The Great American Backyard Campout is June 22^nd

This weekend connect with nature and your kids by participating in the National Wildlife Federation sponsored Great American Backyard Campout!

Backyard camping is the perfect way to introduce children to camping: it is familiar yet different enough to be exciting, you remain close to home if mishaps should arise, you are creating memories that will last a lifetime, supplies and a change of clothes are close at hand, and it is a great way to connect with your backyard and each other!

Are you an educator who wants to participate in the Great American Backyard Campout with your students? Did you know you can create a team and register through the NWF? (Families can register too!) Can’t actually go camping? How about faux camping on the school grounds during the day? Set up tents, explore the school grounds (or your backyard), cook outdoors, tell stories and have FUN!

Camping & Nature Exploration Books

Arnosky, J. 1997. Bird Watcher. Random House Children's Books.
Arnosky, J. 1997. Bug Hunter. Random House Children's Books.
Boring, M. 1999. Fun with Nature. T&N Children's Publishing.
Boring, M. and L. Evert. 2001. More Fun with Nature. Northword Press.
Capogna, V.V. 1999. Did You Ever Wonder about Things You Find in Your Backyard? Marshall Cavendish Inc.
Carlson, L.M. and J. Dammel. 1995. Kids Camp!: Activities for the Backyard or Wilderness. Chicago Review Press, Incorporated.
Ching, J. 2000. Camping: Have Fun, Be Smart. Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Drake, J. and A. Love. 1998. Kids Campfire Book. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Eckart, E. 2003. I Can Go Camping. Children's Press.
Love, D. 1997. Backyard Camp-out Book. HarperCollins Publishers.
Paolilli, P. and D. Brewer. 2001. Silver Seeds: A Book of Nature Poems. Viking.
Ruurs, M. 2004. When We Go Camping. Tundra.
Ryder, J., and D. Nolan. 1990. Under Your Feet. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
White, K.L. 2006. Cooking in a Can. Gibbs Smith.
Winner, C. 2006. Kids Gone Campin': The Young Camper's Guide to Having More Fun Outdoors. Creative Publishing International, Incorporated.
Yolen, J. and J. Stemple. Color Me a Rhyme: Nature Poems for Young People. Boyds Mills Press.

Camping Links

NWF: Great American Backyard Campout
http://www.nwf.org/great-american-backyard-campout.aspx

IDNR: Camping Tips and Recipes

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Recreation/CampingFacilityRentals/CampingTipsRecipes.aspx

NWF: Camping Tips, Recipes, Songs and More

http://www.nwf.org/Great-American-Backyard-Campout/Get-Ready.aspx

IDNR Pinterest (Camping recipes and more!)

http://pinterest.com/iowadnr/