We all know that summer is the perfect time to take your kids on a camping trip, but the fun doesn’t have to stop at the campsite.
Try these 18 fun camping crafts for preschoolers they can make at home!
They’re great for passing some time on a rainy day, to remember the camping trips you’ve taken, or to get the kids excited for an upcoming trip.
You’ll find loads of easy camp crafts to try, like handprint campfires, cute woodland animals, pretend-play tents, cute fireflies, and more.
Your happy little camper is going to love these camping activities!
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Camping Craft Ideas For Preschoolers
Sitting around the campfire is a cherished memory for many and can take you right back to your childhood.
A fun way to remember those days with your kids, or just enjoy an afternoon crafting session at home, is by making this cute paper campfire! Grab the template to make this fun craft super simple to put together.
Have you ever spotted a fox while you've been camping? This furry little forest animal can make an appearance right now!
So print the template and grab your paper, scissors, and glue to assemble this cutie right now.
No one wants to spot a bear in the woods while camping, but you must admit this paper bear craft is pretty cute.
Of course, it's an adorable project to go along with your favorite bear-themed books, too.
The campfire is a way to create an adorable memento with the kids. Every time you look at those sweet little handprint flames, it'll remind you of your family camping trips and how much fun you all had together.
You might be lucky and see some little squirrels scampering up a tree while you're camping.
This craft is inspired by these adorable forest animals, which I bet would make any camper happy to spot!
Use the printable template and watch the video tutorial if you want to know how easy it is to put one of these sweet creatures together.
Here's another adorable keepsake to make in honor of your family camping trips.
This happy camper printable is ready for your child's footprints in whatever color you'd like. Then, use a marker to make the tent shape over the feet, and you're done.
These cardboard tube bears are crazy simple to make with a bit of paint, googly eyes, construction paper, and Sharpies. That's it!
You can make this in just a few minutes, excluding drying time. If you're in a rush, wrap the cardboard tube in black or brown construction paper instead.
When you're in the great outdoors, observing nature like a real-life explorer or survivor is a must!
You'll need some handy-dandy binoculars to spot all those animals in the wild. These cloud-covered blue binoculars are perfect for the job.
Can you imagine the excitement on your preschooler's face on seeing this collapsible cardboard tent?
The best part is they can help paint and decorate it. Of course, they'll need some help from adults with the cutting and taping, but let your kiddos take over the painting fun.
Speaking of fireflies, how adorable are these pine cone fireflies?
You can make so many fun things out of pine cones. Be sure to gather them when you're at the campsite or while you're on a nature walk.
They're perfect for making bugs, birds, and loads of other animal crafts.
Don't you love watching fireflies on those hot summer nights? This campfire craft is wonderful and has so many fun elements.
The campfire is made with your child's handprint, while the fireflies are made with fingerprints and a bit of drawing. How pretty!
Let your preschooler practice fine motor control by weaving the fire's flames on this fun paper plate campfire craft.
You'll need to punch the holes in the plate for your preschoolers and show them how to begin lacing, but they should be all set to complete the rest independently!
Have you ever tried paint splat crafts before? It's a fun way to teach your kids about symmetry.
The paint you put on one side of the paper plate is transferred to the other when you smush the halves together.
Add some brown paper strip logs, and you're done! Easy peasy.
Create an adorable keepsake of your latest camping trip with this fun 'gone camping' craft.
Use the printable template and clipart to set your campsite scene.
We love that it's set at night on black paper to make the moon and stars really pop. Kids will love seeing their pictures inside the tent!
Make your own mini camping set for small world play. This simple project is made with just patterned paper, craft sticks, and glue. It doesn't get much simpler than that!
The best part about camping is the S'mores!
Now you can make your own pretend S'mores with popsicle sticks and paper.
Add a magnet to the back to turn this into a cute fridge magnet for your home or RV.
It's just not a camping trip without a meal made on the grill, is it? These grill cards are so much fun!
Of course, you don't have to make it for Father's Day. It's a cute craft all on its own, but you could also send one to friends or family with a message that says, "Thanks for taking me camping."
Which craft are you going to make first?!
Camping Ideas For Kids
Do you want to create a whole camping-themed unit to go with these crafts? If so, keep reading. We’ve got lots of great ideas to get you started!
Books are a great way to get even further into a theme! On top of that, reading to kids helps them develop a stronger vocabulary and helps them learn to focus. It’s a win-win situation!
Below are some of the top camping themed books for kids.
The Little Book of Camping- Teach young kids all about what goes into camping with this cute and simple book!
Pete the Cat Goes Camping- This book is great for little readers who love Pete the Cat. Read it before going camping to get the kids excited for their trip!
A Campfire Tail- This sweet book is a great way to talk to kids about empathy and friendship. Kids love the fun illustrations and storyline.
Camping Activities
Sight words are an important part of a child’s reading development, and what better way to learn them than with these camping color by sight word printables? Not only will kids have fun coloring the pages, but they’ll also get some valuable practice with their fine motor skills!
As any parent knows, finding activities that are both fun and educational can be a challenge. That’s why these camping worksheets for kids are such a find! Not only do they help practice essential skills like handwriting and fine motor coordination, but they’re also great for memory, scissor skills, letter recognition, and more.
Camping is a great way to get kids outdoors and away from technology, but it can also be a lot of work. For those times when the kids would rather be camping but they’re at home, these free camping maze printables are great. Not only will they help them burn off some energy, but they’ll also help them practice their problem-solving skills.
These camping dot to dot printables for kids are the perfect activity for a rainy day. They help to improve hand-eye coordination, and they’re also a lot of fun. Plus, they’re a great way to teach kids about numbers and counting. The best part is that these printables are free!
More Camping Ideas For Kids
Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.
janice
Tuesday 3rd of October 2023
I love the awesome crafts and will be using some of them,
Kimberly
Friday 3rd of March 2023
I'm not able to load the template for the Gone Camping (starting you) craft. The page won't load when I click on either the picture or the Keep Reading link. Can you help?
Sam
Friday 3rd of March 2023
Hi Kimberly! I'm not exactly sure what you mean. To get any of the printables or templates, all you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you. Does that help?