37 Best Camping Gifts for Kids Who Love the Outdoors
Give them something practical and fun! Here are our tried and tested best camping gifts for kids as recommended by our own little camping kiddos.
Since you’ve landed on this gift guide, you’ve likely got an outdoorsy kid who needs a special present, and we’re here to help.
Below, you’ll find a wide range of camping themed gift ideas for kids, complete with age range suggestions and why each option would appeal to a child who loves to camp.
These gifts are great for Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts who camp frequently, family tent campers, kids who RV camp, and more!
We’ve also included ideas for gifts for camping kids of all ages, so you’re sure to find something for the wildling in your life.
This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through one of the links below, I will receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. | Updated August 2026
The Best Camping Gifts for Kids at a Glance
🏕️ Best Overall: Kid’s camping hammock
🎒 Best Practical Gift: Kid’s camp mess kit
🔭 Best for Little Explorers: Kikki animal packs from Deuter
📚 Best Camping Gift Under $20: Paracord bracelet with compass
🎁 Best for Toddlers: Owl headlamp and lantern set
🏞️ Best Gift for National Park Kids: National Parks of the USA or National Geographic Kids National Parks Guide USA
Want more ideas? Keep scrolling to find more than 30 additional gifts for the outdoorsy kid in your life. The article is broken into 5 different categories to help you find the perfect item:
Practical camping gifts
Camping gifts that focus on skill acquisition or learning
Stocking stuffers under $20
Camping-themed gifts for home, and
Experience-based camping gifts
As you explore this guide, look for the recommended ages for each product. Many are great for a wide range of kids, and, in those cases, I’ve included options for each age group.
You’ll also see that each item has a cost section. This is so you can find which will work for your budget at a glance.
$: under $20
$$: $20-$30
$$$: $30-$50
$$$$: over $60
⭐:Look for the little star by products that we’ve really loved and use constantly on our own camping trips with our kids
The Best Camping Gear Gifts that Kids Will Actually Use
Hiking shoes
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $$$-$$$$
I know that it’s tough to swallow the idea of purchasing a pair of specialty shoes for your child, especially since hiking shoes don’t come cheap—even for little feet.
This extra-special addition will make any kid feel like a legitimate hiker, and their parents will be able to explore longer and further.
We’ve bought our kids shoes from all of the major brands, and each pair has had pros and cons to them.
For a great starter shoe, the Keen Newport H2 is part sandal, part hiking shoe that comes in multiple colors ($58). It’s also great for beach and pool days!
If your kid likes the more secure feel of a boot, my kids both wore the Keen Targhee 4 boot ($79.95).
Both of our kids have reported that their hiking boots help their feet feel more comfortable over rocks, roots, and uneven terrain than their regular tennis shoes.
If you don’t know your favorite camping kid’s shoe size, spring for a gift card at their favorite outdoor gear shop, and make a day of it with them after you’ve given the gift.
>> Get our suggestions for the best toddler hiking shoes in this comprehensive buying guide! <<
Camping Chair
Recommended ages: 3 and up
Cost: $$-$$$$
⭐: A Camping Kiddos’ favorite!
One of the things that my kids are (surprisingly) most obsessed with on our camping trips is who gets which camping chair.
They like knowing which one is theirs, and all out war breaks out if you dare sit in someone else’s chair!
In fact, the camping chair was one of the first things we bought them when they were very little and we were just getting into camping with them.
For toddlers: these sweet chairs come in fun colors with popular animals on them, like sharks, butterflies, bees, and dinosaurs ($33.99).
For kids and tweens: My mother-in-law also got this sturdier folding camp chair for my kids ($49.99) when they were a little younger than they are now, and we loved the well built tray and cup holder. Plus, these can hold up to 150 pounds, making it a great transition for their tween years.
For teens: My older child is now 13, and she needs a full sized chair since she’s as tall as I am! She and I now fight over this awesome rocking camp chair by GCI Outdoors ($80.00).
