Play in the Water
As long as there’s no lightning or strong wind – and you have dry clothes waiting back at camp – you can safely enjoy the great outdoors during rainy weather. Why not make mud pies, float paper boats or jump in puddles? Then try to catch raindrops with your tongue. Or go swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, or fishing.
Create a Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of items you might find indoors or outdoors, and pair your family members into teams. The first team to find or take photos of all the items wins! Ideas for your scavenger hunt include animals, plants, camping gear, and items of various colours and shapes.
Host a Picnic
Whether you’re staying in an RV or a tent, a picnic fills hungry bellies and keeps your family occupied. So, gather your favourite foods and share an indoor picnic. For a bigger challenge, host a “Chopped” competition and make dishes out of unrelated ingredients. Or taste test different versions of the same recipe. Invite your child’s stuffed animal friends or your campground neighbours over for a tea party, too.
Play Board and Card Games
Pack a few camping games your family enjoys, like Monopoly, Yahtzee or Uno. Or bring a new board or card game to learn on a rainy day. You could also give everyone a chance to choose a game, and modify the rules based on your family’s preferences and abilities.
Choose an Interactive Activity
Despite being stuck inside, you can get moving with interactive rainy-day activities. Play charades, construct a card house or design a domino display. You can also record a music video, dance to your favourite tunes, or play “I’m Going on a Picnic” where each person takes turns bringing an item that starts with a letter of the alphabet from A to Z.
Be Curious About the Outdoors
Everything looks, sounds and feels different in the rain. Lace your hiking books, grab your rain jacket and take a walk. Observe animals, colours and plants as you play “I Spy.” You can also gather materials to create artwork or rubbings back at your campsite. And play in the mud – getting dirty is part of the camping adventure!
Visit a Local Town
In a nearby town, take in a movie, tour a museum, try a new restaurant, or go bowling. With one or more of these rainy-day activities, you enjoy a change of scenery and have a fun day together despite the weather.
Read a Book
Snuggle into your sleeping bag or make a fort and read the day away. Be sure to bring books for every member of your family or utilize e-readers and audiobooks for a multi-sensory experience.
Make a Campfire
Unless you’re experiencing a downpour, build a campfire and enjoy its warmth. Tell stories, play games, make s’mores, or enjoy the silence as you rest.
Share Stories
Choose a topic and tell stories to pass the time during rainy day camping. You might share childhood memories or make up ghost stories. Another fun idea is a “finish the story” where each person adds a sentence to a story you make up together.
Sing Karaoke
Find a child-friendly karaoke playlist on YouTube and sing all day. Now’s also a great time to show off your air guitar skills, discover new tunes and learn more about your family members’ favourite tunes. If you don’t have access to YouTube, play Finish the Lyrics. See how many songs your family members have memorized or make up silly lyrics for fun.
Collaborate on a Craft Project
Gather your art and craft supplies and encourage each person to get creative. Then, combine your creations into one piece of art. Discuss similarities and differences as you appreciate your individuality and talent.
Meet New Friends
Invite your neighbours over to play camping games or chat under the awning. Rainy day camping is the perfect time to meet fellow camping enthusiasts and make new friends.
Take a Nap
Give yourself permission to rest. While you may have tons of activities scheduled for your camping adventure, downtime is important, too.
Rainy-day camping may not be ideal for your family’s vacation, but you can still have tons of fun. Try these rainy-day activities that keep your entire family occupied.