6 Fun Games To Play With Your Family When Camping

6 Fun Games To Play With Your Family When Camping

Exterior of a tent in Collective Retreats

Getting the entire family together for a camping trip can be a monumental task. Suddenly, the size of your packing list skyrockets, and it takes more consideration when booking accommodations and activities.

While preparing for a camping trip with kids understandably takes effort, you shouldn’t feel responsible for coming up with unique ways to fill your days on the campsite. If you are looking for new ways to bond with your family, consider incorporating new camping games into your next trip.

While there are countless outdoor, family-friendly games, it’s nice to have a few favorites at your disposal. Today, you’ll discover a list of our favorite games that the whole family will love.

 

Frisbee

One of the best fun camping games is the classic frisbee. Campers can spread out across the campsite and throw the frisbee to each other while standing in a circle. The little ones can try throwing to the person next to them, and the adults can try tossing the frisbee across the circle.

Additionally, many campgrounds have a frisbee golf course on the grounds or nearby, which means you’ll always want to have a frisbee packed with your camping gear.

 

Card Games and Board Games

Card games and board games are a wonderful way to keep everyone entertained on a slow afternoon. Most campsites come with access to picnic tables, which provide the perfect amount of space for your entire family to play a card game together.

If you want a great game that is easy to learn and fun for the whole family, try Uno or Go Fish. Uno is a well-loved, classic game that keeps everyone in a large group engaged and excited. Meanwhile, Go Fish is the perfect card game for your little ones to learn, and you can use your own playing cards.

If your kids are a little bit older and you are looking for a fast-paced, high-energy game, try Slapjack. To start, take a regular deck of cards up between each member of your family. Keep the deck face down. Going clockwise, each player quickly puts the top card of their deck down in the center.

If the card placed is a Jack, your family will race to be the first one to slap the deck and win all the cards in the pile, which gets shuffled into the winner’s deck. The last person with cards wins the game.

 

Spoons

Similar to Slapjack, the speed and excitement of spoons are sure to keep your children entertained. All you need to play this game is a deck of cards and a total of spoons which is one fewer than the total number of players. Put the spoons in the center and pick a dealer to deal four cards to each player.

Each player passes one of their cards simultaneously, while the last person in the circle starts a discard pile, and the dealer draws from the rest of the deck. Keep passing the cards you want to discard to the left as fast as you can and keep cards in your hand that will help you get four-of-a-kind.

Once a player has four-of-a-kind, they grab a spoon. Once the other players notice a spoon has been taken, they will try to get one, too. Each round, someone won’t get a spoon, so they are out of the game. A spoon is taken out of the center each round. The person to get the spoon in the last round is the winner.

This game goes quickly, so many rounds can be played in one sitting, giving everyone a chance to win.

 

Charades

Charades is a universally-loved game among both kids and adults. Acting like an animal or your kids’ favorite movie character will seem exciting to them. Additionally, you can make your charades game camping themed and tell everyone to act out their favorite animal or camping activity.

If a day at the park suddenly turns rainy, run to a nearby covered pavilion and pass the time with charades.

 

A Nature Scavenger Hunt

If your kids want to move but get bored on long hikes, try turning your next trek into a nature scavenger hunt. Research what you can expect to see on a certain trail and make a list of things your kids have to find while on the hike. Items to find can include a purple flower, a river, an interesting rock, a bird, and the like.

Not only will this game keep them engaged and interested in a long hike, but it can also be an educational experience. You can have your own list of things to find that are a little more elevated, such as a certain type of bird or tree, and let your children know when you find one.

This can also be done at your campsite and can give the little ones a chance to run around the open space. Try making a list that includes a certain colored RV, a playground, or any other fun attractions your campsite has.

 

A Water Fight

It can be difficult to find a way to get your kids’ energy out on an extremely hot day. Sometimes, hikes are unsafe due to a lack of shade, and there aren’t always lakes or rivers to cool off in.

While it’s a favorite with kids, water balloon fights aren’t the best idea for camping. Even though you might be diligent about picking up the pieces of broken balloons, you inevitably miss a few pieces, and this non-biodegradable material can hurt the environment.

Instead, opt for a water gun fight. This brings the fun of a water fight to your campsite in a safer way. Be sure to grab a water gun yourself; your kids will love the chance to get you.

If your kids really love to run, you can even turn a game of tag into a water tag. Whoever gets hit is “it” and has to chase the rest of the family until they can hit someone else.

 

More Fun Camping Game Ideas

If you still need more camping game ideas, check out a few honorable mentions:

Chubby Bunny: This is a fun campfire game to enjoy while making s’mores. To win, all you have to do is be the first person to get the most marshmallows in your mouth at a time.

Cornhole: Cornhole is a classic outdoor game that you can play with bean bags in your front yard at home. However, you can also play a DIY version of this toss game at your campsite. Simply grab some acorns or pinecones and choose a target destination to throw them. Have one player try to land an item in the target zone, then let the next player try.

Two Truths and a Lie: This family camping game requires nothing other than honesty, and it’s perfect for parents with older kids. The first player comes up with two facts about themselves and one lie. Then, the next person has to guess which one is the lie.

Glow-in-the-dark capture the flag: This game requires some glow sticks to wrap around your arms and legs, but if you can get your hands on those, it’s a blast. The first team to secure their rivals’ flag wins, but it’s extra challenging due to the fact that it’s nighttime.

Bananagrams or Yahtzee: These two games are easy to play by a fire if you have access to a picnic table, and they’re both accessible for younger kids. Yahtzee is a fun game of chance, while Bananagrams is all about spelling and thinking fast.

Where To Stay on an Outdoor Adventure

If you want to take your kids on an outdoor adventure but don’t want to give up the luxuries of a five-star resort, we have the perfect solution for your family.

 

Collective Retreats

Collective Retreats aims to combine outdoor adventure and luxurious accommodations, offering an elevated camping experience in some of the most naturally beautiful places in the country.

Parents can stay in a Summit Tent, which has every amenity you could ever wish for. After a day of hiking and entertaining the children, nothing feels better than stepping under a rain-style shower and letting the water relax your muscles.

At night, you can get a restful evening of sleep in your king bed underneath high-quality bedding. The private deck just outside of your lodging will give you the space for a quiet moment at night when the kids are in bed.

If you book a family-style accommodation, you will have access to a traditional Summit Tent, with a smaller, second tent located just steps away. This tent features two single beds, also dressed with high-quality bedding, that is the perfect size for your kids.

 

Experience the Great Outdoors 

Hiking with your kids is a wonderful experience. You can watch their eyes get wide as they see natural wonders for the first time, and the momentary disconnect from your daily life gives your family space to bond and make meaningful memories.

There is no need to feel stressed about keeping your kids entertained on a camping trip; just rely on these camping games to keep your kids happy and having fun.

Lastly, if you want a reliable camping accommodation that will still expose your family to outdoor living, but won’t result in any meltdowns about itchy sleeping bags or no real bathrooms, book your stay with Collective Retreats.

 

Sources:

What is Disc Golf? A Complete Beginner’s Guide | PDGA

Recognizing and Preventing Heat Stroke while Hiking | Zion National Park

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