Camping is one of those family activities that SOUNDS fun, but when it comes right down to it, family camping can quickly become a disaster. The best way I’ve found to prevent this disaster is to prepare plenty of camping STEM activities that will prevent your kids from *dying* of boredom.
Of course, as a STEM activity fiend, I prefer our fun camping ideas to boost our kid’s STEM skills as well. The following ideas for camping with kids are not only extremely fun, but they are also extremely educational. They work great as a DIY summer camp, too!
Camping Themed STEM Activities that Will Boost STEM Skills
Break out these fun camping ideas on your next camping trip and make beautiful memories!
Your kids won’t ever complain (OK, they will still probably complain, but they will complain *less*) with these STEM activities to try.
Camping STEM Activities that Teach Kids Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math!
If you love camping, and you love learning, you’ll love doing these camping STEM activities! You’ll find resources for camping science experiments, camping technology activities, camping engineering activities, and camping math activities!
Camping Themed Science Activities
If you’re outdoorsy, or even if you aren’t, you’ll love these camping science experiments!
Remove Salt from Water and prepare for survival.
Build Marshmallow Constellations and learn about the summer skies!
Learn about identifying Cloud Types and keep track of the weather on your trip.
Make a Moon Observation Journal.
Find Symmetry in Nature and explore how it shows up everywhere.
Make Paint from Nature using natural materials.
Try Outdoor Rock Density Testing.
Make Leaf Rubbings and find out how different leaves look.
Start a Fire with a Magnifying Glass (but do it safely!).
Learn about What Lives in Dirt by exploring under rocks and bushes.
Camping Technology STEM Activities
Take technology to the great outdoors with these camping technology activities!
Make Your Own Flashlight Constellations.
Learn How to Read a Map and learn how to get from one place to another.
Go on a Nature Walk and keep track of your surroundings.
Go on a Geocaching Adventure and use technology for fun!
Go on a Photo Scavenger Hunt and explore the world around you.
Use the Stargazing App to Learn about the Stars.
Build a Solar Oven and make your own smores without a fire.
Make Shadow Puppets when it’s night!
Camping Engineering Activities
Little builders and inventors will love doing these camping engineering activities!
Play the Apple Stacking Challenge.
Build a S’Mores Tower and see who can stack the highest tower.
Practice patience and design when you play the Balancing Nature Game.
Build a Stick Fort and sleep in it!
Learn How to Make the Best Fire.
Build a Rock Tower and see who can construct the biggest tower.
Camping Math Activities for Kids
Math is more fun in nature. You’ll see when you try out these camping math activities for kids!
Play the Watermelon Speed Spitting Measurement Game with watermelon seeds!
Determine the Height of a Tree and use math to do it!
Graph what You Find Outdoors to boost graphing skills.
Go on a Number Hunt and see what numbers you find in nature.
Practice Math with Rocks for hands-on math learning fun!
More Camp STEM Activities for Kids
STEM Summer Camp Ideas that Kids Will Love
Easy Summer Camp Science Activities that Don’t Require Electricity!