Great Ideas for Camping With Kids

Camping!Fresh Ideas for Families, Scouts & Youth Groups

Inside this eBook

Ideas for planning meals, sports, and creative activities

Simplifying group campouts

Packing lists

Safety tips

Fun for the whole family

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Camping with Kids / VolunteerSpot DOING GOOD Just Got Easier!

Camping with KidsThe Great Outdoors Page 4

Packing List Page 5

Getting There can be Half the Fun! Page 7

Easy Meal Ideas Page 8

Take a Hike Page 13

Nature Activities Page 15

Art Activities Page 17

Drama in the Outdoors Page 18

Sports Activities Page 19

Other Camping Activities Page 20

Safety and Ground Rules Page 22

Helpful Hints Page 23


The Great Outdoors!Camping is fun! Camping also provides a perfect opportunity for children to learn about bonding with nature and with each other. Many groups including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and churches, hold annual camping trips. Camping with other families can be loads of fun too!

Whether you’re a parent, troop leader, or volunteer organizer, we’ve created this eBook with you in mind. Our camping eBook is filled with stress‐free ideas and tips to make your next camping trip fun, safe and exciting for all.

We hope this eBook will spark your creativity, and make the planning easier by providing tips on how VolunteerSpot can help you make sure everything is covered before you even get in the car!


Packing List

ToiletriesAdhesive TapeBandagesComb / BrushDental FlossFirst Aid KitInsect Repellant (non‐aerosol)ScissorsSoapSunscreenWashcloth

EntertainmentBooks, Cards, etc

ClothesCap or Field Hat (sun

protection)Extra Pair of ShoesHiking ShortsLight JacketLight Sweater / SweatshirtLong PantsRain PonchoFlip Flops (shower)Shoes for Hiking and Water

PlaySwimsuitTowel

GearCamp ChairCanteen or water bottleCompassFlashlight & batteriesDay Pack for Hiking ActivityGround ClothLaundry bagLaundry detergent (small)MatchesPocket KnifeSleeping BagSleeping Pad / MattressWaterproof Bags

Check out this handy packing list for your next camping trip. Make adjustments depending on the local weather, terrain and wildlife. It will help to keep your camping essentials in one place. Have kids help with

the packing, and remember to bring their favorite pillow and stuffed animal!


Plan Ahead with VolunteerSpot!

When camping with a group, it’s a good idea to plan meals, activities, and essential supplies ahead of time. Use VolunteerSpot to coordinate who brings

what. This can help avoid having ten large pots for boiling water, but no spatulas to flip the pancakes! Things to plan for include: tents, lanterns, cook tops, coffee pot, musical instruments (e.g. guitar, harmonica), food, canoes,

fire starters, firewood, First Aid Kit, Emergency Radio.


Getting There can be Half the Fun!Are we there yet? The following ideas will make the drive to your camping

adventure fly by. The kids won’t want to get out of the car!

Twenty Questions: Take turns thinking of a well‐known person, animal, place or thing. Everyone else takes turns asking “yes” or “no” questions to figure out who or what the leader has in mind. Whoever guesses correctly gets to be the new leader. If nobody guesses correctly after 20 questions, the leader reveals the answer and gets to select the next leader.

Travel Journal: Present each child with their own travel journal and some new pencils. Encourage them to write about or sketch things they see along the way.

Comedy in the Car: Print some funny, kid‐friendly jokes and put on a comedy show in the car! Knock‐knock jokes are always a hit.

Car Bingo: Take turns looking for road signs beginning with each letter of the alphabet. A ‐ Arizona, E ‐ Exit, N ‐ Nashville, R ‐ Railroad . . . all the way to Z. The game can also be expanded beyond road signs. C ‐ Cow, L ‐Lake, T ‐ Truck, and so on.

Christmas in the Car: Wrap some small, new toys (or old ones, forgotten at the bottom of the toy box) and healthy snacks individually. When the kids get restless, or about every hour, let them open a new toy!

Tin Foil Fun: See how many crazy shapes the kids can make from pieces of tin foil!

Sing Songs: Take turns thinking of a theme, then see how many songs you can sing under that theme.


Easy Meal IdeasCooking over the campfire sounds like fun. But, if you want to spend more time hiking and less time cooking, here are some ideas for making your meal times easy and delicious.

Pancakes Bring along a few containers of pre‐made, dry pancake batter. Just add water and pour! Eggs in a BaggieCrack 1‐2 eggs into a plastic bag. Add omelet toppings like cheese, bacon bits, ham chunks, onion, or mushrooms. Seal the bag, leaving in a little bit of air. Mush everything together, write your name on the bag with a permanent marker, and place in a pot of hot/boiling water. Remove when fully cooked. Allow to cool slightly.Walking TacosInto an individual‐sized bag of corn chips, toss some pre‐cooked, seasoned ground beef, diced tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, and shredded cheddar cheese. Easy and delicious!Stew, Chili or SoupCook a stew, chili or soup before you leave home, then freeze in small containers or muffin tins. Store in a zipper bag. When it’s time to eat, plop the frozen items into a pot, heat slowly over the fire or camping stove, and serve with some bread!

