It’s no secret we love camping. It is one of our favourite ways to disconnect and just touch grass. Good for my mental and physical health not to mention my whole family’s mental health.
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Table of Contents
The Joys of Camping
Nothing beats the feeling of gathering around a campfire. It’s the perfect way to hit the pause button on a busy week and enjoy some quality time in nature. Whether you are experienced campers or just starting out, there’s nothing quite like being outside together in a provincial or national park. One of my favourite things is spotting constellations at night. I mean listen if you are over 45 and need that bathroom break at 3 am like I do there’s no better spot to do it than at a provincial park where dark skies and no light pollution means you will easily spot Orion, Big Dipper, Little Dipper and Cygnus.
But even camping isn’t perfect (is anything actually?) and young kids and teens will eventually blurt I am bored or something equally frustrating. Which is why I always recommend camping with a bag of tricks. Having some simple printables, activities and games like this Camping I Spy Game on hand if needed saves meltdowns occasionally.
Camping Activities
There’s so much to do when camping that you might be tricked into thinking that you won’t struggle to find ways to explore or stay active. I mean walking, biking, setting up camp, spending endless beach days swimming? What’s not to love? And yet, one of the biggest hurdles for parents can be keeping them busy during the witching hours just like at home. Having a few nature-focused games and activities handy is a lifesaver to keep everyone happy.
Card Games
I have a wild range of campfire games that we travel with when we go camping. We have picked up a few over the years and wouldn’t leave home without them. My kids are older so letting you know that before you get judgemental. Last year we bought Cards Against Humanity and it is a hoot. We haven’t laughed so hard in years. At 21 and 24, last season we were all okay with the language and the game was a blast. At Christmas I bought Noah the add on packs. There are so many, but we settled on the 90s pack.
Classic Camping Games
Another classic is corn hole, which is a simple setup and an easy one to play when someone is starting a campfire or waiting for somebody else to prep the food. For the most part we all pitch in and take turns helping with activities and meals but we also try to stay out of each other’s space at times. Everyone has a role and sometimes it’s better to play a game for a bit when somebody is cooking for instance.
One of our favourite games on the beach is Bocce Ball. It is so portable and easy to play together. Pick one up via the link here or get a super cheap one at a discount store near you. Highly recommend.
Print These out Before you Camp
Head off the “I am bored” before it even starts.
There are several camping activities here now on my site so please take advantage of them under the printables tab and return if you think there’s something fun or cool you’d like to see here.
So, hit the Printables Pinterest board and take these with you.
Don’t Miss These:
Give these walkie talkies a try if you are looking for another fun camping activity for little people.
THIS is a classic:
Where are you camping this season? Do you have a favourite camping game?
