Family camping trips can create cherished, lifelong memories for parents and children alike. But it is not always possible to pack your bags and head to the nearest national park. Sometimes a busy work schedule prevents the family from running away, and other times the budget is squeezed too hard to accommodate the expenses the vacation entails.
Create an exciting adventure that the whole family, including pets, can enjoy without leaving home by camping in your own backyard. See if some of the following ideas can help your family embark on an exciting outdoor journey without crossing your property line.
Make a pact to stay outside and unplugged.
To do this wild indulgence right, have everyone in the family promise that they will only go inside for bathroom breaks. Leave all electronic devices inside and agree to use parents’ phones only in emergencies. Ask the whole family to pack everything they need for a real night ride.
Create a comfortable camping site.
buy essentials pop up tent It can be rolled up in about 10 seconds. Depending on the size of your family, you may want to go with only one tent that seats four or add a two-person model to accommodate older children or parents. Cover the tent floor with yoga mats or thick blankets to make it comfortable before putting on sleeping bags.
Light the area with solar powered patio stakes or string lights to create a soft glow and help everyone feel more comfortable outdoors in the dark. Provide everyone with a bright flashlight that they can use to come home safely for bathroom breaks.
Fill coolant.
Make a variety of your family’s favorite cold sandwiches and pack them in an ice box with fresh fruit and juice boxes for lunch. Bring plenty of plain drinking water along with non-perishable snacks, such as crackers and crackers.
Nature collage crafting.
You’ll need some engaging activities to keep the kids entertained during the daylight hours. Have them start a treasure hunt that they find foraging in your gardens, looking for interesting and unique items that can be included in a colorful collage. Ideas include bird feathers, pine cones, flowers, and dried rocks. Once the supplies are gathered, let the kids stick them to a poster board or a clay flower pot to create a visual reminder of that special backyard camping trip.
Introduce your kids to the fun of bird watching.
Looking for the right age A beginner’s field guide to birds, and provide your children with binoculars so they can begin to discover the species that inhabit your area. Some guides designed specifically for young birds They have pages to jot down and sketch out what they notice.
Be physically active.
If the kids have energy to burn, arrange some time for physical play. Join teams for friendly competition in a game of volleyball, soccer or touch soccer. Throw a frisbee or a tennis ball to the dog, too. If you’re camping in the backyard on a hot summer’s day, pull out the water guns and water balloons for a refreshing, all-cool fight.
Cook dinner on the stove.
Cooking over an open flame is one of the best parts of a camping trip. Use either a wood-fired fire pit or a charcoal grill to roast sausages and burgers. You can wrap vegetables and potatoes in aluminum foil packets and grill them for a healthy side dish. Of course, the dessert has to be s’mores, but if you want a fun twist on the traditional way of roasting marshmallows on a stick, try s’mores nachos.
Gathered around the fire at night.
Once the sun goes down and everyone starts to relax, it’s time to sit around the fire and grill popcorn. Remember to keep children and pets at least three feet away from open flames. If you don’t have a fire pit, you can place a lantern on a blanket and make that your focal point. Tell ghost stories, sing songs, or share your favorite experiences from the day. If there is a musician in the family, be sure to bring him along with the guitar, harmonica or ukulele.
Backyard camping is a great way to introduce the youngest of the family to the joy of sleeping under a starry sky without concerns about wildlife or a lack of running water. It also takes much less time and costs less for parents. If done right, backyard camping is one outdoor experience that can deepen bonds between parents and children while creating a new family tradition of fun.
Article submitted by Include insuranceA bolder insurance partner.
