The best way to experience all that the outdoors offers is through a family camping trip! You don’t have to go far either you can have a backyard camping trip, especially if you have younger kids.
Family camping trips are full of bonding, learning survival and leadership skills as well as getting to know nature more than you would in your day-to-day life. To safely prepare your family for a camping adventure or if you aren’t able to get away any time soon, why not create a DIY campsite in your own backyard?
Backyard camping lets you get into the camping spirit without leaving the comforts of home. It also can serve as an affordable vacation alternative or a way to introduce the camping experience to your kids to see if they will enjoy it.
How to Prepare for a Backyard Camp Out
When it comes to packing and setting up camp, opt for a tent, camping-friendly attire, and sleeping bags. For inspiration, use the following printable backyard camping checklist to get you started.
Capture the true essence of camping in your backyard, by preparing as if you were going on an outdoor adventure. Make camping ground rules like no technology, leave the campsite cleaner than you found it, or no going into the house and prepare meals that can be made and enjoyed outside.
Don’t forget to incorporate a few kid-friendly camping activities that will keep the whole family entertained.
Backyard Camping Activities for Kids
This list of fun activities to do outside will keep your whole family entertained and can even be brought on real camping adventures!
Craft, Game and STEM Bucket List Challenge
The Game, Craft, and STEM activity challenge booklet is used like a bucket list that can be customized based on which of the 30 activities you want to do. These are all great for a camp out in your backyard.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Whether you jet off on a neighborhood-wide scavenger hunt or just stick to your own backyard, this nature hunt is perfect for learning more about the creatures and environment that surrounds your home. Rather than collecting the items on the list, encourage your kids to snap a photo of them on a disposable camera or jot them down in a camping journal. This will teach them to discover without disrupting living creatures and things in their natural environment. When my kids were done with the scavenger hunt we created things using things we found.
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Find and Seek Scavenger Hunt Outdoor Indoor Card Game for Kids
- Find and Seek Scavenger Hunt is a fun activity game for the whole family to play both indoor and outdoor.
- This set includes 35 Find and Seek cards, 2 instruction cards, and 1 drawstring bag.
Camping Critters Coloring Sheet
While camping can be a wild wilderness adventure, it’s also a great time to practice mindfulness and be one with nature. Encourage quiet time with this camping-themed coloring sheet. All you need to do is print it, pack some crayons or markers and set it up in your eating area.
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Coloring Books For Kids Cool Nature: For Girls & Boys Aged 6-12
This super-fun coloring book for kids explores, celebrates and highlights some of the coolest, most awe-inspiring aspects of nature and turns them into fantastic coloring pages for kids. From cool natural phenomena like volcanoes, lightning and rainbows, right through to unusual and endangered animals, and even cool plants, leaves and flowers, such as the Venus fly trap, this book has something for any cool kid aged around 6-12 who is interested in Planet Earth and loves to color
Connect-The-Dot Constellation Worksheet
When the sun goes down, encourage your kids to look up in awe of nature above! Lay down in your tent or on blankets to spot constellations and planets. This connect-the-dot craft will highlight other visible constellations to be on the lookout for, such as Hercules and Lyra.
Campfire Storyboard
End the night with a sweet activity that will leave everyone laughing and smiling. This storyboard activity turns storytelling into a game. To play, all you’ll need is a die, printed copies of the worksheet, and a crayon or marker. Don’t forget to treat your campers to a goey, marshmallow dessert that will be just as memorable as the camping trip itself!
We hope these backyard camping activities have inspired you to plan your own outdoor adventure soon. For more inspiration, explore Zolo’s guide to backyard camping for even more ideas on what to pack and what to prepare!
