Backyard Fun For Everyone

It’s summer vacation and your kids are bored. You’ve already taken them to just about every amusement park within a 50 mile radius of your home, and your patience and wallet are wearing thin. What are you going to do?  

Never fear, we at Trendspot are here to help!

We recommend a backyard camping adventure that will be the source of countless fun memories your family will remember for years to come. Here are some ideas and tips!

Whether your backyard is mostly grass, all patio, or even if you have dirt because you haven’t quite decided what to do— work with what you have. 

Create/Build a Fort

Depending on your enthusiasm, this can be anything from a simple large teepee to pitching a tent. 

Always buy good quality tents and sleeping bags. Better quality tents will prevent everyone from the elements that nighttime brings, as well as bugs, possible drizzle, or wind.

For younger kids, a large family tent is recommended. For kids who are a bit older (12+) individual tents are fun (fewer squabbles!). Bug spray is a must in case a mosquito gets into the tent and brings his buddies.  

Don’t forget the food! This is what makes backyard camping fun. Consider setting up a portable table and chairs, or if grass is available, lay out a waterproof and washable cloth. If you use a table, a citronella candle helps keep unwanted bugs at bay. 

Why not get the kids involved in preparing some tasty dishes for the festivities? It keeps them engaged and entertained. We’ve got some food suggestions that you can prepare in the kitchen or on the backyard BBQ:

• Kabobs
• Burgers 
• Nachos 
• Hot dogs 
• Roasted marshmallows or s’mores

How about a FRITOS® pie in a bag? This fun treat is creative, easy to make and the kids will love it! Check out this easy recipe.

Organize a Treasure/Scavenger Hunt

Let the games begin! Here are a couple of suggestions:

• Start with a theme.  
• Make a list of the items you’re going to hide.
• Decide on the locations in your backyard to hide each item.
• Tip: Instead of hiding the actual item, take a picture of an item, print it and hide the photo, making sure to use masking tape to keep it from flying away. Or you can place the picture peeking out from underneath a potted plant. The players take photos of the images they find in a “digital” scavenger hunt and share them when the hunt is over. This works when everyone has cell phones! 
• To make this even more fun, invite neighbors or friends to the hunt. This would help to extend the backyard hiding places.
• Don’t forget prizes! If you have adults or older kids playing, movie tickets or gift cards are always desirable. For younger kids, the possibilities are endless based on your budget. 
• Tip: If young kids are playing, have an adult chaperone to keep them safe. 
• Set a time limit. For younger kids, 15 minutes is a good standard.
• Give everyone a bag to put their items in. Kids with cell phones can snap photos of the pictures they find if you choose to go this route.
• Set the meeting location and end time for when the hunt is over.

 

End the evening with firelight talk around a “campfire” with everyone’s favorite dessert, s’mores! Tell stories of adventures when mom and dad were kids is always a favorite. Or create your own stories and let the kids help build the storyline.

Don’t have a campfire to make your s’mores? Use a broiler! Break your graham crackers in half, and put them on a baking sheet, then place your chocolate and marshmallows on each piece and heat for one minute. You can even use a microwave to heat up the goodies.

If you want the feeling of a campfire, just sit in a circle, put a flashlight pointing up to create the feeling of light. Solar lanterns also work just as well!

Backyard fun can be an opportunity to make memories. Your backyard will never be ignored again!

Trendspot Tip: Leave a lucky bamboo plant in a beautiful small planter for that special someone who helped you organize this backyard fun adventure.