Who needs the Grand Canyon when you’ve got the back garden? This past weekend, our family turned our humble little patch of grass into a star-spangled camping paradise and let me tell you—it was an absolute blast!
Welcome to Camp Backyard, USA
The whole family was invited—siblings, cousins, grandparents and anyone who could tolerate us for 48 hours. The more, the merrier, right? The theme was America, because who doesn’t love a good hotdog or an inflatable bald eagle? But honestly, we didn’t need a theme to have a good time. Turns out, all you need to make memories is a tent, some snacks, and a whole lot of giggles.
Glamping? More Like Glam-azing!
Now, mums…..let’s talk about comfort because roughing it is overrated. My little girl and I managed to squeeze a double mattress into our tent—mattress topper and duvet included. I’m talking five-star luxury right next to the rose bushes. We’re not savages, after all. Who says you can’t bring the comfort of home into the wilds of the backyard? However, if you do want to have a “proper” camping experience, pull the old yoga mat out from the back of the cupboard and hey presto- comfort! Just take whatever makes you comfy and warm. You don’t need to buy the most expensive sleeping bag or tent with all the gear. Borrow a tent if needed and grab your duvet from the house.
Stars, Stripes, and S’mores
The American theme wasn’t just for show; we went all out. We grilled up some hotdogs that would make any ballpark jealous, and then topped it off with apple pies that would give your grandma’s recipe a run for its money. We even had a Thanksgiving dinner the following day minus the stress of overcooking the turkey (thanks, mum!).
We bought a pack of marshmallows and chocolate biscuits and made S’mores around the fire. The children loved it and didn’t need convincing when offered a second.
How To make a S’more
- Put a marshmallow on the end of a stick
- Place it over the fire- watch it, as it can quickly burn
- Once cooked, put it between 2 chocolate digestives
- Enjoy!
And the activities? Oh, we had plenty. The kids ran around with all the toys that they just had to have on that random day back in June and forgot about, paper airplanes were made and someone (still not sure who) made a totem pole out of leftover firewood.
The scavenger hunt was a hit too—nothing says family bonding like hunting for chocolate coins from Vegas, a sheriff’s badge from Texas and even freeze dried sweets from an Buzz Aldrin in Space. We even threw in a quiz that made everyone realize we know a lot less about U.S. presidents than we thought.
Adventures in the ‘Wilderness’
No camping trip is complete without some adventure, so we ventured into our local woods like Lewis and Clark to learn bush craft, my very talented brother taught us how to filter water using empty tonic bottles (from the night before) how to build a fire and make a shelter. And for a truly authentic experience, we managed to squeeze in a cowboy adventure with a bit of horse riding at our local center BUT this could be easily swapped for playing football in the garden, making cupcakes with the American flag on them, and old fashioned game of tig….. You don’t need to buy anything that you don’t have already. Get into the cupboards and you’ll find a whole world of games you forgot you bought.
Wrapping It Up
As the sun set and the fairy lights twinkled overhead, we gathered around the fire pit and shared stories, laughs, and maybe a few questionable ghost stories. It was the kind of weekend that makes you realize you don’t need much to create memories that last a lifetime—just your family, a little imagination, and maybe a double mattress if you need comfort like us.
So, if you’re ever in need of a mini-holiday, don’t overlook the magic of your own backyard. It’s amazing what a couple of hotdogs, a fire pit, and a whole lot of love can do.
From my pervious blog post A parents guide to Summer I warned you that we have 16 Summers at best…… make the memories. You wont regret it.
Thanks so much for the reminder that we don’t need to spend oodles of money on camping equipment and travels to the outback. When we think “holiday”, not often do we think of literally setting up camp in our own backyards.
We gave up on our Canada Day quizzes in California since the advent of smart phones. Participants used to run around to us few Canadians to get the right answers but everyone’s answers became pristine with those smart phones.
I really enjoyed reading of your adventures – and thanks muchly for signing up to my email list recently.
Robert Klein recently posted…A Brand New Day