Amazing Family Camping Activity Ideas

One of our enduring family memories was created when we went camping in southern Utah Mountains. We pitched camp at a place known as Navajo Lake at a site surrounded with dense pine forest. Our elder son and daughter who are both in middle school ventured into the woods while we were setting up a campfire and a few minutes later came back running in fright.

Our daughter reported that they'd seen a strange horse up on the woods. She then added, "Dad, Mom, it was weird looking and deformed", we later learnt after confirming their report by going uphill ourselves that the reported deformed horse was actually a baby moose and what a laughter we had!

The following family camping activities are worth trying.

Family Games

Family games structured around camping are very popular with families. Games like balderdash and apples to apples are very convenient because they're easy to pack and foster bonding by bringing family members around the table. Other types of games are card games which are small and easy to pack when going camping. UNO offers variations and is a good try.

Scavenger Hunting

This game requires that you create a list of various items included in the scavenger hunt. Involve your children in the creation of the list. A couple of ideas include a spider web search with bonus points, multi-colored leaves, different types of trees, litter collection - this is important in teaching kids the advantages of preserving the environment, bird tree, berries on the ground or on the tree. Let kids use color pencils to cancel items as they find them.

Orienteering

Compass and a map is what is required for this kind of venture which can be highly rewarding and also act as an out of the class learning activity. This activity also allows you to make use of your scout skills. There are a number of Orienteering sites that provide tips and ideas on developing a course in orienteering.

Geolocation

Geo caching is an adventure game popular with GPS users. It's played by having geographically diverse people create hiding places known as caches; these hiding places are then placed on the internet as cache coordinate. Other users with GPS devices then visit these hiding places or caches and sign guestbook; alternatively, you can pick an item and leave another.

When planning a camping trip, then you can try checking on the internet to see if the place has a cache in the proximity. Once you locate one, then you can use your GPS device to start exploring with your family.

Skits

We once went camping and the trip was interrupted by an auto problem. Rather than let that incidence dampen our spirits, we took charge and formulated skits while we waited for help. That turned out to be the most remarkable trip and the memory lives on. The skits were a combination of humor, smart repartee, and a bit of corny acting. Camping can be lotsa fun when done with some insight.