Planning a camping trip and wondering how to keep the kids entertained between hikes, meals, and campfire time? These camping crafts for kids are the perfect way to spark creativity while enjoying the great outdoors. Whether you’re in a tent, RV, or backyard campsite, these simple craft ideas use minimal supplies and make unforgettable camping memories.
From nature-inspired art to classic campfire activities, these crafts are fun, easy, and perfect for all ages!
🏕️ Why Bring Crafts on a Camping Trip?
Camping is all about unplugging and enjoying nature—but having a few easy camping crafts on hand can:
- Keep kids entertained during downtime
- Encourage creativity and imagination
- Provide a calm activity after a busy day outdoors
- Create meaningful keepsakes from your trip
Plus, many of these crafts use items you can find right at your campsite!
💡 Tips for Stress-Free Camping Crafts
- Choose low-mess activities
- Use recyclable or natural materials when possible
- Keep supplies in a small, portable container
- Always respect nature—only collect items that are safe and abundant
🌿 Easy Nature Crafts to Do While Camping
diy spinners
Each kid can color their own paper and add strings to make them spin! It’s super fun to watch!
Sun Prints
Sun prints would be an AWESOME camping craft. Just layout the paper –you can buy the paper HERE and let the sun work it’s magic.
DIY fans
We used watercolor and markers to create these- but these are great for keeping you cool and keeping the bugs away!
Pinecone Bird Feeders
Spread peanut butter on a pinecone and roll it in birdseed. Hang it from a tree branch and watch birds come visit your campsite!
Popsicle sticks harmonica
These are so fun! I know my kids would have loved these when they were little!
Egg Carton Color Hunt
We painted the inside of an egg carton and each kid had to go around and find things around the campground that matched each color!
Glow jars-
Perfect for camping nights! Buy some glow-in-the-dark paint and let the kids paint the inside of the jars! They can splatter it or paint stars and designs! I had precut some fairy silhouettes with my vinyl cutter so they could add in their own fairies or butterflies. Hang them up around the camp and the sun will activate the paint so when it get’s dark, they are like their own little night lights!
Rain sticks
How to make a rainstick with a cardboard roll and some basic materials. Pretty, easy and inexpensive! Ideal for toddlers and preschoolers.
Fairy gardens
My mom brought all the supplies to set up a fairy garden. Each grandkid created their own little setup! Just make sure to clean up all the supplies when you leave!
Rock Painting
This one is an easy go to! Just have the kids go gather up rocks and put out some paint or paint markers and let them decorate to their heart contents!
Walking sticks
Have kids find their own personal sticks and let them decorate it! My kids loved this so much we still have them in our camper and they reuse them every year!
Leaf Rubbing Prints
3 different art projects for kids of all ages! Take a walk, gather your leaves and start creating!
DIY Nature Crowns
Use tape or string to create a headband, then decorate it with leaves, flowers, and grass for a beautiful nature crown.
paint chip hunt
This is more of a game than a craft, but just grab a handful of paint chips and let the kids run around and try to find these in nature that match the cards!
wind catchers
How pretty are these? Pick big sticks and set these up all around your tent!
nature pictures
Find some leaves, sticks, acorns and use them to create the coolest collection of pictures!
Wizard wands
These are perfect for camping- because they are just sticks wrapped with a little air dry clay!
Bow and Arrows
DIY your own Bow and arrows.
We followed the instructions HERE but it’s basically pvc pipe wrapped with duct tape and then a string is used to pull the pipe (notice the caps on the top)
arrows are sticks with erasers on the end.
We made these last summer and my kids still play with them!
Bracelets
They are on our to do list every time we go camping! Lots of different tutorials and techniques!
paracord bracelets:
friendship bracelets
Jelly Fish Bracelets
a sling shot
Using a branch, tubing, and some tape, we created slingshots!
Camping printables
I have a whole post of fun camping games and activities! I laminated them so we can reuse them year after year!
Nature themed crafts
I also have lots of nature themed crafts that would be perfect for Camping!
Save for later
Too busy to get crafting today? No problem! Pin this post to remind yourself about this project later! Sharing my projects helps me reach more people, allowing me to continue sharing free content!
Make sure to go HERE to see all my camping posts!
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