Camping is all about exploring nature, making memories, and enjoying the great outdoors. But what do you do when you need a break from hiking and roasting marshmallows? Enter camping crafts for kids—perfect activities to keep little hands busy and minds engaged while you relax at the campsite.
These crafts not only provide entertainment but also foster creativity and a deeper connection to nature. From nature-inspired projects to creative keepsakes, these camping crafts will make your outdoor adventure even more special.
Why You’ll Love These Camping Crafts
You’ll love these camp activities crafts because they blend creativity, nature, and fun into one delightful package.
These projects are designed to be simple and enjoyable, making them perfect for a wide range of ages and skill levels. They provide a great way for kids to connect with the outdoors while making something special to take home as a keepsake.
Another reason to love these activities is that they encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. Plus, they’re a great way to fill downtime at camp with productive and creative play. From nature-inspired crafts to personalized camp gear, these activities will keep kids engaged and excited throughout their camp experience.
Crafting at the Campsite
Crafting at the campsite is much easier than you think especially if you do a small amount of planning. Start by creating a craft bin that you will take with you to the campsite that is fully stocked with a few simple craft supplies that you can use in many different ways. Most of the items that you will use for crafting will be all around you. Think using leaves, rocks, twigs or sticks!
Here’s what to include in your Campsite Craft Bin:
- Twine, yarn
- Beads
- Paint and brushes
- Duct tape or masking tape
- Scissors
- Glue
- Paper
- Rubber Bands
The best part about crafting at the campsite is that many of your other supplies will already be there when you arrive! Or they are a quick hike or search away. Take advantage of the nature and the natural environment around you when deciding on what crafts to make with the kids. Some the things you can use are:
- leaves
- rocks
- pine cones
- pine needles
- sticks or twigs
- long grass
- flowers
- acorns
Camping Crafts for Kids
Here are some camping crafts you can easily create with these simple supplies:
Twig Boat Craft
Stick Spider Web
Tents By The Campfire
DIY Nature Weaving Craft
DIY Nature Journal for Kids
Nature Paint Brushes for Kids
DIY Hiking Stick Craft
Leaf Jewelry
Painted Rock Fish Craft
Leaf Painting with Kids
Sun Prints
Bow and Arrow
Leaf Rubbing Collages
DIY Slingshots
Friendship Bracelets
Embroidery Hoop Dream Catcher
Masking Tape Placemats
Stick Mazes
Nature Collages
DIY Tic-Tac-Toe Painted Rocks
DIY Tote Bags from Bandanas
Color Rock Dominoes
DIY Recycled Bottle Lanterns
Leaf Owl Craft
Bubble Snake
Make Your Own Binoculars
Garbage Bag Kite
Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder
Magnifying Glass Using Recycled Bottles
Camping Cup Lantern
My Books
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
