25 Creative Camping Crafts for Kids They’ll Love Making

Camping is the perfect time to slow down, explore nature, and get creative with your kids. Whether you’re trying to fill a quiet afternoon or want a break from the hikes and games, these camping crafts are fun, simple, and use supplies you already have—or can find in nature. From nature art to painted rock buddies, these ideas will keep little hands busy and big imaginations happy.

1. Nature Bracelets

This easy craft doubles as a nature scavenger hunt. Start by wrapping a strip of duct tape (sticky side out) around your child’s wrist to create a bracelet base. Then head out for a walk around the campsite and invite your kids to find colorful flowers, small leaves, ferns, or feathers to stick on. They’ll love hunting for tiny treasures and proudly showing off their wearable art. You can also turn this into a fun competition—who can collect the most colorful bracelet or stick on the most types of leaves?

2. Pinecone Bird Feeders

Kids love this simple, eco-friendly craft that also attracts feathered friends to your campsite. Start by collecting a few large pinecones. Tie a string around the top of each pinecone so it can hang later. Then let the kids spread peanut butter (or sunbutter if allergies are a concern) into the crevices. Roll the pinecones in birdseed until fully coated. Hang them on nearby branches and wait for the birds to arrive! This activity encourages kindness toward wildlife and teaches kids about animal behavior. Don’t forget to take pictures of the visitors.

3. Painted Rocks

Bring a small box of acrylic paints or paint pens and let your kids decorate rocks found around the campsite. They can paint animals, rainbows, or happy messages like “Be kind” or “Explore more.” Once dry, you can either keep them as camping souvenirs or hide them along trails for others to find. This simple craft allows for creativity and storytelling—kids may even name their rock characters and create a whole collection. Bonus: paint flat rocks and turn them into story stones (see Idea #11!).

4. Leaf Rubbing Art

Leaf rubbings are a peaceful craft that helps children appreciate the fine details in nature. First, gather a few interesting leaves with distinct veins. Place them under a piece of white paper and gently rub over the top with the side of a crayon or colored pencil. The shapes and textures will appear like magic! Use different leaf sizes and colors to create a collage or a full page of rubbings. This activity can also be turned into a field guide where kids label the types of leaves they find.

5. Stick Picture Frames

This craft is perfect for older kids or families who want a keepsake from their camping trip. Gather straight twigs about the same length and use glue, string, or a hot glue gun (if available) to form a square or rectangular frame. Decorate the frame with small items from nature—think moss, acorns, flowers, or bark. Once home, print out a favorite camping photo to place inside. These rustic picture frames make beautiful gifts for grandparents or memory boards.

6. Nature Collage Placemats

Get creative at the picnic table by turning nature finds into personal placemats! Use clear contact paper or large strips of packing tape stuck sticky-side-up to a flat surface. Let kids arrange leaves, flower petals, small ferns, and seeds in any pattern they like. When finished, cover the top with another layer of contact paper to seal it. These nature collages make beautiful placemats for campsite meals and can be reused at home for a fun reminder of the trip.

7. DIY Binoculars

This imaginative craft is great for younger kids who love pretending to be explorers. Tape two empty toilet paper rolls side by side to create binoculars, then let kids decorate them with markers, stickers, washi tape, or drawings. Punch holes on each side and attach a string or yarn so the binoculars can be worn around their necks. Once finished, send them on a wildlife watch! They can “spot” birds, bugs, and squirrels all around the campsite.

8. Camp-Themed Bookmarks

Encourage reading during downtime with homemade bookmarks! Cut rectangles from cardboard, cardstock, or thick paper. Kids can decorate them with drawings of tents, stars, trees, or their favorite animals. Add stickers, washi tape, or stamps if you brought them along. Punch a hole at the top and add a yarn tassel for a finishing touch. These also make great handmade gifts or souvenirs from the trip.

9. Sun Print Art

Sun printing is a magical way to turn leaves and flowers into art. You’ll need sun-sensitive paper (available online or at craft stores) or dark-colored construction paper. Let kids arrange their natural items—like leaves, flowers, or twigs—on top of the paper and place it in direct sunlight. After 5–15 minutes, remove the items and see the silhouettes left behind. The contrast between light and shadow creates beautiful, one-of-a-kind art pieces.

10. Twig and Yarn Weaving

Let your kids try weaving with sticks and yarn for a relaxing, hands-on experience. Find two Y-shaped sticks or create a simple square frame using four twigs tied together with string. Wrap yarn horizontally across the frame to create a loom. Then weave another piece of yarn over and under to make a colorful pattern. Kids can also weave in natural items like grass, feathers, or flower petals for texture. This is a great craft for calming down after a busy day of exploring.

11. Story Stones

Story stones are a fantastic way to blend art and storytelling. Start by painting small rocks with simple images—like a tent, sun, marshmallow, bear, or moon. You can create your own designs or use paint pens for easier detailing. Once dry, place them in a small bag or basket. Kids take turns pulling out a stone and adding a sentence to a story based on the image. It’s fun, sparks imagination, and works beautifully as a campfire or rainy-day activity.