Day pack
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $$$-$$$$
One important lesson about being outdoors that we’re teaching our kids is to always be prepared.
To accomplish this, we’ve bought them their own day packs so they can regulate their own water and snacks, and have emergency supplies should one or more of us get lost.
This decision has been life changing!
Instead of them asking us constantly to stop and grab a granola bar or hand over the pamphlet about wild mushrooms, our kids are now used to pausing on the trail and helping themselves from their packs.
There are some great kids’ packs out there from brands like Osprey, Columbia, Cotopaxi, and Deuter.
For preschoolers and early elementary: My kids’ first packs were these adorable Kikki day packs from Deuter ($50), and they fit our kindergarten-aged kids perfectly with room to grow.
The packs are highly adjustable, so the pink one fit our tall 9 year old before she had to upgrade.
We love that the Kikki packs are roomy with side pockets, and they have plenty of places to clip carabiners on the outside for additional accessories.
The shoulder straps are nice and padded, and the main compartment cinches shut with a toggle and with the overlaying topper.
For late elementary and middle school: I won’t lie. This is a hard age to buy a pack for since they’re in that difficult in-between stage.
The best solution that we found for both boys and girls were both REI branded bags, the Tarn 18 ($59.95, smaller) and the Flash 22 ($59.95, bigger). These bags have a narrower profile than some of the other day packs out there, and this is what my now tween daughter carried for a couple of years after she outgrew the Kikki pack above.
For high school: I like the Osprey Daylight Plus Commuter bag ($80), which fits everything we need for a busy day at the campground or trail.
They also won’t break the bank, which is why we recommend them for beginning hikers on a budget.
Hiking poles
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $$
My then-5 year old spotted one of these collapsible hiking poles ($21.99) while we were visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and he used nearly all of his souvenir money on it.
I might have questioned his purchase back then, but, more than 4 years later, I am completely won over.
This hiking pole is incredibly lightweight and easily hooks to our backpacks when not in use.
Plus, it’s fully adjustable, so it’s easy to stow when we don’t need it and it will grow for years with our son.
While he initially used it to poke his sister while on shorter hikes, he has now matured (a little bit) and (mostly) uses it to actually support himself with it while he walks.
Making sure that your kid feels the part is a big step in making hiking fun for your kids.
Don’t sleep on this sturdy piece of camping equipment for your favorite nature child!
Walkie Talkies
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $$-$$$$
⭐: A Camping Kiddos’ favorite!
These are a camping must-have for kids!
My sister gifted a set of walkie talkies ($41.99)to my children a few years back, and they were an instant hit.
My kids love them so much that they use the walkie talkies to communicate even if they’re only a few feet apart at the campground. (Ridiculous, yes! But, at least, they’re not arguing…)
These are also great to take on hikes if one child wants to linger more than another. My husband will often take the more motivated kid hiker ahead on the trail a bit while I stay behind with the slower paced kid.
We can still communicate even in no-cell signal areas with the walkie talkies.
As a note, you’ll want to include a set or two of batteries in your gift as walkie talkies are notoriously bad about running through batteries.
Hammock
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $$-$$$$
Our kids aren’t ready for a full sized hammock (like our Eno hammock that my husband and I use), but they still love to relax in one once we set up camp.
For them, we prefer smaller hammocks that are still lightweight: by the time that she was 9 year old, my daughter could (mostly) hang something like this by herself, while our 6 year old still needed a little help.
But once we’d gotten everything up, they would swing for hours in it. That’s still true years later now that I have a 13-year-old and an almost 10-year-old.
A kid’s camping hammock like this one ($27.91) is great for as a chair or as a sleeping space when camping.
Headlamp and Lantern
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $$-$$$
We originally bought this owl headlamp and lantern set for our hurricane kit when we lived on the South Carolina coast, but it quickly became a kid favorite.
Once we moved it into the camper, it’s one of the first things that our kids ask for as the sun goes down at the campsite.
