We’ve put together a collection of simple, tested activities that work well with preschoolers and fit perfectly into a camping theme. These activities help build motor skills, boost imagination, and teach basic nature concepts.

This article outlines our top picks for preschool camping activities, with these easy instructions so you can start using them right away.

Why is Camping Important for Preschool Kids?

Camping themes offer preschoolers much more than just fun with tents and pretend campfires. These activities help small children build key skills they’ll need for school and life.

When kids play with camping gear, they learn new words and ideas about the natural world around them.

Outdoor-based lessons let children use their five senses to study plants, weather, and animals. They learn to work together when setting up play tents or sharing space in reading nooks.

These early nature links also help build care for our planet from a young age.

Easy Preschool Camping Theme Activities

Preschool kids love hands-on activities that spark their imagination. Here are some simple camping-themed activities that preschoolers will truly enjoy:

1. Paper Bag Vests

Paper bag vests let kids feel like real campers, earning badges. This crafty activity encourages creativity and gives children something fun to wear during pretend play and group games.

Materials: Brown paper bags, colored paper strips, crayons or markers, safety scissors, glue sticks

How to Prep: Pre-cut paper bags into vest shapes. Cut colored paper strips for patches. Set out coloring supplies and glue.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Color and decorate their paper bag vests.
• Cut out the vest shapes with help.
• Glue colored paper strips as “patches” earned from other activities.
• Wear their vests proudly during the camping day.

2. Pretend Fishing

Pretend fishing adds a fun challenge to your indoor or backyard camp. It helps kids build coordination and focus while pretending to catch colorful fish in their handmade pond.

Materials: Blue fabric or sheet (pond), sticks, string, paper clips, paper fish with magnets attached

How to Prep: Attach magnets to paper fish. Tie a string to sticks with paper clips at the end. Arrange the “pond” area with blue fabric.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Use fishing rods (sticks and string) to “catch” paper fish.
• Practice patience and hand-eye coordination.
• Count or name each fish caught for extra learning.

3. Nature Color Hunt

A nature color hunt brings the outdoors to life with a splash of color and curiosity. Kids will learn to observe the world closely and connect with nature in a fun and hands-on way.

Materials: Paper with color squares printed, glue sticks, collection baskets or bags

How to Prep: Print or draw color squares on paper. Prepare baskets for collecting nature items.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Find a safe outdoor area to find natural items matching each color square
• Glue collected items or pictures of them onto matching color squares
• Talk about the colors in nature

4. Indoor Tents

Indoor tents give kids a real camping feeling. This activity provides a cozy space for imagination and quiet time, helping create a peaceful spot for kids who need breaks.

Materials: Chairs, sheets or blankets, pillows, books, stuffed animals

How to Prep: Arrange chairs in a circle and drape sheets over to form tents. Place cozy pillows and books inside.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Crawl inside tents for quiet reading or story time.
• Use stuffed animals as camping companions.
• Enjoy a calm, cozy moment during the day.

5. Flashlight Fun

This activity brings nighttime camping excitement indoors. Kids love following light beams in a darkened room, which helps them focus and follow directions.

Materials: Flashlights, hidden picture cards, or drawings on walls

How to Prep: Dim the lights. Hide pictures or tape drawings on the walls around the room.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Use flashlights to find and identify hidden pictures.
• Follow light beams and take turns searching.
• Describe what they find to the group.

6. S’mores Math

This tasty activity incorporates a favorite camping treat into learning. Kids count, sort, and pattern before enjoying the snack, combining math skills with sensory fun.

Materials: Graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate pieces, plates, napkins

How to Prep: Arrange snack ingredients in bowls or plates. Confirm allergies.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Count ingredients as they build s’mores or trail mix patterns.
• Sort chocolate pieces or marshmallows by size or color.
• Enjoy their tasty creations together.

7. Bug Jars

This science activity helps kids study small creatures safely. They learn gentle observation skills and respect for living things. It builds curiosity about the natural world.

Materials: Clear plastic containers with lids (with air holes punched), magnifying glasses, bug identification cards

How to Prep: Prepare containers with safe air holes. Collect bug cards.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Carefully catch insects outside (with adult help).
• Place bugs in jars to observe safely.
• Use magnifying glasses to look closely and learn about bugs.
• Release the insects back outside after observation.

8. Pine Cone Bird Feeders

This preschool camping theme activity connects kids with wildlife. They create simple feeders that attract birds for viewing. It teaches children about helping animals and brings joy when birds visit.

Materials: Clear plastic containers with lids (with air holes punched), magnifying glasses, bug identification cards

How to Prep: Prepare containers with safe air holes. Collect bug cards.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Carefully catch insects outside (with adult help).
• Place bugs in jars to observe safely.
• Use magnifying glasses to look closely and learn about bugs.
• Release the insects back outside after observation.

9. Camp Songs

Singing builds community just like at real campgrounds. These simple songs with movements keep kids active and learning. Many camp songs tell stories that spark imagination.

Materials: Lyrics sheets or printed song cards

How to Prep: Choose simple, well-known camp songs with motions (e.g., “Going on a Bear Hunt”). Prepare song cards if needed.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Sing along as a group.
• Follow hand motions to accompany the songs.
• Take turns leading or choosing songs.

10. Nature Prints

This preschool camping theme art activity captures textures found in forests and campgrounds. Kids press items into clay to see patterns and details, helping them notice shapes and surfaces in nature.

