What does a compass do?

A compass has a magnetized needle that points toward magnetic north, which helps you find your direction.

Can I use this as a camping packing list?

Yes. The challenge puzzle includes sleeping bag, flashlight, binoculars, thermos and waterproof gear, so you can tick off what you will bring as you solve it.

How are words with an apostrophe handled?

Punctuation is removed, so s'mores becomes SMORES in the grid.

Can I make a puzzle for my scout troop's trip?

Yes. Type your kit list or trip activities into the generator, one per line, and press Generate puzzle.

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Camping Word Search

A camping word search with 10 words, from tent to hiking, plus two fixed printable puzzles: eight campsite words for beginners and a 15 x 15 challenge of 16 more outdoor words.

Words (one per line, or comma separated)

Or start from a topic:

Grid size

Difficulty

Puzzle title

Subtitle (optional)

Two printable camping puzzles

These two puzzles are fixed: the grid is the same every time, so you can print identical sheets for a class or a party. Each has a word list, a Show answers button, a Print button and a printable answer key. Download both as a PDF (with answer keys)

Camping Word Search 1: Campsite Words

Easy 10 x 10 grid · 8 words · 3 to 6 letters

A 10 x 10 puzzle for beginners. Eight short words, hidden across, down and diagonally down to the right only.

Name: ____________________ Date: ______________

VCOIADOFNKTBSSNFQUSXFAOTMRMWMCKBYSAOLUIARATHRRRAOKSMAPLRSEKGHTRVBOOTSEAVPSOCKSTJCADERRCEOAAPALHFIREF

BOOTSFIRELAKEMAPS'MORESSOCKSSTARSTARP

Camping Word Search 1: Campsite Words: answer key

VCOIADOFNKTBSSNFQUSXFAOTMRMWMCKBYSAOLUIARATHRRRAOKSMAPLRSEKGHTRVBOOTSEAVPSOCKSTJCADERRCEOAAPALHFIREF

BOOTS: row 7, column 5, across to the right
FIRE: row 10, column 6, across to the right
LAKE: row 4, column 7, diagonally down and to the right
MAP: row 6, column 2, across to the right
S'MORES: row 2, column 4, diagonally down and to the right
SOCKS: row 8, column 4, across to the right
STARS: row 2, column 3, diagonally down and to the right
TARP: row 5, column 3, down

Camping Word Search 2: Camping Challenge

Hard 15 x 15 grid · 16 words · 6 to 11 letters · 13 hidden backwards or upwards

A 15 x 15 puzzle with sixteen longer words, hidden in every direction, including backwards and up.

Name: ____________________ Date: ______________

HEEPGURIBBRPAZISSENREDLIWRPHDTGOLSGEONHDAIRRANGONQMOLNDMOAMLIWAEDCCUDUAISFMHRHIUIOLBELUAAHSATLSRIFPHTXRRAIGABGNIPEELSIIOFRAPGRSAXAHWOWJSUMDEODCAMPSITEDAUWMJCKAPLTTZZCMORGNILDNIKLUFBOEZWILDLIFEAASDHOXFOORPRETAWGTRYFWFLASHLIGHT

BINOCULARSCAMPGROUNDCAMPSITEFIREWOODFISHINGFLASHLIGHTKINDLINGMARSHMALLOWPADDLINGRANGERSLEEPING BAGTHERMOSTRAILHEADWATERPROOFWILDERNESSWILDLIFE

Camping Word Search 2: Camping Challenge: answer key

BINOCULARS: row 1, column 10, diagonally down and to the left
CAMPGROUND: row 12, column 1, diagonally up and to the right
CAMPSITE: row 10, column 8, across to the right
FIREWOOD: row 7, column 8, diagonally down and to the left
FISHING: row 9, column 1, up
FLASHLIGHT: row 15, column 6, across to the right
KINDLING: row 12, column 12, across to the left
MARSHMALLOW: row 5, column 15, diagonally down and to the left
PADDLING: row 2, column 12, diagonally down and to the left
RANGER: row 6, column 2, diagonally up and to the right
SLEEPING BAG: row 8, column 12, across to the left
THERMOS: row 15, column 1, diagonally up and to the right
TRAILHEAD: row 2, column 15, diagonally down and to the left
WATERPROOF: row 14, column 14, across to the left
WILDERNESS: row 2, column 10, across to the left
WILDLIFE: row 13, column 5, across to the right

About this camping word search

Camping words are a nice way to prepare for a trip or to remember one. The default list is the basic kit and setting: tent, campfire, lantern, hammock, compass, backpack, trail, forest, canoe and hiking. Together they describe a weekend out: you hike a trail, set up a tent, light a campfire, and read your compass when you are lost.

The easy puzzle has eight simple campsite words: map, fire, lake, tarp, s'mores, stars, boots and socks. The challenge adds the things you pack and the places you go: sleeping bag, flashlight, binoculars, campground, wilderness, marshmallow, firewood, waterproof, kindling, thermos and trailhead. Here the puzzle doubles as a packing list: students check each word against what they would actually bring.

For a scouting group or outdoor club, make a puzzle with the generator from the kit list for your next trip and hand it out at the planning meeting. For a classroom, pair it with a unit on maps, nature or safety. Many outdoor groups teach a leave-no-trace approach, so a good discussion question is which words on the list are about taking care of the place you visit.

Word notes

Tent: a portable shelter made from fabric, held up with poles.
Campfire: an outdoor fire used for cooking and warmth at a campsite.
Lantern: a portable light, often battery powered today.
Hammock: a hanging bed made of fabric or netting, slung between two supports.
Compass: an instrument whose magnetic needle points toward magnetic north.
Trail: a path through the countryside, often marked for walkers.
Canoe: a light, narrow boat moved with paddles.

Vocabulary tip

Use the challenge puzzle as a packing quiz: which items are essential, which are nice to have and which could stay home? It gives students a reason to talk about planning.

Difficulty guide

Generator (default list). The 10 words run from 4 letters (tent) to 8 letters (campfire and backpack), 6.3 letters on average and 63 letters in all, which fills about 32% of the default 14 x 14 grid. On the default Medium setting, words can run in five directions. Choose Easy for across, down and diagonal-right only, or Hard to add backwards and upwards.
Easy puzzle. 8 words of 3 to 6 letters in a 10 x 10 grid, with nothing hidden backwards or upwards.
Challenge puzzle. 16 words of 6 to 11 letters in a 15 x 15 grid, with 13 of them hidden backwards or upwards. Campground and campsite share the same first four letters, and marshmallow and binoculars, at 11 and 10 letters, are the longest words.

Ways to use it

Ask students to sort the ten words into things you carry, things you do and places you go.
Plan a trip: choose five words from the challenge as the essential kit and explain why.
To use your own list, edit the words in the box at the top of the page and press Generate puzzle, or press New layout, same words for a fresh grid. Print it with Show answers ticked to add a separate answer page.

What does a compass do?: A compass has a magnetized needle that points toward magnetic north, which helps you find your direction.
Can I use this as a camping packing list?: Yes. The challenge puzzle includes sleeping bag, flashlight, binoculars, thermos and waterproof gear, so you can tick off what you will bring as you solve it.
How are words with an apostrophe handled?: Punctuation is removed, so s'mores becomes SMORES in the grid.
Can I make a puzzle for my scout troop's trip?: Yes. Type your kit list or trip activities into the generator, one per line, and press Generate puzzle.