41 Best Camp Crafts for Kids (Easy 2026 Ideas)
41 Best Camp Crafts for Kids (Easy 2026 Ideas)
The best camp crafts for kids combine simple supplies (paper plates, popsicle sticks, recycled materials, and natural finds) with hands-on creativity. This guide includes 41 tested camp crafts organized into five categories: nature crafts, paint and dye projects, recycled material crafts, sewing and string projects, and campfire activities. Most take 15 to 45 minutes and work for ages 4 to 14, so you'll find something whether you're planning a backyard summer camp, prepping for a troop meeting, or just keeping the kids busy on a Saturday.
What Makes a Great Camp Craft?
A great camp craft uses simple supplies, takes 15 to 45 minutes, works for mixed-age groups, and ties into the camp setting through nature, recycled materials, or a wearable finished product. The best ones travel well, dry quickly, and don't need an outlet.
I've found the strongest camp crafts share three traits:
1. They use everyday supplies or natural materials kids can gather on a scavenger hunt
2. They produce a finished object kids want to take home or wear
3. They scale across ages, so a 5-year-old and a 12-year-old can both feel successful
What You'll Need for Fun Summer Camp Craft Projects
The best thing about camp crafts is that they can usually be made with recycled or simple materials. There's a variety of craft materials you'll want to keep on hand to make these great summer crafts. Including but not limited to:
Construction paper
Tissue paper
Acrylic Paint
Googly Eyes
Colorful Paper
Air-dry clay
Everyday objects
Popsicle sticks
Toilet paper rolls
Water pistols (squirt guns)
Hot glue gun
41 Best Camp Crafts for Kids to Do This Summer
These fun ideas are a great opportunity to get kids exploring the great outdoors and expressing their creativity. Whether you're looking for a summer camp craft for a group of young students or want to keep the kids entertained on your next camping trip, you're sure to find more than one fun activity on this list.
Click on the name of each activity to see the full tutorial and have fun spending time crafting together this summer.
1. Tie Dye from Art Beat Box
If you're packing for an upcoming camping trip, why not make some matching tie dye clothes? Tie dying is such a fun craft to do outside during the summer, and you'll have a great time wearing matching shirts!
2. Painted Rocks from Art Beat Box
Kids can go on a scavenger hunt for the perfect rocks to paint. You can make these into DIY board games like tic-tac-toe, kind messages, or silly rocks. This DIY idea is always a hit during the summer.
3. Shrinky Dink Keychains from Art Beat Box
Shrinky dinks require an oven to shrink in size, so this is a better craft for those hosting camp at home or school. Kids can make a keychain for their backpack next school year!
4. Bandana Pillow from Art Beat Box
This is the perfect craft for summer camp or going camping because it can be used either way!
5. Hand Stamped Pillowcase from Art Beat Box
Going to sleep under the stars? Why not make a hand-stamped pillowcase as one of your camping activities!
6. Tie Dye Clipboard from Art Beat Box
What better way to kick off summer camp than with your own tie dye clipboard?
7. Sharpie Tie Dye from Art Beat Box
This is one of those easy camping crafts because you only need sharpies and rubbing alcohol.
8. DIY Tote Bag from Art Beat Box
Kids will need a tote bag for all their activity sheets, water bottles, and other camp materials. They can make their own with this fun tutorial!
9. Sequin Pin Art from Art Beat Box
Sequin pin art is a great way for kids to relax during a dedicated break time from having fun in the sun.
10. Toilet Paper Roll Instruments from Art Beat Box
Camp grafts are all about using recycled materials. These toilet paper roll instruments are a fun recycled craft that's great for younger children. Personalize them with different colors of tape or even paper mache!
11. Yarn Octopus from Art Beat Box
This yarn octopus is always a hit with the kids in my art class. We have so much fun making this cute craft!
12. Hydro-dipped shoes from Art Beat Box
Making hydro-dipped shoes is a fun activity for older kids to make and wear during the entire week of camp.
13. Water Balloon Flip Flops from Art Beat Box
Water balloon flip flops are a huge hit during the summer, and they're perfect to wear to the pool or lake during the summertime!
14. Cork People from Art Beat Box
DIY cork people are one of those craft ideas that always turn out better than expected. Kids can really let their creativity shine with this fun craft!
15. Rolled Magazine Leaves from Art Beat Box
Making rolled magazine leaves is a fun way to do a nature-inspired project with recycled materials. This activity also requires lots of focus, so it can be relaxing for the kids.
16. Shaving Cream Marbling from Art Beat Box
Kids of all ages love shaving cream marbling! This one gets messy, so make sure to wear gloves.
17. DIY Leaf Relief from Art Beat Box
DIY leaf relief is one of those perfect summer camp crafts for nature lovers. Kids can go on a scavenger hunt to find different shaped leaves and make a piece of art with them.
18. CD Wind Spinners from Happy Hooligans
Don't throw those old CDs away! Use them to make these pretty wind spinners instead.
19. Bubble Print Butterflies from Red Ted Art
Have you ever tried bubble printing? It's one of those fun camping crafts that all kids love! You'll make bubble printed butterflies in this tutorial, but you can adapt it to different summer-themed projects.
20. Nature Impression Craft from Paging Fun Mums
Make impressions of leaves, sticks, and anything else you can find. It's the perfect craft for little campers!
21. Squirt Gun Tie Dye from Fireflies & Mudpies
This is such a fun project that kids are sure to love. Try out different sized squirt guns and see the difference!
