Going Camping
Thanks for joining us!
This episode was written by Kara and voiced by Kara and T.
Episode art was drawn by Kara.
It was originally released in July 2026.
— Check out these books about camping —
Click on each photo for a link to the book on our Bookshop.org account
— Camping resources —
Every Kid Outdoors is a program to give American 4th Graders and their families free access to hundreds of parks, lands, and waters for an entire year.
Learn about camping on public land from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management
American Museum of Natural History — A Kid’s Guide to Stargazing
How to create a camping triangle to be safe while camping
— Camping Gear & Toys —
Haba Terra Kids Camping Lantern with sturdy handles & storage compartment
It’s so fun for kids to have their own headlamp!
REI Kids sleeping bag
Keen makes great sandals for adventures
Wildlife Camping Playset from Tender Leaf Toys
Dive into camping fun with this Playmobile Camping Set with a tent, supplies, and kayaks!
Add camping gear to your Duplos with this adorable Peppa Pig set.
— Going Camping Episode Summary —
Different types of camp —
T sometimes goes to day camp, when she goes to a camp during the day but comes home in the afternoon. Going on a camping trip is when you sleep out in nature.
When kids get a bit older, they can go to sleepaway camp. That’s kind of a combination of the two! They go to a place in nature and sleep over there. Often without their parents.
People need to bring things so that they can be safe and comfortable. It helps to have something comfortable to sleep on. Shelter, like a tent you set up, or a cabin. You need a change of clothes and food to eat.
It’s up to families how long they want to go camping for. It often happens in the summer, when the weather is nice!
“Glamping” is a word that’s a combo of “glamorous” and “camping”, where you don’t have to set up your own tent and there may be nicer bathrooms.
Whichever way you and your family are able to go camping is fantastic. Any way we can be out in nature is a good way.
How to campsites work? —
If your grownup says that your family is going to go camping, they’ve probably figured out a campsite! Which is a place in a park, or nature reserve, that has land especially made for camping! A campground! There are spots to park a car, to put up a tent, and to build a fire. Sometimes there’s a picnic table!
Most campgrounds also have bathrooms that are shared by many campers. You take turns. You can use the toilet and brush your teeth in the sink. Maybe there are showers too!
At campsites, we need to be thoughtful about how we take care of our trash. Campgrounds have important rules about what to do. If there are trash cans, we put it in there. If not, we take our garbage in bags and take it home with us. We definitely don’t leave it behind! What a bummer it would be to arrive at a campsite that’s full of garbage!
In very woodsy areas, there can be special types of garbage cans so that the animals can’t get to them!
And, in places where there are a lot of bears, there are even bear lockers where you’re supposed to keep your food! Because bears are strong and curious and they will go through a tent, or sometimes even a car!, to find yummy human food.
It’s important that we know the rules and follow the rules, because it’s part of taking care of nature. Which helps the environment, and helps other people, so that they can camp there too.
Sleeping and tents —
When you go camping, space is precious! Bring the things that you need and that help you feel comfortable.
You’ll need a place to sleep! People often bring a sleeping bag!
A sleeping bag is a long bag, a little bigger than the size of our bodies, it can zip up on the side so you can get in and out easily. It’s made of special materials that keep us really warm.A sleeping bag can go right on the ground, but people will also put something underneath it to be more comfortable, like an inflatable air mattress or foam pad. Sleeping bags can roll up tight, so they take up much less room than sheets and big blankets. It’s also nice to have a pillow, though that also depends on how much room you have to pack!
Campers can put their sleeping bags in a tent! A tent keeps people and their things warm and safe. It protect them from critters and creatures. It can keep campers dry if it rains or if there’s dew in the morning. And it’s really cozy to wake up in a tent! Sometimes tents have windows covered with nets, so you can still see outside.
Clothing, food, and campfires —
The clothing you bring depends on where you’re going, what you’re doing, for how long. You’ll probably need good sturdy shoes. Maybe shoes that can get wet!
You need to bring clothes that you’re comfortable in. If you’re going on hikes or worried about bugs or sunburn, layers that cover your arms and legs, but aren’t too hot. A hat. PJs! Enough undies, tops, and bottoms for the number of days that you’ll be there.
When you’re figuring out what to pack, you also need to know what the weather will be! You need to make sure you have the right things for the right temperature. If it’s going to be warm during the day and you’re near water, bring a bathing suit! If it’s going to be cold at night, bring socks, a hat, and warm layers.
When camping, you’ll need to bring water! Not all water is safe to drink. Even if you’re near the ocean or a lake, you shouldn’t drink the water from it. Your campsite might have a water fountain with safe drinking water, so you can refill your water bottle. Or you may need to bring a big jug of water.
If there’s no restaurant or cafe, you’ll need to bring all of the food that you want to eat while you’re camping. Breakfast! Lunch! Dinner! Snacks! Dessert!
There’s no electricity at a campsite. Which means there’s no power for a refrigerator, stove, or oven - the things we use at home to make food! So we can bring food that doesn’t need to stay cold - cereal, veggies, fruit, nuts, crackers.
And we can cook food over a campfire! And we should only make fire in those spots, so that it doesn’t spread. Grownups are very careful when they cook over a campfire. They use special pots and pans and tools. And some people who camp often might even have their own camping stove, which has its own fuel.
There’s a special dessert that people like to cook over a cam
Ways to have fun while camping —
If you’re staying at a campground, I bet there are also some places to take a walk near it. To go on a hike! Grownups love to talk about hikes. Really, they’re just fun walks in nature. There can be logs to climb over, flowers to see, trees to spin around, beautiful views, or waterfalls!
While you’re on a hike, you can play word games, sing songs, play eye spy!
Because you’re going to be outside a lot, maybe there are some sports things that would be fun to bring! A kite, catching game, jump rope. Some campgrounds even have protected roads where kids can ride bikes and scooters.
It’s fun to use special gear when you’re camping! Flashlights, headlamps, and lanterns help you see in the dark, because there isn’t any electricity to turn on lights in your tent!
Compasses can help you navigate while you explore. You could even use one to create your own map of your camping area. A magnifying glass or loupe will help you see nature more closely.
If you just want to explore and find bugs or dig in the dirt, great! If you want to bring a book to read a lot or a nature journal to draw pictures of and document the things you see, also great! Going camping gives you a chance to see new things, breathe some fresh air, and have fun in nature.