Every year I take a week off from work in the car title loans business and my oldest takes a break from his college degree program in California so that the whole family can get together for our annual camping trip.

We always have a ton of fun, but my younger kids have a tendency to get bored easily, especially because they’re used to playing video games and watching tv all day. To counteract that, I always make sure to plan plenty of fun activities during the day, and I’ve found this to be a great way to teach my kids that the great outdoors are fun, interesting and just as engaging as the latest newfangled technological invention.

Here are 5 camping activities that are bound to keep your kids entertained:

Hiking

Hiking isn’t just fun but also physically challenging, making it a great activity to preoccupy the kids with. Your kids will likely love exploring new places and feel proud of their achievement when they reach new distances. Try mapping out a hiking trail before you go and don’t forget your camera!

Fishing

Another camping classic, fishing can occupy kids for hours, teaching them patience, but also providing an extremely rewarding feeling when fish are finally caught. Fishing is relaxing for all the family and the downtime spent waiting to catch fish can be used for conversation, making it an excellent opportunity for family bonding.

Bird Watching

Not every kid is going to enjoy this, but if your kids love nature, they will likely enjoy bird watching. Bird watchers typically track their bird spotting by recording their finds, which can easily be made into a fun game with prizes. If your kids end up really enjoying this hobby, make sure you organize a camping trip somewhere where lots of birds are known to inhabit.

Kayaking

Kayaking can be really exciting and a great way to explore the great outdoors. If you don’t want to invest in your own kayaks, you can rent them from most popular lakes where kayaking is allowed. Just remember that is it essential you your wear life vests, and only kayak where it’s permitted.

Swimming

Who needs a swimming pool when there are lakes? Kids tend to love swimming in lakes and many are safe to do so. You can make it even more fun by hiring paddle boats or buying lidos and other inflatable swimming gear. However, you will only want to let your kids swim in lakes if they are strong swimmers and you are there to supervise.

There are many more just as fun camping activities, but above are five of my family’s firm favorites. Try a couple of these and see what works for your family, you will likely be surprised by how much entertainment can be gotten out of these simple activities.