Backyard camping is a great way to experience camping without having to travel a long distance or survive without a flushing toilet. This is especially helpful if you have young children, are pregnant, and/or have a chronically ill child (ask me how I know, lol).

Even if you do plan and take family camping trips, a backyard experience is excellent for the children to have with or without you (or with dad, while you stay in the house with baby). We often do this with our children, especially for holiday weekends like Memorial Day or July 4th.

If you are a family living with special needs/chronic illness, then you know that planning, packing, and traveling is very difficult. Staying home makes a lot more sense, so camping in your backyard is the best way to experience sleeping outdoors.

Obviously, another huge benefit to backyard camping is that it is a very frugal option. Other than the initial cost of camping supplies and buying some special camping food, it is free!

Plan and enjoy a family camping experience using the Backyard Camping Planner. Just download and print – it is FREE!

Backyard Camping Checklist

• Gather supplies (use the extensive list in the free PDF printable)
• Plan your meals (using the meal planner in the free PDF printable)
• Find a spot to set up your tent
• Set up the tent
• Put your sleeping gear inside
• Tie up a hammock (optional, but totally awesome)
• Set up your cooking/eating supplies
• Go on a backyard camping scavenger hunt (included in the free PDF printable)
• Cook your meals over the fire
• Sing around the fire
• Use flashlights to create shadow puppets
• Gaze at the stars in AWE of God’s creation
• Crawl into your cozy sleeping bags and fall asleep to the nighttime noises
• Wake up to the sun rising and the birds singing right outside of your tent
• Enjoy the best breakfast prepared over the fire (always tastes incredible)
• Be thankful – not only for the family time but also for the comfort of your own bathroom being just a short walk away! 😉

And, after the memorable experience of backyard camping, record the event using the last page of the free PDF printable planner. You and your children will have something to look back on and cherish for years to come.

So, I hope you plan and do something like this with your children at least once in their childhood! It is a great way to make memories with them in the warm-weather months.

Camping Gear