If you’ve got a little camper at home, this fun summer camp craft is the perfect activity to bring the great outdoors right to your kitchen table.
Whether your kids are prepping for their next camping trip, dreaming of a campfire adventure, or just need a bit of imaginative play on a rainy day, this easy craft is a great way to spend a little quiet time crafting. It’s also a fun way to introduce younger children to the camping experience without packing a single bag.
Camping is such a great theme for summer because there are lots of ways to explore it — from making tasty treats to creating fun camping crafts like this one. This simple DIY idea lets kids make their own tent using colorful paper and a free printable template.
It’s one of those simple camping crafts that works well for kids of all ages and builds those all-important fine motor skills. Plus, it’s just so much fun to make!
What You’ll Need for this simple Camping Craft
This is a fun project that only uses a few simple items you probably already have around the house. Gather your craft supplies and let’s get started!
You’ll need:
- Construction paper (try different colors for colorful designs!)
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Our free printable template
That’s it! Just a few small items and you’re ready for this great project that’s perfect for the picnic table, the craft table, or even to bring along to summer camp.
How to Make Your Own Paper Camp Tent
This easy camping craft is a perfect way to entertain young kids while encouraging pretend play. Just follow these simple steps and have fun crafting your own tent!
Paper Camping Craft for Summer
Create your own colorful camp tent with just paper, scissors, and glue, this easy camping craft is a fun way for little campers to bring the great outdoors inside!
Materials
- Colored Construction Paper
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Free Printable Template
Tools
- Printer for the template if using
Instructions
- Cut out the pieces from the free template
- and trace them onto your construction paper.
- Cut out all the traced shapes.
- Cut out a circle from another piece of paper
- Fold it in half. This will be the base of your camping tent scene
- Start assembling the tent pieces. Take the two sides of the tent and fold them to make the tent opening.
This gives your craft a 3d effect. - Add the lighter shade behind
- And add details to the top of the tent
- Use the photo in the template as a guide and paste each part onto the folded circle base. First the tent that we just made
- Then add tree trunks
- And the top of the trees
- And your campfire
and it's wooden logs 
- Let it dry, and you’re done!
This fun activity is the perfect craft for little hands to explore how tents are made, and they’ll love creating their own colorful camp site right at home. Add in some extra details if you like. It’s a great opportunity for young children to express their creativity with natural materials or whatever they have on hand.
You can also use this fun idea as part of a summer camp setup at home, maybe alongside some fun camping games or activity sheets. It’s an easy way to turn a regular afternoon into a great time.
Download the Free Camping Craft Template PDF
We’ve made it even easier with a free template you can print and use to trace your pieces to help everything fit together perfectly, especially for little kids who need a guide. Print it out and let the happy crafting begin!
Terms of use: This camping craft template is free for personal use or classroom use. Not for commercial use.
This camping craft is a great idea for anyone wanting to bring the fun of the outdoors inside.
Whether it’s part of your upcoming camping trip planning, a perfect time filler on a slow afternoon, or just a fun craft to do around the camp site, it’s sure to be one of your favorite camping crafts.
More Camping Activities for Kids
Looking for more fun activities to go along with your new camp tent? Check out our other easy camping crafts, fun camping games, and summer camp crafts!
It’s the perfect time to make those childhood memories even more magical.
- Pretend S’mores Craft
- Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Handprint Campfire Craft
- Camping Roll a Story
- Free Printable Camping Taboo Game
- Free Printable Camping Coloring Pages for Kids
If you enjoyed this fun camping craft, please share this blog post with your friends or save it for your next camping trip! It’s a great way to spread the fun.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
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