These fun indoor campout ideas are perfect to keep the kids active while at home. They’re great for the nature enthusiasts who can’t wait to go camping!
Too busy to make this right away?! Pin it for later! Pin this project to your favorite craft board on Pinterest and it’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready.
I don’t know if I am cool enough to call things “Epic” but that’s what this Camp Out was. The kids loved it, we loved it and it was a ton of fun!! It was like having a big Un-Birthday Party. An event for no reason other than making the kids happy and bringing back memories of camping last summer.
Darcy took the kids out and gave me an hour to set up our surprise Living Room Camp Out. They may have had some idea because all they can talk about, since September, is “when are we going camping?”
I made a cardboard, star-lit tent, pulled the sleeping bags out of storage and zipped them together, blew up the air mattress, filled their Camping Survival Satchels, hung the stars and set up the dessert table and activities in record time!
How to set up an indoor campout:
3D Paper Stars were hung from the ceiling.
I covered the cardboard tent with a coordinating blanket from their bedroom.
In sneaky, momma fashion, I built this tent from a large piece of cardboard and poked Christmas lights through holes the night before our Camp Out {try hiding a giant cardboard tent in the house ~ challenging for sure!} Cheri at I Am Momma ~ Hear Me Roar shared this light-up-a-box idea last week.
I whipped out a picnic blanket and transformed the ottoman into a Camping Dessert table. We also served Hotdogs and Caesar Salad for dinner.
We had fixings for smores, a brownie campfire cake, smore bars and pretzels {my kids love pretzels ~ is that weird?}
The kids knew about these Smore Bars as I had done a few “test kitch’s” to get them just right…
Our Brownie Campfire Cake was super fun!
You can’t go wrong with Twix and M&Ms.
Our Camping Activities were awesome! I found these fantastic printables at 2 Teaching Mommies. I laminated everything so that I could use them as a unit during my Toddlers in the Park class this spring and maybe even bring them camping with us this summer.
Isaiah matching shadows.
The boys unpacking their Camping Survival Satchels.
Cameron kept saying “oh Mommy, now we have a purse just like you!” and
“where did my purse go?”
I laughed SO hard!
Darcy kept saying “no, buddy. It’s your tactical satchel”
hee hee
Unpacking their camping fab finds.
Cameron wanted to “taste” the fire.
Testing out the tent.
Gazing at the stars.
Really, really, really great time had by all! We roasted marshmallows over a tea light and made smore snowmen out of foam pieces too. The kids LOVED it {and so did we}!!
This post contains affiliate links.
Some of our essentials for kid crafts:
- We love using these Apple Barrel Acrylic Paints to add bright color to all of our projects.
- These paint brushes are ideal for most craft surfaces and a great price!
- This art supplies kit is our favorite because it has everything we needed to get started.
- This rolling storage cart helps to keep our craft supplies organized.
Notes for next time:
I would use a real pup tent as our cardboard one tended to slip off of the air mattress and only lasted through the night.
Plan to have the kids stay up REALLY late. Unlike real camping, they hadn’t been outside, expending energy in the great outdoors. Ultimately we had to separate them with the boys sleeping in their room and only the little miss in the tent.
I would try to find healthier camping snacks… there’s a good chance that too much sugar contributed to the late night :P
If you have an indoor camp out, will you let me know? I would love to see it! Thanks for visiting.
awww that’s so cute. Looks like they had fun. It looks like an Epic camp out to me :)
So cute! This is so awesome :) I am so glad I came across your blog. I am your newest follower and I would appreciate it if you followed me back at my blog! I am also doing a giveaway for free software!! You should come check it out at https://milliemorganmedia.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-memories-software-giveaway.html
how fun!! My kiddos would be over the moon to do this!! I especially LOVE the campfire. I would be so excited if you would be willing to share at our link party going on now – Monday. Thanks
https://www.kadie-sevenalive.blogspot.com/2012/01/link-it-up-thursday-4.html
This is so cute! I love that you used it to both have wonderful family time and as a teachable moment.
We’re going to do an indoor family campout this summer. I’m going to have to use your yummy treats table and an inspiration!
This is the cutest idea!! I know of two little munchkins in my house who would just.go.crazy for this! Have to try it…thanks for the tips on minimizing the sugar! *LOL*
Popping over from Sugar Bee’s linky party!
Michelle@Teagan’s Travels
https://teaganstravels.blogspot.com
This is all so cute! My daughter loves when I make a tent over her bed.
I’d love for you to link up and share:
https://tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com/2012/02/pinteresting-party-week-26.html