Materials: Clay or play-dough, leaves, sticks, rocks

How to Prep: Prepare soft clay/play-dough portions. Collect natural items.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Press leaves, sticks, or rocks into clay to make prints.
• Explore textures and shapes.
• Let prints dry or keep as keepsakes.

11. Trail Mix Making

Making trail mix teaches basic food prep skills. Kids practice counting, pouring, and mixing while creating a healthy snack. It shows how campers prepare food for hikes.

Materials: Various cereals, dried fruit, pretzels, small bowls or cups, spoons

How to Prep: Portion out snack items in bowls. Prepare serving spoons.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Take turns adding scoops of ingredients to their own bowls.
• Talk about favorite snacks and textures.
• Eat their personalized trail mix.

12. Story Stones

These painted rocks help kids create camping tales. They serve as visual prompts for storytelling, and children develop language skills while sharing imaginative outdoor adventures.

Materials: Smooth rocks, paint or markers, sealant spray (optional)

How to Prep: Paint simple images on rocks ahead of time (animals, trees, tents). Seal if desired.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Pick stones and use images to create stories.
• Share stories with friends or teachers.
• Use imagination to build camping adventures

13. Shadow Puppets

This activity brings nighttime camp fun indoors. Kids learn how light creates shadows while telling stories. It helps them understand basic science while playing.

Materials: Flashlights, cut paper shapes, blank walls, or tent walls

How to Prep: Cut out animal shapes from paper. Set up a dimly lit area.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Shine flashlights to create shadows with hands or paper shapes.
• Make animal sounds or stories to go with shadows.
• Take turns making shadow shows.

14. Stick Frames

This craft turns natural items into keepsakes. Kids create rustic frames that hold camping memories, teaching them to turn simple materials into useful items.

Materials: Cardboard pieces, small sticks, glue, markers

How to Prep: Cut cardboard into frame shapes. Gather small sticks.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Glue sticks onto cardboard to decorate frames.
• Color or write their names on frames.
• Use frames for photos or drawings from the day.

15. Map Making

This preschool camping theme activity teaches basic map concepts. Kids create simple maps of their pretend campground. It helps with spatial thinking and planning.

Materials: Paper, crayons, or markers

How to Prep: Prepare paper and coloring supplies. Show simple map examples.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Draw basic maps of the classroom or playground “campground.”
• Add landmarks like tents, trees, or ponds.
• Share and explain their maps.

16. Binocular Craft

This craft turns recycled materials into pretend binoculars. Kids use them for bird watching and exploring, encouraging outdoor observation and pretend play.

Materials: Two toilet paper tubes per child, tape, string, markers, or stickers

How to Prep: Cut tape strips and prepare string lengths. Set out decorating supplies.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Tape two tubes together side-by-side.
• Decorate with markers or stickers.
• Tie a string to wear binoculars around their neck.
• Pretend to spot birds or wildlife around the room or outside.

17. Campfire Stories

This activity creates the magical feeling of telling stories around a fire. Kids practice speaking, listening, and imagination. It builds community just like real camping.

Materials: Red and orange tissue paper, flashlight, circle seating

How to Prep: Arrange tissue paper in the center to simulate fire. Dim lights.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Sit in a circle around a “campfire.”
• Take turns telling stories or singing songs.
• Use a flashlight to create a cozy campfire ambiance.

18. Nature Bracelets

This wearable craft lets kids collect small treasures during walks. They stick nature items to tape bracelets worn sticky-side-out, helping them pay attention to small details in the natural world.

Materials: Masking tape, small nature items, wax paper

How to Prep: Cut tape into wrist-sized strips and stick to wax paper for easy handling. Find a safe outdoor area with small treasures.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Wrap tape sticky-side out around their wrists.
• Walk outside and collect small nature items.
• Press items onto the sticky tape.
• Wear and show their bracelets to friends.

19. Constellation Cups

This preschool camping theme craft brings night sky viewing to the classroom. Kids create starry displays to learn about constellations, helping them understand what campers see at night.

Materials: Dark paper cups, push pins (adult use only), flashlights, constellation printouts

How to Prep: Mark hole patterns on cups using printouts. Adults punch holes. Set up a dark space for testing.

How Kids Will Perform:

• Place a flashlight or a tea light inside the cup.
• Turn off the lights to see star patterns on the walls.
• Name and learn simple constellations.
• Use cups during quiet time in tents.

Additional Tips for a Successful Preschool Camping Theme

Bring the wonders of outdoor camping into your preschool with these simple, fun ideas. These activities help little ones learn about nature while building vocabulary and social skills.

• Create a classroom corner campsite with a tent and cushions for themed activities.
• Ask parents to loan real camping gear like flashlights and backpacks.
• Take short “nature hikes” around the school grounds with clipboards for drawing.
• Build a picture-word wall with camping terms like “tent” and “stars.”
• Invite outdoor experts like park rangers for show-and-tell sessions.
• Prepare indoor nature activities as a backup for rainy days.
• Stock your reading area with diverse camping-themed picture books.

Wrapping Up

Camping activities offer preschoolers much more than just fun. They build motor skills, teach teamwork, and create a love for nature that can last for years.

The simple materials needed for most of these projects mean you won’t break your budget while giving kids meaningful play.

Which activity will you try first? Maybe start with the paper bag vests, then move to a more messy project like pine cone bird feeders.

Share your stories in the comments below or send us photos of your classroom campsite in action!