Camping is a great way to explore and enjoy nature with kids, especially in a summer when families want to maximize time outdoors. But when everyone returns to the campsite from the day's adventures, camping games can help keep children entertained (no screens needed!). Here are 17 camping activities for kids to play with parents or with one another, whether they're sheltering from the rain or settling in by the campfire for the evening.

For more old-fashioned games to pass the time, introduce kids to these outdoor games from the 70s and 80s.

Libraries are a great place to snuggle up with a book or listen to a good story, but for many families with young kids, they are also a destination for kids to socialize and get some energy out. We're grateful to these amazing public libraries in Connecticut that have recognized this need and created beautiful, free play spaces where toddlers, preschoolers, and young elementary school children can explore toys and interact with peers in between perusing books.

For more play zones that don't require a fee, see our post on Best Free Indoor Play Places for Connecticut Kids. Our guide to Connecticut Indoor Play Spaces highlights even more spots where kids can tinker, imagine, jump, climb, and run when the weather is wet or cold. 

Gone are the days of bouncy houses and playgrounds, but spending quality time with children is just as—perhaps more—precious as they navigate the teen years. Teens are notoriously hard to impress, but you'll earn major cool points by joining them in activities like escape rooms, salt caves, camping, consignment shopping, and more.

If you're searching for more ideas about what to do with teens around Connecticut, remember amusement parks and great restaurant meals are hits with all ages. Once you've scored some cool points with your teens, treat the younger kids in your life to age-appropriate fun at these indoor play spaces or awesome playgrounds.