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up the great work!”

Kristin, Volunteer Coordinator, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department, Lynnwood, WA


Let’s Play With Our Food!

Roasted Hot Dogs

At a campsite, children are all drawn to the mystery of the fire. Have children roast their own hot dogs on a skewer. Take this opportunity to educate younger children about fire safety.

Dough Boys for BreakfastRun a hot dog skewer length‐wise through pre‐cooked sausage link. Wrap with canned biscuit dough. Hold over fire turning frequently till biscuit puffs and turns golden.

Orange muffins

Cut an orange in half and scoop out the fruit. Fill the inside with muffin or cupcake mix and roast on the grill rack of the fire for 20‐30 minutes.

Jiffy Pop Popcorn

An old classic; kids love watching the top expand. Since it requires being close to the fire, it is best to assign this task to an older child or an adult.

Here are some ideas for keeping the kids busy while they prepare a meal!


Let’s Play With Our Food! (cont’d)

Bobbing for Apples

Another old favorite! Children (and adults!) dunk their head in a tub, one at a time, and come back with an apple in their teeth. Not only entertaining , but the children then eat a nutritious snack.

Fruit Parfaits

Use plastic cups and have children choose from various fruits, yogurt, whipped cream, and nuts/sprinkles for toppings to make delicious camp parfaits.

Ice Cream Ball

Available from many local sources and on‐line, this ball holds all the ingredients for camp ice cream. By rolling the ball around the campsite, the children create the agitation necessary to make homemade ice cream at camp. Yum!

Watermelon Races

Scoop most of the meat from a watermelon (save it for dessert!) and cut the rind into “shoes”. Have the kids squish their toes to get a grip on the melon and race to a finish line. Keep a bucket of fresh water nearby for rinsing off their feet! Then let the grown‐ups have a turn!


What’s for Desert???

Apple S’mores

Tired of the same old s’mores? Try using thin apple slices instead of graham crackers, and peanut butter instead of or in addition to the chocolate! YUM!

Baked Apples

Core out an apple, but leave the bottom intact. Fill half way with brown sugar. Place pat of butter on top of sugar, and sprinkle cinnamon on top of butter. Wrap in foil and place in coals for about 15 minutes. Remove from coals, let cool, and enjoy.

Dough Boys for DessertFind a thick stick (about the width of a finger), and clean it. Then, wrap raw biscuit dough around the stick, cover with tin foil, and toast over fire until golden. Next, fill with jelly, pre‐packaged pudding, or whipped cream. Use your imagination! Anything you might put on a biscuit or toast can be squeezed into the middle of a dough‐boy! Try putting the filling in a baggie and cutting off the corner for easier filling.

Banana BoatsSlice a banana from end to end. Leave the peel on. Open the banana a little. Place mini‐marshmallows and mini‐chocolate chips in the banana. Wrap in foil and place around the outside of the fire for 10 minutes. Let cool and then unwrap. The banana should be soft and the chips and marshmallows should be melted.

Use VolunteerSpot to Plan Meals

VolunteerSpot makes it so easy to plan for who will bring what when going on a camping trip with friends.



Take a Hike!

Wildlife

While hiking, tell the kids to keep an eye out for wildlife. Count the number and/or types of animals spotted. Then, use the list to educate them about each type of animal.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Print a list containing pictures of the common bushes, berries, trees and leaves found in the area. Have each hiker or group try to identify all the vegetation on the list.

Stop, Look, and Listen

Every so often, throughout the hike, ask everyone to sit or stand in place, and be as quiet as possible. Then wait for the sounds of the forest to come to life.

Hiking is a great physical activity and educational too! Depending on the age, attention span and temperament of your campers, hiking may require some

activities to entertain them along the way.

“VolunteerSpot makes it easy to get more parents

involved. Thanks!” Donna, Girl Scout leader, Minneapolis, MN


Take a Hike! (cont’d)

Count Your Steps

While hiking, the first child in the line counts his first step as 1, the second child then counts out loud step number 2, all the way down the line; returning to the front of the line after the last child has counted his number.

The Silly Walk Hike

The line leader creates fun new walks/dances/steps for the following kids to copy. This activity makes the hike go faster, especially for the younger kids. Be safe and only play this game on flat hiking trails.

