While there may be plenty of physical activities to try when you’re exploring the great outdoors, you may want to fill the downtime with some relaxing camping arts and crafts. Perfect for a rainy day or quiet afternoon, here are 8 camping arts and crafts projects to do on your next family adventure.

Make Picture Frames

You’ll want to treasure your camping memories forever, and what better way to do that than by making a picture frame for your adventure photos?

Supplies:

• Sticks
• Glue
• Optional: glitter, craft sticks, pom poms, paint

For this basic craft, you can either bring along some popsicle sticks or collect your own from nature. Make sure your sticks are clean and dry. You can try different variations of this craft using shapes of different shapes and sizes.

Simply glue four sticks together to suit the size of your photos, and lay it flat to dry. You can also double the layers to make a handy slot for your photos to rest in. 

Rock Painting

Decorating rocks is a fun and easy craft that all ages can enjoy!

Supplies:

• Small clean rocks (smooth is best)
• Paint
• Brushes
• Water cup and paper towels
• Optional: glue, glitter, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, pom poms, etc.

Decorate your rocks any way you wish. One the paint is dry, attach googly eyes and other decorations to make a new pet rock friend. Or, add glitter for some extra dazzle. It’s up to you!

Friendship Bracelets

This classic camp craft is fairly fun and easy, once you get the hang of it. You can make friendship bracelets out of almost anything – we used to string dandelions and daisies together. Different materials will be easier or more difficult to work with, depending on what pattern you choose.

Supplies:

• Embroidery floss, yarn, jute rope, plastic cord
• Tape
• Optional: buttons, beads, keychain rings

You can make your friendship bracelets as complicated and colorful as you want! A simple braid or string of beads works well for beginners, but you can try one of these tutorials for a more advanced style.

Finger Painting

This craft is excellent for the little ones. With minimal supplies, you can create a whole variety of fun pictures to remind you of your camping adventures.

Supplies:

• Craft paint
• Egg carton or paper plate
• Paper
• Optional: zippered plastic bags

For a mess-free version, place a sheet of paper in a zippered plastic bag. Add paint, and let your kids squish and squeeze their way to a masterpiece. Try making different scenes using little handprints and footprints.

Origami Shapes

Origami, or the “art of paper folding” is an ancient cultural tradition that is still practiced today. You can also give it a try on your next camping trip!

Supplies:

• Origami paper ( Any 6 inch square of paper will do)
• Optional: scissors, glue, tape, markers or crayons

While advanced Origami artists may discourage the use of scissors and glue, they can make it easier for your little ones to manage some of the more complex designs. Or, invent your own! Find some helpful origami tutorials here. 

Slime

A family camping trip is a perfect time to try a messy craft that your kids have been begging for – but maybe you’ve been avoiding. For an ooey-gooey good time, give this slime recipe a try.

Supplies:

• Clear glue
• Shaving gel
• Bowl and stick
• Optional: food coloring

Making two-ingredient slime is simple. Add some clear glue to your bowl – this is the base of the slime. Then add shaving gel a few squirts at a time and mix to combine. Continue adding the shaving gel a little at a time, mixing after each application. Once you’ve got your desired slime consistency, voila! Use a plastic bag to store.

Storytelling Jars

Need some fresh ideas for telling stories around the campfire? Make some silly story jars to help get the creative juices flowing.

Supplies:

• 3 mason jars (you can also use plastic bags, small boxes, or anything else to hold your ideas)
• Strips of paper
• Marker, crayon, pen

This activity is designed to spark your imagination! Designate one jar for each topic – character, setting, and problem.

Some examples:

Characters – tall man, wizard, T-Rex, grumpy bear, woman in a flowered hat, Bob the turtle

Settings – a farm, the mountains, a haunted mansion, the moon

Problems – lost their teddy bear, ran out of gas, chased by a ghost, fell overboard

Think of as many characters and scenarios as you can, and fill the jars. Then at story time, select a random character, setting, and problem from the jar. Try to see who can come up with the best story using their prompts!

Bug Jar

If your kids love collecting little critters, a small terrarium can keep them entertained for hours.

Supplies:

• Mason jars with lids
• Rocks, dirt, moss, plants
• Bug net
• Optional: Magnifying glass, wax paper, rubber band

Fill the mason jar ¼ full with some dirt and other plant material. Poke some tiny holes in the top for some air circulation. If you can’t poke holes in the lid itself, use some plastic wrap or wax paper instead (secure with a rubber band). Send your kids off with a bug net, and capture a critter in your jar. Observe its behavior – just make sure to release it when you’re done!