Tomorrow, June 24, is the Great American Backyard Campout (GABC). It’s sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) as a way of getting kids to experience the wonders of nature and for families to share the outdoors together.
I think this is a terrific idea. While my personal idea of camping is setting out with a bandana, a pocketknife, and a water bottle, there’s no reason it has to be that rough with the kids. Simply pop up the tent in your backyard, bring along some flashlights, a star chart, and a bag of granola bars, and try to remember your favorite campfire songs. The GABC site has packing lists, recipes, a nocturnal wildlife guide, and nighttime photography tips.
Here’s my own tip, from my days as an astronomy student: cover one flashlight with red cellophane (or buy one with a red insert), and use this when you’re stargazing. This will preserve your night vision so you can go quickly from chart to sky and back again. (Find good star charts on the Sky and Telescope site, among others.)
To preserve your kids’ excitement about nature even after you roll up your sleeping bags, consider subscribing to one of the NWF’s three great magazines for children ages one and up. My son’s a longtime fan.