Add a dose of excitement to any camping trip with these 7 Fun Camping Activities. These activities are a great way to spend your time in the outdoors, with a match for every type of camper. Whether you want to do something relaxing, creative, sporty, or tasty: there’s a camping activity to upgrade your fun!
Stargazing
One of our favorite camping activities is stargazing. Enjoying a clear view of the night’s sky, without light pollution from the city, is an activity that all ages will enjoy. The best part? You don’t even need to pack a telescope. There are various free apps for your mobile and/or tablet that allow you to track the stars using your built-in camera. Another tip: if you’re camping with kids, ask them what shapes and figures they can spot in the night sky, and let their imagination run wild!
More S’Mores
Making s’mores has become one of the most popular camping activities, and with good reason, because s’mores are simply irresistible. However, why settle for regular s’mores when you can also get creative and experiment? As a fun activity, try some new s’mores recipes to indulge your taste buds. For example, you can add an extra topping to your s’more sandwich such as candied bacon or berries. Another fun variation is replacing the chocolate with salted caramel spread or replacing the cracker with an Oreo cookie. Google more s’mores recipes before your trip, and get creative with your campfire treats!
Fishing
If you’re lucky to camp nearby a lake, stream, or any body of water – fishing is a great way to relax and unwind. Casting your bait and focussing on the task at hand is a fantastic method of connecting with nature, and letting go of stress. A word of advice: if you want to go fishing on your camping break, remember to pack the right gear. Trust us, fishing with sticks instead of rods, and using leftover baked beans as bait is not a recipe for success. That is why we recommend picking the best fishing tackle box and a sturdy fishing rod if you want a chance of catching your campsite dinner. Don’t own a tackle box or fishing gear? Then check at your campsite whether they have rental fishing gear – as we’ve found that many water-based locations hire out the needed equipment for a fun fishing adventure.
Birdwatching
Birdwatching is another camping activity that helps you shift your focus and connect with the great outdoors. Best of all, it’s free and you can do it anywhere, anytime. All you need is a pair of eyes and patience. Yes, a binocular also helps – but this is optional, not essential. Simply find a quiet spot a bit hidden from sight, crouch down, and turn your gaze upwards. When you spot a bird, try noting down its characteristics such as color and size, or even its type of song. This will help you identify it, and helps you keep track of which birds you’ve already spotted.
If you’re new to birdwatching, consider buying a birdwatching guide – or checking with the local ranger or wildlife centers – to discover what birds are common in the area.
Nature Photography
Take advantage of your beautiful surroundings and capture it through the lens of your camera. Nature photography is a fun way to explore the great outdoors and stimulates your creative side. All you need is a camera and a curious eye. Whether you want to photograph wildlife, beautiful views, or prefer to get up-close and explore nature in detail: there’s always an interesting composition to be found in the great outdoors. Experiment with angles, exposure, and get as wild as you want: nature is your perfect photography playground.
Geocaching
One of the best camping activities to do with kids is geocaching, a modern-day version of the traditional scavenger hunt. Instead of going through the hassle of setting up a hunt, others have already done it for you! In geocaching, people bury or hide items, and then share the GPS coordinates. The challenge is for you to navigate your way towards those coordinates, and claim your ‘prize’.
Do note that to geocache, you will need access to a smartphone and/or tablet, the official Geocaching app, and have a working internet connection. This makes it less compatible with remote camp locations. Firstly because of the lack of signal, secondly because chances are slim that someone else actually hid a ‘geocache treasure’ there. That said, there are plenty of camping locations where geocaching is an option – which is why we wanted to include this activity tip on our list for all those treasure hunters out there.
Board games
Facing a dreadful rainy camping day? Lighten the mood and upgrade your fun by packing some board games for your trip. Whether you’re camping with kids and/or friends, board games are a great way to spend a few hours – no matter what the weather. A word of warning: leave Monopoly at home, you want to lighten the mood, not sour it. Just kidding, of course, bring whatever you and your family/friends enjoy playing.
Don’t have the packing space for a full-sized board game? Many games like Catan, Family Feud, Battleship, and more, and also available in travel-sized varieties: taking up minimal space in your backpack, but delivering the same full-sized fun!