Great American Backyard Campout

National Backyard Camp Out

The Great American Backyard Campout is held each year on the fourth Saturday of June. This one-night event - organized by the National Wildlife Organization - encourages families, youth and individuals to camp out in their backyards or local parks and to discover the fun of being in the great outdoors. This year, it is Saturday, June 23, 2007.

If your kids have not camped before and you want to give them a taste for sleeping under the stars, this is a great opportunity to do so. Order pizza and have it delivered to the tent. Get a book on stars like Constellations: A Glow-in-the-Dark Guide to the Night Sky and gaze at the heavens above through netted roof of your tent. Learn a ghost story and scare the wits out of your kids.

My family will be hosting nieces, nephews, our kids' school mates, neighbors at our backyard to make s'mores and sleep under the stars. When else can you host that many kids without demolishing your furniture? For more information about this annual event, check out www.backyardcampout.org .

We have many articles in our blog for the beginner camper:
Take Me Camping video
How to choose a tent
S'more Recipes - Classic to Mexican
'Where is my Golden Arm' ghost story

And one that's a real hit among beginner and seasoned campers alike:
10 Steps to Being an Obnoxious Camper