Fairy and Gnome Villages

This activity is terrific for younger children. While hiking, have kids point out possible fairy and gnome homes, including hollow logs, fallen trees, boulders, large leaves, etc.


Nature Activities

Scavenger Hunt

An old time classic! Create a list or sheet with photos of items for the children to find.

Natural SculpturesThis activity can be done individually or in teams. Each camper or team receives the same amount of natural "ingredients" (i.e. 10 sticks, 4 rocks, 9 leaves and two pine cones). Tell campers to use their imaginations to create something using their supplies; for example monsters, animals, or sculptures. Allow them ample time to complete the activity. Once all campers are finished, have them go around in a circle explaining their creation!

Campground Ranger ProgramsMost large campgrounds have children's programs on weekends. Programs are highly educational and teach children about topics like wildlife, nature, water safety and boat safety.

Collect Firewood (If permitted) Finding wood and building a fire can be the highlight of your camping trip. But first, contact the park ranger or facilities manager to make sure fires are permitted. Have the kids search for firewood, especially small sticks for starting a fire. Make sure they only collect dead wood that has fallen onto the ground.


Nature Activities (cont’d)

A Piece of NatureHave each child find an “interesting” piece of nature. One rule is they can’t pick items off living things, only items that are on the ground. Have the children share their item with others in a show and tell format.

–Variation: have children find items that are “curious”, “colorful”, “funny”, or “funky”.

–Variation: have children answer two questions for their item. If they could name their item, what would they call it? If their selected item could make a sound what would it be?

Build a Shelter Individually or in groups, see if it’s possible to build a shelter using just pieces of wood and leaves found on the ground. Kids learn how difficult it can be to survive in the wilderness!

Guess How ManyGive each child a plastic container. Ask them to fill the container with small rocks, sticks or acorns. Then have a contest to see who can guess how many items are in each jar. This activity will keep them busy for hours!


Art ActivitiesCrayon etchings of leaves Have children collect leaves from the ground. Place a piece of paper over a leaf and rub the side of a crayon over the paper, creating an etching of the leaf.

Color with glow in the dark crayons Campers can then “display” their artwork around the campsite or in tents at night.

Nature collage Have children gather items all around the campground or on a hike. Then, give them paper or poster board and glue to make a collage of the items found. Make sure to instruct children to only gather items that are lying on the ground, not attached to plants.

Use VolunteerSpot to make sure you have the proper art supplies!


Drama in the OutdoorsPlayHave children make up a play about friends, camping, their favorite activity, etc. Have them perform the play in front of the group by the evening campfire or on the last day of camping.

Campfire StoriesAs children sit around a campfire, have them create a story “in the round”. Each child takes turns adding 1‐2 sentences to the story. Try out different themes like scary, funny, or silly!

Who Am I?Kids mimic forest animals and guess who is what.


Sports ActivitiesClassics: Frisbee, soccer, football, rubber horseshoes, badminton, potato sack races, croquet.

Rock races: Form teams. One child from each team carries a rock on a spoon to a designated spot, then back to the next person in line. If the rock falls off, the camper starts over. The first team to complete the race, wins!

Water balloon races: See above, use water balloons instead of rocks.

Water balloon toss: Make two lines facing each other. One person tosses the balloon to their partner. Then everyone takes one step back. Continue until there is one team remaining.

Leap frog obstacle course: Instead of jumping over each other, jump over rocks and logs!

Frisbee golf: Use the trees as your holes. See how many throws it takes to hit the “tree targets”. Play nine “holes”!


Other Camping Activities

Play Tent

Set up one or more tents to be used just for play. Stock the tent with age‐appropriate toys and books. The Play Tent allows for play in poor weather, provides a place for those children who might desire some privacy, and keeps the sleeping tents clean.

Fairy Traps

Have young children decorate a shoebox as a fairy trap and prop it up in the woods with a stick and marshmallow ‘bait’. At night, sneak over and ‘spring the trap’, taking the marshmallow and leaving a little fairy dust behind (glitter). In the morning, children will be very excited to check their traps, and thrilled to see the glitter remains of the fairy who got away.

Glow Sticks Many dollar stores sell inexpensive glow bracelets and necklaces. The glowing items will entertain the children, keep them more visible for nighttime tracking by parents, and comfort those who might be afraid of the dark.


Other Camping Activities (cont’d)

Stalking Prey

Explain that only the quietest of animals will survive during the harsh winter. Have one person (the “prey”) sit on the ground wearing a blindfold with sticks on the ground between their legs. The rest of the group are "predators" who are stalking their "prey" (the sticks on the ground). Then the predators try to make their way to their prey, without being detected. The goal is to grab a stick. If the prey hears a noise, they point in the direction of the sound they heard. If they are pointing to a predator, the predator “runs away” and tries again. The prey can also wave around their arms and hands to try and touch a predator when they get close. If they touch a predator, they must go back to the beginning. Take turns being the prey.

