Backyard Camping Tips for the perfect at home vacation!
You can have a backyard camping trip without going anywhere this weekend! Backyard camping is a great way to do a super affordable staycation, teach / learn some new skills and have some fun!
Camping is an incredibly popular and enriching family experience, but it can be difficult finding the time to head out to the great outdoors.
Backyard Camping Ideas & Tips
Many families have taken to camping out in their own backyards. Backyard camping is an incredibly fun adventure, but it does still require some work.
Let me share a few great tips to transform your backyard into the ultimate backyard camping experience.
Planning Your Backyard Camp Out
You will want to plan out your campout before jumping straight in. Make sure you have the supplies you will need, check the weather, and pick days to be outside.
Additionally, you will want to educate your children on the basics of camping safety if they need it. Consider a camping book or watch some YouTube videos to get prepared.
Make sure you have a first aid kit on standby as well, and plan for any emergencies or negative situations in advance. You won’t be in the wilderness, but accidents still happen. Eliminating problems early on can help to have the best possible backyard camping experience.
Think about the “rules” you will want for your campout, such as if the family is allowed to venture in and out of the house. What about cell phones or other electronics?
We only allow for indoor potty breaks and absolutely ZERO electronics.
If the house is off-limits, help your kids make sure they have everything that they will need before heading outside.
Food – What will you eat while camping?
One of the best parts of camping is the immensely satisfying process of making your own food, and backyard camping should be no exception. There are all sorts of foods you can make outside, and a variety of ways to cook them.
Whether you opt for a campfire (we use our fire pit), grill, or even a Sun Oven, there are a large variety of camping foods to make.
You could try making something familiar over the campfire, such as hamburgers or pizza. Pie irons can be used for grilled cheese or pizzas in addition to pies.
Camping is a perfect time to have the kids get in on meal preparation too, this is a great time to learn how to cook over a fire!
If you are not allowing yourself to venture in and out of the house, you might want to grab a cooler or two for drinks and food storage. Clean up is still important in your backyard because food attracts rodents!
No campout would be complete without some s’mores! Make sure to get some roasting sticks for those marshmallows (they are great for hot dogs too) and bring on the graham crackers.
Try Banana Boats over the campfire!
Camping in the Yard – Where to Sleep
Tent camping is really going to make the backyard feel more like you are out in the wild. If you aren’t ready to invest in a tent see if a friend or family member would be willing to lend you one for a few days.
Of course, you may opt to sleep out under the stars, no tent needed. This option works well since you won’t have wild animals to contend with in your yard.
If you do your backyard camping in the summer, you can possibly skip buying a sleeping bag as well and just make a pallet on the ground. Or throw down a few air mattresses with sheets.
If you are camping out in cooler weather, then consider investing in a quality sleeping bag. These will be great when you’re ready to graduate to away-camping too.
Again, we allow for PJ changes to happen indoors (no show for the neighbors).
Other options to consider are cots, blankets, and an abundance of pillows can make the camping experience even more fun and comfortable! You can also have the kids help decorate the campsite with lights and patio decorations, which can be incredibly fun for them.
Other Backyard Camping Equipment
There are a few other items you may want to consider for your backyard camping:
- Lighting – lanterns
- Folding Camp Chairs
- Matches or lighter
- Camping eating gear (metal, plastic or paper)
Backyard Campout Activities
Since electronics are out you’ll want to plan camping activity, we love to play cards or board games during our campouts. Other options might be horseshoes, hide and seek, tag, a scavenger hunt or maybe plan an outdoor movie theater!
Or learn a new campfire game!
There are all sorts of things to do while camping, and getting the whole family involved is just part of the fun you can have camping out in the backyard.
How about some backyard games? Check out Classic Outdoor Games.
There are also all sorts of ways to spruce up your campsite. Have the family create a camp flag or come up with a camp theme song.
Don’t forget to tell a good campfire story or a scary ghost story too!
Outdoor camping with the family can be a wonderful bonding experience, but it isn’t always possible to get out to a real campsite. But all you really need is a backyard, a campfire, a tent and a little imagination to get a great camping experience.
With these tips in hand you and your family can have the ultimate backyard camping adventure that you are sure to remember; all while staying close to home.
