They can work out lids or clean lining material, and fill the pits at departure time. When leaving a campsite, assign kids to hiding all evidence of your visit by raking out and disguising a fire pit, sweeping the ground with a branch, and removing every faint trace of human activity from a displaced rock to a cotton thread on a bush. This appeals to their limbic brain functions for sneaking around and evading enemies. Kids can filter water and keep the bottles full, and no kid should camp without cooking. Before they cook, anchor the stove with rocks or tent stakes, or stabilize the fire grate on green logs rather than slick rocks.
Older kids can handle seasoned one-pot rice dishes or pasta and sauce deals.
Tiny pancakes and filled tortillas are easy to prepare. Roasted chestnuts or potatoes pulled from the ashes are winners. Mash wild berries onto unleavened dough baked on a flat rock. Kids love the idea that the earth provides. Gather berries, mushrooms, and a few basic salad plants, and make a leaf tea or two.