Dodge's camping activity checklist

Dodge and friends are leaving the CBeebies House for a fun-filled camping adventure, and you can too! Follow our activity checklist to have your own camping adventure, with fun ideas from your CBeebies favourites.

If you're going camping with your little ones, camping activities can make or break your trip. This checklist will help your family engage in budget-friendly camping activities for young children to keep them grounded, present and relaxed, so they can enjoy the great outdoors. 

What activities does Dodge have in his camping activity checklist?

Each activity can be done with friends and family working together. If you want to skip an activity, just choose a different one, like bird watching, leaf collecting, den building or telling campfire stories. Make a new family tradition by creating a list of your own.

Nigel loves slowing down and breathing the fresh air when camping outdoors. He recommends slowing down to enjoy the day's adventures, and he has just the activity to help. Listen closely and try naming three things you can hear with your child. This teaches your child to be in the moment and embrace their senses as a way to relax.

For more ideas on how to help your child chill out try these techniques for helping kids keep calm or learn a relaxing breathing technique with Hey Duggee and the Squirrels. Your child can also learn attention skills by playing the I Hear game.

George really wants to find a discarded feather while he's camping, which is a great way to explore your surroundings and help your child reconnect with nature. You and your child can go on your own eco quest, just like Hamza, or spot the birds with JoJo and Gran Gran.

Evie added this activity to the camping adventure list and completed it with the help of Elsie from I Spy. Try it with your little one; spend some time looking at the cloud shapes and chatting about what they look like. You could even make up a story about the things you see.

Once the tent is pitched and the camp site set up, it's time for Joanna's favourite part of camping: toasting marshmallows. Get a marshmallow toasting fork (or a metal skewer) and thread jumbo marshmallows on it. Your little one might want to help, so make sure they are supervised. Next, hold the marshmallow over the campfire, keeping little hands far away from the flames. When the marshmallow begins to turn golden and crispy, pull it from the skewer by placing it between two biscuits and squish it together for a gooey, warm treat.

Dodge just can't wait to go stargazing but he has to wait until it gets dark. Together with his friends, he counts the stars he can see. You could try counting with your little one, or you can follow CBeebies Stargazing top tips, try to spot the North star or use these stargazing maps to help you find common constellations.

CBeebies House Special: Dodge's Camping Adventure is available on BBC iPlayer now.

Explore our collection of activities designed to get everyone outside, discovering new adventures, staying active and making lasting memories together.

Discover the CBeebies Holiday Survival collection, bursting with games for under-fives, nature-inspired shows to watch, songs, quizzes, printable activities and colouring sheets featuring Bluey, Hey Duggee and all your favourite CBeebies friends. Whether you're heading on an adventure or enjoying a quiet moment, there's plenty of screen-free fun to enjoy.

Where to go for a walk in the UK: Take a look at some of our favourite accessible family walks in the UK.

Five easy outdoor games to try: Outdoor games for kids that you can play in the garden or at your local park, perfect for burning off excess energy during the long summer holidays or at the weekend.

Bluey's camping activity book: Whether you're camping in the countryside or your garden, download the activity book and have fun completing it with your family and friends.

For more tips and tricks for your family's next camping adventure, check out the CBeebies camping guide to take the stress out off camping with kids.