Camping Gifts for Kids: Games, Gear, and More (2023)
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Need some camping gift ideas for kids?
I’ve been camping for most of my life so I know just what makes a gift great for campers.
I put together this round up of camping-themed items for kids to make shopping super easy.
The list includes everything from gear to games and books so you can choose just the right kind of gift for the young camper in your life. There’s something on this list for kids of every age from toddlers to older children.
Whether you need a gift for a kid’s birthday, Christmas, or other occasion, this is the only guide to kids’ camping gifts that you’ll need.
1. Campfire Stories Deck—For Kids!
Encourage kids to make up stories while sitting around the campfire with the Campfire Stories Deck For Kids.
This deck contains creative storytelling prompts to kick off kids’ imaginations.
There are 25 creature cards and 25 outdoor-themed action cards in the deck. Kids take turns drawing one of each card and telling a story based on the prompt they received.
It’s a wonderful way for families with kids of all ages to spend quality time around the campfire.
This gift makes for a great camping stocking stuffer for kids!
2. Camping Outdoors Take-Along Memory Game
The Camping Outdoors Take-Along Memory Game strengthens little kids’ memories in a camping-themed game.
In this classic memory game, kids lay all of the cards upside down and flip over two at a time, trying to find a set of matching images. The game includes 24 pairs of camping-themed picture cards like sleeping bags, s’mores, a campfire, and more.
The game is intended for children ages 3 and up.
It’s a great camping gift that little kids can use whether they’re at camp or at home.
3. Woodland Animals On-the-Go Puzzle
Keep a young camper entertained at the campground with this Two Sided On-the-Go Puzzle.
As the name suggests, this jigsaw puzzle is perfect to travel with since it comes with a zippered pouch to contain the puzzle pieces.
This puzzle includes a woodland animals design on both sides. The outdoorsy theme fosters the spirit of camping and double-sided pieces provide double the entertainment.
This 49-piece puzzle is recommended for children ages 5 and older.
4. Camping “Would You Rather…?” Game Book
Keep campers of all ages engaged at the campground with the gift of the Camping Would You Rather Game Book.
This book is full of outdoor-themed prompts for the game “Would you rather…?”. For example, players ask each other hypothetical questions like “Would you rather hear the thoughts of all wildlife or all of your camping companions?”.
The prompts are a mix of absurd, funny, and weird questions that will stretch kids’ imaginations and provide endless entertainment. With 99 prompts, this book offers hours and hours of good old-fashioned, unplugged fun.
It’s a great way for kids to pass the time whether they’re sitting around the campfire, setting up camp, or going on a hike.
5. Kids Camping Journal
Help kids preserve their memories of camping trips with a Kids Camping Journal.
This journal is specifically designed for kids to capture details of their camping trips.
It includes entries for 20 camping trips with relevant questions to record what happened, including pages to add photos and messages from fellow campers.
It’s a great gift to help kids recall their camping trips for years to come.
6. Camping Coloring Book
Little campers will love this Camping Coloring Book.
This coloring book includes a whopping 100 pages of camping-themed pictures. There are more than enough pages to offer endless hours of entertainment to the whole family.
It’s a great way for kids to have tech-free fun both at the campsite and back at home when they’re only dreaming of their next camping trip.
Pair this coloring book with a pack of crayons or colored pencils to make it a complete gift set!
7. I Spy Camping! Game & Coloring Book
The Let Us Play I Spy Camping! Picture Guessing Game & Coloring Book offers young campers two types of fun.
This camping-themed activity book doubles as both an I Spy guessing game and a coloring book.
These activities help little campers become familiar with camping items both through learning and playing.
This two-in-one activity book is an ideal gift for campers ages 2 and above.
8. Kids’ Headlamp
Kids will love to start accumulating their own personal camping gear with the gift of a kids’ headlamp.
This headlamp has plenty of child-friendly features for kids that are getting accustomed to owning their first headlamp.
The headlamp tilts in both directions so it is usable even when kids put it on their head upside down. It also automatically turns off after two hours to prevent the batteries from draining when kids forget to turn it off.
Like many headlamps, this hands-free light source offers full strength, dimmed, and strobe light modes.
This headlamp is intended for children as young as 4, but it remains usable as they grow since the band expands large enough to fit even an adult’s head.
9. Kids’ Camping Chair
Make sure kids have a comfortable place to sit at the campground with the gift of a kids’ camping chair.
This kid-size camping chair is an appropriate size for children but still comes with standard features of most camping chairs.
There is a mesh cup holder in the arm rest and an accompanying carry bag to make the chair easy to lug around.
This camping chair is sized for young children yet can support up to 160 pounds.
10. Backyard Adventure Medical Kit
If boo-boos are an inevitable part of your kids’ outdoor adventures, let them treat their scratches and scrapes with a Backyard Adventure Medical Kit.
These basic first aid kits contain basic medical supplies in one of two adorable animal-themed pouches: a bear or a fox.
The kits include a handful of hand sanitizer packets, antibiotic ointment packets, and bandages.
It’s easy for kids to keep track of the Backyard Adventure Medical Kit since it includes a carabiner that can clip to their backpack or belt loop.
Give kids a sense of preparedness and independence at the campground with the gift of a Backyard Adventure Medical Kit.
11. Sleeping Bag
Get them a sleeping bag with plenty of room to grow in with the REI Co-op Kindercone 25 sleeping bag for kids.
Kids will stay cozy while sleeping in this mummy-style sleeping bag since it’s rated to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
The sleeping bag packs down easily into the stuff sack, which is permanently attached to the bottom of the sleeping bag so kids can’t lose it.
The stuff sack doubles as spare room at the foot of the sleeping bag so kids can continue to fit in it as they grow.
This sleeping bag is suitable for children up to 5 feet tall.
12. Happy Camper Beanie
Keep kids warm on cold nights at the campground with this Happy Camper Beanie.
The “Happy Camper” patch on this winter hat will let them display their love for camping every time they wear it.
This hat comes in both a toddlers’ size and a kids’ size so it makes a nice gift for kids of a variety of ages.
Note when purchasing this beanie that it is sold in a variety of colors, but only the orange “Happy Camper Canyon” color includes the Happy Camper patch.
13. Engraved Marshmallow Roasting Stick
S’mores making will become extra fun for kids with the gift of a custom engraved marshmallow roasting stick.
These metal skewers can be customized with any name or phrase engraved into the wooden handle.
And the colored ring at the top of the handle adds more personalization and helps easily identify whose skewer is whose.
With these marshmallow sticks among their camping gear, kids will always have a marshmallow skewer on hand – no more hunting for sticks around the campsite!
It’s a perfect gift for kids who know that roasting marshmallows is a quintessential camping activity.
14. C Is for Camping
Introduce toddlers to both the alphabet and camping with the book C Is for Camping by Greg Paprocki.
This board book features a camping-related word for every letter of the alphabet paired with a representative illustration.
It’s a great way to introduce young ones to camping terms or to help experienced campers associate words they know with the alphabet.
Add C Is for Camping to a young adventurer’s bookshelf to get them familiar with camping from a young age.
15. Outdoor School: Hiking and Camping
Want to prepare an older child for their first outdoor adventure? Teach them the basics of backpacking with the book Outdoor School: Hiking and Camping.
This interactive field guide introduces kids to a number of essential topics from trip preparation to survival know-how.
The practical camping and hiking knowledge is paired with interactive sections like suggested activities and space for journal entries.
This how-to book is a great camping gift for kids in middle school.
