How to Plan a Fun Family Backyard Camping Adventure
Summer break is almost over now but there is still plenty of time for one last family summer adventure by turning your own backyard into a mini family camping trip. It’s a money and time-saving way to have some fun, spend time with your family and have one last summer hurrah!
Backyard camping affords all the fun of camping with easy access to your bathroom and in case of emergency, your own beds. If you don’t have a backyard suitable for setting up a tent, just get creative and use your living room instead.
I have gone camping since I was little and it is still a favourite summer activity of mine. With little ones though, it’s not something I can just do without the help of Grandparents and unfortunately this summer their schedule just didn’t allow for a summer camping trip. The girls were a bit down about no camping this year so, much to their excitement, I decided last weekend that we could do some backyard camping instead.
I’m sure most Canadians can agree that summer just isn’t long enough, and if we could, we would all power more summer. Here is how you can do just that.
How to Plan a Fun Family Backyard Camping Adventure
Sleeping Essentials
If you own a tent and a tarp then you are all set. If not you may want to borrow or buy a tent (in the hopes of more backyard campouts or a real camping trip.) If you never plan on leaving your backyard then a basic dome tent will do. When setting up, look for a flat, rock-free area to lay your tarp down on. Set up your tent over the tarp to protect the bottom of the tent from moisture.
Set-up your sleeping bags and pillows inside the tent on top of yoga mat’s or an air mattress for a comfortable night’s rest.
Make it Festive
I have friends and family in England and one thing that has really rubbed off on me is how festive their camping sites tend to be. I figure it is to distract everyone from the fact that they are setting up a tent in a giant open field instead of in the woods, so why not employ this tactic when backyard camping too?
Try tying a garland to your tent to make it a little more fun looking. I used a rag garland I found on clearance, but they are also a super easy DIY project. Simply tie strips of cloth material to a length of twine and tie off both ends to keep the “rags” on the garland.
You can also light up your “camp site” and decorate it at the same time by using string lights. I found these adorable Coleman lantern string lights – they are in the shape of Coleman’s classic lantern in miniature form featuring LED lights. These string lights are perfect as they are portable and battery-powered. Simply pop in 3 Duracell Quantum AAA Batteries and you are ready to power your backyard adventure.
Backyard Cookout
Backyard camping is a great time to bring out the outdoor cooking appliances. This might be an outdoor fireplace, a firepit, a camping stove or if all else fails, your barbecue. Cooking outdoors is an integral part of camping so plan ahead for a backyard camping style cook-out if you can.
Our city has bi-laws about firepits and open flame in outdoor urban areas so we don’t own a firepit, although we live in the suburbs surrounded by a rural environment. Instead I setup our camping table so we could be ready to cook on our little Coleman butane stove.
I cooked up a Blueberry Grunt for us but there are so many other camping recipes that you can easily pull off at home or simply stick hamburgers, hotdogs and ‘Smores.
If you do plan on setting up an open fire please use common sense and stay safe. Keep an extinguisher and hose nearby – just in case.
Camping Activities
It’s time to unplug and enjoy the great outdoors! Ditch your phone, tablet, game systems and other technology in favour of some outdoor fun.
Here are some ideas:
- Go on a nature walk around your neighbourhood.
- Build a fake fire with sticks and a flashligh beaming up!
- Sit around your “campfire” and sing camping songs.
- Get cozy in your tent and enjoy some good old fashioned story-telling.
- Stargazing may be difficult if you live in an urban area but we are rural enough that we are able to lay down on a blanket in our yard and gaze up at the constellations in the sky.
- Try some classic games like Telephone, Red Light Green Light, or Simon Says.
- Setup a scavenger hunt.
Check out some of my favourite backyard activities for more ideas on my Fun Backyard Activities board on Pinterest.
Bring on the Night
When darkness falls you will want to light up the night for at least a little bit with a Coleman camping lantern. My dad swears by his old Coleman lantern that is lit with mantles and naphtha but personally I prefer the quick and easy LED camping lantern route. There is no fooling around setting up the mantle and fuel and then dealing with the mission that is lighting the thing. I’ll leave that to dad.
I love the LED lanterns because you can simply pop in your Duracell Quantum Batteries and you are ready for hours of bright light at the flick of a switch – in and out of your tent. We actually have a few of these as they are great for power outages too since they are safe for indoor use as they do not burn fuel.
Make sure your little ones bring along a favourite stuffed friend and a book to read by lantern light before shutting it all off and going to sleep under the stars.
You may also want to think about bringing along a flashlight for bathroom trips in the middle of the night.
Most of our camping essentials are battery powered – the lantern, the string lights, the flash-light and we even usually bring along an old battery-powered radio too. The beauty of using battery powered outdoor devices is that you don’t have to worry about plugging anything in so that no matter where your adventure takes you, you are ready to go. Even if it is just to your backyard.
Remember when packing your essentials for your backyard adventure that you will want to pack Duracell Quantum batteries – they allow you to #PowerMoreSummer by powering your devices for longer. The Duracell Quantum Hi-Density Core stores more power boosters to provide longer lasting performance than ever before. You don’t have to worry about your batteries running low either and leaving you in the dark as Duracell is the only battery brand with PowerCheck on the cell for accurate reading of remaining power. That, of course, translates to way more outdoor and summer fun!
Duracell Quantum helped us to #PowerMoreSummer and will help you power yours too with the giveaway below.
Win it:
One Canadian FrugalMomEh reader will win their own Coleman Rugged Camping Lantern to help them #PowerMoreSummer. Giveaway is open to residents of Canada only. Giveaway closes for entry on September 11th at 11:59 pm EST. See Givaway Tools form for entry and T&C.
