Camping is a time to disconnect from technology and reconnect with your surroundings. Camping offers us a valuable opportunity to revitalize our relationships with family as well as nature. Aside from the essentials, don’t forget to pack your family’s entertainment.
In a world dependent on smartphones and tablets, being screenless for a weekend will likely feel foreign for most. But rest assured, there are plenty of fun camping activities that don’t involve a screen that’ll undoubtedly have you feeling happy that you cut the cord. We’ve compiled a list of 13 camping activities that’ll beat the boredom blues and guarantee everyone has a blast outdoors!
1. Painting Rocks
Surely you’ve seen the wholesome viral trend of painting rocks and hiding them for others to find? Painting rocks doesn’t have to be an at-home activity. Paint-it-forward and enjoy this charming feel-good venture while camping.
Once you pitch your tent and organize your gear, have the family scour the campsite for smooth rocks. Paint a creative design, put a friendly message on the back, seal them with paint sealer such as mod podge, and place the stones where other campers can find them.
2. Camping Scavenger Hunt
Another excellent way to get the family excited to turn off their phones, and tune into their surroundings, is to offer them a stimulating game of camping scavenger hunt.
A camping scavenger hunt is not only fun, but it also helps those who are camping familiarize themselves with the campsite. You’ll be looking for the nearest bathroom or closet water source, once you start camping, so why not make it into a game?
Print out a free printable camping scavenger hunt list, or make your own. This simple activity will provide hours of fun, especially for the younger ones on your trip.
3. Camping Charades
Gather the family around for an extraordinary fun game of camping charades that’ll have the whole crew ROFL!
Purchase digital camping-themed charade cards, with hilarious prompts like trip over a tent line, act like a deer or reel in a big fish. Grab this classic game for only $5.00 online or develop your own unique prompts for hours of fun.
4. Crazy Balloon Popping
Consider playing this musical chairs-like game with a hysterical balloon popping twist. It’s guaranteed to be a hit with both adults and kids. Write down comical actions on strips of paper, the more embarrassing, the better and place them in balloons for players to pop as they play an innocent game of pass the balloon.
Once the music stops, have the player with the balloon pop it and do the action hidden in the balloon. Continue to play until you’ve popped all of your balloons. Get ready for some rip-roaring fun with this game!
5. Glow-In-The-Dark-Frisbee
The party doesn’t start until the sun goes down with the Nite Ize Flashflight LED Light-Up Flying Disc. Have a blast tossing around a glow-in-the-dark frisbee! Campers will absolutely love watching the disco-like illumination fly through the sky. You won’t have to cut your frisbee game short just because it’s dark out with this incredible lightweight frisbee. Everyone at the campground will want to join in on the fun!
6. Yard Games
Enjoy a little bit of friendly competition with yard games while on your next camping trip. Challenge your fellow campers to an exciting game of ring toss, kubb, Jenga giant, jumbo Connect, portable corn hole, or Flarts (a safer alternative to lawn darts).
7. S’mores Fun
Up your smores game with these simple ways to upgrade your s’mores! Graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate are an undeniably delicious combo. But, imagine how you can take this timeless camping food to the next level by experimenting with different marshmallow flavors and exciting new add-ins such as cookie dough, peanut butter, or fruit.
Replace the graham crackers with your favorite cookies or try dipping your marshmallows in creamy Bailey’s liqueur before toasting for a sinfully delicious adult dessert. The tasty possibilities are endless!
8. Glow-In-The-Dark Bubbles
What child doesn’t love bubbles? Keep children entertained with glow-in-the-dark bubbles well after dark by learning how to make a glow-in-the-dark glowing bubble solution.
To make this mystical activity possible, simply mix a non-toxic washing glow paint or a non-toxic highlighter pen with a bubble solution to make glowing bubbles. We recommend a 50:50 mix for the strongest bubbles.
9. Glow-In-The-Dark Egg Hunt
Have your children patiently wait in the tent or RV while you scatter glow-in-the-dark eggs around the campsite for them to find. All you need to do is place a small flexible glowstick in each egg to make a glow-in-the-dark egg hunt possible. Keep it simple, hide the eggs, or include candy, stickers, or small toys as part of the hidden treasure.
Glow-in-the-dark fun doesn’t have to stop there, purchase one of Amazon’s top-selling glow-in-the-dark sets that include hours of glow-in-the-dark fun, with glow-in-the-dark glasses and bracelets!
10. Get Lost In A Book
There’s nothing better for campers that seek peace and quiet than cozying up into a hammock or camping chair with some favorite reads. Check out our Oola staff recommendations for the best summer reads that you can order now for your upcoming camping getaway. Afterall there is nothing better than getting lost in a book!
11. Spooky Campfire Stories
Telling spooky stories around the campfire is a favorite pastime. Sitting around a campfire in the dead of night, while staring at blankly at dancing flames as unsettling noises come from the woods, is the perfect setting for ghostly stories.
Bring along a classic Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, that will surely frighten even the bravest camper or get creative and tell your own!
12. Card Games
Playing card games fireside while relishing some campfire popcorn is the perfect way to spend your evening in the great outdoors. Some of the most popular camping games to bring on your trip are Cards Against Humanity, Apples To Apples, What Do You Meme?, or our newest favorite, The Game Of Ham. We love that Cards Against Humanity allows for easy, worry-free portability with a free printable version of the cards. You won’t have to be nervous about leaving any cards behind, or the cards getting ruined at the campsite.
Even though these trendy card games are hilariously fun, having a traditional deck of playing cards is also a sure way to have a blast. Use your deck of cards to play some of the best adult drinking games ever, like the classic drinking game, King’s Cup, or Up and Down The River.
13. Staying Active
Camping also offers us many outdoorsy activities that get our bodies moving, that we’d otherwise miss out on when unwinding at home on the couch. Depending on where you decide to set up camp, there will be numerous activities you can participate in that’ll get your heart rate up in no time!
Enjoy a day on the trails, hiking, or backpacking in the woods. If you’re a real adventure seeker, bring along some mountain bikes for a fast-paced adventure over rugged terrain.
If you’re camping near a lake or ocean, set out on a kayaking trip, go swimming, or explore the waters with a paddleboard.
