Easy, colorful, and creative ways for kids to connect with nature on your next camping trip with this huge round up of camp crafts to try next time you’re in the great outdoors
No need for the kids to be bored while heading out on a camping trip this summer!
With these camping crafts for kids, there will be plenty of things the kids can create and have fun with while enjoying the beautiful outdoors.
Our selection of camp crafts are perfect for a variety of different age ranges so no matter what ages your children are, you will find something here they can make on their camping trip. Even if you only have a day trip out on the trails or to your nearest nature spot, get inspired and collect your supplies.
From creating art with leaves and sticks to making crafts out of the items they find in the woods or around the campsite, these camping crafts for kids will be fun.
This post is part of our camping and outdoor adventures series
Camping Crafts for Kids
DIY Nature Mandala
The kids will have a blast looking for various items to make a nature mandala. They can find pretty flowers, oddshaped or colored leaves, and other outdoor items to create a mandala art piece.
Andy Goldsworthy Art with Flowers
Using the leaves and colorful flowers you find while camping can be a great way to make a fun art project. This gives a pretty cool example of the type of art that kids can make with the flowers and
leaves they find outdoors.
Clay Rocket Stove
Don’t let the rain get you down while camping! Instead, use the mud the rain creates to make this fun clay rocket stove and teach your kids about fire.
Camping Story Stones
Let the kids get creative and create their own camping story with painted rocks. This tutorial gives you some ideas on the various activities that you can take part in while camping and some examples of designs they can paint on rocks.
Nature Color Wheel
Even for young children, there are plenty of ways for to learn and this nature color wheel is just one example. While camping, encourage your little one to find colorful items to create a nature color wheel.
Fire Starter Pine Cones
Pine cones are something many of us find while camping. Why not use those pine cones to create some colorful art. This is just one example of how you can create art with pine cones.
Pressed Flower Greeting Cards
Pressing flowers is an easy activity that kids of all ages can do. While the kids are enjoying the outdoors, they can pick some colorful flowers to create their own pressed flower greeting card like the one shown here.
Leaf Imprint Craft & Activity
As the kids enjoy their time outdoors, making these leaf imprints is a great way to encourage exploration as they get creative with their hands. It’s also a great way for children to learn more about leaves and trees.
DIY Leaf Candle Holder
Another fun craft that uses the leaves you pick up while camping, this tutorial shows you how to make your own creative candle holder.
Wrapped Walking Stick
Creating a nature-inspired walking stick can be a great activity for kids of all ages. The biggest challenge may be finding the perfect stick, but the kids will still have fun exploring the outdoors and creating their own walking stick, perfect for when you're ready to hit the trails.
Nature Fairy House
Using various items from your time camping, this nature fair house is a cool craft the kids can make. They can put together the house with items from nature and even use paint to decorate and make their fairy house unique.
Turn Fall Leaves Into Glitter
The kids will have a blast making their own leaf glitter! Once their leaf glitter is made, they can then get even more creative and make different pictures or designs.
Stick Leaf Butterfly
Create a beautiful and colorful butterfly from sticks, leaves, and some colorful paint. This activity is a fun project the kids can do while camping with the family.
Summer Skies Marshmallow Constellations
Using marshmallows and toothpicks, the kids will love making their own constellations like the ones they see in the sky while camping.
DIY Bug Hotel
Embrace nature and the bugs with this fun bug barn craft. The kids can get creative with a toilet paper roll and various items they’ve brought from home or can find in nature to design and decorate their bug house.
Acorn Marble Necklace
This fun craft uses acorns and marbles to make unique necklaces the kids can wear. If you are camping near an oak tree, these necklaces will make the perfect camping craft for kids.
Marshmallow Shooters
Marshmallow shooters are probably one of the best crafts the kids can do while camping because they’ll have so much fun playing with them afterwards. Only a few supplies are needed to make these
shooters and the kids will have a blast with them - literally!
Glowing Campfire Craft
This glowing campfire craft is a fun activity for younger children to do. Once finished, they can pretend they are roasting their own marshmallows and enjoying the fire while camping.
Journey Stick
To make these journey sticks, have your child find various items from their outdoor exploration. Leaves, sticks, flowers, and other nature items can be made into these journey sticks for a fun
camping craft for kids.
Painting With Nature
The kids will love getting creative and painting their own designs with the items they find while camping. From leaves to sticks, each item will bring a unique way for kids to paint.
Pressed Wildcraft Bookmark
Like the pressed flower cards, this craft uses the same idea but has children making bookmarks so that they can keep their place in their favorite book while camping.
Nature Name Activity
Using items the kids find outdoors while camping, this nature name activity will have them design a unique art piece with their name.
Outdoor Tic Tac Toe Camping Game
Not just a fun camping craft for kids to do while enjoying their time outdoors, they can also play a game of tic tac toe with the family while camping.
Recycled Lantern Craft
Using recycled materials is a great way for the kids to get creative and this project has the kids turning a peanut butter jar into a fun lantern.
Easy and Fun Camp Necklaces
These easy and fun camp necklaces will not only be a fun craft for kids to make while camping, but they can keep the necklaces to remember all the good times they had on their outdoor adventure
with friends and family.
Spring Flowers Sun-catcher
Using the flowers and items they find while exploring the outdoors, the kids will enjoy making and watching this adorable flower sun catcher.
Leaf Crown
Turn those colorful leaves you find outside into a fun dress up prince or princess crown. After they’ve made the crown, they can use it for pretend play.
Painted Butterfly Rocks
Search for different types of rocks as you are out on your camping trip and let the kids use them to create their own butterfly painted rocks.
Butterfly Crafts
Another fun craft the kids can make with leaves are leaf butterflies. These butterflies use leaves and stems to create unique butterflies.
Cardboard Tube Binoculars
Cardboard tubes can be used in a variety of different ways which makes them the perfect item to craft with. One example of what you can do with them is to make binoculars. After the kids make the binoculars, they can use them on their nature walks or camping trips.
Daisy Flower Crown
Crowns can be great for pretend play and making them out of wildflowers will let the kids get creative as they create their own crowns. This example uses daisy flowers, but any wildflowers you find while out camping can be used.
We hope you’ve found some fun and inspiring ideas for your keeping the kids busy on your next camping trip with kids.
More inspiration and advice camping with kids!
Before you set up camp, you may also want to check out:
- Our complete guide to camping gear you need with a baby
- Essentials for camping with a toddler
- Kids’ essential camping gear & camping gifts
- Fun toys and games to pack for a camping trip with kids
- Choosing the most comfortable camping mattress or sleeping pad for your camping trip
- The best kids camping chairs
- Our ultimate guide to beach and desert camping – with a printable camping checklist
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