The holidays are an excellent time to enjoy the wondrous outdoors. But what can you do if you are stuck at home, perhaps due to a campground closure, an unforeseen emergency or even a potential budgetary issue?
Why Backyard Camping?
Backyard camping offers an excellent opportunity to spend time with your family especially kids when you cannot head outdoors for traditional camping. Even if you are not experienced with camping just yet, you can try backyard camping before heading for the real thing. Just remember to follow the guide we have provided above to set up and enjoy an authentic backyard camping experience.
This does not mean you should cancel your family holidays. Instead, why not explore the unique experience of backyard camping? So, let’s start with our backyard camping checklist!
Set Up A Tent
The first step to creating an authentic camping experience is to bring out a tent. Find a flat surface in your backyard that will function as a campsite and set up the tent. Make it as cozy as possible by putting in bed rolls, sleeping bags and comfy comforters.
Use A Makeshift Shelter
For those who do not have a tent at home, you can easily create a makeshift shelter instead. For this, hang a clothesline or some rope between two trees. Throw a large tarp or blanket over the top. This should function as the roof of your shelter. For the bottom, lay down a waterproof tarp and add some blankets to make it warm and comfortable. Your makeshift shelter is ready!
Add Lighting
The right lighting and music can elevate your backyard camping adventure. Since you are close to home, it is a wonderful idea to put around fairy lights, string lights or even camping lanterns. Lighting is essential if you are looking for romantic backyard camping ideas. And if you are doing this activity with your kids, they will also love the extra light that will make the outdoors more comfortable.
Make Your Meal On An Outdoor Fire
To enjoy an authentic campaign experience, prepare your meal outdoors around a fire! You do not have to set up an actual fire. There are a lot of portable small fire pits on the market that can be used outdoors without burning your grass.
You can also skip the firepit and instead use a standard BBQ grill for cooking. We recommend skewered veggies and chicken, shrimp or kebab as they are easy enough to make over a BBQ grill. You can also roast hot dogs or cook up meats in foil packets.
“Our family likes to use a brick firepit for our backyard camping meals”, says Taylor Anderson, brick masonry expert and President of Mesquite Masonry. “A brick firepit helps to keep the flames centralized. This is not only safer for the family and kids, but helps to cook the food more thoroughly. And who doesn’t love to sit around a firepit and share a beer and stories with good friends?”
Family Backyard Camping Games
There are several family camping games you can enjoy, even in your backyard. You can explore the natural plants and animals in your backyard after it darkens. Or you can stick to the classics such as cards, monopoly, outdoor checkers, etc. You can also try playing some clever games like Tag or Simon Says that won’t require any additional gaming packets.
Share Stories Around The Fire
No camping experience is complete without telling spooky stories around the fire. Gather around and share your terrifying experiences as you heat s’mores over the fire. Remember to keep them age-appropriate; you do not want to terrify your children but keep it entertaining for people of all ages!