21 Camping Crafts for Kids to Make Memories in the Wild

ByEditorial Staff Updated
Camping Crafts for Kids - Guyo's Guide

I used to think camping with kids meant just dirt, bugs, and a bunch of melted marshmallows.

There was a time when our idea of fun at the campsite was just running in circles or throwing rocks at a tree (true story).

But then I discovered something magical—crafts!

With just a few supplies and a little creativity, we turned quiet moments by the fire into memory-making fun.

Now, camping isn’t just about s’mores—it’s about sparkly pinecones, nature bracelets, and painting with leaves.

These camping crafts for kids are simple, fun, and best of all—easy to pack.

So let’s dive into some creative ways to keep little hands busy and happy in the great outdoors:

1. Nature Bracelet

Nature Bracelet

Grab some masking tape and wrap it sticky-side out around little wrists. 

Then head out on a nature scavenger hunt! 

Leaves, petals, tiny feathers—whatever they find becomes instant bracelet bling. 

It’s a sweet way to explore and makes every child feel like a forest fashion designer.

2. Pinecone Pets

A photo of a rustic camp with a homemade craft setup. There is a collection of pinecone pets on an outdoor table. Each pinecone is transformed into a creature with googly eyes and a curly tail or felt ears and a paper beak. The base of the table is covered with autumn leaves and moss. The background contains canvas tents and wooden stumps.

Those funny little pinecones? 

They’re practically begging to become woodland creatures! 

Add googly eyes, twist on pipe cleaner tails or antlers, and suddenly you’ve got a squirrel or porcupine buddy. 

Bonus: This craft turns every hike into a treasure hunt for pet-worthy pinecones.

3. Leaf Rubbing Art

Leaf Rubbing Art

Lay a leaf under paper, then rub a crayon sideways on top—magical details appear like nature’s secret signature! 

Kids love seeing those veins pop through. 

Try different leaves, colors, and paper shapes. It’s one of those crafts that feels more like a discovery than a project.

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4. Tin Can Lanterns

A photograph captures a glowing tin can lantern resting on a rustic wooden table at a cozy campsite. The lantern, crafted from a recycled soup can, is adorned with precisely punched star and swirl patterns, allowing the warm light of battery-powered tea lights to softly flicker through. Behind the table, a crackling firepit illuminates two canvas tents silhouetted against the darkening sky, which displays a gentle purplish-blue hue from the approaching dusk. Three similar finished lanterns are neatly arranged along the table's edge, adding a touch of magical ambiance to the peaceful scene.

Bring along cleaned-out soup cans, a hammer, and a nail (grown-ups help here!). 

Kids punch fun patterns into the metal, then pop in battery tea lights. 

When the sun sets, your campsite glows with homemade magic.

It’s practical, pretty, and oh-so rewarding.

5. Stick Weaving

A photo of a simple homemade craft featuring stick weaving in progress on an outdoor table at a forest camp. The weaving is made on a frame of two sturdy sticks lashed together at the ends with twine. The weaving is done with colorful yarn in a pattern. Natural elements such as tiny feathers, flower petals, and pine needles are tucked into the weaving. The outdoor table is made of rough-hewn wood and sits beneath a leafy canopy. The table is surrounded by logs and tree stumps arranged as natural seating in the creative camp scene.

Find two sticks, tie yarn between them, and start weaving! 

Add in feathers, leaves, or flowers as you go. It’s kind of like making art with the forest itself. 

This is a great, quiet-time craft, especially when kids need a little screen-free downtime.

6. Rock Tic-Tac-Toe

A photograph of a rustic outdoor table in a wooded campsite displaying a charming tic-tac-toe game crafted from painted rocks. The rocks are adorned with detailed red ladybugs boasting shiny black dots and cheerful yellow bees complete with black stripes, arranged on a tic-tac-toe grid drawn neatly on a weathered piece of bark. Scattered around the game are soft brown pine needles and a few small acorns, nestled on the tabletop, while tall, verdant pines and a quiet tent area fade gently into the background under the dappled sunlight. The scene evokes a sense of playful simplicity and connection with nature, capturing the essence of a relaxed camp experience.

Paint rocks to look like bees and ladybugs (or Xs and Os), then scratch a tic-tac-toe board into dirt or use bark squares. 

Easy to pack, and even easier to fall in love with. 

Kids will want to challenge everyone at camp—again and again.

7. Camping Scrapbook

A photograph of an open scrapbook lying on a weathered wooden table in a serene forest campsite. The scrapbook’s pages showcase a collage of pressed autumn leaves—maple and oak—along with charming hand-drawn stick figures gathered around a crackling "campfire" rendered in colored pencils. Beside the scrapbook rests a steaming ceramic mug filled with "hot cocoa", while a simple canvas tent and two folding chairs create a cozy, rustic backdrop. Soft, dappled sunlight filters through the surrounding trees, casting a warm glow on the scene and highlighting the quiet joy of capturing memories.

