60+ Awesome camping gifts for kids who love the outdoors

Kids Camping Gifts

Looking for the best camping gifts for kids? We have spent the last ten years doing vanlife with our kids (we also added a huge dog into our vanlife too!) This camping gift guide is for kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens and includes essential camping gear for kids and fun outdoor gifts to take away on your family camping trips.

Essential Camping Gear for Kids

If you are trying to decide what are the best gifts for kids who love camping, then why not purchase something that is useful and practical? Although we have included fun camping gifts and a few ideas for camping toys and games, don’t forget that the essential camping gear is a great gift idea and will be frequently used on your camping trips.

Essential camping gear at a glance – top 5

• Sleeping bag
• Camping chair
• Water bottle
• Kids changing robe
• hiking boots

Water Bottle

We don’t leave home without a refillable water bottle. We take a water bottle out for each member of the family. It is better for the environment than buying plastic bottles and is also cost effective too.

Stainless steel insulated water bottles can keep drinks cold for hours so are great for camping in the warm weather and for days out with the kids in the Summer.

Hiking boots/beach shoes

If you have followed us on social media you will know that we are HUGE fans of Keen Europe shoes for kids.

We love the Keen Newport shoes as they are comfortable, lightweight and suitable for walking or beach days. They dry really quickly too and we only packed these for our Outer Hebrides campervan road trip in half term and we didn’t need anything else.

We also love Keen Walking boots for both kids and adults. Super comfortable and waterproof and great for outdoor life.

Swim rash vest

A rash vest is great for kids. We love these brightly coloured rash vests by Surfspot

A rash vest can help your child to be seen easily on the beach or when they are playing in the sea. Just to mention these rash vest are also made from 100% regenerated nylon yard derived from waste such as discarded fishing nets, and fabric scraps from all over the world

Changing robe

A changing robe is a perfect camping gift for kids who love the great outdoors!! A waterproof changing robe keeps kids comfortable and warm outdoors. They are oversized so that kids can step into the robe to change quickly.

Some changing robes have fleece or similar linings to keep kids warm and dry on the beach or when camping and therefore doubles up as a warm camping coat.

kids camping hoodie

If you are looking for a useful and practical gift for kids who love the outdoors, why not consider a hoodie? A fleece hoodie will keep your little ones cosy and warm, and a hoodie can also be layered with a waterproof coat when camping or out on a family hike.

Camping pillow

If you are short of space, then leave the pillows at home and opt for a camping pillow instead.

This 2 in 1 camping pillow from Trekmates works as both a neck/travel pillow and a sleeping pillow, and this one also a rucksack attachment to allow you to clip to your rucksack for easy storage.

Kids backpack

A kids backpack is not only useful for school trips, days out and travel, it is a perfect camping gift for kids of all ages who love the outdoors. Pack the water bottle, a few snacks and a picnic blanket and head out for a family hike.

It is important to find a good waterproof backpack (no-one wants soggy snacks during a hike right?!) and one that is not too big either.

Fun camping toys

Camping is fun, and spending time outdoors is free. But sometimes it rains in the UK, and it’s always good to pack a few camping toys for rainy days and well…. to just add to the camping fun. We have a few of our favourite camping toys we don’t leave home without

Fun camping toys – our tip picks!!

• Card games – Uno, Dobble and top trumps are our favourite.
• Mess free colouring
• Kindle
• Tablet
• Walkie talkies

Walkie talkies

The walkie talkies were a Christmas gift for the kids and they have provided HOURS of fun in the garden, local park, and when camping. It is a perfect sibling gift for camping as they can communicate with each other (and their new camping friends) around the campsite.

You can also buy sets for two and three.

Bug Catcher kit

All kids love bugs right? Bug catcher kits are great for camping. They come complete with a magnifying pot and tweezers to hun out those hidden bugs!

There is a full colour booklet on how to use the equipment, and charts to help identify the creatures caught.

Travel journal

Kids travel journals are brilliant to document travel, road trips and amazing holiday memories.

Children can sketch out memories, create packing lists, document what they did, saw and their favourite parts of the day.

They can also collect postcards, tickets, maps and paste in photographs too to create an awesome travel diary.

Camping Travel Table

A lap tray is great for keeping kids entertained in the car, campervan, or whilst camping.

It provides a sturdy space to keep their toys organised whilst travelling and creates a surface for snacks, colouring and other activities whilst travelling.

