Who doesn’t love a good adventure as a kid? For many, summer camping experiences are going to provide lifelong memories. Unforgettable and nostalgia-filled, to help create moments worth remembering, camping gifts for kids are a great way to encourage exploration, interaction with others, and fun.

Below are eleven of the best camping gifts for kids who love the outdoors. These presents are perfect for anyone entertaining their nature call.

1. Watch

It might seem old-fashioned to think of wearing a watch but out in the woods or on a camping site, smartphones aren’t always charged and that’s assuming a child has one. If they don’t, a watch tells time. These are great camping gifts for kids, because the watches can help keep them on schedule with where they need to be. These days, thankfully, watches are relatively inexpensive and good quality.

2. Firestarter

There are a number of unique firestarter designs out there, ranging from high-tech to more basic scouts-esque ways to start a fire. Kids love learning how to start a fire. Believe us when we say, it can really cause a kid to light up. Bear Grylls has a particularly high quality firestarter worth purchasing but there’s off-brand models in camping stores that are equally fun. Just remember these aren’t toys so you may want to hang onto them until they’re necessary to be used.

3. Walkie-talkies

Let’s face it – walkie-talkies are still cool as heck, even as adults. Kids love walkie-talkies. If they’re camping with a friend, it can be a nice way to keep in touch with them. Alternatively, if they’re exploring with a new friend, it’s a one-way direct line of communication for them to share. Walkie-talkies are not expensive, they’re easy to operate, and they’ll give a camping trip a whole new vibe.

4. Binoculars

Binoculars are a cute, fun camping gift for a child. A kid can use binoculars in so many creative ways and they’re just plain fun to look through. A decent quality pair can make for an excellent weapon in a treasure hunt or camping game. Alternatively, you can go bird-watching or animal watching should you want to do something a little more serious with a pair of binoculars.

5. Compass

A compass is a classic piece of survival gear. These are cool camping gifts for kids who love to explore the outdoors. Compasses can get quite expensive though so be sure to not spend too much on one. Remember, there are good quality compasses out there that don’t cost a lot. A simple, basic compass is a nice adventurer tool, something any little explorer will love.

6. Fishing rod

A fishing pole given to a kid for camping provides them with an activity to learn and explore as they look forward to being out in nature. Between a parent and their child, it’s also relationship building. Take them fishing and teach them how. We are so far disconnected from nature, technology being what it is. Camping is a completely foreign environment to many kids and having a starting point to explore a little bit about what’s out there is advantageous.

7. Whistle

If anything goes wrong, a whistle can be an invaluable warning and call to action. If your kid’s going camping in the forest or if it’s a survival trip, a whistle is a must-have. A loud whistle is a notification that someone’s in need. Instruct your child how to use it and they’ll never feel completely alone or without assistance. If they’re in trouble, all they have to do is give it a blow. Assistance is on the way, when they need it.

8. Diary or journal

A diary or journal encourages a kid to take notes, record their adventures, and write out their thoughts. You may choose to go with a themed notebook if you want to hint at observing and writing out plants, birds, to map out a campground, or more. There’s plenty of unique ways a notebook can be used, although we think a journal and a little freedom is probably the most fun.

9. Clip-on light

A clip-on light can be used as a sort of night vision. Let’s say your child is at the campfire and wants to walk away to their tent to go to bed. To get there, a clip-on light works well. It also can help you keep track of where a kid ventures at night. Clipping an LED light somewhere on them can provide some added safety and guidance after the sun sets.

10. Flashlight

Flashlights come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, some more creative than others. These are good camping gifts for kids because of their usefulness and practicality. They also encourage a child to have fun in the dark. If your child doesn’t already have a flashlight, make sure they do. It’s an absolute must any time you go camping. They’re also very inexpensive!

11. Lantern

We hate to continue on the ‘light’ kick but inside the tent, flashlights and LED clip-on lights aren’t ideal. A lantern can work well at illuminating a tight space like this. You don’t need one that’s bulky or heavy. A simple lantern light to turn on and off can help a kid settle down in a sleeping bag, and let you know if they’re still awake or not.