Great American Backyard Campout

Over the weekend, we took part in the Great American Backyard Campout on Whidbey Island in Washington. The campout, a national program put on by the National Wildlife Federation, provides an opportunity for everyone to relive-or to experience for the first time-how much fun it is to spend a night sleeping under the stars and enjoying the sounds of nature. Campers at Whidbey Island were part of over 40,000 campers nation wide that decided to "unplug" for the night and get outside with the family.

Campers were offered a variety of activities over the weekend, including dutch oven cooking demonstrations by Northwest Dutch Oven Cooking Society, campfire activities, star gazing, surf fishing, gps & geocaching, archery, and, of course, Leave No Trace activities. We presented workshops for adults and children, focusing on ways the campers can leave no trace while camping out this summer. We had a lot of fun working with the navy families. Campouts are a great way to connect to nature, especially for children! So take the time this summer to get outside and spend a night under the stars- you won't regret it! A special thanks to Dave Meyers for all his hard work in setting up the campout! We are looking forward to working with Dave again later this week at a trainer course, also held on Whidbey Island!

Safe travels and happy camping...Kate and Tracy

The Backyard: A Great Place To Camp

By Anne Keisman, National Wildlife Federation’s Online Media Coordinator-Green Hour

On Saturday, June 27, try this with your kids:
Pitch a tent. Roast some marshmallows. Smell the night air. Wake with the sun.
It's the 5th annual Great American Backyard Campout® -- a night free of electrical outlets and reality shows -- sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation. Just open the back door, step outside and experience the simple pleasure of a night outdoors with your children.
Since I spent most of my life as a city kid, I know that not everyone has a backyard. In Philadelphia as a child, my "backyard" consisted of a brick patio and a small patch of dirt supporting one holly tree.
Believe me -- it was glamorous. But even in my little urban corner of the world, I was able to explore a universe of natural wonders. While I am not suggesting pitching a tent in Times-Square, city kids don't have to be left out of this national event. Balcony or patio campouts can work in a pinch — or reach out to your friends in the burbs or in the country to "borrow" their yard for the night. You could try to organize something in a city park. Even zoos might allow you to camp out there.
The main idea here is to spend time outside with your children and:
• Listen and watch for nocturnal wildlife that live in your area
• Cook outdoors
• Tell scary (or not-so scary) stories
• Gaze at the stars
Check out www.backyardcampout.org for packing lists, recipes, mp3’s of campfire songs, exploration activities and more. People can even sign up on the site to share their campout plans, stories, and photos. Be Out There™!