Outdoor Camp Activities for Any Budget

In a 2023 survey  (view findings here), archery and water activities were the top picks for campers. Other popular outdoor pursuits included zip lines, ninja courses, ropes courses, horseback riding, woodworking, outdoor survival training, and more! 

These high-energy activities offer an escape from routine – blending adventure, challenge, and excitement. However, they require significant investment in staffing, safety gear, inspections, waivers, and insurance. Plus, their capacity limits mean camps will need to explore additional lower-risk, lower-cost activities to entertain campers. 

Luckily, there is an abundance of outdoor activities to choose from, ensuring every camper has a memorable experience! If your camp does not have the resources for those big-thrill activities, you can still offer a whole lot of unique entertainment. There are an infinite number of outdoor activities available to keep campers entertained. 

Explore Budget-Friendly Outdoor Activity Ideas

Below are some other popular categories of outdoor activities that come at a lower budget which any camp can incorporate:

Team Sports 

Whether it’s the old classics like flag football, basketball, kickball, or volleyball – or newer trends like Gaga Ball – sports will always be a part of camp and outdoor play. Sports are a terrific way to burn off energy while building skills in communication, leadership, and sportsmanship!

Get Messy 

It can be fun to get a little silly and messy! Tie-dyeing is a classic messy outdoor activity that requires a small amount of planning. You could also have a blindfolded whipped cream eating contest, challenge campers to pass around a full bucket of water without using their hands, or even slide down a hill on an inflatable or a slip-in-slide while trying not to spill a pitcher of water!

Traditional Yard Games
Traditional yard games like horseshoes, bocce ball, ring toss, ladder toss, croquet, and cornhole are games that most adults are familiar with – but are not common among youth. Who knows? When your campers return home, they may have a new way to spend time as a family! 

Nature-Focused

If one of your goals at camp is to instill an appreciation of the great outdoors – taking nature hikes, teaching common plant or animal identification, and learning about safe camping practices are just a few items that should be on your list. You can also try teaming up with a local park or organization to clean an outdoor space. 

Interactive Music

Camp is a creative opportunity to experience music outside of a traditional classroom or social setting. Music at camp can go far beyond singing campfire songs - try teaching campers how to harmonize or sing in rows, about how sound carries or reacts to different environments, teach them some dance moves, create a camp song, make up team chants, and more. 

Outdoor Technology

Some campers may find it easier to connect with the outdoors through technology, tools, and science. Introduce nature photography with a few digital cameras and have staff share the top ten photos in a gallery online! Explore the process of sun printing and chemical interactions, build bird feeders, or design kinetic sculptures powered by water or wind to learn about principles of motion!

Rest and Relaxation

Not all outdoor activities must be high energy experiences. Many camps have found success in being inclusive of campers who crave a more relaxing environment with low noise and limited interaction. Try an outdoor reading and writing area! Set up a small area to play cards, simple board games, or create art outside. Teach small groups of campers about warming up and winding down from an active day with meditation, yoga, or stretching. 

We hope you found at least one new camp activity to try on this list!  
If you found it helpful or if you have a great outdoor activity of your own that you would like to share – use the social share icons below and mention @icamppro!