Perfect for late night trips to the bathhouse or as an added comfort light at bedtime, these lights are bright, effective, and last forever on a set of batteries.
In fact, we’ve had these for going on 3 years, and we haven’t had to change the batteries in either the headlamp or the lantern.
The lantern has 3 settings: a softer light in the owl’s tummy, a brighter light in the owl’s eyes, or both lights on at the same time.
Water bottle
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $-$$
Water bottles are always great gift for kids who spend a lot of time outdoors!
These little Wildkins stainless steel water bottles are inexpensive but durable ($20.99), and the handle can be tucked easily into a day pack side pocket or attached easily with a carabiner.
If you want a smaller water bottle that speaks directly to the camping theme, this one ($16.99) is so cute!
For bigger kids who need bigger water bottles, this Farsea bottle comes in both 32 oz ($23) and 40 oz ($24) options. It comes with a removable paracord handle and a carabiner to help. it attach to gear.
Camping blanket
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $$-$$$$
For the warmest camping blanket possible, I can’t recommend the Rumpl small blanket ($99) enough. I’ve had one for years, and I use it constantly on our camping trips.
For teens who are really into the outdoors, that gift will last them for many camping seasons and is well worth the investment.
For younger kids, I can understand the hesitancy. My kids love an outdoor blanket, but I also haven’t gotten them their own Rumpls (yet) because they’re still in that messy stage where I’m nearly positive that an expensive blanket would get messed up.
In that case, i would recommend a dupe of the Rumpl blanket like this one ($25). It comes in fun colors and patterns, is almost as warm as the Rumpl, and has a similar, water resistant exterior.
8 Gifts that Will Make Kids Better Campers
Paracord bracelet with compass
Recommended ages: 9 and up
Cost: $
A statement piece that also has survivalist features, a paracord bracelet with compass and fire starter is great for older girls and boys ($12.99).
My middle school aged daughter has one of these bracelets, and she loves practicing her navigational skills on it.
There’s also a built in whistle if she got separated from us. We are constantly practiced these drills with our kids while visiting the national park with our kids—perfect practice for a scary, real world situation!
Plus, the paracord could be cut and used for a variety of things and the fire starter can help with staying warm in a survivalist situation.
Binoculars
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $$-$$$$
Whether he’s using them to find a woodpecker on a nearby tree, or to simply accessorize his hiking outfit that day, binoculars have been a guaranteed way to make my son happy and engaged while camping since he was little.
For younger kids, inexpensive plastic binoculars ($38) will suffice: they’re more interested in the novelty of them when they’re little.
For teens, I’d suggest upgrading to a nice pair, as they’re more likely to use the binoculars to observe wildlife as intended.
I highly recommend Vortex binoculars ($99), which is what we’ve had and used for years. Not only does Vortex make an excellent product that stands the test of time, but they have one of the best warranties in the industry.
Field guides
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $
For an inexpensive gift that kids will love, get a few of these folding, nature-based field guides by author James Kavanagh for them to tuck into their day bags.
We started collecting these when my kids were little (maybe 4 or so, as they really liked the pictures but couldn’t quite read yet), and they are still a hit years later.
The laminated pages mean they stand up to anything at the campground and beyond, while the compact size doesn’t take up much room in your child’s pack.
They come in many variations, including:
Bugs and Slugs ($8.49)
The Night Sky ($8.32)
Seashells ($8.95), and
Geology ($8.95)
An additional option for older kids is this sturdy and to-the-point field guide ($12.95), which reviews basic survival skills in a guide that they can keep in their packs.
Kid-friendly multi-tool
Recommended ages: 9 and up
Cost: $$
⭐: A Camping Kiddos’ favorite!
Make sure your outdoorsy kid is ready for anything with a multi-tool.
You can get one with pilers, scissors, 2 screwdrivers, and more here ($21.95), if you’re looking for something compact that will go easily in a day pack.
Older kids can upgrade with this hatchet with multi-tool handle ($22.99) that expands available options even further!
