Are you itching for a fresh air adventure? You don’t have to escape the city to enjoy the great outdoors. Backyard camping lets you get cozy near the comforts of home, and it’s an affordable vacation alternative that is made for social distancing.
Pitching a tent in the backyard gets you and the family a change of scenery without all the heavy lifting of a traditional camping trip — after all, you’re only lugging supplies so far. This easy “weekend trip” is also a chance to teach kids lessons about the value of hard work and the importance of preserving nature, set to the backdrop of a crackling fire.
Below, we’ve included a checklist of packing essentials, along with free activities for families to enjoy camping in the backyard. Whether it’s stargazing charts, campfire story ideas or outdoor activities for adults, we’ve got you covered with our ultimate guide.
How to Prepare Your Backyard Campsite
Camping is all about enjoying simple moments and creating lasting memories, free from the stresses of modern life. As you set up camp and transform your backyard into a forest waiting to be explored, the city lights and neighbourhood noise will melt away.
Here’s how to optimize your DIY camping trip for family-fun.
Pack for Your “Trip”
Make the weekend feel authentic by packing for your backyard camping trip the same as you would a weekend in the woods. Remember that the basics are important for a fun and comfortable stay, but that camping at its core is all about minimalism. You’ll want to reduce your footprint by only packing items you’ll need and disposing of all trash, safely away from where animal paws can get to it.
Our packing checklist makes preparing for your backyard camping trip easy. We also include things to leave at home, such as valuables that could get ruined or scented items that could attract insects or wildlife.
Items to pack:
- A tent that can hold the whole family
- Sleeping bags
- Pillows and extra blankets
- A first aid kit
- Flashlights and batteries
- White or coloured string lights
- Foldable table
- Lawn chairs
- Firelogs
- Matches and/or a lighter
- Sunscreen and bug spray
- Food and drinks
- Cooler
- Recyclable plates and utensils
- S’mores supplies and other sweets
- Cards and other board games
- Trash bags
Items to skip:
- Phone or technology
- A mirror
- Cologne or perfume
- Jewelry
- Scented lotion
- Glass bottles
- Clothes that can’t get dirty
Plan Meals to Cook Outside
To create a backyard camping party that feels far from home, you should pack everything you need — including food. Running inside to grab the salt and pepper is technically cheating, so you’ll want to plan out your recipes ahead of time and pack all the ingredients you need.
Items that are easy to transport, such as homemade canned tomato sauce, make meal prep and cleaning up a breeze. You’ll also need a grill or campfire to cook your food, as well as recyclable or compostable plates and utensils.
Here are some classic campfire recipes to get you started:
Lay Some Campground Rules
Every campsite needs to set ground rules. Before your trip, get together with family members to agree upon camp bylaws, such as “no cell phones” or “no wifi use.” This will help set expectations for the trip and let people know what to pack and what to leave inside.
All of the rules of nature should also apply, such as never feeding the animals and leaving no trace. Furry friends may creep up to your tent site, so display the printable sign below as a reminder to all campers.
Set up Camp
Now it’s time to set up! When you get your supplies to the campsite, enlist your little one’s help in unpacking sleeping bags, blankets and games. Adults should focus on setting up larger items, such as the tent, first.
Store extra food at least 200 feet away from the tents in case curious animals wander towards the smell. You’ll also want to consider wind direction when setting up the campfire to reduce fire risks. The flames should always be at least 15 feet away from anything flammable. Here are more campsite organization tips from Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI).
Backyard Camping Ideas for Kids
No escape from the city is complete without classic camp activities. This list of fun things to do outside in the backyard will keep your kids entertained throughout the trip, giving you a chance to kick back, relax and enjoy the fresh air.
Host a Neighbourhood Nature Hunt
Once you set up camp, it’s time to explore the grounds! Help your kids see the backyard with a different perspective by sending them on a nature scavenger hunt.
Rather than collecting the items on the list, have kids snap a photo of them on a disposable camera. This will teach your kids how to discover without disrupting living creatures and things in their natural environment. Plus, you can print the photos later as a keepsake.
Coordinate Arts and Crafts
Pass the time by getting crafty at the campsite. Mindful activities such as colouring keep kids engaged in the present moment while also providing you with some quiet and relief.
This colouring sheet identifies furry critters that may make a campsite appearance. All you need to do is print it, pack some crayons or markers and set it up at the picnic area.
Go Stargazing
When you’re camping, there’s nature all around — including up above. On a clear evening, look up at the night sky to spot constellations and planets.
During warm summer months, the Big Dipper lights up the Northern Sky. Below, the connect-the-dot craft highlights other visible constellations to be on the lookout for, such as Hercules and Lyra.
Tell Campfire Stories
Without TVs and phones around, there’s plenty of time for engaging in conversation. Gathering around the fire for storytime is a great way to entertain and inspire imagination. Spooky stories go down better with s’mores, so don’t forget to heat this gooey marshmallow and chocolate treat as you swap tales fireside.
Our S’mores Stories activity turns storytelling into a game. To play, all you’ll need is a die, printed copies of the worksheet below and a crayon or marker.
Camping Books for Children
Reading gives you a lens into other worlds and experiences. To get kids excited for their backyard camping trip, encourage them to turn to book pages for insight into the upcoming adventure. You can also bring some of these recommendations along and read them together in the tent.
Here are some of our favourite books about camping for kids:
- The Canadian Kids’ Guide to Outdoor Fun by Helaine Becker
- A Camping Spree with Mr. McGee by Chris Van Dusen
- Scaredy Squirrel: Goes Camping by Mélanie Watt
- Night animals by by Gianna Marino
- Into the Outdoors by Susan Gal
Backyard Camping Ideas for Adults
Unplugging for a backyard camping adventure isn’t just for the little ones — enjoy this activity as a date night activity, with friends or solo. Here are some activities for adults to enjoy while camping:
Read a Book
A weekend in nature is the perfect time to turn the pages of an adventure novel or spooky story. Fresh air and the quiet sounds of rustling leaves will help transport you to another world. Consider hanging up a hammock to lounge in as you read, and don’t forget to pack candles or a reading light for nighttime reading.
Meditate
Camping is supposed to be all about relaxation, but an unexpected storm or tent malfunction can quickly turn the weekend upside down. Luckily, meditation lets you quickly regain control of the weekend by redirecting stressful thoughts.
There are many health benefits to meditation, such as reducing stress and anxiety. This controlled breathing method also enhances self-awareness, allowing you to truly experience the present stillness of the outside world.
Make It a Date Night
For couples, doing a new activity together is a great way to reignite romance or connect deeper with one another. Many camping activities also double as date ideas, such as campfire cooking and nature walks.
Set up a glamping date night in the backyard, complete with twinkling string lights, soft textures and intimate activity ideas.
Benefits of Backyard Camping
There are many health benefits to fresh air and sunshine (especially during COVID-19). Spending time near trees means your body is taking in more oxygen, and it can also help lower your blood pressure, reduce stress and improve your mood.
Beyond being good for your health, camping activities can also strengthen your family bond. Rather than spending a weekend glued to screens, you and the kids will learn survival skills and spend time exploring the natural world around you.
Camping at home is fully customizable, making it a much more affordable option when compared to other summer vacations. Plus, it gets the social-distancing seal of approval.
If you’re yearning to get your family back to the basics, this guide is full of activities and ideas for an inspiring weekend. The best part? To enjoy all that this DIY camping experience has to offer, all you really need is a backyard. If you own your home, building a campsite won’t require any special permissions or permits, making this a turnkey weekend activity full of family fun.
