Camping – Kids Discover Nature

Backyard Camping with Kids: Easing Fears of Night Noises

by Jodi Valenta

This is the third post in the series Backyard Camping with Children.

It is natural for a child to have questions and misunderstandings about the night. This creates fear that can be overwhelming to a child. But alas, help is here. Night sounds can be especially scary for little ears. My daughter’s first experience hearing an owl while we were camping in the backyard affected her for a long time. I had previously taught her about owls and how they sound. We even read the book Owl Moon. But I never took the time to prepare her for what she would hear while camping in our backyard. When she first heard the “hoot” of a Barred Owl in our woods, she covered her ears, burst into tears, screamed at the top of her lungs, and ran into the house at top speed. Needless to say, our campout came to an abrupt end.

I was totally unprepared for that reaction and for the fallout. It took several months to convince her to try camping again and to come to terms with owls and their “hoots.” To help parents avoid this mishap, I developed the following tips for helping children overcome fears of the night while camping. Following these tips will go a long way in preparing your child for the first “hoot.”

Essential Guide for Easing Childrens’ Fear of the Night While Camping

Discuss what they will hear (crickets, frogs, owls, coyotes, etc.), see (moths, raccoons, skunks, opossums, bats, etc.) or feel at night (insects, spider webs, etc.).
Explain why creatures are out and about at night (nocturnal vs. diurnal, finding food, mating, etc.)
Explain why they make sounds at night (calling to one another, guarding territory, etc.)
Read books about night creatures. Borrow books from the local library about camping in general, nocturnal creatures, or any animal in which they show a special interest.
While camping, focus less on the “dark” and more on how beautiful night time can be. Observe the stars and the moon. Talk about the “music” of the night.
Do not expect children to sleep outside all night. Take small steps by allowing them to sleep inside in their own beds when bedtime arrives. Another option is to allow them to fall asleep in the tent and then transfer them to their beds.
Practice for night time camping outside by camping inside first. Set up tents in the family room complete with sleeping bags, pillows, books, and flashlights and encourage them to sleep there for the night.
Hearing night time sounds can be fun if you make it a game. Ask children to identify what sounds they hear.
Allow children to fall asleep with their flashlights.

Camping with kids

The Essential Backyard Campout Safety Checklist

by Jodi Valenta

This is Part II of my series on camping in your own backyard.

When camping with children in your backyard, it is important to know how to keep everyone safe. Even though you are in familiar territory, it is surprisingly easy to experience mishaps. If you prepare correctly, you can keep these to a minimum. Plus, following safety protocols is the smart things to do. If your kids are old enough, you can review them together and have them help you prepare. It can be a fun learning experience for the entire family. Below are some basic tips to consider. I encourage you to do some research to help you prepare your family for fun in the backyard!

Essential Backyard Camping Safety Checklist

Use common sense while camping, especially if you have a campfire.
Have the proper equipment and tools (see my post Must-Haves for Backyard Camping for details).
Chose a safe campsite (a flat spot free of large obstacles like rocks and tree stumps)
Keep potentially dangerous items out of the reach of children (matches, knives, insect repellent)
Learn about and teach children about campfire safety if you plan to have one (a good resource is SmokeyBear.com)
Teach children to stay within eyesight or earshot.
Respect wildlife. Never approach or touch wild animals, use a camera instead.
Be aware of your surroundings and watch where you step.
Pay attention to weather conditions.
Do not leave children alone at the campsite.
Have first aid essentials available in the house.
If you are sleeping outside for the night, put all food away in the house before going to sleep to avoid attracting animals to the campsite.
Remember to be prepared for the unexpected, do not take unnecessary chances.
Supervise your children at all times!

Many of these are intuitive, especially for moms, but it doesn’t hurt to do a quick review once in a while. My goal in writing this was to provide an exhaustive list, but I am sure I have missed a few important points. If you would like to add your thoughts, please do so in the comments section.

