Creative Camping Photo {& Selfie!} Challenge + 18 More Free Printables!

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Are you planning a camping trip with the family or maybe another group of kids – like a church youth group or class field trip? Photo challenges are a fun camping activity that kids LOVE to participate in! You can also change it up with a Camping Selfie Challenge because we know tween and teens (heck, even younger!) are pros at selfies! Keep reading to see how plus get your free printable download and helpful tips!

Super-Fun Camping Activity for All Ages

It can sometimes be a challenge to get kids excited about a camping trip.

Now, I know there are some kids that love it and gravitate towards roughing it.

But some kids get a little anxious about trying something new or, like my son says, getting out of their ‘comfort zone.’

Kids are so used to being entertained and having technology at their fingertips. When you first mention a camping trip, their response might be, ‘That’s boring.”

It can definitely be a bit of a struggle to come up with camping activities for kids that are actually fun and not a ton of prep.

Enter the Camping Photo Challenge 

I LOVE the idea of doing a camping picture scavenger hunt (and a camping selfie challenge) for a few reasons.

First, it gives them a little wiggle room to have technology that they’re familiar with while doing an activity with friends or family.

Second, it gets them out in nature. We’re doing 1000 Hours Outside, and let me tell you, it’s been hard! This can help relieve some boredom for kids who aren’t natural explorers or who just don’t love being outside (e.g. my sons).

Third, there’s almost ZERO prep! {That might be my favorite part?}

And finally, it’s also great for building relationships and friendships, even among siblings!

Let’s talk about how to make this the best experience for all involved – yes, it’s even a fun camping activity for adults, too!

How to Play and Set Up a Camping Photo Challenge

For this kind of activity, you can set up this free campground scavenger hunt up a few ways.

In this post, I provide you with 2 different free printables – a camping photo challenge and a selfie challenge.

These camping scavenger hunt templates can be obtained by filling out the box at the VERY end of the post!

The camping photo challenge lists all different items that kids can typically find while they are staying at a campground… whether it’s in an RV, cabin, or just a tent.

Similarly, the selfie challenge lists different places the participants (and yes, grown-ups can play, too!) need to get a photo of themselves with along with the item on the list.

In the free printable bundle, you’ll get:

Both challenges in a full-size 8.5 x 11″

Both challenges in small size – 5 x 6.5″

For all of the smaller size versions, there are 2 per page: 2 camping photo challenges on a page, 2 camping selfie challenges on a page, and then one of each per page.

You’ll also get blank versions of all of the above, to create your own challenge! 

 

The smaller size makes it convenient if you have a lot of participants (say, if you’re going with a youth group), and the small size might be less cumbersome for some kids.

Both the large and smaller sizes fit on clipboards, if that makes it easier for your groups!

Both of these challenges can be done individually, where participants compete against one another.

Or, you can set it up with teams (which is a better option for team and relationship building, I think). 

But really, you’re in charge – you make the rules! Do whatever is most fun for your crew!

How to Customize This Photo Scavenger Hunt

You are no under no obligation to use the printables I’ve provided!

If you and your people have other ideas or want to add to this list, go right ahead! You can opt to use the full size or smaller blank version for challenges. The blank camping scavenger hunt template is ideal if you have some unique aspects to your campground or if there’s something in particular your group wants to add.

You can even fill in your own once you get there, after you’ve been able to scope out some of the special features of your particular campsite.

Guidelines for a Camping Photo Challenge

As far as the rules go, I’m all about keeping things simple. 

Duration

You can have the kids fill out their photo scavenger hunt list over the course of the entire trip. That’s an especially fun way if you’re doing the challenge as a family activity and not necessarily a competition.

Or, you can set a designated time and whoever gets the most is the winner!

Safety and Respect

You’ll want to be sure to highlight the importance of not disturbing people’s property, not wandering off alone (you may want to set specific boundaries), and of course, rules about interacting with strangers. There are definitely safety factors when you’re setting kids loose in an unfamiliar territory. While this is a wildly fun activity, there always needs to be guidelines for everyone’s protection as well as respect for others.

