It’s Camping with the Kids Week
This is an exciting week at our house, as we have been enjoying our weekly theme - Camping with Kids. Let me tell you, this week is a BIG hit with the kiddos. Sometimes when you sit back and look at your kids and life you realize that children love the simple things in life, no frills. Camping with the Kids would fall into one of those great memories in the making.
Did you see yesterdays post showing you how to make Indoor Smores? If you missed it, make sure to check it out here or pin for later. It’s a super EASY Smores recipe - you make all from the comforts of your own home.
I grew up tent camping with my family usually in the woods or near a lake somewhere in California, so sharing the joy of the great outdoors and nature with my own kids is truly a great feeling. Who knew, pitching a tent in your own backyard could be so fun?…. Well, I’ll tell you it’s a great bonding experience for you and your kids.
First we set up the tent (well my hubby did) I did a fantastic job supervising, if you ask me. Next, the kids got their camping chairs out from the garage and put their sleeping bags inside our home away from home.
Backyard Camping Ideas for Kids
Then we let the good times roll…..
I got the kids involved and excited about our Scavenger Hunt.
Click to Download a free Camping Scavenger Hunt for Kids
After our scavenger hunt we played a good ol’ fashioned game of Tic Tac Toe.
Again, just some simple games but such a thrill for the kids, they didn’t even realize we were in our own backyard camping.
My son decided to use some of the rocks we found from our scavenger hunt and make some fun rock sculptures.
More sorting and using rocks from our backyard scavenger hunt game.
Next we made friendship bracelets. This reminded me of camp from when I was a girl. You know, staying at camp for a week, making crafts, and having a blast outdoors - such great memories. My daughter must’ve made like 5 bracelets, and necklaces. We used Creatology Pony Beads and Kids Braiding Cord to make the bracelets.
We got the backyard fire-pit lit and decided to grill up some hot-dogs for dinner. I did cheat and add some french fries from inside the house on this part (but otherwise we were outside camping).
With nice full bellies we were ready to play some Backyard Bingo. We used some great printables from My Insanity posting at ThirtyHandMadeDays. We used those rocks we found from the scavenger hunt.
Click here to view Backyard Bingo
Once the sun set and night settled in we enjoyed our campfire in our backyard. Luckily we have a fire-pit so this part was a whole lot of fun. The kids used glow sticks and flashlights to light the tent. From the smiles on the kids faces I knew that camping in the backyard was a huge success.
We couldn’t camp without making Smores. If you missed my last post on how to make Indoor Smores, you can check it out by clicking here. So easy, and a must-have for camping, at least for me.
Who knew, camping in your own backyard could be SO fun! Join the movement this Saturday June 28th for The Great American Backyard Campout. The kids are really loving the great outdoors, so we will definitely be outside camping in the backyard. With all these fun ideas, will you join the fun and pitch a tent in your backyard too?
I hope you and your family get a chance this summer to join The Great American Backyard Campout fun. It’s a hit with the kids and honestly with parents too! I love how you don’t have to spend a whole lot of money to make this a memorable camping experience for your kiddos.
Thanks for all the great tips! We will be trying to camp out this weekend too. I’m sure the kids will really enjoy it.
Thanks Nicole, I hope you guys get to enjoy this weekends festivities in your own backyard. Backyard camping will now be a tradition, since the kids loved it so much. I hope you guys do too!
Backyard camping is such a blast. Not much packing to do and no long drive.
That’s the best part + it’s free! It was such a blast to just grab our tent, kids, and get outside for a night of fun. Big success for sure!
I love the idea of the kid scavenger hunt! We definitely need to do that while we have all the little cousins together! Thanks for sharing this. I’ll be pinning it!
Leilani recently posted…Why Is Mommy So Tired? A book review!
Hi Leilani, oh I sure hope you guys get the chance to get the kids together and enjoy a campout in your backyard. It’s SO much fun! I loved that it didn’t cost much at all, and we were in our own backyard (in case someone got scared), luckily they made it through the night. Thanks for pinning too!
Great post. I really enjoyed it. Sharing. I left you a message on Google+ for you son
Sheila @ BrainPowerBoy recently posted…Leonardo da Vinci Resource Guide
Thanks so much! Thank you for the kind words about my son’s little rock creation. We really had a lot of fun backyard camping. It’s those small things in life that make the kids the happiest.
Well, my son has camping out in the backyard in a tent on his bucket list and I’m loathing it….LOATHING IT!! Our backyard is so gross! Our big dog just runs like he is in a rodeo, so it’s all dirt, with all kinds of fire ants. We have a cement patio, but the ants get there, too. I am not sure what the heck we are going to do! I LOVE the indoor s’mores idea ( I skipped over to the post and love it, especially the pic of your son eating the s’more!). I love the scavenger hunt idea, but I just don’t know about how we are gonna pull off the backyard part! Do you guys actually all sleep in there all night long? It will be an adventure for sure!! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Goldi recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday : Dreams of Mine
I totally understand not camping outside if the yard just doesn’t work for it. You know another fun way to still get that bucket list filled could be to pitch a tent in your living room. I’ve had friends do this and it was a BIG hit with the kids. Plus, you can enjoy your indoor smores, no problem
Yes, I think we will do the camping inside thing and then I just heard about something that our Air Force Base does, but it isn’t until September…they set up a bounce house with a screen inside for the kids to watch a movie, then they provide s’mores around a huge camp fire. It is a total SPOILED way to camp, but maybe it will be something my 5 year old will remember and think it is an awesome experience! Maybe I can send just him and dad to do it though!! haha.
I’m jealous….that bounce house move night, sounds so fun for the kids. I’ve never heard that, but I see how kids would just love it. If you get to sneak off and let Dad enjoy, good 4 you!
I doubt dad would go for that, but we can dream, right?
Goldi recently posted…New Addition To Lil’ Bear’s Room: Skateboard Shelf
Haha, I know.. a little dreaming hurts
Unfortunately we don’t have any grass in our back yard so there is no place to comfortably put up a tent. I am not sleeping on decomposed granite without an air mattress! But we could do everything up until the actually sleep outside part.
Hi Audrey, I’m glad you guys can make a night out of just enjoying some games and food outside. Honestly, that’s the best part, seeing the kids enjoying the moments of “camping” - even if it doesn’t mean you sleep out there too. Have fun! I hope you had a great 4th of July!
Terra says
I love this; camping without all the packing and unpacking. The games make it feel like the kids get to go to summer camp. I pinned this for later. Fun!
Terra recently posted…Where’s Grandpa? A hidden pictures game for family
Thanks Terra for stopping by! I agree, it’s great to camp out back or even just enjoy the games with the kids, without the fuss of packing up and re-packing. This is a great activity for summer fun
Enjoy your week!
What fun ideas. We just packed up our tent from our backyard camping, but I’ll have to keep the scavenger hunt and bingo in mind the next time.
Erlene recently posted…Guri Guri - Hawaiian Ice Cream
How fun Elene, how was your backyard camping? Did the kids just love it? I like how it’s easy and you don’t have to even leave the house
It was really fun. My hubby would build a fire and the kids would make smores each night. And yes I love that we don’t have to the leave the house
Erlene recently posted…Guri Guri - Hawaiian Ice Cream
Wonderful ideas that I never would have thought of. Going to share this with friends who camp a lot. Thank you for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest board.
Camping in the backyard turned out to be such an amazing experience for both the kids and myself. We really enjoyed it! My kids keep asking to do it again, lol! I hope your friends enjoy the tips, easy and inexpensive fun for the kids.