The word ‘summer camp’ brings so many memories. Where you spend time making new friends, learning a few skills, enjoying nature, and making lifelong memories, these classic kids camping movies will transport us to one of the happiest places. Camping movies can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. So, relive your best camp memories by watching these classics from the comfort of the home. Bring out the s’mores, camp food, and binge-watch these movies!
17 Camp Movies For Kids
1. Camp Cool Kids
A 2017 camp movie, Camp Cool Kids, is about confronting fears and bullies. Zach and his little brother Spence are grieving for their recently deceased dad and struggling with the new neighborhood. That’s when their grandfather decides to send them to a camp. Both brothers are polar opposites and get placed in the opposing teams at the camp games. Now, Zach has to overcome his fears, stand up to his bullies and help new friends survive.
2. Space Camp
Not a classic ‘forest and wood’ camping movie, but it is super enjoyable. Welcome to the space camp! The film is about an astronaut who runs a space camp for teenagers. A group of kids attends a summer camp, and one night during an engine test, they accidentally launch themselves into an orbit. They have to figure out a way and come back to Earth.
3. Heavyweights
Camping is usually fun, but it can be a nightmare if it turns out to be a ‘fat camp.’ The movie is about an overweight Gerald “Gerry” Garner who is sent to Camp Hope in hopes of losing weight. Unfortunately, a fun ‘weight loss’ camp doesn’t last long when the owners declare bankruptcy and sell it to Tony, a crazy fitness instructor. He makes the place a living hell for all of them. But hell breaks loose, and Tony is in for a rude shock to see what happens next.
4. Camp Nowhere
Usually, kids love a good ol’ summer camp, but Morris “Mud” Himmel hates it. He has to go to a computer camp every summer but detests it. So, Mud and his friends devise a plan to have fun. First, they blackmail their former teacher, Dennis Van Welker, to pose as a counselor of a fake camp. Then, they tell him to rent a campground and let the kids have zero rules. But the plot thickens when their parents want to come for a visit.
5. It Takes Two
This movie might be a classic, but for some other reason. It heroes ’secret twin switch’ and changed the lives of people they love! Two identical twins meet each other for the first time in a camp. And each girl is concerned for their respective caretakers. And so they pull off an epic switch and play a matchmaker!
6. The Parent Trap
Well, there are two versions of this movie. The original Parent Trap was released in 1961, starring Haylee Mills and Maureen O’ Hara. But in 1998, Disney bought the ’61 movie and released this new version. The movie stars Lindsay Lohan and features a pair of identical twins who were separated at birth. They finally run into each other at a summer camp. They decide to switch roles and work towards reuniting their parents. Watch now on: Disney+
7. Moonrise Kingdom
A coming-of-age comedy-drama, Moonrise Kingdom is a movie about two young lovers. Set in 1963, two 12-year-old kids meet at a summer camp and fall in love with each other. They make a pact to run away together as they feel isolated and shunned by their respective guardians and friends. That leads to a group of people searching for them on an isolated beach to bring them back home.
8. Meatballs
This classic comedy is a beautiful ode to summer camp. Featuring Bill Murray (his early film role), Meatball, in its own quirky way, shows why camping is important. Bill Murray enacts the role of Tripper, who is the head counselor of Camp Northstar. The big-brother-type counselor befriends Rudy, a loner camper. Rudy has trouble fitting in the camp, and Tripper wants campers to have the best summertime. Tripper slowly inspires the campers to defeat the rival camp in a competition while Rudy helps and plays a matchmaker for Tripper.
9. A Week Away: A Musical
Usually, you don’t come across a camp movie for kids that’s musical. The film starts with Will, who is running away from the police and lands at the juvenile hall. He is given a choice to either go to juvenile detention or a Christian summer camp. Will chooses to attend the camp and starts his journey. Over there, he learns about faith and kindness with some help from music and friends. Watch now on: Netflix
10. Camp Rock
Camp Rock is a Disney musical camp movie. Starring Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, Meaghan Martin, Daniel Fathers, Maria Canals-Barrera, and Alyson Stoner, the movie is about Mitchie, who dreams of becoming a musician. She decides to attend Camp Rock (summer camp for aspiring musicians) and discovers new friends, romance, and of course, her voice.
11. Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
In this sequel to ‘Camp Rock,’ the previous campers are back for another summer. However, a rival camp suddenly appears and grabs everyone’s attention, threatening the very existence of Camp Rock. So yeah, the kids will be watching teenagers Demi, Joe, Daniel, Alyson, Meaghan, and Maria.
12. Addams Family Values
Who doesn’t like the Addams Family? It’s a beloved show, and while the characters are a bit gothic, they represent the misfits of society. This movie is a Gothic comedy with some macabre elements but is ultimately still a comedy. Wednesday and Pugsley are sent to a summer camp. Sure, it’s a traditional summer camp setting, but once Addams comes into the picture, everything changes.
13. Magic Camp
The name sounds magical, right? Perfect for kids and middle graders, this movie is about a kid who rediscovers his love for magic with the help of his other misfit friends. Watch now on: Disney+
14. The Baby-Sitters Club
Based on a novel, the movie centers around one summer in a girls’ life. Kristy, the president of the ‘Baby-Sitters Club,’ decides to start a day camp for her clients. All the other members are happy about it and vow to keep an eye on the kids. They devise a smart plan to make some money and have fun, but what ensues is quite different.
15. Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown
This animated cartoon is famous for a reason. It features Charles, Lucy, Snoopy, and Linus, who are off to a summer camp. They aim to participate in various summer activities, but Charles must overcome his lack of confidence and stand up to the gang of bullies to win a battle.
16. Indian Summer
Source: IMDb Would you go back to your summer camp if you had a chance now? Well, this movie is about that. The owner and director of Camp Tamakwa invites 30 odd former campers to announce his retirement. The former campers belong to the camp’s golden years. Seven friends who attended the 1972 summer camp decided to participate in the reunion. But once they arrive, some unresolved feelings come to the surface.
17. Camp
This movie is a must for kids who love music, drama, and theater. At Camp Ovation, children of all ages spend their summer expressing themselves through various mediums. While the movie talks about insecurity and romance, what we love is that it also highlights certain problems teenagers face – sexual identity, parental pressure, self-respect, and passion.