Whether or not you feel comfortable giving the second option is going to vary wildly depending on the recipient child’s age and temperament. My son found one very similar about 2 years ago, and begged for it, ultimately using his souvenir money to buy one for himself.
He’s learned how to do so much with the multi-tool and hatchet, and it remains one of his favorite outdoor gear items.
Nature journal
Recommended ages: 5 and up
Cost: $
Reflecting on what you see around you in nature is so helpful in deeping that experience and learning. For that reason, I love nature journaling and getting my kids involved in doing the same.
For preschoolers and kids who aren’t confident readers yet, the Outdoor Explorers’ Take a Hike board book ($11) is fun, interactive and engaging. This book understands that the youngest explorers aren’t sitting down and writing a novel yet, so the emphasis is on the 5 senses, exploring with the included magnifying glass, and then using stickers to “journal.”
For kids who are writing on their own, the Lonely Planet Kids Explorer's Nature Journal ($10.21) is a great option. This notebook is colorful with great illustrations and simply reflections to have your child do basic journaling.
For older kids who are ready to dive fully into the idea of nature journaling, Clare Walker Leslie’s The Nature Connection ($10.10) is the perfect balance between education and creativity. I’ve used this book with my kids during multiple years—each book covers one year in nature—and it’s always a fun time.
Camping cookbook for kids
Recommended ages: 8 and up
Cost: $
Get the Camping with Kids Cookbook ($7.81) by Amelia Mayer to inspire your outdoorsy chef!
Get the kids involved in all aspects of your family campout with this fun, accessible cookbook.
Even if you’re struggling to make s’mores, you’ll get step by step instructions for campfire cooking here.
Yummy and kid-friendly!
Kids’ camp mess kit
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $
We’ve found that the more responsibilities we give our kids around the campsite (no matter how big or small), the smoother things run for our camping trip.
For that reason, providing your outdoorsy kid with his or her own camp mess kit ($17.99) puts the focus on independence and lets him or her help with meal prep and clean up.
This sturdy set provides everything your camper needs, including silverware, storage bags, and a scrubber. The only thing you’re missing is a portable bottle of ecofriendly soap. We prefer Campsuds ($14.99).
Stargazing book
Recommended ages: 7 and up
Cost: $
⭐: A Camping Kiddos’ favorite!
My younger kid has been obsessed with space for a couple of years now, and he loves spending time at the campsite pointing out constellations and sharing space fun facts.
He bought this Night Sky: A Field Guide to the Constellations book ($12.91) while we were in California, and it has quickly become a favorite. The guide also includes a wallet sized red light, which allows you to read in the dark without the light affecting your eyes like a regular flashlight would.
Camping-Themed Stocking Stuffers (under $20!)
Glow sticks
Recommended ages: 4 and up
Cost: $
If you need an instant mood shift at your campground, hand out these bright glow sticks ($17.99) to everyone. We love keeping a small bag of these on-hand for evenings around the fire.
Not only do my kids love playing with them, but the sticks help us keep track of the kids at night when they’re walking to the bathroom or playing on the edge of the campsite.
Colorful fire changers
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $
⭐: A Camping Kiddos’ favorite!
These fire color changing packets ($5.99) are such a fun stocking stuffer as kids will be so excited to see what colors will show up in their campfire!
We tried them out on our most recent camping trip in the South Carolina Upstate, and we were blown away with how colorful the flames were, and how long the colors lasted.
Harmonica
Recommended ages: 8 and up
Cost: $
Give a harmonica ($14.98) to your favorite camping kid, and you’re sure to see them picking up a new skill in no time.
We’re all about finding small, no-screen items to take with us to the campsite, and harmonicas are a great option.
For a musical instrument, they’re not super loud (which your campground neighbors will be glad of) and they’re easy to pick up, even without any prior musical knowledge.
Ring Toss Game
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $
This fun, portable game is just what your camping experience is missing!
While I can sit around by the campfire for hours, my kids need to be on the go.
