“We now no longer camp as for a night, but have settled down on earth and forgotten heaven.” ~Henry David Thoreau
The Great American Backyard Campout is scheduled this year for Saturday June 23 – The cost is nothing, the location is Anywhere USA – even your own backyard.
Many Oakland, Wyckoff and Franklin Lakes are fortunate to have a backyard well suited for camping, and the surrounding area also offers resources for traditional camping opportunities without a long car drive.
The annual Great American Backyard Campout has been sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation since 2005 to promote an interest, a love, and appreciation for the great outdoors.
Today, children are spending half as much time outdoors as they did 20 years ago, they spend an average of 53 hours a week using entertainment media. Studies show that children who spend more time outdoors are more physically active, more creative in their play, display less aggressive tendencies, and exercise better concentration.
The Great American Backyard Campout website offers a list of helpful resources to make the event even easier, though how much easier can camping in the backyard get. Most practical information is freely available online, but they do offer a registration opportunity to win some prizes, and also encourages organizing it as a group event and help to do fundraising for the NWF.
Some folks organize a get-togethers of families, for teenagers it’s a safe night out with friends; some folks go and campout in the woods. There is no need to register, no need to do anything except leave the TV behind, leave the computer, leave the Wii and the Xbox, and enjoy the simplicity of a night under the stars.
Whether it’s this June 23rd, or whether it’s in July or August, plan a night under the heavens…and maybe bring a camera – it should be a great memory maker.
Helpful Links:
WikiHow Backyard Camping