18 fun things to do when camping with teenagers

If you are a parent of teens, you may be wondering how to keep them entertained while camping. It can be an enjoyable experience for the whole family, and teens will have fun as long as you and your family are prepared. Being prepared can take planning and in this post, we will give you some options on how to have a very successful camping with teenagers trip.






Table Of Contents




What to do when camping with teenagers 1. Discover the local wildlife 2. Camping trips for teens – keep a wildlife journal 3. Take your teens hiking 4. Go stargazing – camping activities for teens More travel with teens posts 5. Enjoy some bonding time when camping with your teenager 6. Bring snacks for your hungry teens 7. Cook over the campfire 8. Teach survival skills  9. Plan for travel 10. Take an excursion into town 11. Camping teenagers – find outdoor activities 12. Play organized camping games for teenagers 13. Prepare for a rainy day when camping with teenagers 14. Camping ideas for teenagers – build a campfire 15. Put on a show 16. Bring a Hammock 17. See if they can bring a friend 18. Encourage them to use the games room Final thoughts on camping with teenagers More travel with teenagers inspiration





What to do when camping with teenagers



Whether you have one teen or many, it can be hard to keep them entertained after putting up your tent. Read on to discover 16 things to do when camping with teenagers. Your teens are sure to stay engaged and have fun throughout the trip.



1. Discover the local wildlife



When you spend more time in the great outdoors, you quickly become acquainted with the local wildlife. Even if you are not travelling far from home, camping is a perfect opportunity for your teen to discover wildlife.



Bring a nature guidebook or wildlife encyclopedia to help identify birds and animals. If you have access to WiFi during your camping trip with teens, download a wildlife app. These tools can encourage your teens to connect with their surroundings and discover new plants and animals.



2. Camping trips for teens – keep a wildlife journal



Help your teens record their wildlife discoveries in a journal . Bring a blank, unlined journal and coloured pencils or pens. 



Allow their creativity to run free. Your teens can write about what they have seen at the campsite or on a hike. If they enjoy drawing, this is also a perfect opportunity to express themselves by doodling plants or animals. 



A wildlife journal is a great way to keep teens engaged on your camping trip. It also makes a lovely keepsake that preserves your camping with teenagers family trip.



3. Take your teens hiking



When your teens were little, they probably didn’t enjoy hiking as much. Now that they are older, they can go on more demanding hikes and will probably enjoy the challenge.



Camping with teens should include plenty of outdoor activities



Pack well for your hike. Bring plenty of water, snacks, first aid supplies, and a map. Camping for teenagers can help make lifelong memories from outdoor experiences.



4. Go stargazing – camping activities for teens



Camping can be a fun opportunity to see the stars, especially if you live in a city and don’t typically have access to them due to light pollution. Bring a guidebook or app to chart constellations with your teens.



There are so many teaching opportunities here. For instance, you can show them how to find the North Star or use the constellations to orient themselves if they get lost. 



Check the forecast and see if you will be able to spot any planets. If the weather is right, you might even get to see shooting stars. Stargazing is one of the best camping activities for youth at night.







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5. Enjoy some bonding time when camping with your teenager



It can be hard to find time to slow down and connect with your teens. But one of the best things for teens to do when camping is to reconnect. 



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Take your child on a one-on-one hike or excursion, and create a space where they can talk. Even if they don’t open up, it is a chance to show them you care about them and want to spend time with them.



6. Bring snacks for your hungry teens



Keep your teens from getting grumpy by providing lots of fun food and snacks. 



Keep a cooler full of their favourite drinks, and bring along some special snacks such as chips, gummies, or trail mix. Making meals easy while camping with teenagers will keep everyone happy.



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7. Cook over the campfire



Camping can be a chance to teach your teens cooking skills. You don’t even need to bring fancy cooking equipment.



Campfire cooking is a great skill to learn when camping with teenagers



Teach your teens how to cook with cast iron by making a cobbler or casserole over the fire. Pancakes are easy to cook over the fire, and they will give your teens plenty of energy for the day.



Sitting down together on one of your camping chairs and eating a meal together in the wilderness is a great bonding exercise.



8. Teach survival skills 



Teach your teens survival skills while you are out in the wilderness. This isn’t just an opportunity to teach safety but can be a fun way to learn how to live off the land. 



Teach your teens how to forage plants and berries and identify harmful plants. Instruct them in first aid, and teach them what to do if they get lost.



Safety is a number one priority for family travel while camping with teenagers, but that doesn’t mean teaching safety can’t be fun. Reward your teens with a compass or Swiss army knife for their next outdoor adventure .



