What better gift to give than one that promises outdoor adventures!? However, we know it can be hard to pick out holiday gifts for outdoorsy kids!
“What do they need? What would they enjoy opening? What’s good quality and what’s not? What brand is the best bang for my buck?”
So many questions and we have the answers for you, based on 50+ years as a summer camp for boys in the wilderness of northern Minnesota!
Without further ado, here are 22 of our favorite gifts for outdoorsy kids and campers this holiday season:
*Pssst, the fourth one down is our favorite. 😉
ENO Leave No Trace DoubleNest Hammock
And don’t forget to grab the ENO Hammock Hanging Kit so your camper can hammock through the holidays at home!
Black Diamond Storm 400 Headlamp
A staple for every camper! You won’t catch us without one of these in our pocket or on our head! We also love this Petzl headlamp too!
Uberleben Original Kuksa Mug
A traditional Nordic mug for a traditional camping experience! Clip it to your packs, belts, or the canoe!
A Summer Session at Birchwood Wilderness Camp
What better gift than the gift of camping! We offer two and four week sessions. Check out our dates here and reserve your campers ticket to ride the waterslide at Birchwood this summer!
NEMO Disco 15 Sleeping Bag
A side sleeper’s DREAM! We recommend this bag to everyone who has ever had trouble sleeping in a mummy bag! *Pssst – HERE’S the women’s version for all our outdoorsy mamas!
MPOWERD Luci Outdoor Inflatable Solar Lantern
Simple, practical, and durable – this little lantern always comes with us on every camping adventure and road trip!
UCO 4-Piece Camping Mess Kit with Bowl
Pack this handy little camp bowl and you’ll never need to worry about utensils, plates, and bowls again.
Ugly Stik GX2 Fishing Rod and Spinning Reel Combo
For our fishermen in the group, this is the rod and reel combo we recommend for all skill levels!
Tailored Tackle Bass Fishing Kit 77 Pc
Bass fishing doesn’t have to just be a Birchwood activity! Bring the sport home with this beginner tackle kit!
Patagonia Better Sweater Jacket – Boys’
Ask any of our campers – the Better Sweater is the ultimate cozy layer for every season!
Hook and Ring Swing DIY Kit
We know this will be a hit at home (indoors and outdoors) because it’s the most popular game at Birchwood!
Osprey Talon 22 Daypack
Perfect for day hikes, airport travel, and school!
SealLine Baja Dry Bag
Our favorite dry bag! We send our campers out with these dry bags for their personal belongings, like clothes and sleeping bags! In our opinion, this is a must-have piece of camping gear. *Pro-Tip: Get one larger dry bag for clothing and one small dry bag for small items, like cameras or e-readers, for easy access.
Leatherman FREE K2 Fine-Edge Knife
For the camper who’s ready for the responsibility of his first knife/multi tool!
Patagonia Black Hole Wheeled Duffel – 100L
Two of these popular duffels and your son will be ready for camp! These are our favorite duffels for when our adventures include air travel!
Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultra Sleeping Pad
We recommend splurging on the wide pad for the wiggly sleepers out there! 🙋♂️
Patagonia Tropic Comfort II Hoodie
A MUST for sunny days! We’re sticklers for proper sun protection here at Birchwood. Covering up with this sun hoodie is our favorite solution!
Complete Slackline Kit with Training Line
This slackline kit is perfect for beginners and all ages for endless hours of backyard fun!
America the Beautiful Pass
A one-year pass to all the national parks for $80! Talk about a stocking stuffer for the whole family!
NORTH MALLOW S’MORES KIT
Take your s’more game to the next level with our favorite marshmallows! *P.S. This company was created by two camp counselors.
Evolv Kronos Climbing Shoes
Paired with a membership to your local bouldering gym make for a perfect holiday gift for your climber! (Call your local bouldering gym to learn about their COVID safety protocols.)
Travel Cribbage Board
A staple game in Minnesota and a perfect for rainy days in the tent or house!
That’s a wrap, friend! We hope a few things on our list caught your eye in time to order and wrap-up for your young camper’s next outdoor adventure!
If you’d like to give the best holiday gift on the list, a session at Birchwood Wilderness Camp in 2021, give us a call or enroll here. We can’t wait to see you this summer!
Happy Trails This Holiday Season,
Ashley Bredemus (owner + director)
Ashley!
I grew up going to Camp Birchwood about a million years ago, when Jim and Nancy were the bosses and Dan, Terry and their sisters spent the summers helping out. When my kids were of Birchwood age we lived in Brazil – too far to go. I have wonderful memories! Birchwood is, as you surely know, the very best place for a kid to spend the summer! I’m forever grateful!
Glad to know I must still have a little kid in me! Great list.