Don’t forget!  Saturday, June 26th is the Great American Backyard Campout.  What is that?  First of all, it’s super easy and fun as a family because you set up a tent in your backyard and have a campout.  Of course, you can gather in another family’s backyard or sign up with a group to share your first camping experience at a local park. The best part of all is you make memories as a family close to home.

Last June, I invited my girlfriends and their kids for a “Moms and Kids Only” backyard camp out; just take a look at how much fun we had!

And did you know? Saturday, June 12th is National Get Outdoors Day, and June is National Get Outdoors Month.  Here are some more simple ideas for how to get outside and spend meaningful time together as a family:

Recently, I had the urge to try something new outside.  My boys, ages 5 and 7, had finished formal Summer camp experiences and it was the week that I had planned to take them on a reprise of a cross country RV trip.  Last year, my best friend and I took our kids (she had two year-old triplets at the time) on our first trip in a RV.  Over six days, we traveled from Virginia to Colorado, celebrating every milestone and laughing at every mishap.

Given our schedules and the expense, our RV trip did not happen this Summer, but I didn’t want that to cancel all possibilities of making a similar memory.  In reflecting on what was so special about our RV trip, it was my sense of independence in navigating something new with my kids outside.  My favorite day of that trip was coming across a swimming lake while taking a detour to Mousetail State Park in Tennessee for a picnic.

Searching online for swimming lakes, I came across several options.  My original plan was for two nights camping at a state park nearly four hours away.  Given that it was my first camping trip alone and that I would take my newly adopted dog with us, I was happy when I found an option just two and a half hours away.  On http://www.swimminghole.info, I found swimming holes tagged “family friendly” and one in particular whose description also included a recommendation for a swim lake campground that would make a perfect one-night trip.

Packing the car took all morning, but I found that taking my time ensured I packed what I needed.  Of course I had the staples: a tent, sleeping bags, water shoes, swimsuits, bug spray, sunscreen, life vests, and lots of towels.  In addition, each boy had their own lunch box with snacks and drinks for the car, and I put all supplies for each meal in their own large zip lock – utensils, paper plates, and napkins too.  Given I was the only adult, packing each meal separately meant that I could grab the hot dogs in the dark and even the sandwiches the next day in the car calmly and with ease (both of which happened!).

The swimming hole was the experience I always imagined it to be and more.  There were other families enjoying the crisp, cool water and teenagers and adults flying from a rope swing into the natural pool.  For smaller kids and those like me into trying it out for the first time, we still got to jump from a rock into shallower water, and had fun discovering tadpoles and salamanders.

We left the swimming hole after about an hour and drove into the U.S. forest service campground just before sunset.  The boys helped me set up the tent, and then we purchased firewood and ice cream from a small store nearby before heading to the swim lake.  We were just in time to get in for a dip and watch the sun slowly set over the water.  High above, bats started to appear for their meal at dusk as we headed back to camp for ours.

My first camping trip alone with the boys was definitely all new for me.  But with a little preparation, we had everything we needed.  And with my help, my sons also got to have a new experience and a memory with their mom that will last a lifetime.

Rebecca P. Cohen is Founder and President of Rebecca Plants LLC, a gardening and outdoor lifestyle company that inspires families to be outside and improve their well being.  For her weekly online series, “Get Out of the House” as well as Rebecca Plants’ Curiosity Cards, a set of 50 portable and no-cost activity cards for families, visit http://www.rebeccaplants.com/outdoorliving.asp.

Expensive family vacations were not on the agenda for us this Summer, so when we were asked by some neighbors to camp with them by a nearby lake for the Fourth of July, the adventure sounded like a great idea.  At this time last year, my husband and our two young boys visited Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park.  But even if we were close to home this year, I still wanted a wonderful family memory of the holiday.

Packing up the car, we had enough to keep us comfortable for one night:  two tents (just in case the five kids wanted their own to sleep together); hot dogs, s’mores, and breakfast snacks; our pillows, sleeping bags, and a favorite stuffed animal for each child; toothbrushes, toothpaste, and toilet paper; a picnic blanket, magnifying glasses, binoculars, flashlights, battery-operated glow sticks for fun (and for safety to keep track of the littlest ones in the dark).

My neighbor, a teacher, brought along a brilliant idea:  clipboards for each of the kids with a pencil for each and print out of a scavenger hunt.  My seven-year-old son and her eight-year-old daughter got a more advanced list of 10 things to find (a pattern in nature, something hanging, animal tracks) and the three, four, and five year-olds got a list that had more pictures:  six pinecones, three birds, one acorn.  The older and younger kids worked in teams and guided themselves through the activity.

Our neighbor’s husband brought along fishing gear and he and his oldest daughter taught my boys how to fish, which they loved, and the rest of the time, the kids explored nearby.  They came across small and big toads and waded in the water, playing with rocks and even found a crayfish.  Not once did they say they were bored or scared, and when the last fireworks died off in the distance around 10:30p.m., after some giggles and talking in the tent, they fell asleep with ease. 

Whether the back yard or nearby park, it’s easy to have a fun adventure close to home.  And the convenience of the location makes it easy for new campers to try it out, especially with some friends, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Rebecca P. Cohen is Founder and President of Rebecca Plants LLC, a gardening and outdoor lifestyle company that inspires families to be outside and improve their well being.  For a free list of 50 Outdoor Activities for Busy Families, visit http://www.rebeccaplants.com/outdoorliving.asp 

Summer adventures outside can be simple and inexpensive: find a new walking path, playground, dig in the dirt, or simply make up a game with what you have around you. I always have my Rebecca Plants Curiosity Cards on hand for fun conversation and activity with the kids, whether we’re at home or in the car. My four-year-old loves to pick out the cards and my seven-year-old likes to read them to us. Every parent and grandparent who has used them loves them for quality time with the important kids in their lives. They are a great gift (http://www.rebeccaplants.com/cards.asp).

Want to find nature in your neighborhood? Check out the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF’s) Nature Find tool and enter your zip code for lots of new ideas http://www.nwf.org/naturefind/ NWF recently filmed my backyard camp out for the Great American Backyard Camp Out. Pitching a tent in the backyard is another easy and inexpensive way to enjoy time together and test out camping. My kids love it!

Reply to this post and tell us what simple, inexpensive, and fun activities are you enjoying this Summer!