Rules of the Game

You’ll also want to set parameters for what’s allowed and not allowed. For example, with the selfie photo scavenger hunt – does it have to be a true selfie or can they have someone take it for them?

Are selfie sticks allowed?

If you have teams for the selfie challenge, does every participant have to be in every picture?

Are you judging on the fact that you got the picture on the list or who got it best?  There’s no right or wrong way to judge a camping photo scavenger hunt – just make sure you establish your rules and expectations at the beginning!

What You’ll Need for a Camping Picture Challenge

This really is meant to be an easy no (or low) prep activity!  Each participant or team will need a cell phone or iPod to take pictures. They’ll also need a printed challenge sheet – either pre-printed one or a blank one you fill in yourself! Clipboards can be helpful but are optional! If you’re doing this with a group, feel free to sweeten the pot with awards and prizes!

You can just give the 1st place winner or team a prize, or you can do 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

If the winner is based on the best or most creative photos, be sure you have judges and a criteria in place to judge fairly!

Gift cards in small denominations to iTunes, fast food or stores are always fun options for prizes!

How to Share the Photo Challenge Pictures with the Group

If you’re playing with a group, it’s also fun for everyone to be able to see everyone else’s photos, especially for the selfie challenge!

You may want to have a place where everyone can share their photos, such as a Facebook group or website photo gallery. 

You also can encourage them to share their camping selfie scavenger hunt on Instagram (if everyone’s parents are OK with that!) with your own special hashtag.

You can also create a group collage with everyone’s pictures (or assign that to the kids!).

Or you can also encourage participants to create their own collages – either digitally 0r old-school: print out the photos and create a poster!

More Fun Ideas for Camping

A photo challenge might not be the simplest activity if your kiddos are a little younger. You can check out this scavenger hunt free printable bundle – 7 different scavenger hunts, several suited perfectly for camping trips! 

Another camping idea: foil packs are a fun and simple way to cook while camping and easy enough to get the kids involved. Check out 30+ different foil packs, including this amazing sweet potato casserole!

If you’re looking for even more FREE printable for camping, I’ve teamed up with some amazing bloggers who are offering you more wonderful free downloads for camping! 

Check them out below! There are 18 more options for all ages to make this the best camping trip yet! 

Options are listing in order of photo (sort of )!

Camping Bingo Printables – Homemade Heather

Printable Sign for Camping – The Girl Creative

Camping Scavenger Hunt – Creatively Beth

Camping Word Search – Smiling Colors

Camping Charades – Kara Creates

Smores Word Search – My And My Inklings

Poisonous Flower Chart – Try It Like It Create It

Camping Coloring Page – Team Creative Crafts

Camping Activity Page – Arsty Fartsy Mama

Camping Rules – Tried & True Creative

Camping Planner – Lemon Thistle

Camping Invitations – Handlettered Printables

Camping Word Scramble – Shower and Party Printables

Camping Bucket List – Crafty Blog Stalker

Camping Log – Michelle James Designs

Camping Journal – Leap of Faith Crafting

Camping SVG Bundle – Our Crafty Mom

Camping Joke Printables – Campfire Foodie

 

More Fun Summer Activities for Kids

If you’re looking for kid-friendly summer activities, check out this summer bucket list.

Or, if you’re looking for a loose summer routine that will keep you a little organized while having fun too, check out this summer schedule with all kinds of options for kid activities – all season long!

And here are 70 activities you can do without even leaving your house!

If a vacation isn’t in the cards for y’all this summer, here are 50 Best Staycation Ideas {Family & Budget Friendly!}

If you try any of these ideas, I’d love to see them! Tag me on Instagram @100affections! Also feel free to tag me if you share your photo challenge! I love sharing them in my stories!

Don’t Forget Your Free Printable!

Don’t leave without getting the photo and selfie challenge free printable – the perfect camping boredom buster! Just fill out the box below!

 

Other thoughts? I’d love to hear them – leave a comment below!