Backyard Campout Under the Stars

Summer is the perfect time to host a traditional backyard campout! Who says you have go camping in the woods to enjoy the everything that camping has to offer? An overnight right in your backyard is the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors. It's also a great way to create a memorable experience for your family and friends.

Here are some ideas to help you plan an enjoyable backyard campout for you and your guests:

• Guest list: Decide who you want on your guest list. Is this a party for the neighborhood kids? Do you want to have a combination of kids and adults? Realistically, how many tents can you fit in your backyard? Once you've determined who you'd like to invite to this special outdoor overnight, send a camping-inspired invitation like this one available on Punchbowl:

• Supplies: Here's what you'll need for your campout: tents, sleeping bags, pillows, bug spray, flashlights, meals (dinner, snacks, breakfast), and entertainment. Decide what you want to provide and ask guests to fill in the blanks. For example, it's completely accepable to ask guests to bring their own sleeping bags and pillows. Some guests may even have their own tents that they can bring too.

• Timing: Have guests arrive in the afternoon or early evening to set up their tents before it gets dark. Make sure they pitch their tents on level, grassy surfaces. You may want to also suggest to them to bring air mattresses if they want to be more comfortable.

• Activities: Games like horseshoes and volleyball are fun activities for guests to play during the afternoon/evening when it's light out. If you have a swimming pool, be sure to let guests know that they should bring their bathing suits. For nighttime activities, plan to make s'mores and tell ghost stories. Depending on the age of the guests, you can also consider games like Truth or Dare, Two Truths and a Lie, or other games that can be played with just the light of flashlights and lanterns. Lastly, consider making the outing educational and check out the stars and constellations. Of course, you'll need a clear night for this.

• Meals: For dinner, cook hotdogs and hamburgers over the fire or on a grill. You can also use the fire/grill to cook corn on the cob and grilled vegetables. Then add corn bread and potato salad as pre-made sides. For dessert, plan to roast marshmallows on the fire to make s’mores. Make sure guests remember to find sticks during the daylight that they can use to roast their marshmallows. For breakfast, have bagels and juiceboxes. You can also provide some bags of trail mix that guests can munch on at night or even for breakfast!

Love the idea of "roughing it" in your backyard? Start planning your backyard campout today!