The Great American Backyard Campout

This Saturday, June 23, the National Wildlife Federation is hosting the Great American Backyard Campout. The organization is encouraging families to get away from their TVs and spend some time in nature - whether it be in your backyard, a campsite, a park or wherever you can park your sleeping bag!

We think this is a great way for families to reconnect with each other, and with nature, which is something that often gets overlooked in the hustle and bustle of every day life. If you need some ideas of what to do while you're camping, we have a few for you!

• Bird watch. How many different birds can you see/hear? Can you identify any of them? What other animals do you see?
• Go on a scavenger hunt. Create a list of items for your kids to find: a certain type of leaf, a rock that looks like a (fill in the blank), the longest stick, etc.
• Lay on a blanket and look at the stars. How many constellations can you pick out?

The Great American Backyard Campout website has a bunch more ideas, including camping recipes, crafts, stories and songs. Go check it out, dig out the sleeping bags and get ready to camp!