Camping Out Ideas

Fun camping activities for kids?

we're camping at Greers Ferry Lake in Heber Springs, AR... so there's swimming and I bought fishing poles. My kids are insisting on bringing portable DVD players, video games, etc.... the sad thing is they're only 4, 8, and 10.... what can I do to get them to enjoy nature??? I remember when I was a kid I LOVED camping with my folks.... I want my kids to have that same feeling about camping, but I don't think horse shoes, roasting marshmallows, etc will be enough with the "high tech" kids of today :( Great ideas.. keep them coming!

Public Comments

1. HIDE AND SEEK EASTER EGG HUNT
2. Telling ghost stories. Throw rocks at Grizzly Bears. Do base jumping off of cliffs
3. Walking on hot embers barefoot ought to get them excited.
4. dont' give in. if they see how much fun they can have without electronics, then they'll keep wanting to go back! even if they have tantrums, don't give in. They will realize that it IS much more fuN!
5. i always LOVED roasting marshmallows, i also loved trail riding, cause its so peaceful. Try a good bike ride too.
6. you can never go wrong with water balloon fights!! not only are they going to have fun, but your also going to water the grass. eco-friendly
7. Try a treasure hunt, Make a list of things that the kids will find in the woods and have a little prize for whoever find the most items. Go on a nature hike and try to see how many animals they can find. Tell them the dvd's will always be there but nature may not be. Once they get outdoors they'll love it.
8. You could always try a Nature Hunt. Make up a list of items for them to find and give the winner a prize. We did this for my 2 boys and they loved it, things like a pinecone was worth 2 points, a deer track 3, etc...
9. Give them .25 cents for erery frog they catch,give them 50 cents for a crawdad. That will get them started and let every thing go after dark. Keep the toys at home after awhile they will find something to do.
10. Some sort of hunt. When I was younger my parents gave me and my friends a list of things so find and so we would go to other camp sites and ask the people if they had one of those items. If they did then one of us would have to be in the picture with that person and item to prove we found everything. I loved it.
11. Ban all electronic devices! I have to when I take my boys (3,8 &11) camping. Once they get out in nature and get busy discovering things they forget all about their games. Your doing the right thing by getting poles, but how about bringing a couple of board games, making some smores? You could also find a good outdoor guide book and play a scavenger hunt where you give them a list of different nature related things to find and bring back to you. It will help them discover new things in nature and give them a sense of competition. The winner could get to pick the activity for the next day (nature related or course) or tell the big ghost story that night. If you know how to weave you could teach them how to make a grass matt (same as looing a pot holder), let them help you build the fire and pop the tents. I have found that just letting them be involved keeps them intrested and occupied. My kids never even think about their games during the day and for the night when they are missing them, just give them a good puzzle book, coloring book and markers or play surades by the camp fire to keep them occupied.
12. What I would do is let your kids capture lightning bugs. Give them a jar and watch them!! It is very fun!! It may seem silly but it is Worth it!! I'm not telling you what to do but... I would ask them to leave their electronics at home!!! Roasting marsh mellows and making smores would also be a nice thing to do!!
13. .your wrong the simple things are far more fun at camping leave the gadgets home. you no how to have a good time you have done it when you were there age do it again and remember when kids fish parents help they don't try to fish or they well get all grumpy cause they are trying to fish and the kids need help .
14. my kids were same way, we camp alot here in oregon but we dont camp in the state parks ect. we go where we can fish and swim, play catch, football freezbee ect. hike and pick berries, and in the evnings we load them up in the truck and go for drives to see the elk and deer.
15. My boys are 4 and 9. Here in the midwest a big thing is ladder-ball. We made our own but you can buy a set for around $20. We ride bikes a lot, look for interesting bugs and leaves, scavanger hunts, anything to just spend time with them away from the TV and chores. Once they get used to the idea of not having all the electronics they'll really enjoy going. Hang in there and HANG TOUGH - there really is a payoff for family time!
16. get lots of glow sticks! all kids love glowsticks! maybe let 'em bring one thing, like a 'gameboy' (but, hehe, leave the charger at home!) - even i bring a cheesy little solotaire game - we can sit for an hour, enjoy the morning coffee and, like, 'be one' with groovy mother nature, man - but it can be hard for kids to grasp the same idea. don't worry, s'mores never go out of style! bring a couple simple travel board games (checkers, backgammon, etc) let 'em help out a bit with 'camp cooking'. if possible, buy them some cool fishing vest with lots of pockets, somethin like that. have them gather pinecones for the fire. if your comfortable, let em help you start it. get a couple walkie-talkie type deals - they're pretty fun, too. it'll help keep everyone in touch & give em a quick 'tech' fix. lettin' 'em bring along one gadget thing will help to start off the trip without grumps, too! JUST DON'T BRING THEIR CHARGERS! if they still complain, tell them you're going to tie a slab of meat to their leg & make them walk 100 paces in the woods at night. good luck!
17. Scavenger hunts-bring a book about the vegetation/wildlife/insects in your area, for ideas to find, or to ID the things they do find. One of the funniest activities we did as kids one summer, was make bug soup. My uncle told us that he would eat it (he didn't of course). For 3 days we collected every bug we could find and then boiled them in a pot. It was discusting! LOL! You could also have them build shelters with fallen branches. They make great forts and it is good survival training. Have fun!
18. just get them out there they will enjoy them selfs more than they even know. dark woods always does walk with them listen to them its also for you. let them help in the camping duties just dont make it dull.
19. Convienently remove the batteries at the last minute without telling them.