A trip to nature is a perfect opportunity to relax, escape from routine, and have fun while enjoying fresh air and beautiful scenery.
In this case, camping is the best option since this hobby allows you to constantly explore new places, as well as make your life interesting and eventful. Most importantly, it has a positive effect on your state of mind, because nothing calms you down like being united with nature.
Any trip begins with planning. Choosing the place you would like to visit, the date of your trip, and packing your equipment are essential steps. We recommend checking out the beginner camping checklist to ensure you have everything you may need for your trip.
At the same time, activity is another task that needs to be solved. One way or another, when going camping you will always have to do something, because you will need to set up a camp, prepare a cooking area, find a source of drinking water, collect firewood, etc.
However, having done all the necessary things at the camp, you will probably want to do something more interesting and exciting to make the camping a bright and memorable event!
Camping is an opportunity to have fun and be active. Moreover, it is an experience that also depends on the season and the place you are going to.
We have prepared a list of different types of outdoor activities that you can consider when planning your next trip to have a great time with your friends or family while camping.
1. Water Activities
When we talk about camping, summer is perhaps the most popular season. Warm weather, bright sunny days, and comfortable nights make summer a great time to plan a trip since you don’t have to pack as much extra gear as you would on winter camping.
Spots near bodies of water, be it an ocean, lake, or river, are common locations for camping and hiking. By camping in one of these sites, you will not only be able to enjoy nature but also a variety of water activities that will make your camping experience fun!
So, you can enjoy:
- Kayaking and canoeing
- Paddle boating
- Water skiing
- Tubing
- Swimming
- Water volleyball
- Fishing
- Diving
- Snorkeling
- Skipping stones
The list of things you can do near water directly depends on the place you are visiting, because each campground or resort can offer different activities.
2. Nighttime Activities
Camping does not end when the sun goes down, on the contrary, when night falls and darkness reigns, it is time for a variety of activities that will make this day spent in nature even better!
Before you go to bed, you can spend a few more hours doing these great nighttime activities:
- Stargazing (you can even take a telescope with you because the night sky looks completely different away from cities)
- Night hiking (however, make sure the area is safe in advance to avoid encounters with predators)
- Shoot off fireworks (fireworks may be prohibited in some areas)
- Swimming in the moonlight
- Release sky lanterns
- Campfire gatherings
- Singing/playing guitar
- Play Truth or Dare
- Throw an outdoor party
- Make a colored fire (the items needed are sold at most camping stores)
3. Sports Activities
The place you are going to visit may not always offer amenities or facilities for active recreation. Most often, such spots can be wild and located somewhere in remote areas.
However, with enough space around you, you can have a fun time! All you need to do is pack the necessary items and play your favorite sport with your friends while enjoying the outdoors at the camp.
If you are planning a trip and have not yet chosen the activities you would like to do, then sports are a great idea:
- Football
- Baseball
- Soccer
- Volleyball
- Bike riding
- Frisbee or boomerang
- Badminton
- Tennis
- Hiking
- Climbing
- Lawn bowling
- Spelunking
- Ring toss
- Games (Capture the Flag, Hide and Seek, Red Rover, Tug of War, etc.)
The choice of activity directly depends on your interests, as well as the hobbies of your friends or family members with whom you are planning camping. Therefore, it is always worth having a meeting and discussing ideas during the planning stage with other members of the group.
This will not only allow you to choose fun activities but also distribute responsibilities in advance, create a menu, and collect different offers to make your future trip unforgettable!
4. Inspiring Activities
Camping is not only about active recreation. Being in nature, you can enjoy solitude and tranquility that are difficult to find in cities.
After you’ve finished your camp tasks, played games with friends, or had your fill of water activities, you can pay more attention to the surroundings and your hobbies.
Learning something new is always interesting, as is exploring an area you have never been to. While camping you can discover more about nature by doing these activities:
- Geocaching
- Collecting
- Gathering
- Stargazing
- Birdwatching
- Animal watching
- Trails exploring
- Fossil hunting
- Catching fireflies
- Listening to the sounds of nature
In addition, during camping you can spend time on your hobbies:
- Photography
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Kite flying
- Knitting
- Writing
- Music
- Fishing
5. Activities Inside The Tent
Sometimes the weather may turn bad or you may get tired from being active while camping. In this case, it’s worth having a plan B to keep yourself occupied with something before bed or until the rain stops.
So, while staying inside the tent you can engage yourself with:
- Reading books
- Board games
- Card games
- Crafting
- Journaling
- Watching movies/series
- Games on your phone/console
- Story time
Now that you have ideas on how to expand your camping with activities, start your adventure! A few days away from cities and routine, being surrounded by nature, has a positive effect on the body and mind, providing rest and energy, as well as great memories, making camping a universal hobby for everyone.