10 Camping Arts and Crafts Projects

If you're planning a family trip and looking for some good camping arts and crafts projects to do with your little ones, these nature focused crafts will be the perfect addition to your itinerary.

Camping Arts and Crafts Projects:

These camping arts and crafts projects are super easy to do out in nature with minimal supplies. They incorporate elements of nature that you can find outside such as leaves, pinecones, rocks, grasses, and more. They provide a great way to talk to your children about the different elements found in nature, and you can get as basic or detailed as you'd like.

Nature Collage

Materials Needed: Paper, glue, or double-sided tape.
Activity: Collect leaves, flowers, small sticks, and other natural items around your campsite. Arrange them on a piece of paper to create a nature-inspired collage. You can create patterns, shapes, or even landscapes.

Rock Painting

Materials Needed: Smooth rocks, paint or permanent markers, brushes.
Activity: Gather some smooth rocks and decorate them with paints or markers. You can create animals, patterns, or write inspirational words. Once dry, these rocks can be used to decorate your campsite or taken home as souvenirs.

Leaf Rubbing

Materials Needed: Paper, crayons or pencils.
Activity: Place a leaf under a sheet of paper and rub a crayon or pencil over the paper to reveal the leaf’s texture and shape. This is a simple but beautiful way to capture nature's details.

Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Materials Needed: Pine cones, peanut butter or alternative, birdseed, string.
Activity: Collect pine cones and cover them with peanut butter. Roll the pine cone in birdseed and tie a string to the top. Hang these around your campsite to attract birds.

Nature Weaving

Materials Needed: Small sticks, string or yarn, and natural items like leaves, flowers, and grass.
Activity: Create a simple loom by tying sticks together in a square or rectangular shape. Use string or yarn to create a weaving base, then weave in various natural materials you find around the campsite.

DIY Nature Journal

Materials Needed: Small notebook, pens, crayons, tape or glue.
Activity: Create a nature journal where you can document your camping trip. Draw pictures, write about your experiences, or tape in small items like leaves or flowers. Each family member can have their own journal, making it a personal project.

Pressed Flowers and Leaves

Materials Needed: Heavy book, paper.
Activity: Collect flowers and leaves, place them between sheets of paper, and press them in a heavy book. You can use these pressed items later in scrapbooks or framed art.

Stick Art

Materials Needed: Small sticks, string, or yarn.
Activity: Collect small sticks and arrange them into shapes or patterns. You can tie them together with string to create stars, shapes, or abstract designs.

Campfire Clay Sculptures

Materials Needed: Air-dry clay.
Activity: Use air-dry clay to sculpt small figures or objects inspired by the nature around you. Once sculpted, let them air dry overnight. These can be animals, trees, or anything else your family imagines.

Shell Necklaces or Bracelets

Materials Needed: Small shells (or beads), string.
Activity: If you find small shells near a water source, you can make necklaces or bracelets by stringing them together. You can also use beads if shells are unavailable.