Nature JournalGive each child a journal when you first get in the car. Have them document their camping adventure. They can even press leaves between the pages to add interest. Encourage them to not only write about their experiences, but to draw pictures of what they observe.


Safety and Ground Rules

Animals. Children are fascinated with animals, but may not understand the difference between wild and tame animals. While most wild animals will stay away from people, animals at campgrounds can become accustomed to people, yet they are still wild animals. Be sure your children never approach or touch a wild animal.

Water. Even children that are able to swim can have an accident in the water. Younger children should always be supervised around lakes and other bodies of water. Older children and teenagers should be taught to use the "buddy system" in and around the water. Even people who can swim should use life vests when boating or canoeing.

Ask each child to share one or two safety rules. Capture the ideas on poster board and post at the campsite. Make sure the following items are covered:

Fire. If your children have never been around an open campfire, make sure they understand what fire can do, what they should never do (like touch it), and what to do if their clothes or something else catches on fire.

Getting Lost. It's easy to get lost, even at a fairly civilized campsite. Review what your children should do if they get separated from you. Consider placing a hospital style wristband on younger children with your name, phone numbers and campsite number.


Helpful HintsWhen car camping, keep most of your food in the car to discourage critters from visiting your campsite, especially at night. Keep windows closed! Small critters can find those tiny cracks.

When camping with toddlers or young children, request a camp site suited for families with young children. Ask for a site near an open field. This makes it easier to keep track of the kids while providing an place for running around.

Lightweight kid‐sized sleeping bags are fine for warm weather camping, but if you plan on camping in cooler weather, consider renting or purchasing a warmer sleeping bag.

Create checklists of items you will need. Bring a copy with you, and add items that you may have forgotten. That way, you’ll have an improved list for your next camping experience.

Pack items that you will need last into your vehicle first, and items you will need when you first arrive should be packed last.

Bring plenty of reading material, puzzle books, and a deck of cards for rainy days.

Arrive to your camping destination long before sunset so you will have plenty of time to set up your tents and equipment.

Be prepared for rainy weather with waterproof equipment, clothing, rain ponchos and boots. Cell phones are great for communication and emergencies but many campsites may be out of tower range. Be prepared for an alternative method in case of an emergency.


More Helpful HintsTo keep track of the little ones, attach bells to their shoelaces and give each child a ribbon to wear with a whistle attached, just in case they wander off! To keep track of the older kids, give them walkie‐talkies to play with. Keep one walkie‐talkie at camp, and tell the kids to keep the walkie‐talkies on at all times just in case you need to reach them.

Big, multi‐room family tents are appealing, but they can be hazardous in windy weather. Stake out all of the extra support lines for extra stability. If the wind picks up, keep windows and screened doors open to allow air to pass through. A spare set of poles might save you from cutting your trip short. Smaller tentstend to fare better in the wind.

When camping with children, consider bringing several smaller tents rather than one big one. This arrangement will give the older children more space, and will help get younger kids settled when it is bedtime.

Coincide your next trip with a natural event like a meteor shower, the opening of cherry blossoms, or when wild berries are ripe. You can send the kids out in the morning with a small bucket, and make berry pancakes for breakfast! Simply stir the berries into any regular pancake mix.

Be prepared for bugs and foul weather. If it rains, just pull everyone under the rain fly or into the largest tent and play cards, cribbage, or other games. If it’s a warm rain, let the kids play in the rain! Have plenty of towels handy!

Helping parents, teachers and volunteer leaders coordinate activities and events simply and easily all year round!

• Soccer Snacks

• Scout Campouts

• Walk‐a‐Thons & Fun Runs

• Swim Meets

• Sports Tournaments

• Vacation Bible School

• Girl Scout Cookie Booths

• Neighborhood Clean ups

• Coat, food and toy drives

and more . . .

Simplify ALL Parent Volunteering

Class Camping with Kids / VolunteerSpot DOING GOOD Just Got Easier!

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See our other free eBooks with ideasand best-practices for:

• School Carnivals• Teacher Gifts• Family-Friendly Volunteering• Fundraising with Kids• Bake Sales• Talent Shows

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Additional Resources

Class Parent Camping with Kids / VolunteerSpot DOING GOOD Just Got Easier!

http://www.volunteerspot.com/ebooks

http://www.budurl.com/BTSSampleLetters


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© 2008 by VolunteerSpot DOING GOOD Just Got Easier!Copyright holder is licensing this under the Creative Commons License, Attribution 2.5.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

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Great Ideas for Camping With Kids

Self Improvement

Transcript of Great Ideas for Camping With Kids