22. Recycled T-Shirt Friendship Bracelets from Crafts by Amanda
Kids can make lasting friendships at summer camp. Help older kids remember their camp friends with recycled t-shirt friendship bracelets!
23. Birdseed Ornaments from Crafts by Amanda
Bring some birdseed ornaments on your next camping trip and hang them up around your campsite.
24. Sand Molds from Kids Activities Blog
These sand molds are so cool and a perfect activity for little campers!
25. Nature Suncatcher from Messy Little Monster
Invite your little ones to go on a scavenger hunt and make a nature suncatcher using contact paper.
26. Water Pistol Painting from Messy Little Monster
Similar to squirt gun tie dye, water pistol painting is a fun way to make a painted masterpiece!
27. DIY Bubble Wands from Messy Little Monster
Did you know you can make a bubble wand using pipe cleaners. Kids can have endless fun seeing who can blow the biggest bubble!
28. Clay Leaf Bowl from Messy Little Monster
All you need is some air dry clay and a few pieces of nature to make this beautiful clay leaf bowl. This is a fun craft for older kids.
29. DIY Skipping Rope from And Next Comes L
This DIY jump rope can be used as a fun outdoor toy and is also great for practicing fine motor skills for little kids.
30. Camping Lantern Craft from The Crazy Outdoor Mama
Looking for a fun campfire craft for your upcoming camping trip? Look no further than this easy lantern craft!
31. Plastic Bag Kite from Gluesticks and Gumdrops
Another fun way to us recycled materials is with this plastic bag kite.
32. Duct Tape Water Bottle Holder from There's Just One Mommy
This duct tape water bottle holder is the perfect craft to help keep all those water bottles in their place!
33. Painted Sticks from Crafts by Courtney
Painted sticks are one of the best camping crafts because they're so simple.
34. Yarn Sticks from Babble Dabble Do
If you don't want to mess with paint, try out making yarn sticks instead!
35. Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder from Made with Happy
This popsicle stick bird feeder will give a pop of color to your campsite.
36. Toilet Paper Tube Binoculars from Surviving a Teacher's Salary
Take these DIY binoculars on a nature walk and see what you can find!
37. Rainbow Windchimes from Happy Hooligans
Is there anything more relaxing than the sound of windchimes in a summer breeze? Try these DIY painted stick windchimes!
38. Bottlecap Windchimes from Frogs Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
Here's another fun way to make some DIY windchimes.
39. Pine Cone Bird Feeder from One Little Project
If you're looking for a super easy camp craft that takes less than ten minutes, this is it!
40. Leaf Bowl from Made with Happy
This leaf bowl is the perfect way to save all those leaves from a nature walk.
41. Origami Leaf from Made with Happy
Turn a piece of paper into a beautiful leaf with some simple origami.
Camp Crafts for Kids: Frequently Asked Questions
What are good crafts to do at summer camp?
A basic camp craft kit covers most projects: construction paper, acrylic paint, googly eyes, popsicle sticks, toilet paper rolls, air-dry clay, hot glue, string or yarn, and a few squirt guns. Stock recycled materials like bottle caps, cardboard tubes, and old CDs, etc.
What supplies do I need for camp crafts?
Classic summer camp crafts include tie-dye shirts, friendship bracelets, painted rocks, nature suncatchers, and popsicle stick projects. The best ones use simple supplies, work for mixed-age groups, and can be finished in one session. Nature-based crafts also double as scavenger hunts, which keeps kids engaged before the project even starts.
What is the easiest camp craft for kids?
The easiest camp craft is sharpie tie-dye. It needs only sharpies and rubbing alcohol, takes 15 minutes, and works for kids as young as 4 with supervision. Painted rocks and pine cone bird feeders are tied for second place. All three are nearly impossible to mess up.
What crafts can kids make outdoors?
Outdoor-friendly camp crafts include painted rocks, leaf rubbings, nature suncatchers, yarn sticks, painted sticks, water balloon flip flops, squirt gun tie-dye, and bubble printing. These work best in the yard or at a park because they're messy or use natural materials gathered on site.
What are good camp crafts for preschoolers?
Preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) do best with no-cut, low-prep crafts: painted rocks, sponge painting, paper plate animals, sticker collages, and yarn octopuses. Skip anything with small beads, hot glue, or sharp tools. Bubble painting is a favorite at this age because it stays low-stakes.
What are good camp crafts for tweens and teens?
Tweens and teens want crafts that produce wearable or display-worthy results. Top picks: hydro-dipped shoes, tie-dye, friendship bracelets, hand-stamped pillowcases, and clay leaf bowls. The challenge level matters more than the supply list at this age, so pick projects with multiple steps.
How long do camp crafts usually take?
Most camp crafts take 15 to 45 minutes from setup to cleanup. Quick projects like sharpie tie-dye or pine cone bird feeders finish in 10 to 15 minutes. Larger projects like hydro-dipped shoes or hand-stamped pillowcases need 45 to 60 minutes plus drying time.
What's a good craft schedule for a backyard summer camp?
For a backyard summer camp, plan one craft per day across five categories: nature (painted sticks), wearable (tie-dye), recycled (CD wind spinners), water (squirt gun tie-dye), and keepsake (clay leaf bowl). Rotating categories keeps kids engaged across a full week.
I hope you find more than one fun craft to try with this list of 41 fun camp crafts for kids to do this summer. Happy crafting!
Are you planning a backyard summer camp this year?
Check out this post on how to host a fun DIY summer camp!
