I said it once, I said it twice and I will keep saying it: great outdoors is scary, full of crawling crawlies and I am not ready to deal with it yet. Maybe once the girls are a bit bigger. But, the mom’s guilt is a strong one and I feel horrible the girls are missing out on the experiences because of me. We have finally moved to a place that has a yard which means I can give them the first camping experience that will be in the safety of our backyard.
Backyard camping is an exciting and easy way to enjoy the fun of camping without leaving home, especially with the little ones. Here are some ideas and tips to help you create a memorable backyard campout for your family.
Setting Up Camp
The first step to a successful backyard camping experience is to create a cosy campsite for which you need the following equipment:
- Tent: The grassy area is usually the best place to set up your tent, but if you don’t have it like us, any area will work. We have concrete tiles so we decided to blow up the air mattress to make it more comfortable. We wanted to be able to get up in the morning without backache. If you don’t have a tent, you can make a fort with blankets and tarps draped over a clothesline or sturdy branches. Honestly, kids would love this even more than a tent.
- Sleeping Gear: Bring out sleeping bags, blankets, and pillows, whatever you need to make the night more comfortable. As I already mentioned, get air mattresses or camping pads for extra comfort.
- Lighting: Use lanterns, flashlights, or string lights to illuminate your campsite. We used solar-powered garden lights since we already have them while adding string lights to create a magical atmosphere. Citronella candle is always an excellent choice.
Campfire Cooking
No campout is complete without some delicious campfire food. If you are among the lucky ones who have a fire pit, that will be perfect for cooking s’mores and hotdogs. But a grill or even a small portable stove also works. You can even get tabletop fire pit that doesn’t take a lot of space but works great for s’mores.
- S’mores: Gather graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows for classic s’mores. Let the kids roast marshmallows and assemble their own treats. Emily usually prefers skipping the steps of assembling the s’mores and eats everything separately.
- Campfire Cones: Fill ice cream cones with mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and fruit. The kids love this special threat.
- Hot Dogs and Burgers: Cook hot dogs on sticks or burgers on the grill. Let everyone customize their meal with their favourite toppings.
Fun Activities
Keep the excitement going with a variety of fun activities.
- Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt list with items to find around the yard, such as specific leaves, rocks, or insects. This adds an element of adventure to your campout. We actually plan to do a scavenger hunt that will lead to the camping reveal. We will hide her pyjamas, her favourite plushie, marshmallows and similar items.
- Stargazing: Lay out a blanket and look up at the night sky. Try to recognize the shapes the stars create and you can even use a star map app to identify constellations and planets. Did you know that you can actually easily remember the difference between the planets and stars: stars twinkle and planets don’t? If you have a telescope, you can even have a closer look.
- Campfire Stories: Share spooky or funny stories around the campfire. Encourage everyone to make up their own tales or recount personal experiences. If you have smaller kids like Emily you won’t believe how fun this can be. A few of her story ideas are: broccoli ice cream and discovering there are no ice cream in the fridge. You can guess the common theme.
- Outdoor Games: Play classic outdoor games like tag, hide and seek, or capture the flag. For a quieter option, try flashlight tag or shadow puppets against the tent wall
Comfort and Safety
Ensure everyone is comfortable and safe throughout the night.
- Bug Protection: Use insect repellent and citronella candles to keep bugs away.
- Warmth: Even summer nights can get chilly. Have extra blankets and warm clothing ready. Or if you have a family like mine that always runs warm, prepare a portable fan.
- Safety: Keep a first aid kit on hand for minor injuries. Make sure the fire is always supervised and extinguished properly before going to bed.
Additional Tips for a Successful Backyard Campout
These few extra tips can help make your backyard campout a roaring success:
- Plan Ahead: Prepare all the necessary supplies and food ahead of time. This ensures you can focus on having fun without constant trips back inside.
- Set Up Early: Set up your campsite before it gets dark to avoid the hassle of pitching a tent by flashlight.
- Stay Flexible: Be ready to move indoors if the weather turns bad or if younger kids get scared. The goal is to have fun, so don’t stress if things don’t go perfectly.
- Unplug: Try to minimize screen time and encourage everyone to enjoy the outdoor experience fully.
A backyard camping is a wonderful way to spend quality time together, connect with nature, and enjoy the simple pleasures of camping. With a little preparation and a lot of enthusiasm, your family will create unforgettable memories right in your own backyard. So grab your tent, gather your family, and get ready for a night of adventure and fun!