Parents have been there, done that, and have the stains to prove it.

Here’s a suggestion box full of ideas to turn the backyard into a campground and make the next birthday or summer slumber party an extraordinary “under-the-stars” activity.

Kids love the freedom of being outdoors with the peace of mind of being right at home. Parents will find this backyard bivouac easy to host with camping gear they may already have or can borrow. And, they may accomplish more than creating a birthday memory the family will never forget.

“Many parents find camping in the backyard with kids prepares them for a real camping trip,” says Jim Reid, director of public relations for The Coleman Company, Inc. “Kids categorically get excited about sleeping in tents. That’s a timeless truth. An under-the-stars slumber party with their friends can become the foundation to launch them into more adventurous camping and other outdoor pursuits.”

Coleman offers this guide to give parents an a la carte menu to cook up a one-of-a-kind home campout this summer.

• Decide the number of kids to be invited based on the number of tents that can be set up in the available space.


• Think about the time of year. The temperature at night should be warm enough for kids to sleep outside in their sleeping bags inside a tent. Rule of thumb: 50 degrees or warmer.

Party Invitations

• Start with a fun invitation that gets the kids looking forward to camping with their friends.


• An invitation could be as simple as a computer-designed letter printed on fun stationery or craft paper decorated with twigs and leaves, or a rubber-stamped invitation created with a child’s help.


• List the essential items the guests would need to “camp out,” such as a sleeping bag, pillow and flashlight. Encourage kids to bring their personal belongings – toothbrush, pajamas and change of clothes – in their backpack.


• Include a rain date in the invitation, as well as a phone number to RSVP.


• Talk to the parents of the children being invited and borrow the number of tents needed if you don’t have enough to accommodate all the kids.

Camping Agenda

• Begin the party around 5 p.m. on a Saturday and end it on Sunday morning.


• A good rule of thumb to follow: The younger the child, the shorter the party.


• Set up the tents before the party to save time. Older kids, however, may enjoy setting up their own tents. The tents should be on a flat surface, close by each other, and near the house. Be sure the area is clear of small rocks and twigs or anything that could disrupt the kids’ sleep-time.

Games

• For younger children, start with a game such as Go Fishing. Set up a corner of the backyard with a partition, or a boat or box. Provide each child with a fishing pole made from a wooden dowel rod and a string with a magnet attached to the end, and have them fish for a variety of objects attached to paper clips.


• Choose fun outdoor-related objects as prizes, such as a small flashlight or lantern, child’s compass, magnifying glass and nature books.


• For older kids, try a camping-theme scavenger hunt with a prize, like kid-size binoculars or small Coleman® cooler. (See Activity Ideas sidebar for other suggestions.)

Campfire Chow

• While it’s not safe to create a roaring campfire in suburbia, Coleman offers a good, if not better, alternative with its RoadTrip™ Pack-Away Portable Fireplace and Grill (retail $89). This portable grill doubles as an outdoor fireplace; it’s great for sitting around while telling stories and it can be used as a charcoal grill.


• The Fireplace Grill can be used to grill dinner and converted into a fireplace to make s’mores. (See Recipes for Camping With Kids sidebar for Hobo Dinner recipe and dessert ideas.)

Campsite Creativity

• First, have the children pair up with tent buddies.


• Provide each camp team with craft materials to design signs with their own tent name, like Dragon’s Den or Lizard’s Lounge. Offer colored construction paper, glue, scissors, glitter, magic markers, rubber stamps, etc. Provide sticks for the young campers and help them attach their signs to the sticks. Parents can use hammers to carefully place the signs outside the kids’ domains.


• Next, it’s time to get out the kids’ sleeping bags and set up the insides of their tents. A 40-degree bag is suitable for spring and summer camping. Coleman offers several youth- and adult-sized sleeping bags with various temperature ratings. A camp pad, air mattress or thick blanket can be placed under the bag for added comfort. Kids using indoor-style slumber bags may require an additional blanket placed over the bag for warmth.

Nightlight

• As nighttime sets in, have plenty of light sources around. Ideally, each child would have a flashlight for playing games such as Flashlight Tag or Camping Code (see Activity Ideas sidebar) or to guide their way during any nighttime restroom visits.


• A battery-powered lantern is handy to illuminate an outside area and is safe to use inside a tent when the kids are ready to play games or read. The Coleman® Remote-Control Lantern includes a built-in nightlight that will provide comfort for kids.

Morning Goodbye

• A great way to end the birthday party is to send a small bag of outdoor-themed goodies home with each child to say thank you for coming and to make each child feel special. Fill a bag or tie up a bandanna with homemade trail mix, fruit juice packs, a granola bar and a glow stick or mini Coleman lantern keychain or flashlight. This goodie bag can double as breakfast for hungry campers.


• Or, for a more substantial outdoor breakfast, break out the campstove and griddle and prepare some good old pancakes. Use green food coloring and try making the cakes in the shapes of leaves. With adult supervision, the older kids may want to help with preparing their own breakfast. Most kids get a kick out of cracking eggs, pouring pancake batter and flipping pancakes.

Note to media: See related sidebars – Activity Ideas for Day and Night and Recipes for Camping With Kids. Photos and news releases are available for downloading at www.coleman.com/newsroom.