25 Campfire Songs for Kids: Fun, Easy & Silly Camp Songs

Published February 24, 2025

Hiking and fishing are enjoyable daytime activities, but sometimes, the most magical camping moments happen when your group gathers around the campfire to sing songs at the end of the day. Whether you’re a scout leader corralling your troops or a parent enjoying a night under the stars with your family, a camp singalong is an entertaining and engaging way to make memories. It can build team spirit and even help young, nervous campers feel more relaxed. We’ve created a list of campfire songs for kids that will make everyone want to sing along, so all you have to do is pick your favorite tunes to get started!

Looking for more ways to entertain kids out in the wild? Try our trail games, perfect for a day of hiking, or our outdoor games, which you can enjoy around the campsite! Our conversation starters for kids can even help campers bond on the bus.

Types of Camping Songs for Kids

Every camping trip is as unique as the campers! So whether you’re looking for songs that will get everyone laughing, boost camaraderie, or help everyone wind down for bedtime, here are some of our favorite types of easy camp songs.

Classic Camp Songs: Bust out some classics that you, your grandparents, and even their grandparents might have sung! Classic camp songs are perfect for multi-generational groups and for passing on traditions.
Repeat-After-Me Songs: Try interactive songs where you sing a phrase and have everyone repeat it. This simple format keeps energetic kids engaged and helps campers learn new tunes with ease.
Singing in a Round: Organize your campers into smaller groups so that each group sings the same song with a slight delay. For example, have the second group start as the first group finishes a phrase, and the third group follows suit to create a harmonious round.
Songs with Accompanying Actions: Need to tucker a troop out for bedtime? These are the perfect campfire songs for kids with extra energy to work out before crawling into their sleeping bags. Let them move along with the song, making it easier to wind down for sleep.

Mix and match songs and activities to match the tone of your group. Any song can be a repeat-after-me song if you want it to be, and even made-up songs can become classics when sung to the tune of a famous song.

Tips for Creating Memorable Experiences with Kids’ Campfire Songs

Singing is a classic way to engage kids, but if they’re hesitant to join the activity, we have some tips for making camp sing-along songs appealing for all.

Get everyone involved. Pull everyone out of their tents to engage the whole group. Having more people participate in the sing-along can make it feel less intimidating and more about enjoying themselves and bonding as a group.
Use props and instruments. Have kids act out some of the lyrics with props they find around the campsite. From pretending pinecones are footballs to putting leaves behind their ears to imitate a moose, props let kids use their imaginations. And don’t forget to pack instruments so the musically inclined can play along!
Keep the energy up. Whether it’s through dancing, having everyone do a corresponding action with a certain lyric, or just by staying on your feet, the more energy you have, the longer the sing-along will last.
Incorporate songs into activities and games. Working on arts and crafts? Get a casual sing-along going while everyone toils away at their masterpieces. You can also sing a song as a group while hiking, canoeing, or pitching tents. The joy of campfire songs extends far beyond the campfire itself. You can also coordinate the lyrics of songs with the rhythm of hand-clapping games!

You know your group of campers. So, think of what objects or accompanying activities would help them enjoy song time the most.

Our Favorite Children’s Camp Songs

Get your s’mores ready and bundle everyone up for hours of fun with these campfire songs for kids. From silly and playful to sweet and heartfelt, and even some classics you might’ve sung in your childhood, our list has tunes for groups of various ages and music tastes.

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“The Campfire Song Song” by Spongebob Squarepants

Got Spongebob heads in your group? They’ll instantly recognize this song from “The Campfire Episode.” The lyrics involve spelling out the words “Campfire song” over and over again, progressively getting faster and faster, which makes for a mini spelling lesson that turns into a playful tongue twister!

“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond

An iconic song, “Sweet Caroline” has a nice and easy slow pace that kids can follow. Plus, the famous “Bah, bah, bah” line creates some natural silliness and interactive call-and-response. You can also play around by swapping different campers' names in place of “Caroline” to personalize it to your group.

“This Little Light of Mine”

End the night with this sweet song. You can keep it non-denominational by just sticking to the chorus and having groups start it one after another for a singing-in-a-round session. Older kids might even turn on their phone flashlights and wave them in the air like they’re at a concert, making it enjoyable for all ages!

“Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”

Another song accompanied by action, this classic will have kids falling over laughing as they struggle to keep up with the instructions. Challenge yourselves by singing it faster each round until everyone is fumbling to say the words.

“Camp Granada”

No campfire song session is complete without at least one run-through of “Camp Granada,” aka “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh.” Satirist and musician Allan Sherman got the inspiration for the silly song from letters his son wrote home from camp.

“Mahna Mahna”

There are almost no real words in this classic Muppets song, so even young campers who aren’t yet articulate can join in. It’s also the perfect nonsensical song to sing when everyone is deliriously tired from a day of outdoor activities.

“The Great Big Moose”

Give kids the giggles with this silly song about a moose named Fred who loves to drink juice but spills it all over the place. There’s a call-and-response part in the chorus that’s delightful to repeat and plenty of funny noises kids can make while they imitate the moose.

“Campfire Pokey”

This camping-themed spinoff of the “Hokey Pokey” works beloved campfire activities into the classic lyrics like, “You put your hotdog in, you take your hot dog out…” repeating the song for various campfire foods. It’s an entertaining way to pass the time while cooking over an open fire.

“On Top of Spaghetti”

Another song that borrows a famous tune, “On Top of Spaghetti,” is sung to the tune of “On Top of Old Smokey.” It tells the story of a meatball rolling off a mound of spaghetti and getting mushed. It’s a fun and easy repeat-after-me song.

“Home on the Range”

This timeless song about pioneers and cowboys enjoying a peaceful range in the old American West is in perfect harmony with a camping trip. Its slow, soothing rhythm makes it an ideal bedtime song.

“Yellow Submarine”

Given that the original meaning behind this Beatles song was about appreciating nature, going on adventures, and loving our brothers and sisters, it’s the perfect song for a weekend of bonding.

“Go Bananas!”

Encourage your little campers to eat their fruits and veggies with this easy, repetitive song. The lyrics talk about preparing different produce like bananas, potatoes, and corn in a lively, rhythmic song that is sure to get stuck in everyone’s heads.

“Make New Friends”

Taking a newly formed scout troop on a camping trip? This cute and touching song encourages the formation of new friendships and even discusses the power of helping one another, which promotes Girl Scout/Boy Scout values.

“The Bear Went Over the Mountain”

This song is set to the tune of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” so it’s usually easy for everyone to catch onto the rhythm. It tells the cute story of a bear going on a wilderness adventure.

“Kookaburra”

This cute song tells the story of a Kookaburra bird sitting in a tree, eating gum drops, and counting monkeys. It’s a light and silly song with the chance for some act-outs, like kids pretending to be monkeys or throwing marshmallows in their mouths during the gum drops lyrics.