Looking to spend some quality time with your family? Join thousands heading to their own backyards to experience the great outdoors as part of the national Great American Backyard Campout Event every June.

 

by Shannon Philpott

To hear the sound of crickets and gaze at the stars, you don’t have to travel far. In fact, your own backyard will do just fine.

The Great American Backyard Campout, sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, is a national event encouraging families to spend a night under the stars in their backyard, at local campsites, or in community parks. The event takes place every year on the fourth Saturday of June. 

According to Karoline Hurd, senior manager of events for National Wildlife Federation, the event promotes both an appreciation for nature and family time. “Whether camping in the great outdoors or in their own backyard,” she says, “the Great American Backyard Campout is the perfect way for families to make lasting memories and will give them a better understanding of why it’s called the great outdoors.”

For both parents and kids, it is important to take some time to smell the fresh air, see the beauty of nature, and remove ourselves from a technology-driven world where we are reliant on cell phones, television sets and computers. Imagine the creativity that can transpire when iPods and Nintendo games are out of reach and families can spend some quality time together.

Families who register for the event will have access to free campout games, campfire songs, nature activities, and camping tips from the National Wildlife Federation.

Campout necessities

To ensure comfort and safety for the whole family, it is important to come prepared for a night of camping. If you’re in your backyard, you can always run back into the house for anything you need, but spending the night at a campground without essentials may lead to an uncomfortable night for you and the kids.

For comfort, remember to pack the following campfire necessities:

• A tent or tarp to use for shelter in case of rain
• Sleeping bags, sheets and blankets
• An air mattress or sleeping pad for extra warmth and comfort
• Warm clothes for when the sun goes down
• Flashlights or lanterns (don’t forget the batteries)
• Insect repellent, sunscreen
• Bottles of water to stay hydrated

Team camping

Don’t want to camp alone? Want to get to know the new neighbors down the street? Invite friends, relatives, and neighbors to join you. The Great American Backyard Campout encourages team camping and offers a team locator and a list of sponsored campsites on its website. Companies and organizations can also serve as hosts for youth groups, families, businesses, and teams.

Team campers can make the most of the night with outdoor activities and ice breakers sure to bring a greater appreciation of the great outdoors and fellow participants.

Campfire games

Nature itself is fascinating, but your children will be engaged by it through campfire games and learning activities focused on nature. Try a few of these activities to keep them entertained the entire night.

●  Nature trivia. Bring a field guide or nature book with you to quiz the little ones on wildflowers, trees, and animals. Spin the game into a treasure hunt so that they can find the answers themselves while in the great outdoors.

●  Musical outdoors. The great outdoors is full of natural sounds. Play a game inviting your children to guess where the sound is coming from and what type of creature makes the sound. From crickets to owls, your children will learn about the world around them in an interactive way.

●  Stargaze silliness. Ever guess the shapes of a cloud and make up a story as a kid? Try this game under the stars. Have each child find a distinct pattern in the stars and create a silly story to share with the family. The stars will surely bring out a spark of creativity in all.

●  Reading rock. If you’ve always wanted to share a book with the rest of the family, yet busy schedules prevailed, now is the time. Find a special reading rock for the family to gather around and have each person read aloud an excerpt or short book. The reading rock could also serve as a storytelling place for everyone to make up their own nature tales.

Camping for funds

Not only is a family campout an evening of quality child parenting time, it can also help fund programs promoting the great outdoors. The Great American Backyard Campout serves as a national fundraising event for the National Wildlife Federation. Before setting up your tent, ask family members, friends, and neighbors to sponsor your efforts.

Although there is no cost to register for the big event, participants are encouraged to try and donate at least $100 to support the National Wildlife Federation. Simply register your donations before July 31 on the National Wildlife Federation’s website to help support the Be Out There movement, a program encouraging parents to provide ample outdoor, unstructured play time for their children. If your family raises funds, you may win incentive prizes and fundraising rewards.

Share your stories!

Are you participating in this year’s event? Share your experiences with us by commenting on this article. We’d love to learn more about your campfire memories!

Resources:

• National Wildlife Federation
• Ten Tips for Camping with Toddlers
• Sun Safety Tips for Summer
• Easy Camping Recipes
• The Joy of Camping – Right in Your Backyard

 

Shannon Philpott is a writer/reporter with 10-plus years of experience, and a college journalism instructor. She maintains a blog about writing, reflecting, and teaching at shannonphilpott.com.

Photo courtesy of National Wildlife Federation