Camp songs help build camping spirit, let the kids loosen up and make great memories. The best part about fun camp songs is that you don’t have to worry about staying on key. You don’t need a guitar to accompany you either although it can help. But to get everyone singing together, you have to pick the right song.
Types of camp songs
Most camp songs for kids are ones that children already know with a repetitive chorus. These are the most popular kinds.
Repeat-after-me songs
Repeat-after-me camp songs are just like they sound. The leader calls out a line from the song, and the rest of the group repeats it back. If you are introducing a new song to the group, using this style is a great way to help kids learn the campfire song lyrics and actions.
Songs with actions and motions
Songs that include some physical movement also work well for getting kids involved. Any camp song can be an action song — just add some arm motions or act out some of the lyrics physically. Get kids to help create the motions.
Songs in a round
Another fun type of camp song is one sung in a round. Everyone sings the same melody and lyrics but starts at different times. Separate kids into two or more groups and have one group sing the first verse before the next group starts the song. Rounds are fun and a great way to build camaraderie with the others singing your part.
Many popular camp songs are classics that have been around forever. Many songs are historically based while others are just plain silly. And with kids being your audience, the sillier the better.
So gather around the campfire and sing loud and proud and just have some fun! Here are 50 camp songs for kids and adults alike.
List of camp songs for kids
- Camp Granada
- Herman the Worm
- Great Big Moose
- This Land Is Your Land
- Ain’t No Flies on Us
- I Like Bananas
- Hey Ho Nobody Home
- Do Your Ears Hang Low
- Down by the Riverside
- My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
- You’re A Grand Old Flag
- Home on the Range
- Going on a Bear Hunt
- Baby Shark
- Kumbaya
- The Happy Wanderer
- Little Bunny Foo Foo
- Oh! What a Beautiful Morning
- Peanut Butter
- I’m a Nut
- Molly Malone (a.k.a. Cockles and Mussels)
- On a Bicycle Built for Two
- When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again
- Bed Bug Song
- On Top of Spaghetti
- Oh Susanna
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
- B-I-N-G-O
- I’m Being Swallowed by a Boa Constrictor
- Kookaburra
- The Ants Go Marching
- Camptown Races
- Underwear
- Baby Bumble Bee
- Oh, I Wish I Were
- Did You Ever See a Lassie?
- Dem Bones
- Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
- If You’re Happy and You Know It
- Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder
- Paw-Paw Patch
- Five Little Speckled Frogs
- There’s a Hole in the Bucket
- I Like to Eat
- Boom Chicka Boom
- Frog Went A-Courtin’
- The Hokey Pokey
- Little Red Wagon
- The More We Get Together
- Wheels on the Bus
- Alice the Camel
- Make New Friends