Give each child a mini notebook and let them decorate with stickers, drawings, or pressed flowers. 

Tape in snack wrappers, write down silly moments—it becomes a memory book in the making. 

By the end of the trip, it’s their personal story of the adventure.

8. Stick Picture Frames

A photograph captures a charming, rustic stick picture frame resting on a weathered wooden table in a peaceful camping area. The frame, constructed from four intertwined sticks bound with natural twine, is adorned with patches of vibrant green moss, delicate dried lavender flowers, and textured bark pieces. Inside the square frame sits a crisp white piece of paper, awaiting a creative drawing or cherished photo, while scattered around the frame are small piles of dried leaves and pine needles. Soft sunlight filters through the surrounding tall trees, casting dappled shadows across the ground and creating a warm, inviting atmosphere within the cozy camp setting.

Bundle up four small sticks into a square using twine, then decorate with bark, moss, or wildflowers. 

Slip a photo or drawing inside. 

These are rustic little frames with big charm—and when they come home, they’re sweet reminders of your nature-filled days.

9. DIY Nature Crown

A photo of a nature crown made from a vine and filled with wildflowers, clovers, leaves, and a feather. The crown is placed on a rustic outdoor table in a forest camp. The table has a rough, earthy wood grain. The background reveals a quiet campsite with tents and hanging lanterns. The scene has a fairy-tale-like atmosphere.

Flexy twigs or vines make the perfect crown base. 

Let the kids go wild adding leaves, petals, and even dandelions. 

Suddenly, you’ve got a bunch of flower kings and moss queens running around. 

Crowns on, imaginations unlocked—it’s playtime meets craft time.

10. Acorn Cap Whistles

Acorn Cap Whistles

Yes, acorn caps whistle!

Teach older kids to blow across them like a bottle top. 

Once they get the hang of it, decorate with markers or glitter glue. 

Be warned—it gets loud. But in the middle of the woods? That’s just part of the fun.

11. Painted Hiking Sticks

Hiking Stick Craft

Every great camper needs a trusty hiking stick. 

Let the kids pick one and paint it up with stripes, polka dots, or even their name. 

Add yarn wraps or beads for flair. 

Suddenly, it’s more than a stick—it’s a trail-trekking sidekick with personality.

12. Suncatcher Nature Discs

A photo of several completed suncatcher nature discs displayed on an outdoor table at a forest camp. The discs, made from clear plastic lids and sheets of contact paper, hold pressed flowers, ferns, and tiny leaves between their transparent layers. The sunlight passes through the colorful organic materials, casting soft patterns on the wooden surface of the outdoor table. Behind the scene, tents and tree trunks complete the tranquil camp setting.

Bring contact paper or clear lids, and let kids press flowers, leaves, and tiny treasures between them. 

Hang them from tent poles or tree branches. 

When sunlight hits, they sparkle like stained glass from Mother Nature herself. 

Pure magic, no batteries needed.

13. Mini Rafts for Creek Races

A photograph of several miniature twig rafts artfully arranged on a weathered wooden table, ready for a playful creek race. Each tiny raft is meticulously constructed from small twigs bound tightly with twine, complete with a miniature paper sail attached to a slender mast, some decorated with whimsical doodles and colorful nature stickers. Splashes of water mark the table's surface, hinting at previous races, while a backdrop of towering pine trees and a glimpse of a gently flowing stream beyond suggest the racecourse just out of view. Soft, dappled sunlight filters through the trees, casting a warm glow on the handcrafted rafts and the inviting scene.

Using twigs, bark, and string, build small rafts—then head to the stream for a friendly float race! 

Kids get hands-on with engineering, then squeal with joy watching their raft bob along. 

It’s half science, half play, and all kinds of fun.

14. Campfire Story Stones

A photo of a collection of campfire story stones on an outdoor table. The stones are smooth and painted with simple icons: a moon, campfire, bear, tent, and star. They are arranged on a burlap cloth. In the background, a smoldering campfire glows, casting golden light on nearby tents and logs arranged in a circle. The scene is bathed in soft evening light.

Paint simple symbols—moon, fire, bear—on small stones. 

Toss them into a bag and take turns drawing them to build a silly, spooky, or sweet story. 

It’s like Mad Libs, but made from rocks and imagination. 

A must-have around any campfire.

