DIY Crafts to Keep Kids Busy at the Campground

At the Des Moines West KOA, we love making your family camping experience as fun and memorable as possible. While there are plenty of exciting activities like tie-dye, fishing, paddle boating, and swimming to keep the kids entertained, sometimes they need a little downtime to get creative. That's where DIY crafts come in! Crafting is a fantastic way to wind down and let the kids tap into their artistic side after all the action-packed fun. Here are a few simple and enjoyable craft ideas that you can do at the campground to keep the little ones busy, whether they're taking a break between activities or just enjoying a quiet moment in nature.

1. Rock Painting

Materials:

• Small, smooth rocks

• Acrylic paint (various colors)

• Paintbrushes

• Water cup for rinsing brushes

• Clear varnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Gather a few smooth rocks from around the campground or bring some from home.

2. Let the kids paint fun designs, animals, or nature-inspired images on the rocks.

3. Once the paint dries, you can add a coat of clear varnish to preserve the artwork.

4. These painted rocks can be kept as souvenirs or they can be hidden around the campground for others to find—creating a fun scavenger hunt!

This craft not only encourages creativity but also allows kids to engage with the campground in a whole new way.

2. Nature Bracelets

Materials:

• Masking tape or wide adhesive tape

• Leaves, flowers, small twigs, and other natural materials from around the campground

• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of masking tape about the size of your child's wrist.

2. Stick the tape around their wrist, sticky side facing out, to create a nature bracelet.

3. Go on a nature walk around the campground and collect flowers, leaves, and other small items.

4. Stick the collected items onto the tape, creating a beautiful and personal bracelet.

5. Once finished, the tape can be carefully removed and preserved as a keepsake of the trip.

This craft is a great way to encourage kids to explore the natural beauty around the campground while creating something wearable and memorable!

3. DIY Wind Chimes

Materials:

• String or twine

• Sticks or wooden dowels

• Small shells, beads, or other lightweight items

• Scissors

• Glue gun (if allowed) or strong glue

Instructions:

1. Collect small twigs, sticks, or even a large wooden dowel to serve as the base of the wind chime.

2. Tie strings to the base and secure small beads, shells, or bells to the ends of each string.

3. If possible, use a hot glue gun (with adult supervision) to secure the items. Otherwise, strong glue will do the trick.

4. Tie a longer piece of string at the top for hanging the wind chime in a tree or on the campsite.

Wind chimes not only make beautiful sounds but also serve as a lovely memory of your time at the campground!

4. Nature Collage

Materials:

• Paper or cardboard

• Leaves, sticks, flowers, pinecones, or any small natural items

• Glue

Instructions:

1. Go on a nature walk around the campground and collect various natural materials like leaves, flowers, and sticks.

2. Lay out a large piece of paper or cardboard as the base.

3. Help the kids glue the natural materials onto the paper in whatever design they like—perhaps creating a landscape, animals, or a pattern.

4. Once finished, allow the collage to dry. Display it on your campsite or take it home as a great souvenir!

This activity is not only fun, but it also allows kids to appreciate the environment around them while making something beautiful with what they find.

5. Pine Cone Animals

Materials:

• Pine cones (collected around the campground)

• Googly eyes

• Small pom-poms or felt pieces for noses, ears, and tails

• Hot glue gun or craft glue

• Pipe cleaners

Instructions:

1. Collect pine cones during a walk around the campground.

2. Use craft glue or a hot glue gun to attach googly eyes to the pine cone.

3. Glue on small pom-poms or felt to create noses, ears, and tails, turning the pine cone into an animal.

4. Add pipe cleaners to make legs or antennae, depending on the creature you want to create.

These cute little creatures are perfect for imaginative play, and kids can make a whole pinecone zoo to decorate their campsite!

6. Friendship Bracelets

Materials:

• Colorful embroidery floss or yarn

• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut several strands of embroidery floss or yarn, each about 12 inches long.

2. Tie them together at the top and start braiding, knotting, or twisting the strands into a pattern of your choice.

3. For added fun, incorporate beads or charms into the design.

4. Once the bracelet is finished, tie it off and give it to a friend or wear it as a souvenir from your camping trip.

Friendship bracelets are a timeless craft that kids can enjoy making together, and they make for wonderful gifts or keepsakes.

7. DIY Nature Crown

Materials:

• Flexible twigs or thin branches

• Flowers, leaves, feathers, and other natural materials

• String or twine

• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Use flexible twigs to form a crown shape that fits comfortably around the child's head.

2. Tie the ends together with string or twine to secure the crown in place.

3. Attach flowers, leaves, or feathers along the crown using glue or twine to create a whimsical, nature-inspired look.

4. Once it's complete, let the kids wear their crowns and feel like royalty!

A nature crown is a magical way for kids to connect with nature and express their creativity.

8. Campfire Story Stones

Materials:

• Small, smooth stones

• Paint or markers

• Clear varnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Paint or draw pictures on small stones to represent different elements of a campfire story (e.g., animals, trees, mountains, a campfire, etc.).

2. Once the paint dries, varnish the stones if you want to preserve them.

3. To use the stones, simply choose a few and make up a fun campfire story using the images on the stones as prompts.

This creative activity can inspire kids to come up with their own stories or get involved in a family storytelling session by using the stones to help guide the tale.

9. DIY Paper Plate Masks

Materials:

• Paper plates

• Markers, crayons, or paint

• Scissors

• Craft glue

• Elastic string or a stick (for holding the mask)

Instructions:

1. Cut out eye holes in the paper plate for the mask.

2. Let the kids decorate the plate using markers, crayons, or paint to create an animal or character mask.

3. Attach an elastic string or a craft stick to the sides of the plate to hold the mask in place.

4. Once it's dry, let the kids wear their new creations while they enjoy other activities at the campground.

This craft is fun and interactive, and kids can even use their masks for a little role-playing or costume play at the campsite!

Wrap-Up

At Des Moines West KOA, there's always something fun to do, and crafts are the perfect way to take a break from all the action. These simple, DIY craft ideas will keep your kids entertained, creative, and engaged during their camping adventure. Whether you're tie-dyeing t-shirts, crafting pinecone animals, or designing a nature crown, you'll create memories that will last long after the camping trip ends. Plus, these activities are a fantastic way to unwind and enjoy some quality family time together in the great outdoors!