35 fun summer camp activities you can do at home

School's out, the sun is high, and your kids are ready for summertime fun. Don't sweat it if summer camp isn't in the cards this year. With a little creativity (and sunscreen), you can bring the best parts of camp to your living room, backyard, or kitchen table.

Here’s your go-to list of fun, budget-friendly, parent-approved camp activities you can do at home — no bunk beds required.

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Outdoor camp activities

1. Backyard scavenger hunt – Make a list of nature-themed items like a pinecone, a feather, or something yellow. Hand out bags and let the kids race to collect them.

2. DIY obstacle course – Use hula hoops, cones, pool noodles, or chalk to set up stations for jumping, crawling, and balancing.

3. Tent pitching 101 – Let your kids try setting up a pop-up tent or help with the poles and stakes. Then, let them camp out with books and snacks. Want to take it a step further? Try a full backyard camping experience — no bug spray required.

4. Water balloon baseball – Pitch water balloons and let your child swing with a plastic bat. Expect giggles and splashes.

5. Nature weaving – Cut a cardboard rectangle, string yarn across it, and weave in leaves, flowers, and twigs for a cool art piece.

6. Bug bingo – Draw or print a bingo card of bugs (ant, bee, ladybug). First to spot five in a row wins a prize!

7. Sidewalk chalk art show – Create art zones for each kid, then “tour” the gallery with snacks and applause.

8. DIY bird feeders – Cover a pinecone in peanut butter, roll it in birdseed, and hang it from a tree branch.

9. Backyard Olympics – Try three-legged races, bean bag tosses, or a mini relay. Make medals out of cardboard and ribbon.

10. Leaf rubbings – Place paper over leaves and rub with crayons to create cool, natural textures.

Indoor camp activities

1. Campfire storytelling – Build a pretend fire with red/orange tissue paper and flashlights. Each family member adds a sentence to the story.

2. DIY tie-dye – Use kits or food coloring with rubber bands and old tees. Do it outside for easier cleanup.

3. Campsite yoga – Use a kids’ yoga video or guide to stretch like animals or trees. It’s calming and silly.

4. Friendship bracelets – Braid colorful thread or beads into wearable memories. Add names or patterns for a personal touch.

5. S’mores in the oven – Stack marshmallows and chocolate between graham crackers and broil for 1-2 minutes. Yum.

6. Painted rock pets – Paint fun faces or animals onto smooth stones. Great for garden decorations or gifts.

7. Camp journal time – Give each child a notebook and let them write or draw about their daily camp experiences.

8. Sock puppet show – Decorate old socks with buttons, yarn, or felt. Make a mini theater from a cardboard box.

9. Origami challenge – Print easy animal or shape instructions. See who can fold the cleanest crane or frog.

10. Board game tournament – Pick 3–4 games and keep a score sheet. The winner gets to choose dinner or dessert.

STEM and educational activities

1. Build a solar oven – Use a pizza box, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and black paper to melt s’mores with sunshine.

2. Backyard astronomy – Use a stargazing app to identify constellations. Lay out sleeping bags and spot the Big Dipper.

3. Make slime – Combine glue, baking soda, and contact lens solution. Add glitter or food coloring for flair.

4. Rain gauge crafting – Cut the top off a bottle, mark measurements, and check rain levels each day.

5. Nature journal sketching – Encourage your child to draw plants, bugs, or trees they see and label them.

6. Simple robotics kits – Try age-appropriate kits to learn about circuits and movement — no tech background needed.

7. Budgeting challenge – Give your child an allowance. Let them “spend” and “save” using jars — or the Greenlight app.

Arts, crafts, and creativity

1. Camp t-shirt design – Use fabric markers or paint to create custom shirts with names, logos, or themes.

2. DIY birdhouse painting – Buy a kit or build your own. Kids can paint and decorate before hanging it outside.

3. Nature collage – Collect small leaves, bark, and flowers and glue them to cardboard in creative patterns.

4. Camp name tags – Let each camper create a silly nickname and decorate a tag with stickers or stamps.

5. Camp song karaoke – Choose traditional camp songs or create original ones. Record a performance!

6. Homemade playdough – Mix 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water, and food coloring. Store in airtight bags.

7. Mini movie maker – Use a phone to create a stop-motion film or skit. Kids can write scripts and act.

8. Cardboard canoe race – Build boats from cereal boxes and float them in the tub or kiddie pool. Whose survives the longest?

With just a few supplies and a little planning, your home can become the ultimate summer camp. It’s all about making memories, learning a thing or two, and having a blast along the way.

Looking for even more adventure? Check out these camping activities for kids — perfect for your next backyard bonanza.

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This blog post is provided "as is" and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Some content in this post may have been created using artificial intelligence; however, every blog post is reviewed by at least two human editors.