Create Your Own Backyard Camping Experience

When shelter-in-place began, the first thought that came to Jace of Kearny Mesa was, “There goes our camping trip!” Twelve-year-old Jace is not typically an outdoorsy kid, but he sleeps very soundly outdoors. He loves animals, enjoys campfires and was really looking forward to his family’s annual camping trip to Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu.

“It’s like two different worlds,” says his mom, Shelly. “On one side of the highway, there are shaded campsites under California live oaks and a small camp store. On the other side, there is rocky coastline with tide pools, a beach and a wonderful Junior Ranger Program.”

Dad Andy quickly devised a back-up plan for home: He set the tent up on the deck, turned on the gas firepit and broke out the roasting sticks. Jace spent an entire week sleeping on the deck.

Speaking with other moms, Shelly realized she wasn’t the only one with a staycation camper. Jace’s friend Jeffrey pushed two couches together, made a tent with two comforters and a broomstick, and watched TV from his living room oasis. His friend Mark upended the coffee table next to a chair, stretched a tablecloth across and slept in a sleeping bag underneath.

Here are tips from parents to create a great backyard camping experience:

A tent is optional. A fenced-in yard may provide enough security that no tent is necessary for your little (or big) campers.

Drape sheets around an outdoor umbrella.

Hang a tarp over an outdoor dining table.

Utilize a garden pergola covered with blankets.

Sleep under the stars in a hammock.

Eat simple outdoor meals.

The experience of camping often involves comforting, one-pan meals or grilling. Jace likes cooking hotdogs over the firepit, but there are many options:

Grill hamburgers or skewers.

Eat cold cuts and chips.

Drink from cans (and be sure to recycle).

Make a pot of chili and serve over corn chips.

Bake potatoes in foil over the fire.

Break out the camp stove.

Eat breakfast for dinner.

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Plan outdoor activities.

Dirt, leaves, sticks, snails and slugs make the perfect environment for camping exploration.

Use a magnifying glass and observe nature close up.

Make your backyard beautiful while enjoying the outdoors.

Assemble flower chains.

Create chalk art on the patio.

Start a nature journal.

Don’t forget firepit karaoke.

Jace loves singing. Open up those pipes and bust out some family favorite tunes. Put the phones away; bring out the guitar or dust off the radio.

Hose off.

There’s nothing like a camp shower on a hot summer day. Sling a hose over a tree branch and use utility clamps to hang a makeshift plastic shower curtain. Use a concrete steppingstone to stand on and put down some pea gravel for drainage. Be sure to build the shower in an area of the yard that needs watering— and where neighbors won’t get an unwelcome view.

Even being outside is optional.

Jeffrey pulled the mattress off his bed one night and put it in the dining room; then he opened the sliding door and slept next to the screen. He used a walkie talkie to communicate with friends next door. Jeffrey had all the benefits of a cool outdoor night, complete with luminous stars and the sound of crickets.

With a little innovation, your backyard can become a relaxing, natural escape or an epic summer destination. Share your family’s DIY outdoor experiences on Instagram @sandiegofamilymagazine and use #ShareSanDiegoFamily for a chance to be featured on our story. v

Emily Dolton is a local mom who enjoys camping in national parks and her backyard.