Survival of the Funniest: How to Keep Kids Busy on Rainy Camping Days
Hey there, brave camper!
So, you planned the ultimate outdoor adventure — tents pitched, marshmallows ready, and a cooler full of snacks. But then Mother Nature decides she’s the one in charge and says, “LOL, hope you packed an umbrella.”
Now you’re stuck in a tent or cabin with kids who are vibrating with sugar energy and staring at you like you’d better entertain us, or else. Don’t panic — this survival guide has your back.
Think of this as the “rainy day playbook” — full of games, laughs, and tricks to keep the crew from turning mutiny. By the time the sun comes back, you’ll be crowned The Funniest, Most Prepared Camper of All Time™.
1. Bust Out the Board Games (The Real MVPs of Rainy Days)
When the rain starts to pound, board games become your best friend. And honestly, there’s nothing cozier than huddling around a lantern or fireplace, dice rolling, cards slapping, and everyone yelling “CHEATER!” at grandma.
The best option? 👉 Camp: The Board Game.
It’s funny, educational, and perfect for all ages. Plus, when the kids are learning fun nature facts, you can pat yourself on the back for sneaking in some education.
Other classics that work great:
Uno (prepare for betrayal).
Guess Who (but make it outdoors themed — “Does your person have mosquito bites?”).
Connect 4 (aka “Connect 40” when you let kids keep resetting it for hours).
2. Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Here’s how it works: you write down 10–20 random items kids can find inside the tent or cabin. Bonus points if you sneak in funny stuff like “find a sock that doesn’t smell like doom” or “something shaped like a potato.”
This burns time, keeps them running around, and best of all: they’re cleaning up without realizing it. Parenting hack unlocked.
3. Rainy Day Talent Show
Oh yes — unleash the inner Broadway star in your kids.
Give them five minutes to prepare and then sit back as you watch:
Magic tricks that make absolutely no sense.
Interpretive dances about marshmallows.
The infamous “stand-up comedy set” where every joke is just fart noises.
Record it all on your phone. In 10 years, these clips will be gold.
4. Campfire Stories (Without the Fire)
Just because the fire’s out doesn’t mean the storytelling has to stop. Dim the lights, hand someone a flashlight, and tell the creepiest or silliest stories you can think of.
Ideas to get you started:
“The Legend of the Mosquito That Wouldn’t Quit.”
“The Ghost Who Stole All the S’mores.”
“Bigfoot… but he just wanted to borrow a lawn chair.”
Let kids take turns making up stories — their imagination is wilder than any horror movie.
5. DIY Camp Olympics
Who says you need sunshine to compete? Create a series of “indoor Olympic challenges.”
Examples:
Sock Toss (who can land socks into the cooler from 10 feet away).
Push-Up Contest (winner gets first pick of snacks).
Rain Dance Freestyle (no points, just vibes).
Not only does this kill boredom, but it also burns off that marshmallow sugar rush before bedtime.
6. Build a Pillow Fort (Yes, Even at a Campsite)
Rain outside? Build a fortress inside. Stack pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, and create the most over-the-top fort in camping history.
Once it’s done, crawl inside and… guess what? Play more board games. (See how this keeps looping back? Told you board games are the MVP.)
7. DIY Camp Crafts
Pack some easy supplies like paper, markers, or string, and let the creativity flow.
Ideas:
Make friendship bracelets (trade them like rare Pokémon cards).
Draw what Bigfoot actually looks like (spoiler: probably just your uncle in socks and sandals).
Create a “Camp Family Crest” with a logo that includes a tent, a raccoon, and possibly someone crying over bug spray.
The crafts don’t have to be good — they just need to keep little hands busy.
8. Cook Something Fun Indoors
Rain might stop your campfire, but it doesn’t stop snacks. Bust out a skillet, camp stove, or even just a bag of ingredients and whip up:
Indoor s’mores (use foil + heat).
Popcorn (bonus: toss it into kids’ mouths like seals at feeding time).
Trail mix “Top Chef Edition” (each kid adds a weird ingredient — yes, that means gummy worms in the mix).
Suddenly, snack time becomes game time.
9. Glow Stick Dance Party
It’s dark, it’s raining, and the kids are bouncing off the walls. Perfect time to break out the glow sticks.
Turn off the lights, put on some music, and watch them turn into little neon rave monsters. Pro tip: join in. Nothing says “parent of the year” like doing the worm in a glowing necklace.
10. Plan Tomorrow’s Adventure
When all else fails, use the time to get the kids hyped for the next sunny day.
Let them pick the trail you’ll hike.
Have them draw a “treasure map” for tomorrow’s scavenger hunt.
Or play “Camp Counselors” — where they boss you around for five minutes. (They’ll love it. You’ll regret it.)
It turns the rain from a bummer into a pause button before the next big adventure.
🏕️ Final Thoughts (aka Don’t Let the Rain Win)
Look, nobody ever said camping was all sunshine and Instagram sunsets. Rain happens. Mud happens. Kids screaming “I’m bored!” happens.
But with a little creativity — and a lot of humor — you can turn rainy camping days into some of the most memorable parts of the trip. Think about it: when your kids grow up, are they going to remember the perfect sunny hike… or the time you did the worm in a glow-stick necklace while grandma told a ghost story about s’mores?
So the next time the skies open up, lean into it. Laugh, play, and bust out Camp: The Board Game. Because rainy days don’t have to ruin camping… they just make it funnier.