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Camping gives families the chance to unplug, explore nature, and create simple, joyful memories. But once the tent is up and the campfire is going… what do you actually do with the kids all day?
This list brings together 50 fun, creative, and hands-on camping activities—from easy campfire classics to nature crafts, nighttime adventures, and exploration ideas. Whether you’re at a state park, national park, or even backyard camping, there’s something here for every age.
Related:
👉 Best Places to Camp in Wisconsin
👉 25 Flashlight Games for Kids
Quick Picks: Best Camping Activities by Age
Best for Toddlers: Nature scavenger hunt, rock collecting, shadow tracings
Best for Preschoolers: Bug hunt, mud pies, fairy/gnome homes
Best for Elementary Kids: Ponding, animal track ID, leaf rubbings
Best for Tweens: Stargazing, compass navigation, whittling
Best Around the Campfire: S’mores, campfire stories, charades, camp songs
Camping Activities for Kids
1. Build a Shelter (Nature Forts)
Gather fallen branches and leaves and build a lean-to or teepee, then let kids “decorate” it with pinecones, ferns, or a little camp sign they make with a stick and mud.
Parent Pro Tip: Snap a photo—these forts end up being the highlight of the trip for younger kids.
2. Gather Firewood (Mini Nature Sorters)
Instead of just collecting sticks, have kids sort them into tinder/kindling/fuel piles. They love the responsibility, and it sneakily teaches them outdoor skills.
3. Build a Campfire (Kid Assistant Edition)
Kids can’t light the match, but they can place the starter twigs, hand over the kindling, and watch how airflow makes the fire grow. It’s one of those magical real-life science lessons.
4. Cook Hot Dogs Over the Fire
Let kids “score” their hot dog with a plastic knife before roasting—it helps it cook evenly and gives them ownership of the meal.
5. Tell Campfire Stories
If you don’t know any of your own, build a story together where everyone says just one word, and then it passes to the next person!
6. Make S’mores (The Great Marshmallow Debate)
Kids love deciding: golden-brown, lightly toasted, or full torch-mode?
Tip: Teach the “Blow Don’t Fling” rule for flaming marshmallows.
7. Sing Campfire Songs with a Twist
Add your own camping verses:
- “Down by the Bay… Did you ever see a chipmunk doing a TikTok dunk?”
The kids will take over immediately.
8. Play Campfire Charades
Try a “nature-only” round: bear, pine tree in the wind, mosquito, someone setting up a tent wrong… endless laughs.
9. Play “Would You Rather?”
Make them camping-themed:
Would you rather sleep in a treehouse or a cave?
Hike in the rain or the dark?
10. Flashlight Games
Bring out the flashlights after dark—shadow tag, flashlight freeze, or “pretend you’re a lighthouse guiding ships” are always a hit with kids.
👉 Looking for even more ideas? Check out our full list of 25 Best Flashlight Games for Kids.
11. Two Truths and a Lie
Great for cousins or friends who don’t see each other often.
12. Campfire Reflections
Do “Rose, Thorn, Bud,” to reflect on your day of camping.
13–18. Stargazing & Night Sky Fun
Keep it simple and wonder-filled:
- Find the Big Dipper
- Spot the blinking airplane vs steady planet
- Look for shooting stars
- Watch the moon rise
Kids love just lying down on a blanket and spotting “the brightest one.”
19. Go on a Nature Hike
Turn it into a slow wander. Count wildflowers. Look for “the tiniest thing” on the trail. Make your own trail markers with sticks.
20. Ponding
Use nets, observe tiny swimmers, guess their jobs in the ecosystem, then gently release everything.
This one always feels like real-life magic to kids.
21. Bird Watching
Try “guess the bird personality” – bossy robin, fancy cardinal, sneaky sparrow.
22. Identify Animal Tracks
Kids love being detectives. Compare tracks and imagine what the animal was doing: running? strolling? Looking for breakfast?
23. Bug Hunt
The kid with the container becomes the “Bug Captain.” Everyone reports sightings to them.
24. Whittling (Supervised Only)
Start with removing bark or smoothing a stick—simple, satisfying, and very calming for older kids.
25. Animal Track Casting
Kids think this is science + treasure chest.
Let them guess the animal before you check the book.
26. Learn Compass Skills
Let them lead a “mini expedition” to a tree, rock, or picnic table.
27. Plant Identification
Make it a gentle scavenger hunt: “Find three different leaf shapes,” “Find the softest plant,” etc.
28. Edible Hike (Supervised Foraging Only)
Teach the rule: Do not eat anything until an adult says yes.
Even a single edible berry becomes thrilling when found “in the wild.”
29. Nature Photography
Kids see details adults miss—crooked sticks, mossy logs, tiny shadows. Let them be the official “camp photographer.”
30. Rock Collecting
Have kids choose three categories: “prettiest,” “strangest,” and “most mysterious.”
31. Tree Identification
Kids LOVE bark texture comparisons. Smooth vs flaky vs ridged becomes a whole personality test for trees.
32. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Instead of “find a leaf,” try:
- Find something that feels soft
- Find something that smells interesting
- Find something shaped like a heart
33. Nature Collage
Glue leaves and petals on cardboard to make a “memory board” of the trip.
34. Nature Painting
Crushed berries = natural paint. Kids adore the “secret ink” feeling.
35. Leaf & Bark Rubbings
Easy, calming, and beautiful. Kids often make several pages and turn them into a booklet.
36. Nature Sound Map
Sit in silence for one minute. Draw icons for every sound: bird, wind, chatter, nearby water, footsteps.
37. Nature Journaling
It can be as simple as “3 things I saw today.” Younger kids like drawing; older kids like lists.
38. Fairy or Gnome Homes
Kids create entire neighborhoods before you even realize it.
39. Mud Pies
Bring a bucket. That’s it. Instant joy.
40. Nature Weaving
Use sticks as the frame and weave in grass, flowers, and long leaves.
41. Nature Masks
Kids love turning into “forest creatures” with leaf masks tied with twine or vines.
42. Shadow Tracings
Trace shadows at different times of day to see how the shape changes.
43. Play “I Spy”
Use nature clues: “something shaped like a star,” “something that moves but isn’t alive.”
44. Play Cards in the Tent
Kids love the novelty of playing Go Fish or Rummy in lantern light.
45. Board Games at the Picnic Table
Great for post-hike quiet time.
46. Watch the Sunrise
Bring warm blankets. Kids rarely regret waking up early for this.
47. Watch the Sunset
Let everyone rate the sunset: “10 out of 10 pink clouds.”
48. Nature Storytelling
Tell “camping tall tales” inspired by a nearby tree or rock.
49. Glow Stick Dance Party
Give each kid a certain color—“blue team,” “green team”—and play music softly enough not to disturb neighbors.
50. Leave No Trace Challenge
Let kids check off tasks: pick up litter, stay on trails, leave sticks/leaves behind, be kind to animals.
Conclusion
Camping offers endless opportunities for kids to explore, imagine, learn new skills, and unwind from the pace of everyday life. These activities help families connect with nature, make memories around the campfire, and enjoy simple outdoor fun—no screens required.
Related Posts
- Best Outdoor Activities For Kids
- Beautiful Wisconsin State Parks Near Milwaukee
- Gorgeous Hikes Around Milwaukee
- Easy Places to Camp With Kids in Wisconsin
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
