This past summer, our family packed up for a camping trip to Marco Polo Land in PEI,five kids between our two families, ranging from age 14 down to 5. On paper, that sounds like chaos waiting to happen. In reality, it was chaos… but the good kind. The kind that’s loud, messy, full of laughter, and surprisingly educational.
As an early childhood education student, I can’t help seeing learning everywhere, even between s’mores and splash pads. Camping turned out to be one of the richest learning environments I’ve ever watched children explore.
Ages 5–7: Curiosity, Sensory Play, and Independence
The younger kids dove straight into sensory learning. Splash pads, grass under their feet, mud puddles, and campfire smells—it was a full sensory buffet.
These experiences support:
Sensory integration
Gross motor development
Risk‑taking in safe ways
Early problem-solving
They also practiced independence: carrying their own water bottles, helping with meals, and navigating new routines.
Ages 8–10: Social Skills, Responsibility, and Confidence
This age group became the “helpers” of the campsite. They loved taking on real responsibilities:
Gathering kindling
Helping flip pancakes
Setting up chairs
Guiding younger kids through the playground
These tasks build executive functioning, leadership, and cooperation. They also learned to negotiate group decisions, like who gets the last pancake or which slide to race down next.
Ages 11–14: Identity, Leadership, and Real‑World Skills
The older kids surprised me the most. Camping gave them space to:
Practice independence
Take on leadership roles
Explore identity away from screens
Engage in real‑world problem‑solving (tent zippers, anyone?)
They helped supervise younger children, cooked, navigated the campground, and even managed small conflicts. These are the kinds of authentic experiences that build confidence and resilience.
The Magic of Mixed‑Age Play
One of the most beautiful parts of camping is how naturally mixed‑age play happens. The older kids modelled skills, the younger ones learned by watching, and everyone found a role. This mirrors the principles of Vygotsky’s social learning theory: children learn best from more capable peers.
Nature as the Ultimate Teacher
Camping strips away distractions and gives children:
Space to move
Freedom to explore
Time to slow down
Opportunities to take healthy risks
It’s an environment that supports self‑regulation, creativity, resilience, and connection, all core foundations of early childhood development.
Looking Back From Winter
Now that it’s winter and everything outside is frozen solid, I keep thinking about those warm, chaotic, hilarious days. The splash pad, the pancake breakfasts, the late-night giggles, the leadership moments, the teamwork, and yes, the s’mores that got wildly out of hand.
I can’t wait to do it all again this summer. If last year taught me anything, it’s that camping isn’t just a vacation. It’s an outdoor classroom where every age learns something new.
Marco Polo Land (Cavendish, PEI)
Tourism PEI (Official Provincial Tourism Site)
For the winter days at home, when camping isn’t an option for us, we use our fort kit.
It brings back all the teamwork, creativity, and giggles from summer—just with blankets and hot chocolate instead of splash pads and s’mores. The kids build castles, towers, and hideouts using glow-in-the-dark rods and connector balls, and every age finds a role. It’s one of those toys that grows with them, supports STEM learning, and turns a snowy afternoon into an adventure.
Tiny Land Fort Building Kit on Amazon Canada here https://amzn.to/46bZff2
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