This collection of STEM-based activities, entertaining games, inventive lessons, and camping-themed decor ideas are sure to bring the magic of camp into the classroom.
Constructing glowing lanterns, towering teepees and crackling campfires are a wonderful way to celebrate the wonders of the natural world while developing core numeracy, literacy, and science skills.
1. Create a Campsite Roleplay Center
This colorful resource is sure to inspire camping role play ideas for a primary center or a classwide activity. The accompanying camping gear props will add a more realistic feel to students' pretend camping adventures.
Learn more: Twinkl
2. Take a Virtual Camping Trip
On this exciting virtual trip, students will learn about bears and owls, write a silly campfire story, and brainstorm which camping items they will need to bring along.
Learn more: Outschool
3. Create a Camping Themed Bulletin Board
This creative bulletin board recycles napkins found around the home and transforms them into mini tents to feature students' pictures.
Learn more: Teacher Created
4. Have a Camping Party
There's nothing better than watching happy campers enjoying camping-themed snacks, games, and activities together. This comprehensive resource offers all sorts of creative ideas for throwing an unforgettable party, including a camping party favors kit.
Learn more: The Barefoot Teacher
5. Developing Reading Fluency with an Emergent Reader Book
Using simple dialogue and repetitive text, this first-person story takes students on an exciting overnight camping trip. Camping-themed books are a great way to reinforce key sight words while practicing reading comprehension skills.
Learn more: Reading A-Z
6. Play a Printable Camp Board Game
Students can cut out their own die, game pieces, and start collecting camping necessities. The happy camper with the most gear at the end of the game wins!
Learn more: Education.com
7. Make a Fake Campfire
Your students are sure to have a great time sitting, singing, and telling stories around this pretend campfire. Adding some camping chairs is an easy way to get them into the spirit of a real summer camp.
Learn more: Pre K Pages
8. Make a Camp Sign
This simple stencil-based design and natural wood combo is meant to be used for real camping trips but can also make a great addition to your classroom camping theme. Why not take the opportunity to teach students about the importance of using signage to mark land boundaries, drinking water, trailheads, and other camping amenities?
Learn more: Hip Camp
9. Make a Paper Log Cabin
Using a few classroom supplies and strips of construction paper, students can get crafty in designing their own miniature log cabins. This is a great way to build fine motor skills while discussing how log cabins are built in layers.
Learn more: Kinder Art
10. Add a Camping Themed Display to Your Classroom Door
Use some weathered wood paper, bright cut-out letters, and camping-themed accents to create a display that is sure to turn every student into a happy camper!
Learn more: Ms. Crafty Nyla
11. Read and Discuss a Camping Book
When We Go Camping is a beautifully illustrated book that takes students on a fun adventure to discover various camp activities such as chopping wood for the fire, catching fish, spotting wild animals, and swimming in the lake. It's an easy way to create an outdoor learning adventure from the comfort of the classroom.
12. Decorate Your Class with Camping Themed Cutouts
This set of free and cute animal cutouts can be printed, cut, and displayed to create a fun and cheerful atmosphere for classroom learning.
Learn more: Teach Starter
13. Make a Handprint Campfire Craft
This creative craft brings the warmth of a campfire indoors. A free printable template for the logs is included, making it super easy to create an adorable keepsake your students will love.
Learn more: Simple Everyday Mom
14. Create a Reading Nook with a Teepee Tent
Why not create a cozy reading nook in your classroom with this easy-to-assemble teepee tent? Students will love curling up with a good book while nestled comfortably inside.
Learn more: Import Test Site
15. Sing Some Classic Camp Songs
This collection of classic camp songs is led by a group of enthusiastic camp counselors. Students can sing and dance along or enjoy the music in the background during camping-themed activities.
Learn more: Mountain Camp Woodside
16. Write a Scary Campfire Story
It's difficult for students to write scary stories without a plan. Luckily, this detailed lesson provides graphic organizers for establishing a setting, characters, and a suspenseful problem. Reading a few scary stories at the start of the lesson is another great way to get their creative juices flowing.