9. Plan for travel



A successful road trip or flight sets the tone for a great week of camping. Your teens will likely have a lot of time on their hands during the trip, so combat boredom by bringing fun things to do, like activity books, games, and movies.



If you have multiple children, keeping them occupied can also reduce squabbles on camping with teenagers getaway. Planing for teenage travel can reduce problems on the trip.



10. Take an excursion into town



If your teens are not keen on the idea of spending the entire trip in the wilderness, see if there is a nearby city, town, or village.



Going into town will give them a chance to explore a new place and broaden their horizons a bit. Take them to a coffee shop, ski lodge, cultural centre, or museum.



Stop by the visitor centre, and see if they have any guidebooks or brochures. Many towns near camping spots have festivals or events just for travellers which are family-friendly.



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11. Camping teenagers – find outdoor activities



Teens may get restless sitting around the campsite. Check your campsite website to see if there are any nearby outdoor activities.



Many camping holidays with teenagers are spent on the water



If there is a lake or river nearby, consider inner tubing, swimming, paddle boarding, or kayaking. If it is snowing, consider renting a snowmobile, snowboard , or set of skis.



Beyond those rigorous activities, teens can go on a nature walk, explore a nearby lake, or find a scenic lookout point.



12. Play organized camping games for teenagers



Especially if you have a big group on your camping trip, organized games can be an excellent means to keep everybody entertained, including your teens. 



Set up fun camping games for teenagers such as Capture the Flag, hide-and-seek, tag, or soccer. 



Teenage camping games will help your teen enjoy the great outdoors and stay active.



13. Prepare for a rainy day when camping with teenagers



Weather can be unpredictable on a teen camping trip. Given that, it’s best to ensure a fun trip for your teens by packing plenty of rainy-day activities.



Bring board games, card games, magazines, and activity books. And, if all else fails, download movies or TV shows on your teens’ devices.



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14. Camping ideas for teenagers – build a campfire



Help your teens learn how to chop wood and light a campfire .



Teaching them to handle a hatchet safely is a valuable life skill. It can also ensure you have an extra set of hands for chopping.



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You will need to instruct your teens on hatchet safety and monitor them while chopping the wood. 



Teach them how to construct a campfire properly and ensure safety. Help your teens learn about different types of lighter fluid and the best products to use.



15. Put on a show



One of the best things to do while camping is getting everybody engaged in a group activity, even if it is just you and your son or daughter. This can be one of the fun camping activities for tweens.



Print out a fun skit or a short play for you and your family to act out. Test your teens’ theatre skills by encouraging them to write their own scripts.



Set up an impromptu stage at the campsite by arranging some chairs. Entertain the whole family with your theatrical attempts. DIY camping activities like this can sometimes be the most memorable.



Putting on a show is a fail-safe way to keep your teens entertained for hours while camping.



16. Bring a Hammock



Set up a hammock on camping sites for teens if your location has trees.



Teens may need downtime on a camping trip, and a hammock is an excellent place for them to be alone. What’s more, it can be a chance for them to pause and listen to the sounds of the wilderness.



If your teens are feeling a bit overwhelmed, setting up a hammock or a quiet space can give them a space to unwind and tune in with nature. 



17. See if they can bring a friend



If you are planning a short camping trip with teens see if they can bring a friend. At times your travelling teens will love being able to bring a friend on a family camping trip and it may be something their friend has not experienced before either.



This will allow your teen to build another bond with their friend and also bring even more enjoyment to their camping trip with family.



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18. Encourage them to use the games room



For many families that travel purchasing a huge amount of camping gear for short trips is not achievable so they opt for camping parks or holiday parks that have some facilities. If there is a games room or an outdoor space like a tennis court or basketball court encourage your teens to hang out there and see if they can make some new friends.



Final thoughts on camping with teenagers



A lot of people might ask how to make camping for teenagers fun? There are countless camping activities for teenagers to do when camping. From stargazing to learning survival skills, camping can be an unforgettable experience for the whole family. Camping can teach valuable life lessons and be the perfect way for parents and children to reconnect while in the beauty of nature. All that’s left to do is plan your next adventure into the wilderness.



We hope this article from us here at  Wyld Family Travel  has helped with some camping inspiration for your next travel with teenagers adventure.



Travel with tweens and teens:  Travelling with young adults has just as many issues as travelling with children. Choosing the best teenage vacation destinations can be so time-consuming. Use our Travel with Teenagers Destination Guides from all over the world for your next family vacation inspiration to make your family vacations with teens epic.





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