A trip to the great outdoors doesn’t have to mean traveling far and wide to find the right spot. Backyard camping with your friends and family can be just as much fun. Set up your campsite, start the fire and grab your snacks because things are about to get “in-tents”!
Plan Your Camping Experience
It might seem overwhelming to plan a backyard camping adventure, but all it takes is a few supplies and a lot of imagination. Simplify your prep with this quick checklist:
- First things first: Pitch a tent or two, then pile on the blankets and pillows for peak cozy vibes.
- Round up some chairs and any other supplies you might need. Think flashlights, bug spray and snacks.
- Prep the campfire (and the S’mores ingredients to go along with it).
- Forget something? Don’t worry! When your house is just a few yards away, you can always run back inside to grab anything you forgot.
Make Memories
Backyard camping doesn’t have to be complicated to be memorable. Need some backyard camping ideas for families? Focus on creating simple moments like roasting marshmallows, telling stories or stargazing together. Invite a few friends or relatives to join the fun, and keep your camera handy to capture sweet, silly memories.
Account for the Weather
Check the forecast ahead of time. If it’s supposed to be hot, make sure to provide lots of beverages to keep everyone hydrated. Rain in the forecast? Consider pitching the tents inside and making indoor S’mores. It might not be the great outdoors, but it’s still a great excuse for chocolate.
Backyard Camping Recipes
Turn your backyard camping experience into a super sweet one with recipes that are great for sharing with loved ones. For a cocoa-infused treat that both kids and adults will enjoy, make BROOKSIDE Snack Mix. It’s easy to make and even easier to personalize. Add different kinds of cereal, dried fruit, nuts, pretzels and candies to your mix. Scoop into bags or share from a big bowl by the campfire.
Popcorn is another great finger food and the perfect addition to an outdoor movie night under the stars. Try this recipe for a sweet and savory Chocolate Drizzled Popcorn while telling stories around the campfire.
Make your family happy campers by whipping up a batch of these colorful and peanut buttery REESE’S PIECES Peanut Butter Cookies. We also have a tasty recipe for crunchy Chocolate Chip Toffee Bits Cookies, which are loaded with melty chocolate and buttery toffee.
Wash it all down with some fun and fruity drinks. This Strawberry Pink Lemonade is berry refreshing and perfectly pink. Or make things fizzy and sweet with a JOLLY RANCHER Sangria Mocktail, bursting with flavor from cherry and grape JOLLY RANCHER Hard Candy. It’s perfect for sipping by flashlight glow.
No camping adventure is complete without making ooey-gooey S’mores over the campfire. Get your graham crackers, marshmallows and HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bars and start making delicious memories. No firepit? No problem! You can even make S’mores on the grill or indoors. For a creative twist on the classic dessert, S’more Cookie Bars provide all the S’mores taste without having to toast any marshmallows.
Fun Backyard Activities
Now that you’ve got all the necessary supplies and snacks, make your backyard camping experience even better for the little ones with a few of these fun outdoor games and activities.
Explore Your Environment
Camping is all about exploring and discovering the environment around you, so start off with a nature scavenger hunt. Let the kids roam around the area to find all kinds of sticks, leaves, bugs and whatever else might be in your backyard. Make sure you do this while it’s still light out, so it’s easy to find things. Bonus points if there’s a chocolatey reward waiting at the finish line.
Watch a Movie Outdoors
Once the sun goes down, set up a projector along with some pillows, blankets and chairs to have an outdoor movie night with your favorite people. Don’t forget a variety of snacks, like these Family Movie Night Candy Boards.
Stargaze the Night Away
After the movie is a great time for guests to lie back and gaze up at the constellations. You can also get some inspiration from these Backyard Stargazing Party Ideas by making fun drinks, cool crafts and delicious treats.
Tent It Up
When it comes to backyard camping ideas for kids, there’s plenty of magic inside the tent. End the night with a shadow puppet show on the ceiling. All you need is a flashlight, your hands and a little creativity! For the older kids, grab that flashlight and take turns telling ghost stories.
Live that camping life from wherever you are with these fun backyard camping ideas. Sleep under the stars, immerse yourself in nature and spend sweet moments with family — all just a few feet away from home!
