35 Brilliant Ideas for a Classroom Camping Theme (2024)

Looking to bring a bit of the outdoors into your classroom? We have all the inspiration you will need to transform your classroom into a campsite! Your students will get a kick out of roasting pretend marshmallows, floating down a tablecloth river, or stepping into a real tent. Check out these adorable props, bulletin boards, books, and more to set up your classroom camping theme.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. Go from classroom to campground

Check out how Melanie Ralbusky, elementary school teacher and creator of Schoolgirl Style, transformed a storage closet into a totally decked-out camping-themed classroom!

Buy it:Pop-Up Camper Tent at Amazon, Kids Camping Chair at Amazon, String Lights Banner at Amazon

2. Start a glowing campfire

This classroom campfire idea from The Teacher Wife Lindsey Erickson actually glows when you turn off the lights thanks to some purple holiday lights.

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Buy it: Purple Holiday Lights at Amazon

3. Get creative with forest-themed play dough

This forest-themed sensory activity from Pocket of Preschool would be perfect for a camping-themed classroom. You can make your own green and blue play dough or buy some premade.

Buy it: Blue Plastic Sorting Tray at Amazon, Plastic Bugs at Amazon, Nautical Sea Glass at Amazon

4. Re-create this campfire craft for kids

You’ll need battery-operated tea lights, tissue paper, construction paper, a Popsicle stick, and a cotton ball to re-create this fun and simple DIY campfire from Chelsey, a former teacher and creator of Buggy and Buddy.

Buy it: Tissue Paper at Amazon, Battery-Operated Tea Lights at Amazon

5. Try an inflatable campfire …

Not crafty? Try an inflatable campfire like this one at The Kindergarten Smorgasboard.

Buy it: Inflatable Campfire at Amazon

6. … or cuddle up to a plush campfire

Try a plush campfire like the one shown here at Teacher’s Brain. Kids will enjoy incorporating it into their pretend play as well.

Buy it: Plush Campfire at Amazon

7. Make a Classroom Chores chart using camping imagery

Create an adorable camping-themed bulletin board like this one from the Foreman Teaches blog to signal who is responsible for what in your classroom.

8. Make this DIY classroom tent

Take a cue from Teach Junkie and hang a couple of inexpensive plastic tablecloths from a door frame, and voilà! You’ve got a tent!

Buy it: Brown Tablecloths at Amazon

9. Trap pretend bugs in a jar

First grade teacher April of Monkey Fun in First Grade had her class create these fun and colorful bug jars where they got to trap a creature of their choosing. Cheap and easy to re-create, all you need is art supplies and a clothesline and clothespins.

Buy it: Bright-Colored Poster Boardat Amazon, Clothesline and Rainbow Clothespins at Amazon

10. Hang this fun camping tapestry

This mountain tapestry idea from Tacky the Teacher is perfect for a cozy reading nook.

Buy it: Mountain Tapestry at Amazon

11. Create camping words with rocks

Try this fun camping-themed literacy center from Pocket of Preschool.

Buy it: Large Rocks for Painting at Amazon

12. Introduce Ranger Rick

Who doesn’t love Ranger Rick? Teacher Created Resources on Pinterest created this awesome corner with pops of green and our favorite raccoon friend.

Buy it: Raccoon Plush at Amazon

13. Read in a Camp Corner

The red in this reading corner from Mrs. McDonald’s Classroom Ideas makes the whole thing pop! My kids would be lining up for a turn with the sleeping bag inside the tent. (Psst: We’ve got even more reading corner ideas.)

Buy it: Affordable red camping chair at Amazon, Kids Sleeping Bag at Amazon

14. Set up a pretend river to run through your classroom camp

Trena Henley’s Pinterest shows an easy and affordable way to create a river or stream in your classroom.

Buy it: Multi-Pack Blue Tablecloths at Amazon

15. Let students climb into a real tent

Give your classroom campsite an authentic feel with a real yet affordable tent for the kids to climb inside. This example from Just Teachy is cozy and easy to re-create.

Buy it: Shark or Unicorn Tent at Walmart

16. Create tree stump seating

Look at this cute seating arrangement from the Teacher’s Corner of Chaylor & Mads. What a fun spot to hold a morning meeting!

Buy it: Tree Stump Cushions at Amazon

17. Explore a woodland hallway

The owls and other woodland creatures in this adorable hallway byCara Carroll really bring it to life.

Buy it: Removable Adhesive Tape at Amazon

18. Have story time glamping-style

This teepee tent idea from Lilave on Pinterest is perfect for a cozy story time “under the stars.”

Buy it: Teepee Tent at Amazon, Hanging Lantern at Amazon

19. Set up a cozy bulletin board

We love that this multimedia board from Mrs. Wills Kindergarten has real fabric on the tent!

Buy it: Burlap Banner at Amazon

20. Welcome curious campers

Students can help make fantastic campers like these from Buzzing About Second Grade. They can practice looking through their own binoculars as well.

Buy it: Kids Binoculars at Amazon

21. Bring in an inflatable canoe

Students will feel like they’re in a real campsite with this inflatable canoe and dock idea from co*kesbury VBS on Pinterest!

Buy it: Inflatable Canoe at Amazon

22. Light up camping lanterns

Take a cue from Lucky Little Learners and let students read by lantern light.

Buy it: Lanternsat Amazon

23. Grab a fishing pole

This fishing game from Pinterest/MelissaTraber fits the classroom camping theme perfectly. Make one or buy one already made.

Buy it: Fishing Play Set at Amazon

24. Read camping-themed books

Set up a camping-themed library like Kayla of K’s Classroom Kreations.

Buy it: A Camping Spree With Mr. Magee at Amazon, Pete the Cat Goes Camping at Amazon, Froggy Goes to Campat Amazon

25. Head to the bear cave

Create a bear-themed bulletin board like this one from The Barefoot Teacher. You can make a little bear face for each of your students!

Buy it: Enhance your bulletin board with these cute paw prints at Amazon.

26. Read together under the stars

Hang some stars from the ceiling to create a reading area under the stars like this cute setup from Bee-ing Mommy.

Buy it: Hanging Stars at Amazon

27. Enter your camping classroom through a s’mores door

Create a cute s’mores-themed entrance to your classroom like this one from Nicole Ingenbrandt’s Pinterest. All the fun of s’mores without all the stickiness!

Buy it: Colorful Bulletin Board Letters at Amazon, Black Letters at Amazon