This ring toss game ($19.95) is easy to play and learn even for younger kids, and it packs away in its own small storage case.
Dry bag with snacks
These little bags of nuts from Target are great for stuffing into dry bags!
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $
A dry bag packed with snacks is a great stocking stuffer or small add-on to another gift!
My kids discovered these in their stockings last Christmas, and they immediately added everything to their day packs.
Ensure that the snacks are easily portable: things like small packets of trail mix, nuts, dried fruit, or granola bars are perfect.
For even more fun, grab brightly colored dry bags.
These will help the bags stick out in the dark interior of the child’s day pack.
Playing cards w/ game manual
Recommended ages: 8 and up
Cost: $
⭐: A Camping Kiddos’ favorite!
For one of the best ways to pass the time at camp, pack a set of standard playing cards. We love these national parks-themed playing cards ($8.49), which bring a little bit of the wilderness into any game we play.
Add this easy to follow manual for kids’ card games ($13.99) to ensure your favorite little camper has plenty of ways to have fun.
Try out the Would You Rather Campfire Card Game ($15.99) for plenty of fun and laughter at the campground.
UNO Wilderness ($15.49) has quickly become one of our favorite games to take on camping trips since it is portable, easy to play, and endlessly entertaining.
Campfire Stories Deck
Recommended ages: 8 and up
Cost: $
Get those little imaginations running wild with this fun, interactive campfire activity!
The Campfire Stories Deck prompts kids into making up inventive and unique stories with each turn.
My older child LOVES to read and tell stories, so she particularly enjoys this process.
It’s also great for less outgoing kids as they are given the key elements of their story through the cards they draw on their round.
Carabiners
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $
These clips are so helpful with a wide variety of things when you’re camping, so it never hurts to have extras around.
My kids like this set of colorful carabiners ($9.99), which help with everything from clipping water bottles to day packs to hanging lanterns inside of your tent.
Kid’s Wool Hiking Socks
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $
Yes, these padded kid’s wool hiking socks ($16.98) are more expensive than your usual set of socks, but they are well worth the extra price.
Wool socks are excellent at wicking away moisture and temperature regulation while you hike, and they include a thicker bottom for additional comfort on the trail.
Camping-Themed Gifts for Your Home
Books
Recommended ages: all ages (specific recommendations below)
Cost: $-$$
⭐: A Camping Kiddos’ favorite!
As a former college English professor, I love books!
They’re one of my favorite kids camping gift ideas, and there are many, many incredible camping books out there.
Grab a few of these in the appropriate age category, and wrap them up in some cute outdoor themed wrapping paper.
You’ll have the perfect gift in no time.
Best Picture Books about Camping
Recommended ages: 0-6
Llama Llama Goes Camping by Anna Dewdney. Follow Llama on his first camping trip! Will he and his friends have fun, or will they get scared in the woods?
Curious George Goes Camping by H.A. and Margret Ray. Everyone’s favorite little monkey is heading for adventure. Join him and the man with the yellow hat as they learn to set up a tent, start a campfire, and roast marshmallows.
National Parks of the USA by Kate Siber. This beautifully illustrated picture book walks children through some of the most famous national parks. It’s loaded with fun facts, and it’s a great way to get your little conservationists excited about an upcoming trip.
The Hike by Alison Farrell. Join a sweet group of kids as they walk, explore, and discover the forest in this funny, fully illustrated book.
S is for S’mores by Helen Foster James. We love the Sleeping Bear Press alphabet books, and this camping themed one is no exception! Help your kids learn their letters while also exposing them to the beauty of nature and the fun of camping.
Best Early Reading Books about Camping
Recommended ages: 5-7
The Camping Trip that Changed America by Barb Rosenstock. Learn about the founding of our national parks as Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir spend an unforgettable few days in Yosemite. Accessible history with kid-friendly illustrations.
Pete the Cat Goes Camping by James Dean. Can Pete the Cat overcome his fear of Bigfoot as he hikes and explores? It’s a fun and engaging Level 1 reader (and one of my kindergartener’s favorites!).
Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping by Peggy Parish. Amelia Bedelia wants to relax in the Great Outdoors with the Rogers’. She just takes everything too literally!
Chapter/Middle Grade Reader Books about Camping
Recommended ages: 8-12
The Hatchetby Gary Paulsen. This book was a classic even when I was a kid! Jump start a sense of adventure and resilience in your favorite outdoorsy kid by following along on Brian’s journey of survival.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. It’s The Hatchet, but with less peril for more sensitive readers. Sam runs away to a nearby mountain range for freedom and adventure, but he might be in over his head. Can he survive on this beautiful but harsh landscape?
The Tarantula in My Purse and 172 Wild Pets by Jean Craighead George. A nonfiction account of what it was like to grow up in author and biologist George’s family, this funny collection of stories covers the family’s pet owl, animal rehabilitation and their appreciation for nature. It’s a perfect read aloud!
Camp Out!by Lynn Brunelle. This book has EVERYTHING your kids could ever want: from constellation charts to variations on s’mores to nature-based art projects, your kids will never be bored in the woods again. We love this book so much that it stays permanently in our camper.
Camping with Unicorns by Dana Simpson. My daughter LOVES the Phoebe and the Unicorn graphic novel series. If you have a girl in your life who is similarly obsessed, this book is a great addition to her collection.
YA Books about Camping
Recommended ages: 13-18
Survival Kid: A Practical Guide to Wilderness Survival by Denise Long. Prepare your teens for anything with this hands-on book. Covering everything from shelter building to basic wayfinding, this guide is a great way to start conversations on how to deal when the worst happens.
Into the Wild by John Krakauer. Classic adventure non-fiction at its best! Krakauer dives into the short but fascinating life of Christopher McCandless, who left his family behind in Georgia to undertake a cross-continent journey to Alaska. McCandless ultimately lost his life, but his sense of freedom will linger with older teenage readers for a long time.
Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets by Chelsea Ichaso. Mystery meets the wilderness! This dark, but fun mystery follows teen Savannah as she embarks on a journey to solve the mystery of her sister’s accident. Will the local wilderness club’s latest adventure hold the key?
NOTE: An honorable mention that’s great for any kid (or adult!) are the Stikky books, which break down big concepts into bite-sized pieces. Check out my full review of both Stikky Night Skies and Stikky Tracks here.
Camper Playhouse
Recommended ages: 3 and up
Cost: $$$$
This lightweight and adorable camper ($189) has been a hit with every kid that’s visited our house! We even took it to my husband’s family’s beach week, and all of the kids—from the 2 year old to the 11 year old—couldn’t get enough of it.
The assembly and break down of the camper is a breeze, and we’ve taken it in our own camper for this reason.
It comes with a little cloth door, awning and bunting for a realistic, open ended play experience. It’s so much fun to listen to my kids pack their little camper, plan their pretend trips, and argue as they try to back it into a pretend campsite!
Swaddling blanket
Recommended ages: newborn-2 years
Cost: $
For the youngest campers in the family, this sweet nature themed muslin blanket set ($21.99) is the perfect gift.
We went to a camping-themed baby shower not too long ago, and it was adorable.
This blanket set was the perfect gift for the outdoor loving family, and I imagine that their baby will soon be hauling this blanket through the campsite!
Soft enough for newborn skin, but big enough for a preschooler to cuddle with, this blanket will be a welcome gift for years to come.
Nature board games
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $$-$$$
There are some really fun board games available that lean into the national parks, hiking, and camping areas.
Try Keymaster Games Parks Base Camp ($58) that’s great for kids 10+.
Or get National Parks-opoly ($29.98) for an adventurous twist on one of the most popular board games of all time.
Bug catcher set
Recommended ages: 5 and up
Cost: $$
Fascinating, creepy, crawly, weird, and spectacular: bugs are always sure to get a strong reaction from kids while they’re out exploring nature!