15. Nature Mandalas

A photo of a nature mandala crafted with pinecones, colorful leaves, stones, twigs, and flower petals, laid out on an outdoor table at a peaceful forest camp. The mandala has a symmetrical, earthy design with radiating circles. Moss and lichen are artfully placed around the edge. The wooden table is aged with deep grain lines and is set beneath towering trees. Dappled sunlight filters through the leaves, casting a soft light on the scene. The natural calm of the camp enhances the meditative quality of the mandala.

Use pinecones, petals, stones, and twigs to make beautiful circle patterns on the ground. 

No glue, no scissors—just nature and patience. It’s meditative and mesmerizing. 

Snap a photo before the wind whispers it away. 

Then start another one, because they’re addicting!

16. DIY Bug Hotel

A photo of a rustic bug hotel sitting on an outdoor table at a naturalist-themed camp. The bug hotel is made from a recycled tin can and is filled with rolled bark, twigs, pine needles, and hollow plant stems. The wooden table is covered with forest dust and acorn caps. In the background, a shaded path leads into the woods, which is perfect for bug-spotting.

Got an empty can or small box? 

Fill it with pine needles, bark, leaves, and twigs to make a cozy little critter condo. 

Kids love checking each day to see who’s moved in—beetles, ants, maybe even a spider or two. 

It’s bug-watching at its best!

17. Glow-in-the-Dark Painted Rocks

A photo of a table in a forested camp area at dusk. The table is covered with glow-in-the-dark painted rocks. The rocks are decorated with bright patterns, stars, bugs, and swirls. The rocks are glowing softly in the fading light. The surrounding camp is bathed in twilight, with fireflies blinking near nearby trees. The crafting area glows softly, making the whole camp feel magical and alive with color.

Pack some glow-in-the-dark paint and let kids decorate rocks as stars, bugs, or silly faces. 

Once it gets dark, hide them around camp for a glowing scavenger hunt. 

It’s like an Easter egg hunt, only with more squeals and giggles in the moonlight.

18. Leaf Critters

A photo of a group of charming leaf critters in the process of being crafted on an outdoor table at a woodland camp. The critters are made from various leaves arranged into bug or animal shapes. Each critter has glued-on googly eyes, twig limbs, and seed pod antennae. The table surface is covered in speckled leaf fragments and thin strands of grass. The background reveals tents and tree trunks surrounding the creative outdoor camp setting, with forest shadows playing across the crafting space.

Grab some fun-shaped leaves and transform them into goofy animals or monsters using googly eyes and a dab of glue. 

Add sticks for arms or antennae. 

Kids love giving their leafy friends names and voices. Nature turns into a cartoon right before your eyes!

19. Forest Mobiles

A photo of a serene forest camp with an outdoor table. The table is placed on a bed of leaves and is covered with a green tablecloth. There are several forest mobiles hanging from a wooden rack near the table. Each mobile is a unique and simple homemade craft made from crossed sticks with strings hanging down. They support dangling pinecones, feathers, leaves, and pieces of bark. The mobiles sway gently in the breeze. The tabletop is covered with bits of moss. Behind the table, ropes strung between trees display other crafts. Canvas tents can be seen through the trees in the peaceful background.

Tie a string between two crossed sticks, then hang tiny treasures like feathers, bark, and pinecones from each end. 

Dangle your mobile from a tree branch and let the wind do its thing. 

It’s relaxing, artsy, and a beautiful way to display nature’s leftovers.

20. Camp Name Flags

A photo of a colorful camp name flags hung above an outdoor table at a family camp. Each flag has a unique camper title, such as "Trail Boss" or "Snack Captain", written in bold marker. The flags also feature stickers and drawn icons like trees and marshmallows. The outdoor table has weathered and sun-bleached wooden planks. In the background, folding chairs encircle a firepit, and a flagpole stands beside a small tent village.

Cut up some fabric or paper and let each child design their own camping name flag—“S’mores Master,” “Bug Catcher Supreme,” or “Queen of the Trail.” 

Add doodles, stitch their name, or decorate with nature bits. 

Hang them proudly outside each tent or chair.

21. DIY Binoculars

A photo of a charming and simple homemade craft of DIY toilet rolls binoculars. The binoculars are assembled on an outdoor table surrounded by pine trees at a cheerful camp. There's a string attached to the binoculars for wearing. Beyond the table, trails and tents stretch out, inviting exploration with these playful observation tools.

Tape two toilet paper rolls together, let kids decorate with crayons, stickers, or nature finds, and attach a string to wear around the neck. 

They’re off on a pretend safari, scanning the woods for squirrels and birds. 

Bonus: it keeps them curious and moving!

Camping Crafts for Kids
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Editorial Staff

Our Editorial Staff blends expertise in home decor, crafting, and recipes to create engaging, reliable content that inspires creativity and transforms everyday living.

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