12. Painted Nature Flags

Add a festive touch to your campsite with handmade nature flags. Bring along lightweight fabric (scraps from old pillowcases or t-shirts work great). Let kids paint designs using fabric paint or regular acrylics—trees, animals, stars, or anything they love about camping. Once dry, string them together on a piece of twine and hang them between trees, on a tent, or across the picnic table. These flags make your campsite feel personal and playful, and they look great in photos!

13. Glow Stick Lantern Jars

This nighttime craft adds magic after dark. Crack a few glow sticks (use multiple colors for a galaxy effect), then carefully cut them open with scissors and pour the glowing liquid into a clean mason jar. Swirl it around to coat the inside. Seal the lid tightly and enjoy a homemade glow lantern! Always supervise closely—this craft is better for older kids or with adult help due to the glow stick liquid. For a safer version, just drop an uncut glow stick into a jar for a similar effect.

14. Mud Painting

Who says art has to be clean? Mix dirt with a little water to make mud paint, then let kids “paint” on cardboard, wood, or large rocks using sticks, leaves, or fingers. They can make animals, patterns, or just enjoy the sensory fun. This activity is perfect for days when the kids are already getting messy and don’t mind washing up afterward. For extra creativity, combine mud with crushed flowers or berries to add color.

15. Nature Faces

Let kids create silly faces using only what they find outside. Start by drawing a simple outline of a face on paper or cardboard, then have them use leaves for hair, acorns for eyes, pine needles for mustaches, and flower petals for rosy cheeks. You can also make this craft 3D by building the faces directly on the ground or a picnic table. It’s a great combination of art, humor, and natural exploration.

16. Camping Creature Puppets

Turn a paper lunch bag or old sock into a cuddly woodland creature. Use glue, markers, felt scraps, googly eyes, and nature finds like leaves for ears or feathers for tails. Kids can make bears, raccoons, owls, or even invented forest monsters. When finished, they can perform a puppet show around the campfire or inside the tent if it’s raining. This activity encourages creative storytelling and imaginative play.

17. Nature Mobiles

This is a beautiful way to showcase all the treasures kids find while exploring. Start with a sturdy stick or small branch as the base. Use twine or yarn to hang feathers, pinecones, leaves, and flowers from the stick. Balance the lengths for a natural mobile that dances in the wind. Hang it from a tree near your campsite or inside your tent. Kids can add new items to it each day for an evolving nature display.

18. Leaf Crowns

Let your little campers become woodland royalty with leafy crowns. Cut a strip of paper or cardboard to fit around their heads, then attach leaves, ferns, flower petals, or even tiny pinecones with glue or tape. You can decorate the band with crayons or markers first for extra flair. Once finished, kids can wear their crowns while hiking, doing crafts, or pretending to be nature kings and queens.

19. Campfire Handprint Art

This craft is great for preschoolers and makes a fun keepsake. Use red, orange, and yellow paint to create overlapping handprints that resemble flames. At the bottom of the paper, glue or draw two crisscrossed brown strips to look like campfire logs. Write the child’s name and the date underneath to remember the trip. It’s a cute way to mark their camping adventure and makes a sweet gift for family members.

20. Nature Mandalas

Mandalas are circular patterns that promote focus and calm. Clear a small space on the ground or use a cardboard base. Invite kids to arrange natural materials—like stones, petals, leaves, or seeds—in repeating patterns radiating from the center. This mindful activity helps children appreciate textures, symmetry, and natural beauty. Take a photo when finished since these ephemeral creations may not last!

21. S’mores Necklaces

Bring craft foam or felt in brown, white, and tan colors. Let kids cut out squares for graham crackers, rectangles for chocolate, and fluffy white pieces for marshmallows. Glue them together into mini “s’mores” and punch a hole through the top. String them onto yarn to create a cute camping necklace. It’s a mess-free way to celebrate everyone’s favorite camping treat—and they won’t melt in the sun!

22. Trail Mix Necklace

Snack and craft in one! Give each child a long piece of yarn and an assortment of cereal (like Cheerios), pretzels, and dried fruit. Let them string their snacks into edible necklaces they can wear and munch on throughout the day. Great for hiking trips, nature walks, or as a reward after an activity.

23. DIY Camp Journals

Encourage kids to document their adventure with a handmade camp journal. Use folded paper and a cardstock cover, then staple the edge to bind it like a book. Kids can decorate the cover and use the pages to write about their favorite moments, sketch what they see, or glue in pressed leaves. It’s a great way to add some quiet time into the day and makes a memorable keepsake.

24. Stick Sculptures

Challenge kids to build something entirely from nature! Provide them with sticks, twine, pinecones, bark, and whatever else they find. They can create miniature houses, pretend animals, or even abstract art. Add pipe cleaners or rubber bands if you want to give them more building options. It’s a fun STEM-based activity that encourages creativity, balance, and design.

25. Pocket Nature Journal

Create a small booklet using index cards or folded paper. Punch a hole in the corner and tie it with a string so it can hang from a backpack. Kids can use it to jot down fun facts, doodle wildlife, press tiny flowers, or keep track of the weather each day. The small size makes it portable, and it gives kids a sense of purpose on their nature walks.