Camping in your own Backyard

Instructions

1. Pick a night for your camp out. If it's a Friday morning and the night is going to be warm and dry, let your family know that the backyard camping adventure is on!
2. Get your supplies ready. You don't need to pack everything in your car and worry about forgetting anything. Pick up fun camping foods like hot dogs and s'more supplies to get the full affect.
3. Set up your tent whenever you feel like it. There is no need to rush to get the tent up before it gets dark. If you prefer, set your tent up the night before the big camp out so the it can air out from your last trip.
4. No tent? No problem! You can string a rope from two trees and drape a blanket or tarp over it. Keep the blanket secure with rocks at the corners. Or, if the night is going be very warm, just sleep under the stars together. All you need are a few sleeping bags and pillows!
5. Pick up some backyard games like Bocce Ball or Bean Bag Toss. They are great for kids and adults of all ages. And they'll help everyone work up an appetite!
6. Have your kids try their hand at backyard botany. Let them explore the different types of trees, plants and bugs that can be found a few feet from your home. If you come across something they don't recognize, look it up. Have them keep an adventure log of all the species of plants and bugs they discover. You never know what you'll find!
7. Be sure you have lighting for the yard when the sun goes down. Try Tiki Torches or Moonrays Solar Lights to help illuminate the area.
8. Pull out your grill or outdoor fireplace to have a backyard bonfire your whole family can safely enjoy. Cook up s'mores, pudgie pies and hot dogs for a delicious camping meal.
9. Show them the stars. It's easy to pull out a book of constellations and point them out to your kids in the sky above. Teach them the stories you grew up with about each one you find. These make great bedtime stories to end your background camping adventure for the night!