Fun camping activities for kids?

What I would do is let your kids capture lightning bugs. Give them a jar and watch them!! It is very fun!! It may seem silly but it is Worth it!! I'm not telling you what to do but... I would ask them to leave their electronics at home!!! Roasting marsh mellows and making smores would also be a nice thing to do!!

Ban all electronic devices! I have to when I take my boys (3,8 &11) camping. Once they get out in nature and get busy discovering things they forget all about their games. Your doing the right thing by getting poles, but how about bringing a couple of board games, making some smores? You could also find a good outdoor guide book and play a scavenger hunt where you give them a list of different nature related things to find and bring back to you. It will help them discover new things in nature and give them a sense of competition. The winner could get to pick the activity for the next day (nature related or course) or tell the big ghost story that night. If you know how to weave you could teach them how to make a grass matt (same as looing a pot holder), let them help you build the fire and pop the tents. I have found that just letting them be involved keeps them intrested and occupied. My kids never even think about their games during the day and for the night when they are missing them, just give them a good puzzle book, coloring book and markers or play surades by the camp fire to keep them occupied.

Try a treasure hunt, Make a list of things that the kids will find in the woods and have a little prize for whoever find the most items. Go on a nature hike and try to see how many animals they can find. Tell them the dvd's will always be there but nature may not be. Once they get outdoors they'll love it.

Walking on hot embers barefoot ought to get them excited.

my kids were same way, we camp alot here in oregon but we dont camp in the state parks ect. we go where we can fish and swim, play catch, football freezbee ect. hike and pick berries, and in the evnings we load them up in the truck and go for drives to see the elk and deer.

HIDE AND SEEK EASTER EGG HUNT

Telling ghost stories. Throw rocks at Grizzly Bears. Do base jumping off of cliffs

dont' give in. if they see how much fun they can have without electronics, then they'll keep wanting to go back! even if they have tantrums, don't give in. They will realize that it IS much more fuN!

i always LOVED roasting marshmallows, i also loved trail riding, cause its so peaceful. Try a good bike ride too.