How to Make Winter Camp for Kids Fun

Snow can always bring back fond memories of winter break. There’s the sweet taste of hot chocolate, experiencing our first snowfall, or building snowmen. As children, all of these moments make us long for winter to come soon, even if the weather is often too cold to handle.

If you want to make winter a memorable time for your kids and family members, having a winter camp for kids is the best way to get together. How can you plan a successful and fun campout? In this article, we give you some guidance.

How to Make Winter Camp for Kids Fun

While children can be entertained by almost anything, they quickly lose interest. For that same reason, you must be wondering how you can make winter camp for kids fun.

The truth is, as an adult, it’s hard to put yourself in your child’s shoes. The best way to make sure you’re making the best winter camp for kids ever is to listen to them and talk about the trip. You’ll be amazed by the number of ideas you’ll get from your children.

The secret to a successful winter camp for kids is to create fun, intriguing activities, and allow your children to explore the place you’re visiting. If not, what’s the difference between camping and staying at home?

How to Plan a Winter Camp for Kids

Involve the Kids in the Planning Process

As we previously mentioned, the best way to make a winter camp for kids fun is to ask them what activities they would like to have directly. Do they want this break to rest and play, or would they like to engage in educational activities to boost their skills?

Let them know the risks of performing certain activities, always redirecting them to safer, equally fun options. This step makes the planning phase simpler and helps you connect with the children and understand their needs and preferences.

Select a Camping Site

Would you and the kids feel more comfortable in a campground with amenities, or do they want to go out in the wild? Choose a safe location for the kids and provide you with the space and amenities you need for your activities. 

Tent or RV?

When camping with children, it’s important to put comfort first, as this may be a foreign concept for them. If you want to do things the “primitive way,” going for a tent is the best way to give your winter camp for kids a more adventurous experience. On the contrary, an RV is a much more comfortable option that will still allow you to enjoy the outdoors.

Pack Accordingly

Having a packing list for the children is one of the best ways to avoid problems in the future. Make sure to pack extra clothes to create layers, and any type of protection from the cold weather is always welcome. These are some items we think you should take with you:

• Rain ponchos
• Umbrellas
• LED headlamp
• Survival kit
• Snowshoes
• Hiking Poles

Prepare Your Activity Materials

Besides packing your clothes and gear, you’ll need a separate bag to pack all the materials for your activities, whether that includes special snow gear or simple art materials. After reading the section below, create a list of all the items you need to take with you and prepare them in advance.

Make a Camping Trial

If this is the first time you make a winter camp for kids, you may have doubts about how much they’ll be able to enjoy it. For that reason, making a camping trial is a great way to give the kids a glimpse of what’s coming and make the necessary changes beforehand.

Place a tent in your backyard and set it up with the children. Teach them how to set up a tent and arrange the inside. Then, you can light up a fire, walk around the backyard, and establish some rules to make it as close to the real thing as possible. 

Camp for Kids Activity Ideas

While the typical snow forts and sculptures are certainly amazing activities to do with the kids, there are many other interesting things to do during a winter camp. Here, we want to share with you some of our favorite winter camp activities for kids.

Hiking

Put on your snowshoes, grab the hiking poles and get ready for an amazing hike with beautiful landscapes. You can ask the kids to pay close attention to everything around them and draw it in a small notebook. This way, they’ll appreciate the landscape around them and learn more about nature.

Ice Skating

If there’s a lake that’s frozen solid near you, ice skating is one of the best activities you can do during the camping trip. Make sure to research the area beforehand and pack ice skates for you and the kids.

Scavenger Hunt

Take some food coloring with you can create snowballs of different colors. Then, hide them from the kids and make them take turns to find them. The one who collects the most snowballs will get a creamy, sweet s’more as a reward!

Pond Hockey

If you and your kids enjoy sports, take the necessary gear with you and prepare a fund hockey tournament.

Sleigh Ride

Find a slope and take turns sliding down! This fun activity will entertain everyone for hours, and as long as you make sure that the end of the slope is safe, the kids won’t get hurt and get to feel the freezing winter air in their hair.

to Keep in Mind When Thinking of a Winter Camp for Kids

When planning a winter camp for kids, it’s important to take into consideration the climate changes that can occur. Check the weather report beforehand to avoid any storm that can put your life at risk.

You may also want to consider some safety tips for winter camping and take a first-aid kit to protect yourself and the kids from any incidents. Always have at hand emergency telephone numbers and take all the important documentation with you.