Kids Camera

Encourage your children to take photos of their favourite places and favourite things. We love the Instax mini camera. It comes in a variety of colours, and it produces instant credit card sized photos to save or add to their travel journal.

It has a built-in automatic flash control, built in selfie lens and mirror and uses an install mini film.

Gifts in a tin

I have talked about the gifts in a tin for quite some time now, but we absolutely love them. There are loads of options for children of all ages, including games, travel toys, and craft ideas for rainy camping days. Our youngest loved the zoo in a tin, and spent hours playing with it. They make great travel toys and are an ideal stocking filler for kids.

For camper van families, Apples and Pears even have a build your own campervan set!!

Tablet/Ipad

A tablet isn’t the first things that probably springs to mind as a camping gift for kids, but they really are excellent for those long old road trips. Our trip to Outer Hebrides was around 10 hours so the iPads/tablets came in handy on the road.

We also download a few films for those rainy day camping activities.

Kids metal detector

Get out in the fresh air and hit the beach with a metal detector in search of hidden treasure.

This metal detector has an adjustable pole and is ideal for kids aged 3 – 10.

Smores kit

The best camping memories involve toasting marshmallows over a campfire, and a clear starry night. This S’mores kit includes 4 forks, a tabletop heater and marshmallows and chocolate!

All you need for an evening on a campsite!

Kids binoculars

We headed to Scotland and wished we had packed the binoculars to spot the wildlife! Binoculars are perfect for any kids who love nature. Choose binoculars that are lightweight, shock resistant and a nonslip grip for little hands. Binoculars can provide hours of fun for kids of all ages.

Kids torch

kids love a torch or lantern, and even though we have electric in the campervan, all three kids always sleep in the pop top roof with a little lantern as a night light. Plus a torch comes in handy for the evening stroll to the toilet block on a campsite!

Glow sticks

If you have been to a family friendly festival, you will know how important glow sticks are! If you are thinking of camping at festival with kids, my top tip is to remember to pack the glow sticks.

glow sticks are an ideal camping gift for kids – they provide hours of when camping, or at a family festival (Read more about our Summer festival fun at Camp Bestival)or even at a kids festival themed party!

Kindle

Kindles are great for budding little readers. Plus the nightlight works for reading when there is limited light. Kindles are lightweight, and a single battery charge can last unto 10 weeks, making it an ideal camping gift for tweens!

Power bank

Power banks may not seem an obvious camping gift for kids, but will make a perfect camping gift for teenagers who love their technology (and can’t quite be without their phone!)

They are also really handy to have in your backpack so that your battery doesn’t run down on a hike or day out.

We purchased the iniu power bank recently and it has been so useful for charing all our devices.

Scooter

Kids love scooters, and a foldable scooter is an amazing space saving toy when space is tight in the campervan! We find that campsites can be a great environment for little scooters and have always taken our micro scooters with us camping.

The Micro Scooters offer scooters for all ages, and the Micro Scooter sprite is built for slightly older riders (between 5 – 12 years) and is foldable meaning it is a breeze to pack it, carry it, store it or throw it the car with your tent!

Collapsible bucket and spade

Collapsible buckets and spades are a genius camper van space saving hack! They also have multiple uses. We realised that we had forgotten the dog bowl once when we arrived at the campsite with our dog. But the collapsible bucket worked an absolute treat! They fold really small so they actually fit in the back of the seat organisers, and some sets come with spade too

Camping Games for kids

There are plenty of great kids games that make ideal camping gifts for kids of all ages. Card games for example, are great for camping with young kids, tweens and teens. Uno, Chop Chop, Ok, Double and top trumps are all great camping toys and also make great travel toys. Cards don’t take up much room when space is limited either.

Kids rainy day camping activities

Camping in the UK? Yes it can certainly rain. So it’s always good to pack a few rainy day camping activities for kids! Here are a few camping activities for toddlers, and rainy day camping activities for juniors (and teens)

rock painting kit

mess free colouring

Clay Bead kits and friendship bracelet kids

Sticker books

Amazing glow art

Camping books for kids

Camping books, are a great kids camping gift. They can help to prepare children for their camping trip and can occupy kids around a campfire with a blanket and a lantern.

You can buy second hand, or visit the library to borrow books to keep costs down.

Here are a few ideas for camping themed books for kids!

So there you have an our ideas for the BEST camping gifts for kids! The best gifts are those that encourage kids to enjoy time outdoors! We have also included practical camping gifts for kids including camping chairs, sleeping bags, water bottles and of course a hammock.

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