35 Brilliant Ideas for a Classroom Camping Theme

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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

A classroom is setup to look like a campsite. A log cabin entrance is shown with two adirondack chairs. Some pretend trees, a pop up camper, and a picnic table are in the background.

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.

Buy it: Purple Holiday Lights at Amazon

3. Get creative with forest-themed play dough

A blue tray with six sections shows a variety of forest themed items including river stones and plastic insects. Blue and green play dough is in the middle.

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

A pretend campfire is shown. Red, yellow, and orange tissue paper make up the flames and brown construction paper makes the logs. A pretend marshmallow is made from a cotton ball. Camping Classroom Theme

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 …

A classroom is shown that has been setup to look like a campsite. A picnic table, a green tent, and an inflatable campfire are shown. Camping Classroom Theme

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

A classroom is shown with a green rug and a plush, toy campfire on it. Camping Classroom Theme

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

A camping classroom theme bulletin board is shown with signposts listing the individual classroom chores.

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.

Buy it: Camping-Themed Bulletin Board Decor at Amazon

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

Posterboard cutouts of lanterns are shown with different student drawn creatures in them. They are hanging from clothespins on a clothesline in a classroom.

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 Board at Amazon, Clothesline and Rainbow Clothespins at Amazon

10. Hang this fun camping tapestry

camping classroom theme camping mountain hanging 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

A desk is shown with river rocks with white letters painted on them. The words bear and skunk are written on strips of papers with matching river rock letters above them.

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

Buy it: Large Rocks for Painting at Amazon

12. Introduce Ranger Rick

ranger rick themed classroom desk and bulletin boards camping classoom theme

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

Tree, tent, and camping chairs for classroom camping theme

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

A pretend river is made from blue plastic tablecloths with large rocks spread throughout. A tent and a pretend campfire are also shown.

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

A campsite is setup in a classroom with a small tent and two camping chairs. camping classroom theme

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

A pretend campfire is surrounded by soft seat cushions that are designed to look like tree stumps.

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

Woodland school hallway decorations with trees and owls

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

Buy it: Removable Adhesive Tape at Amazon

18. Have story time glamping-style

tent and bulletin board backdrop stars and trees bulletin board camping classroom theme

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

Camper bulletin board camping theme classrooms

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

Classroom DIY bulletin board happy campers with binoculars

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

inflatable canoe trees camping classroom theme

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

Buy it: Inflatable Canoe at Amazon

22. Light up camping lanterns

A little girl is sitting by a makeshift tent reading by lantern light.

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

Buy it: Lanterns at Amazon

23. Grab a fishing pole

Two Children are shown playing a fishing game in a classroom setting.

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

A bookcase that displays books facing outward shows a number of camping themed books for children.

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 Camp at Amazon

25. Head to the bear cave

Bear cave themed classroom bulletin board camping classroom theme

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

Tree, tent, and campfire wall decor for classroom

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

S'mores door decoration ideas for classroom camping theme

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

28. Create Camp Read-a-Lot

Camping tent reading pods in the classroom

Create little reading pods like these from Lucky Little Learners. They are functional and adorable.

Buy it: Camping-Themed Pillow Covers at Amazon

29. Escape to a log cabin

Log cabin classroom camping theme decor

Not feeling tents? Go for a log cabin like this one from Pinterest/binged.it. Not crafty? Try a premade log cabin playhouse.

Buy it: Log Cabin Tent at Amazon

30. Find your happy place

Campground classroom theme decor ideas

Create a happy place like this one from Chalkboard Chatterbox, and you’ll have happy campers in your classroom!

Buy it: Kids Picnic Table at Amazon

31. Welcome in your happy campers

welcome campers fire and trees doorway camping classroom theme

When students enter your classroom, they will feel all the cozy, relaxing vibes. Karly on Pinterest created this magical camping scene.

Buy it: Canvas Drop Cloth at Amazon

32. Camp out with a good book

camp out with a good book camping corner classroom

Casey on Pinterest set up this cozy corner that’s perfect for reading and story time. Those trees look so realistic!

Buy it: Camping Chair at Amazon

33. Post a camp rules board

rule board campers classroom camping theme

Your classroom expectations will never look better than with this campers acronym board from Mrs. Lisa on Pinterest.

Buy it: Wooden Bulletin Board Border at Amazon

34. Add in tree-house elements

treehouse theme classroom entrance

This tree-house idea from Mungfali on Pinterest is sure to be a student favorite. That rope ladder gives us all the adventure vibes!

Buy it: Rope Ladder at Amazon

35. Create a teepee library

teepee library classroom idea

This idea from HomemyDesign on Pinterest is perfect for younger grades. Students will love picking out their books in this cozy tent.

Buy it: Draping Fabric at Amazon

Do you have more camping classroom theme ideas? We’d love to hear about them in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out our favorite supplies for an emoji or donut classroom theme.

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