13 Backyard Camping Ideas The Whole Family Will Love (Because S'mores)

Unless you plan to sleep solely on the grass, you’re going to need a tent. Putting up a tent can be a little tricky, so you might want to practice ahead of time so that it’s easier to assemble when you’re ready to start your backyard bash. Even amateur campers can handle pop-up tents like the Coleman Sundome 4-Person Dark Room Tent ($80, Bed Bath & Beyond), which customer reviews call "lightweight" and "easy to put up."

Can you really even say that you went camping if you don’t make some s’mores? You can make them the traditional way, or look for s’mores options (ha) that are just as delish. For example, you can grill them in an ice cream cone wrapped in aluminum foil, or even inside of a banana for an ooey gooey good time. Check out the above video from Tasty for a variety of options (including some indoor recipes in case you get rained out).

If you want to truly camp outdoors, you’re going to need a campfire. Whether you use a fire pit or take two sticks and start scratching, making a campfire is an unforgettable experience. Plus, once it’s roaring, you can cook on it, or simply gather around it when the temperature drops at night and snuggle with your little sweeties. If you don't want to actually dig a pit or make a ring of stones to build a fire (as explained by R.E.I.), a propane-powered burner like the one above from R.E.I. can make the process a little easier.

You can’t beat the acoustics when it comes to singing outside. Come up with a pretend playlist to sing, or just belt out some classics, like “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain” or “Country Roads.” Singing together will make for an unforgettable evening.

Watching a movie al fresco is a great way to enjoy some quality time with your kids. But instead of setting up the laptops on the picnic table, try using a portable movie projector like the Cinemood (above). It comes with 5 hours of rechargeable battery life and no internet connection is needed to make it work, so it's perfect for the great outdoors, and it comes packed with 120 hours of kid-friendly content including Disney videos and books (you can also access streaming content or play videos from your phone). Grab a white sheet from inside your home and hang it up or project the movie on the side of your tent, and don't forget the popcorn (see #9).

Catching fireflies is a summer staple. Wait until it’s just about to get dark, and then grab mason jars to contain those delightful critters. Watching fireflies light up never ceases to be amazing. Just make sure to handle them gently and release them afterwards so they can continue to shine brightly. (If the lightning bugs aren't out yet, try stringing up some lights around the yard for an extra twinkly evening.)

Flame-grilled food is what’s on a typical backyard buffet. But beyond burgers and dogs, think about other fun foods you can fire up—literally. You can enlist your kiddos to come up with creative foods that help celebrate summer. Cast iron skillets can be your culinary best friend, and allow you to make almost anything — maybe campfire nachos (check out the recipe from Princess Pinky Girl above).

Telling family tales might be fun for you, but save the stories about Great Great Grandma's voyage to the new world for the dinner table. Camping calls for creepy tales told around a campfire when it’s really dark outside. Depending on your child’s age, you can bring it up or tone it down (if you don't want to deal with nightmares later). Check out the 17 Kid-Friendly Spooky Campfire Stories on the Kampgrounds of America (KOA) blog for inspiration.

Move over, microwave. Pop some fun into your background camping experience by making popcorn over the campfire. What you’ll need to make campfire popcorn: some popcorn kernels, some vegetable oil, and a pie tin for cooking them in, Delish reported. Just be sure to use tongs to shake the tin so that you don’t burn your hands.

Sitting under a sky full of stars might inspire you to understand exactly what you’re looking at. Certain constellations are only visible during the summer, EarthSky.org reported, and so you might want to spend some time stargazing. Armed with a telescope, you might be able to spy The Summer Triangle, a pattern of stars that appears while the weather is warm.

Even if it’s not July 4, you can still set off some fireworks to make your fiesta more festive. You can have your kids hold some sparklers (with lots of parental supervision, of course), and watch the fireworks together as a family.

So often we don’t get to truly appreciate nature. So while the grill is warming up, take your kids around your property and point out some fun facts. You might want to show them an ant hill, or gaze at a birds’ nest (with some new hatchlings inside), or even help them figure out what kinds of trees are in their backyard. The Terra Kids Exploration Magnifying Glass (above) is super sturdy and includes a mirror so they can scrutinize their fascinating finds from above and below. An backyard nature hike gives them an opportunity to see their home in a whole new light.

There are so many fun games you can play while camping in your backyard. You might host a scavenger hunt, or even play glow-in-the-dark games, like ring toss or capture the flag. Or you can even pick up a special nighttime activity set like the Glow-in-the-Dark Science Lab from Thames & Kosmos (above), which comes with ingredients to make glow-in-the-dark chalk, glowsticks, and more. And before you cut your grass, you can always spray paint some circles on it for an impromptu game of Outdoor Twister.

Creating a backyard camping experience gives you the chance to enjoy nature, but still be close to home in case you just want to crash in your own bed. And that's what makes it a win/win for everyone... naturally.