Great for camping! Recreation games for kids
Many families are probably planning to take their kids camping over the summer holidays.
Camping is exciting in so many ways, and in this article we introduce activities and games that will make your trip even more fun.
From active, physical play to popular everyday games kids already love, and nature experiences that even little ones can enjoy—there’s plenty to choose from! Take this opportunity to savor the special moments you can only experience at a campsite.
If you go over this with your child before you leave, you’ll surely hear, “I want to do this!” Get fully prepared, have a blast, and make the best memories!
- Outdoor games and recreational activities recommended for children
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- Fun recreational games that liven up outdoor activities
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
- Outdoor Recreation Popularity Rankings
- Fostering Cooperation: Recommended Games to Enjoy in the Boy Scouts
- [Elementary School] Games and Recreational Activities to Enjoy at a Forest School Camp
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- Recommended outdoor games and recreational activities for lower elementary school children
- No worries even in the rain! Fun recreational activities you can do in the gym
- [For Kids] Fun Indoor Game Ideas for After-School Day Services
- Recreation Activities That Excite Kids’ Clubs! Plans and Ideas Children Will Love
Recommended for Camping! Recreational Games for Kids (31–40)
Bamboo Shoot Gnocchi
Let’s play the classic game “Takenoko Nyokki.” The chant is: “Takenoko, takenoko, nyokki-ki!” After everyone claps their palms together and says the chant, each person shouts “1 nyokki,” “2 nyokki,” and so on—saying a unique “number + nyokki” that doesn’t overlap with anyone else—and thrusts both hands up.
If there are five players, the numbers go from 1 to 5, but the person who says 5 loses.
Keep in mind: avoid saying the same number as someone else, and don’t be the last one.
Enjoy the game!
Hoop relay
Let me introduce a “Hoop Relay” played in pairs.
First, divide into teams and form pairs within each team.
When the start signal is given, one person throws a hoop forward, and the other jumps and lands inside the hoop.
Repeat this to advance to the designated spot, return to the starting line, and tag in the next pair.
The team whose last pair returns to the starting line first wins.
If you throw the hoop too far and the jumper can’t reach it, you must go back to the start.
The key to winning is to throw the hoop to a distance that earns you the most ground while keeping your partner’s jumping ability in mind.
Teleportation Game
The “Teleportation Game” is played using sticks made by rolling up sheets of newspaper.
Prepare one stick per participant.
First, everyone stands in a circle, holding a stick upright in front of their body.
At the cue of “Ready, set,” everyone lets go of their stick and moves to the side to catch their neighbor’s stick before it falls.
If everyone succeeds, take one step back to widen the circle.
As the circle expands, the distance to the sticks increases and the difficulty goes up.
Anyone who fails to catch a stick is out, and the last person remaining wins!
ring toss
The great thing about ring toss is that anyone can enjoy it, indoors or outdoors, regardless of age! Plus, it’s easy to make by hand, which is another nice bonus.
For the rings, twist newspapers into loops and wrap them with colored tape to finish.
For the targets, fill plastic bottles with water and stick colored construction paper with point values on them.
If you make rings in different sizes, both small children and adults can have fun.
Preparing small prizes based on the number of rings that land on the targets or the total score will likely be a hit, too.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Train
Janken Train is a game where players play rock-paper-scissors, and the loser lines up behind the winner, with the goal of ultimately forming a long train.
The person at the very front is the winner of Janken Train.
It’s easier to play with music, so it’s a good idea to prepare your preferred audio.
While the music is playing, participants run around as trains; when the music stops, they play rock-paper-scissors with someone nearby.
If you lose, place your hands on the winner’s shoulders and join their train.
It’s a fun game that anyone can join, from children to adults.
Ogostic
Ogostick is played using a stick that looks like a deer’s antler and a hemp ball.
Hook the stick onto the ball’s weave to toss it back and forth, and try to catch it skillfully.
It can be tricky to throw at first, but once you get used to it, it’s easy and fun.
When you throw, think about tossing upward rather than forward.
If you’re looking for a different kind of game to play while camping, try Ogostick for a fresh, new experience.
OgoDisk
Have you heard of the OgoDisk, a toy you can throw like a flying disc? Its center is made of a soft material, so you can catch a ball with it and even use it like a racket.
With just one OgoDisk, you can throw, hit, and catch, making it a great choice for camping when you want to keep your gear to a minimum while still having fun.
We introduce a variety of games you can play with the OgoDisk, such as disc passing, ball bouncing, and disc batting, so feel free to use them as a reference.
Soap bubble play
If your camping trip includes children, how about playing with soap bubbles? You can get the bubble solution and wands at 100-yen shops, and you can also make them yourself.
For the solution, just mix water and dish soap.
If you want the bubbles to be more durable, add some sugar or liquid starch.
You can easily make wands from items like old hangers, straws, or pipe cleaners.
Enjoy blowing bubbles in the open air and take in the beautiful scenery.
9-square tag
“Nine-Square Tag” is a quirky variation of tag played in an area divided into nine squares.
On a cue, everyone on the grid moves exactly one square at the same time.
If the chaser (the “it”) lands in the same square as someone else, that person is out.
If the chaser can’t catch anyone within ten turns, the chaser loses.
You can play it in a small space.
It’s fun for both kids and adults, and although simple, it engages both mind and body—making it a lively brain workout.
Give it a try!
snack-eating contest
How about a candy-eating race—like the classic bread-eating race—during some downtime at your camp? After the barbecue, when everyone’s relaxing, you could play it as a snack-time game! Preparation is pretty simple: stretch a rope between two trees and clip snacks onto it with clothespins.
This bread-eating-race-style game, a staple of school sports days, can captivate not only kids but also adults who’ll find themselves getting nostalgic and totally into it.
For the treats, consider choosing mostly lightweight snacks like dagashi.
