Get out your tents and marshmallows; it’s time to go camping. Only you won’t have to travel far to tell ghost stories and roast hot dogs if you are participating in the National Wildlife Federation’s 2009 Great American Backyard Campout. The event takes place tomorrow and is designed to encourage families to tap into the myriad of resources available that promote communing with nature just steps from your own home.
If you hate bugs, pit toilets and being without running water, then your backyard is the ideal place to pitch a tent and give your kids a night to remember.
Need tips on how to host a family sleepover with nature? Take a look at these ideas:
Improvise: If you don’t want to wrestle with a tent, then simply drape a large tarp over a clothesline. Stock it with sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, an inflatable mattress, and your child’s favorite furry friends, and you’ve got the makings of a rustic home away from home.
Controlled Campfire: Instead of going wild with a raging backyard bonfire, consider creating a controlled campfire in a portable grill. Your kids will love roasting their own hotdogs and toasting their own smores. Then, round out the meal with some easy pasta salad and fruit. Clean up is a breeze with disposable plates and utensils.
Backyard Fishing: Grab some cream cheese, fish shaped crackers, and celery sticks. Place the cream cheese in a bowl and tint it with a little blue food coloring to make it look like a pond. Place the goldfish crackers in another bowl. Let your kids dip the celery sticks into the cheese, then into the bowl of crackers to “catch” some fish.
Movies Under the Stars: Bring a portable DVD player into the tent or set it up on the deck to watch a favorite movie. Otherwise, watch nature’s own light show. Search for constellations. Have a star gazing contest. Before hitting the sack grab some flashlights and take turns telling jokes, singing songs, or reading stories.
Keep Bugs at Bay: Don’t let mosquitoes or other critters crash your campsite. Use insect repellant and light citronella candles to keep bugs at bay.
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