladder ball, or spike ball can be really fun for older kids and teens too. Also, a deck of cards or some board games can really come in handy if boredom hits!
Survival Skills:
Older kids may appreciate learning something new and demanding, such as camping or survival skills. Next time you go camping, pass the torch and ask them to help cut the wood or create the fire to get them more involved.
Unique Camping Activities for Adults
Camping with your partner or other adult friends? We put together a few unique ideas that can help bring all the adults together:
Plan a Potluck or Party:
If you’re camping with friends or other adults, why not organize a social gathering in which everyone prepares or contributes something? This is especially enjoyable if you stay somewhere like Silver Spur, which has plenty of group meeting areas. Choose a theme, such as taco Tuesday or college game day, to make your event more memorable.
Play Games:
Both adults and children enjoy a good game night. One of our favorite games to play with friends when camping is “Left Right Center” but with dollar bucks to boost the ante. If you’re in a large enough group, you may win big!
Activities You Can Enjoy While Solo Camping
Camping with family and friends is a lot of fun, but camping alone can be extremely relaxing and gratifying. Here are some intriguing activities to attempt when alone camping:
Pack a journal or sketchbook.
What better time to think than while alone in the wilderness? Pack a notebook and gaze within, or bring a sketchbook and be inspired by your beautiful surroundings.
Learn something new.
When you have enough undisturbed time for yourself, you can truly learn a new talent. Try foraging, bird watching, nature photography, stargazing, playing an instrument by the fire, or learning new survival skills.
