Booking a campsite online in Alberta isn’t always for the faint of heart, but you don’t necessarily have to pack up and leave town to indulge in some good old-fashioned camping. In fact, enjoying a backyard family campout can be so much fun, and is as easy as 1-2-3!
\n \nReasons to camp in your backyard?
\nIntroduce young kids to camping in a familiar environment to build confidence and comfort before heading out into the real wilderness.
\nPros of camping in your backyard?
\nYou don’t need much for a comfy night sleeping in the shadow of your own house. Here’s a basic gear list to get you started:
\nCAMPFIRE FOOD
\nAfter the tent is erected and beds have been laid out, prepare some delicious food – something most campers say is the highlight of camping! Uncomplicated recipes suitable for a fire pit, grill or camp stove are usually best if you have young children and also make for a painless clean-up later on.
\nCampfire Nachos. Using a cast-iron skillet, start with a layer of nacho chips on the bottom. Next, sprinkle on shredded Tex-Mex cheese, black olives, tomatoes and green onions. Add another layer of chips and shredded cheese. For the final layer add more chips, shredded cheese, black olives, tomatoes and green onions. For a spicy kick, top with jalapeño peppers. Cover the top of the skillet with aluminum foil and cook over the fire or grill on medium heat until the cheese is melted, about ten to 15 minutes. You can also add pre-cooked and taco-seasoned ground beef, ground chicken, or black beans for added protein.
\nAfter everyone has devoured their camping supper, it’s time for dessert! Roasting marshmallows and making s’mores might be Camping 101, but why not put a twist on these classics and build the ultimate s’more? The equation is simple: base + toasted marshmallow + toppings = your perfectly personalized s’more. Set up a Make-Your-Own-S’more Bar with some tempting ingredients.
\nStart with the base: Graham crackers, Ritz crackers, waffle cookies, stroopwafel cookies, Oreo cookies, chocolate chip cookies, shortbread cookies, etc.
\nThen, lay out toppings in similar groupings:
\nAnd, of course, don’t forget the marshmallows, whether plain or specialty-made ones like toasted coconut marshmallows.
\nTry out these irresistible Graham-cracker-base combinations:
\nOr, try something new!
\nIf (gasp!) no one in your family wants to make traditional s’mores, or you just want an easier option, throw together a simple and quick s'mores snack mix with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and Golden Grahams or Cinnamon Chex.
\nGAMES
\nCamping isn’t only about eating and sleeping! Family game time is a quintessential memory-making part, too. There’s oodles of creative and interactive games out there, but some work better in a backyard camping environment than others.
\nWith full, happy bellies and faces aching from smiling after gametime, gather around the campfire for some family storytelling before bedtime. Create a story together, or just reminisce about past family adventures. These are the moments we don’t soon forget, and a backyard campout is a fantastic way to strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories.
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Born in the prairies, Stephanie is a mother, cancer-survivor, cat lover, and avid traveler. Stephanie is also the creator of the family travel blog, Next Family Getaway, nextfamilygetaway.com, where she shares trip ideas and travel advice for those traveling with kids.
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