Camping with kids

Must-Haves to Make Overnight Camping in the Backyard Fun

by Jodi Valenta

I Can Feel It in the Air
I don’t know about you, but this time of year gets me thinking about s’mores and cozy sleeping bags. When the end-of-summer evenings begin to turn cool and there is a crisp feeling in the air, your backyard is the perfect place to camp and enjoy the weather. Why go to all the trouble of packing up and leaving home when you can have your own camping fun right in the backyard? No crowds, no park fees to pay, no hours to drive — just grab your stuff and make your backyard campsite your family’s new favorite place to be. To help you prepare for your evenings in the backyard, this is the first of a series of posts to help you get organized and stay safe with a very special post at the end about night critters

Can Camping in the Backyard Really be Fun?

Sure, it can! The nice thing about camping in the backyard is that you only need to worry about the essentials. It will take time to prepare everything, but having these items on-hand at the site will prevent you from having to trek back and forth dozens of times between the campsite and the house. The key to a successful and fun backyard camping with kids is to make sure they are comfortable, safe and have things to do to keep them busy. To be sure everyone has an enjoyable experience I developed the following checklist:

Essential Family Backyard Camping Checklist:

For comfort

Tent (or blanket, tarp, bed sheet or sheet of plastic draped over a clothesline or tree branch, with corners held down by stakes or rocks)
Sleeping bag (or a sheet and blankets or comforter)
Sleeping pad (or air mattress, old comforter or blanket) to keep out the chill from the ground
Pillows
Camp chairs or something to sit upon
Table or blanket for eating and game playing outside
Clothing – several layers, which can be removed or added depending on the weather
Hats – use your judgment on the type based on the weather
Insect repellent
Flashlight (with extra batteries) for trips to the bathroom, easing night time fears and reading – one for each child to prevent arguments.

For meals

Full drinking bottles
Munchies and/or food you can cook if you have a campfire (i.e. marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate bars for s’mores)
Long, sturdy sticks for cooking over the camp fire (i.e. s’mores, hot dogs)
Cooking and eating utensils
Pocket knife
Napkins and paper or dish towels
Water (in a jug or cooler)
Plates and cups
Matches
Trash bag

For fun

Games, books, playing cards, crayons, paper
Identification guides (field guide to animals, insects, birds, trees, stars, etc.)
Items for nature exploration (magnifying glass, binoculars, journal, etc.)
Camera
Musical instruments and song books

If you know of something your family can’t be without when camping in the yard, please add to my list via the comments below. We would all like to hear your great ideas!

Please check back on Monday for tips on how to stay safe when camping in the backyard.

Outdoor Activities for Kids

Eight ideas for connecting your kids to nature this…

by Editorial Staff

Ah…summer! And many (many) free hours with the kids.

There it is, the sense of angst we parents feel at the end of the school year. While we all get excited about the possibilities for summer activities and the freedom, we at the same time wonder how we are going to keep our kids busy. After the first few days or weeks, everyone starts to get bored. I realized today I had better plan our summer and plan it fast. Here is the result – a short list of what is on our plate for the summer.

Swimming lessons – a summer tradition. Every single parent I know has signed up their children for swimming lessons. My kids begin theirs at the end of June.
Camping – we set up camp in our own backyard and spend weekends making smores and reading at night in our tent. We listen to the peepers, crickets and owls.
Canoeing and fishing – we are lucky enough to live near a lake and spend several hours a week canoeing and fishing (with a life vest for everyone of course!).
Hiking – Our town has a hiking club and sponsors hikes every Saturday. This also includes going for walks around the neighborhood as often as possible.
Beach/Lake – There is nothing like spending the day at the beach!
Whale watch – I hope the highlight of our summer will include a whale watch or other fun activity that allows you to view marine life. Other types of animals you can view from boats are seals, puffins, dolphin, sea turtles, and alligators. Click here to learn how to do it safely.
Picnics at the park – This is always a popular activity with us.
Day camp at the local farm or park– If you want my kids outdoors enjoying nature as much as possible in the summer.

A terrific idea is to involve your kids in the planning. They may have some great ideas. Fill in the days of the calendar together. It will give you all something to look forward to in the coming months and can help relieve some of the pre-summer break angst.

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Backyard Camping with Kids: Easing Fears of Night Noises

The Essential Backyard Campout Safety Checklist

Must-Haves to Make Overnight Camping in the Backyard Fun

Eight ideas for connecting your kids to nature this…

Ah…summer! And many (many) free hours with the kids.

Take the 30-Day Outdoor Challenge