Disclosure: This post has been brought to you in part by Duracell. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
I would power more summer by doing a cross Canada road trip.
I would power more summer by having more beach days and bonfires
I could power more summer by having longer light in the days. 🙁 Its starting to get dark earlier.
That is so cute! Right now our backyard needs help before I can do a camping trip in our yard. It would be fun to do.
I would power more summer by lengthening the amount of light in the back yard.
I would power more summer by starting out just after sunrise and settling down just after sunset
I would power more summer with longer light in the evenings.
What a fun idea! My kids are not big on camping, but I think a backyard adventure would be fun for them.
This is so cool! I need to show it to my husband so we can go camping in our yard!
I haven’t gone backyard camping since I was a kid. What a fun way to end summer vacation.
How adorable, I bet they had so much fun! I wouldn’t power more summer because fall is my favorite season and I think summer is long enough HAHA! 😉
Between the decorations and the blueberry grunt, you may have convinced me to go camping! That looks fun!
Backyard camping is always a great way to introduce camping to little ones. My kids loved it when they were little. I liked being so close to home.
I would love to plan a backyard camping trip. I think my kids will love it. Thanks for the great tips.
I want to do this with my girls once we move. We’re suppose to be moving in two weeks! I haven’t been able to bring them camping yet, so this would work out great!
I’d go to the cottage one more time
This looks so fun! My boys would love to have a camp out in our backyard. I’m loving the garland, too!
Camping in the backyard sounds like so much fun!
Oh how fun!! My kids would sleep in a tent all summer long when they were kids. They loved it! Your blueberry cobbler looks delicious and… I am over the moon for your string of mini lanterns.
What a fun summer idea! Love the mini lanterns and the blueberry cobbler looks super delicious!
So SO fun! I can;t wait do this with my kids! Maybe for the long weekend!
My kids love backyard camping! Cute ideas!!
Now this looks like a lot of fun! We haven’t had the chance to do this yet this year. Hopefully soon! Great ideas!
I want more days at the cottage swimmig and bonfires at night.
I would definitely travel more!
I could power more summer by having beach days right into October.
I want more camping trips. I love it out in the country air. What a perfect Lantern for the emergency kit.
I wish we’d have been able to go camping this yr but NEXT year for sure and hopefully for a week. Its hard when you are in a new job or both don’t have the same time off together. Make sure you have really good sleeping bags, esp with it being only 9C at night outside now!!
I think right now even a bonfire at night would be great (Except here you need a permit and we used to just do it spur of the moment, you know? )
I would power more summer by spending more time with friends and family.
I would power more summer by going on more camping trips with my family.
Backyard camping is a great way to power more summer!
More outdoors
I would power more summer by having my grandson stay with us for another week before heading back to school. We could take him to Clifton Hill, Marine Land, & Wonderland when they’re not so busy avoiding crowds & long line-ups.
I would power more summer by stopping all this rain and cold weather we have been having an hope for sunny warmer days
More BBQs on the back deck before the weather gets cold.
Picnics
I would power more summer by having more bbq’s and backyard parties.
If I could I would power more summer I would rent a cottage for a couple weeks so we could enjoy being at the lake.
Definitely more light in the evening to power my summer!
i would power more summer by spending more time outdoors and more marshmallow roasts
All your ideas for backyard camping are wonderful. I especially love the camping lantern strike lights adding a super fun edge to the atmosphere.
I would power more summer by doing one last trip to the cottage and enjoying some fishing with the whole family
I would power summer by having picnics with the nieces and nephew
This is such a cute idea! your girls are adorable too! I love the little rag garland on the tent!
I miss camping. Have only done it once in my brothers backyard, since I was about 14 (many moons have passed since then).
I would spend my weekend outdoors in the North (which I am )! Happy Labour Day.
That is so cool. I absolutely love the idea of camping on the backyard – why haven’t I done it yet?
More warmweather and camping!
Sun shiny days spent @ the beach with my family 🙂
We would spend the days spending as much time outside as possible before the snow comes.
I would power more summer with patio lights because, sadly, the days are getting shorter.
Outdoor air-conditioning:).Thanks!
I would power more summer by having longer day light! It’s starting to get dark early outside
I would power more summer by staying light till 10pm everynight!
My husband camps all the time but as a family we don’t. However, these tips will make these a little easier as we do our first one in a few weeks.
I would power more summer by going on more hikes & walks.
I’d go for an overnight trip to somewhere with a beach.
love evening walks. more pwoer would be great. thanks
I would power more summer by going camping.
I would power more summer by enjoying ever bit of sunshine before it goes away.
more hiking on the trails…..more bbg’s, more campfires!
I would power more summer by eating most of our meals outside and spending every sunny day outside.
By keeping sandals on my feet! Gonna miss them 🙁
I would power more summer by spending more time camping with my family and beach days well into the end of fall
I would spend it camping with my family
I never camped with my parents as a child but did with friends parents and I always loved it. I have camped both tent and now travel trailer with both my kids and they enjoy it! #PowerMoreSummer and camp every weekend till the frost comes!
I would power more summer by spending quality outdoor time with my kids!
Would love more campfires. We had an open air burn for most of the summer so we didn’t get to sit by the fire much at all
Was planning on doing this at my moms out in the country when we were visiting but a bear has been poking around there so the kids decided to stay indoors. I could go for one more swim in my mom’s pool though.
i haven’t camped in the backyard before but it seems like something my girls would love to do , we’ll have to do this soon
I would power more summer with outdoor patio lights! More time to enjoy the nice temps!
I would have a big BBQ. Thinking about it.
I would power more summer when we hang out in the backyard.
We would power more summer with back yard camping!
I would power more summer by adding some lanterns to my backyard.
I would love to power more summer by RVing across the country