If you know a budding entomologist, this inexpensive bug catcher kit ($29.99) is a great way to feed that interest. While the magnifying glass and tweezers are far from top-of-the-line, they’re great for kids who just want to get up close and personal with whatever snails, ants, worms, and more that they come across.
If you’re looking for a fun add-on to this present, grab a minnow net, too!
Our kids love to explore local waterways when we’re traveling, and these lightweight nets are perfect for small hands.
Another fun add-on to this camping present for kids would be the book Backpack Explorer: Bug Hunt by Storey Publishing.
The colorful photographs and easy to read text teach kids about everything from fireflies to bug signs to how to weave a web.
Melissa and Doug Campfire Play Set
Recommended ages: 4 and up
Cost: $$
If you can’t get into the woods soon, this adorable little campfire and s’mores set ($29.33) will keep your kids excited about future trips.
Let them assemble their pretend snacks, then “roast” them over the felt flames.
The marshmallows invert to go from uncooked to toasty, too!
Experience-Based Gifts for Camping Kids
National park or state annual pass
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $$$$
⭐: A Camping Kiddos’ favorite!
If you know that your camping kid needs more access to trails, campgrounds, and fun outdoor programs, an annual pass to a national or state park is a GREAT gift. Plus, it’s not just for the child as these passes get everyone in a vehicle into the national or state park for free.
The America the Beautiful pass provides year long access to any of the more than 450+ NPS sites, including national parks, national historic sites, national seashores, and national battlefields. It is currently $80.
State park passes are going to vary wildly depending on where you live. In my antecdotal experience, they’re still great values, as our South Carolina state park passport will get us into over 40 parks for year for $99.
Camping trip
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $$-$$$$
If the child you’re purchasing a gift for really wants the ultimate camping present, plan a full camping trip for him or her!
This will help the outdoorsy kid in your life make fantastic memories with you far beyond what a simple wrapped gift could.
This is a very easy gift if you already have the camping gear. Alternatively, you can rent an RV, go glamping in a yurt, or go upscale in a cute cabin.
You can find camping and glamping spots in nearby state or national parks, or at private campgrounds like Sun Outdoors or KOAs. For more suggestions, check out my interactive map of kid-friendly campground reviews from across the United States.
Guided outdoor skills and nature classes
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $-$$$$
Whether you’re looking for a basic camping skills class, a kid-focused hike and craft session, a kayaking for beginners program or a nature journaling and painting class, there are incredible skills classes available across the United States.
Get Your Guide and Viator are great places to search for classes near you. You can also see what is available through your city or county’s recreation programs, and what is planned at your nearby state parks.
Just check the minimum age requirement, as some of the more adventurous programs like via ferratas, rafting tours, and rock climbing classes do require participants to be at least 12 years old.
Stargazing experience
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $-$$
If your camper thinks the best part of the trip shows up after dark, consider booking them space on a guided stargazing experience.
You can look in multiple places for these depending on your location. State and national parks often have nighttime programs run by rangers, which provide good overviews of the night sky. There are select national parks that are certified Dark Sky parks, and these are where you’ll find the most consistent, robust programs.
A couple of excellent night sky programs near national parks are:
Joshua Tree Professional Stargazing Experience (California)
Or, you can book through an observatory to be able to use their telescopes and equipment. There are observatories across the U.S., so find one that’s closest to your budding astronomer.
Gift certificate for an outdoor store
Recommended ages: 6 and up
Cost: $-$$$$
If the outdoorsy child in your life is in between sizes, is difficult to buy for, or just wants to pick something out for him or herself, a gift card is a great idea.
REI Co-op and Dick’s Sporting Goods both have locations across the U.S., and there are large, regional stores like Scheel’s.
Or, you can support local and you can look for a smaller outfitter near you.
The bigger stores will have more in store, which is great if your child really wants to try on a bunch of items before they commit to something, but the smaller stores usually have better customer service.
Ready for gear suggestions? Read these posts:
