PORTLAND, Ore. - Camping always sounds like a lot of fun—especially when I’m not the one doing it.

You may have your own reasons for skipping a traditional camping trip, but why miss out on the fun? With backyard camping, your family can enjoy the outdoors together without all the hassle.

Here are some tips for making your next backyard campout a memorable experience:

GEAR

Tent

Don’t have one? There are loads of people with a tent in their garage. Borrow theirs.

Bedding

Kids can sleep with just a sleeping bag or a pile of blankets. But for the old folks, I recommend skipping right past the air mattress and pulling out a REAL mattress instead. I won’t tell. And your back will thank me. Couch cushions are a creative alternative.

Flashlight

For fun in the tent, and for middle of the night trips to the house.

Cooker

I heartily recommend invading your friend’s backyard—the one with the fire pit. It’s not essential, but it makes the camping experience a bit more authentic. Otherwise, a grill works. And so do the microwave and oven in your house.

FOOD

With the kitchen close at hand, the sky’s the limit when it comes to backyard camping! I’ll focus on the basic campout foods, but there are plenty of other options.

Hot dogs

If you can’t cook them over a fire, the broiler in your oven can give you the same roasted taste. Keep them warm in a crock pot.

Corn on the cob

Fun to toss on the fire or if impatience is your thing—try the microwave. Sweet corn can also be grilled.

• How to cook corn on the cob on the campfire
• How to microwave corn on the cob
• How to grill corn on the cob

Watermelon

If you feel the need for a “learning experience,” let seed spitting be the skill that is taught.

S’mores

Despite their sickeningly sweet, sticky ways—they’re a must. The marshmallows can be toasted in the broiler if you don’t have a fire. And if the traditional recipe doesn’t float your boat, try one of these variations:

• Cookie S’mores - Stick a large, toasted marshmallow between two Keebler® Fudge Shoppe® Fudge Stripes Cookies.
• Mexican S’mores - Spread creamy peanut butter over one side of a flour tortilla. Sprinkle with a row of chocolate chips and miniature marshmallows. Roll up like a burrito, wrap individually in foil, and twist the edges. Set over the fire (or grill) for at least five minutes, turning once.
• European S’mores - In place of the chocolate bar, use a layer of Nutella® (a creamy, chocolaty hazelnut spread) instead.

GAMES

Now while I *do* advocate dragging a mattress out of the house, there are some things that should truly be “left at home.” Techy toys are first on that list. It kind of defeats the whole “bonding” purpose of camping if people are texting or bopping with their ear buds on. That goes for you with the crackberry, too.

There are any number of ways to get your friends and family interacting. Here are a few of my favorites:

Sock wrestling

Race to see who can take another person’s socks off before his own socks are taken off by an opponent. For detailed instructions.

Camping trip

Say, “I’m going on a camping trip, and I’m going to bring _____.” The next person then has to say the same phrase along with the first item being brought and then add their own word after that. Optional rules would be that the items have to be added in alphabetical order, or the next word must start with the last letter of the previous word. Bend and break the rules as needed. For detailed instructions.

Hi, my name is Joe

Wiggle and giggle as you work in the button factory. Get the words to the song.

Flashlight hide and seek

Wait for the sun to go down, and give the flashlight to the person who is “it.” “It” then shines the flashlight on someone who’s hiding, and then that person becomes the new “it.”  For detailed instructions.

Campfire songs

Let your voice be heard! A great way to annoy the kids, and the neighbors too. The Dragon's Campfire songbook.

Obstacle course

Use the stuff in your lawn or pull out the junk in your garage to create the course. For detailed instructions.

STORIES

Camping is a treat for kids because it breaks all the rules. Sleeping outside, gorging on sugar, and staying up past dark. Once the sun goes down, pull out the flashlight and read as a family. Any book of interest will do, but here are some good ones for young children:

• Maisy Goes Camping
• Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping
• A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee
• Curious George Goes Camping
• Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night

Telling stories from your life is one of the best parts of camping. Use some conversation starters to get the ball rolling, and then just listen and laugh from there.

So get out into the wilderness of backyard camping. With less stress and a few more comforts, you can make some great camping memories without all the hassle. Who knows? You just might have the most relaxing vacation of the summer—right in your own back yard.

In her day job, Lisa Smith attempts to transform her three children from super-charged emotion-bombs into contributing members of society. And in her "free time," roughly 11:00-11:30 p.m., she saves the world (i.e. “writes”) via her website at www.stretchmarkmama.com.

Lisa's husband, Nathan Smith, is the photographer who provided the photos for this story.  You can find out more about his work at www.crossmarkdesign.com.