Learn more: Keep 'em Thinking
17. Practice Skip Counting with Smores
This free camp-themed printable is a fun way to practice skip counting, number tracing, and basic numeracy skills.
Learn more: Kindergarten Worksheets and Games
18. Take a Virtual Tour of National Parks
Students won't need hiking shoes, sunblock, or a camera for this virtual tour of America's majestic national parks. This kid-friendly video makes for a great opportunity to discuss human settlement, land development, and endangered wildlife.
Learn more: Brain Pop
19. Make Camper Hats
Using easy-to-find classroom materials, this whimsical crown features real marshmallows on skewers. It makes a great addition to an adventure party or any camping theme decor bundle.
Learn more: San Diego Family
20. Make a Simple Classroom Tree
This cardboard and tissue paper tree brings the great outdoors into the classroom and creates a warm and inviting ambiance for your little campers.
21. Complete a Fill-in-the-Blanks Story
This camping-themed story is an easy way to practice parts of speech and improve reading comprehension skills. Students will love completing silly sentences to bring this outrageous story to life.
Learn more: Education.com
22. Try a Camping Word Search
This difficult word search is sure to keep your campers engaged while developing their word recognition skills. It's ideal for upper elementary students but also makes a great challenge for primary learners.
Learn more: Tree Valley Academy
23. Play a Game of Camping Bingo
Featuring colorful pictures of outdoor nature items, this free printable makes a great addition to a camping-themed party or a fun brain break during the day.
Learn more: Homemade Heather
24. Try a Camping Crossword Puzzle
This camping-themed crossword puzzle features a colorful forest scene and is a great way to review camping equipment vocabulary while practicing spelling and printing skills.
Learn more: Dreams Time
25. Make a Camping Lantern Craft
Turn off the lights and bring the magic of a glowing lantern into the classroom with this easy and eye-catching craft. Made from tissue paper decoupage, these pretty lanterns can also add a warm and calming ambiance to the classroom.
Learn more: The Crazy Outdoor Mama
26. Make Marshmallow Constellations
This fun STEM activity is a creative way to learn about the night sky, star constellations, and space.
Learn more: STEAMsational
27. Build a Solar Oven
This ingenious STEM activity requires students to use their construction and design skills while learning about solar energy. It can be used to bake, boil and steam or just make some tasty smores without a fire.
Learn more: Mosswood Connections
28. Go on a Geocaching Adventure
Using a handheld GPS device or smartphone, students will love finding treasures in all shapes and sizes. Some are camouflaged and others are off the beaten path, giving students a chance to explore the outdoors while discovering new trails and hidden gems.
Learn more: Parenting Chaos
29. Build a Smores Tower
This food and design-themed tower challenge can be as easy or difficult as you like. Students can start by trying to hold four pieces of chocolate off the table and progress to adding more as they develop their construction skills.
30. Measure the Height of a Tree
Measure the height of a tree using some simple math tricks. This is an easy way to teach self-reliance and resourcefulness while practicing measurement skills.
Learn more: Science Sparks
31. Practice Addition With Rocks
Manipulatives are a great way to enhance mathematical understanding. Why not create your own with rocks found in nature? This is a fantastic hands-on lesson for developing numeracy and counting skills.
Learn more: Creative Family Fun
32. Paint with Berries
This hands-on art project is an engaging way for students to learn about nature and develop their scientific observation skills, all while creating their own art materials.
Learn more: Thriving STEM
33. Explore Symmetry in Nature
Challenge your students to see how many examples of rotational and reflective symmetry they can find in the natural world. From pine cones to oak leaves to sunflowers, symmetry is everywhere. A simple extension activity can be to draw the objects they discover and identify their lines of symmetry.
Learn more: Buggy and Buddy
22 Memorable Back-to-School Night Ideas