My sister and her three kids are coming to visit our family, and we'd like to plan a backyard camp-out for all the cousins. Can you recommend any fun activities for the big event?
A backyard camp-out is a great idea! The kids get a wonderful sense of adventure, yet are comfortingly close to home. Most of the entertainment for this event comes from the campy atmosphere--setting up the tent, telling ghost stories, having pillow fights and so on. Here are a few other fun activities to consider:
• Send Flashlight Morse Code signals. Pack a pocket dictionary that includes the dot and dash code for reference and let them try to flash messages to one another on the tent ceiling. Or, they can make up their own codes: two long flashes might mean "Help! We need more marshmallows!"
• Make a batch of Woodsy Vases. Campers can them fill them with wildflowers to spruce up the campsite.
• Try some stargazing. Pack a star chart (sold at science stores) and cover a flashlight lens with red cellophane so kids can read the chart, yet keep their eyes adjusted in the dark.
• Play Crawly Bug 500. Players get 5 minutes to capture a speedy bug in a paper cup. Each player then places the bug in the middle of a large sheet of paper. For one minute, each player uses a marker to trace the path his bug follows (no pushing allowed). The bug-letes are then released, while campers measure their drawn lines using a piece of string. The camper with the longest line wins!
• Serve up some delicious camp food, such as Gorp, S'more Bars , or Pups in a Blanket. Or for a more low-fuss food option, surprise the kids by having pizza delivered--right to their tent!
