Camping season has arrived! You’ve found a place to camp, planned the menu, and filled the car with everything you need. You can’t wait to embark on this adventure with your child, but suddenly you remember your last camping trip. The good times make you smile while the others…cause a little anxiety.
All parents know the pleasures and difficulties of camping with children. If this is your first time camping, keep in mind that it’s okay and the experience is worth it. Camping is a perfect opportunity to slow down, disconnect from the world and reconnect with your child.
It doesn’t take a huge effort to keep your child happy, active and busy on your next camping trip, but it does take a little planning. It’s good to have a few fun activities that you can pull out when your child needs guidance or inspiration.
Below are 9 fun camping activities that will help you and your child create wonderful memories on your next camping adventure.
1. Bike, tricycle or scooter ride on the campsite
Riding a bicycle, tricycle or scooter around the campground is a popular activity for children. A gang of kids are often seen circling around the campsite and playing impromptu bike games that can go on for hours. Campsites also provide an ideal environment for teaching children to ride a bike , as the roads are flat and there aren’t many vehicles.
2. Ball games
It is easy to carry balls of different sizes and they are perfect for spontaneous games. Bring a soccer ball and teach your child to hit it .
3. Immerse yourself in the water
Water games are a mandatory summer camping activity. Fortunately, many campgrounds are located near a water source such as a lake, stream or quiet river. Bring swimsuits, life jackets, masks and water toys for safe water fun and try out some of these creative beach activities .
4. Bubbles and sidewalk chalk: a source of creativity!
Bubbles and sidewalk chalk are easy to carry and offer tons of creative play opportunities. With chalk, one can create works of art and imaginative games . Bubbles are fun to blow and chase. These items come in handy if your child needs a quick distraction while you’re busy preparing camp or meals.
5. Go on a treasure hunt
Geocaching is the world’s greatest treasure hunt: players leave ‘geocaches’ , i.e. containers containing logbooks and gifts, for other people to find. To find the geocaches, you need a GPS device (if you have a smartphone, you have everything you need). Geocaching is great for getting your family out, moving and having fun!
6. Find a favorite stick for creative play or make a travel stick
A stick is more than just a stick. A stick can be a wand, a sword, a pencil, a musical instrument, a horse, or anything else your child can imagine! Suggest that your child find a favorite stick on the campsite and invite him to play with his imagination. Older kids can try finding a sturdy stick and turning it into a camping travel stick. Indigenous peoples of Australia used traveling sticks to tell their stories. They found a stick and attached objects picked up on their way to it to remember their journey. You can read more about travel poles here .
7. Throw a Frisbee
A frisbee is an object that is easy to carry and play. This is a great activity to practice movements and improve coordination. If you have a group of older children who want to throw a frisbee, you can organize a game of ultimate
8. Fishing
Fishing is a great activity for children. By casting and reeling the reel, children learn coordination and movement. In addition, being outdoors makes you appreciate nature and the moments spent together strengthen family bonds. Many campgrounds are located near fish-filled lakes. In many Canadian provinces, children under the age of 16 or 17 can fish without a licence. Check the regulations of your province or territory before setting off on your adventure.
9. Gather wood and make a fire
Get your child involved instead of doing all the work of preparing a campfire alone. Learning to make a fire, whether by gathering and chopping wood or starting a fire, is a survival skill worth teaching. Older children can learn to saw and chop wood safely, while younger children can learn how to pick up sticks and place kindling correctly to start the fire.
