backyard camping

FALL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
Backyard Family Outdoor Movie Night with Kids
- September 2, 2021
Spending time with our families isn’t always easy, especially once we get busy with school, work, and extracurricular activities. Making time, even just once a week, to fully connect with each other as a family unit is important. One way to do this is with a family movie night. Spending time together watching a movie strengthens family bonds. Today, Zenovia Stephens, founder of Black Kids Adventures, Inc. and Alabama mom of three, shares all about making memories with a backyard family outdoor movie night with kids.

The thrill of a movie night outdoors

Movie nights are one of the most memorable family activities of childhood. Choosing what to watch and which snacks to eat are always fun, whether you’re watching a movie in the living room or at the theater. But a change of scenery can take movie night to the next level and make it even better! Outdoor movie night is special and so much fun for everyone. Today, I will share tips on adding a little more sparkle to family movie night and creating everlasting memories right from your backyard.

Family movie nights are essential for families

Family movie nights are about so much more than watching a movie. After a long week of work and school, family movie night is the perfect opportunity to unwind and bond as a unit. Here are a few, not so obvious, benefits of sitting down to watch a movie as a family:
- It gives kids a chance to help plan something. Movie night is an excellent place for kids to take charge and plan the movie, snacks, and make sure everything needed is on hand.
- It gives everyone something to look forward to. Pushing through work and school can be hard on all of us. Knowing every Friday is family movie night can be the sweet spot that helps everyone get to the end of the week.
- The movie gives everyone something to talk about together. During the hustle and bustle of the week, our children do things without us. Family movie nights enable us all to have at least one thing in common we can talk about each week.
- Everyone can enjoy this time together. When you have kids of different ages, it gets harder to find things suited for everyone. Family movie night is a place for everyone to come together despite age gaps.
- Depending on the movie, it can help reinforce positive values and behaviors. Take Disney’s new film Luca for example. It helped my boys see how important it is to speak positive thoughts over their lives.
- Spending time together reduces sibling rivalry. Often children experience disconnect during the week, especially when schedules are busy. This disconnect can also cause your children to act out and most often this results in bickering siblings. Spending time doing the same activity together, helps decrease this disconnect, builds familial bonds, and reduces sibling rivalry.
Now, take movie night outside into the backyard, and you get a supercharged event with even more benefits!

Why take movie night to the backyard?

Remember being a kid and getting excited about your parents stopping for a happy meal? Sure, they could’ve cooked a cheeseburger and fries at home, but the magic in your eyes was from the cute box, fun toy, and having everything packaged just for you. It added an element of excitement to an ordinary cheeseburger meal.

Backyard movie nights do the same thing! It adds a new and exciting element to ordinary family movie nights. It’s a movie packaged in an outdoor adventure! You also get the bonus of more time outside in the fresh air, which is always a good thing. Studies show that increased time outdoors helps reduce stress and anxiety and promotes creativity and feel-good hormones (endorphins).

Backyard movie night supplies
- One heavy-duty frosted shower curtain
- One heavy-duty white shower curtain
- Large clips, duct tape, or pavers
- Projector (Don’t have one? See below for DIY movie night projectors)
- Extension cord
- HDMI or AV adaptor
- Table
- Snack baskets
- Popcorn buckets
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Blankets or lawn furniture
- Firepit
DIY movie night projector

If you have a projector already, go ahead and skip this section. If you don’t have a projector, don’t worry! You can still hold a backyard family movie night! Do you have a cell phone? If so, you can make this simple projector described at Point Clicker. All you need is the supplied listed below and a little time to throw it together.
- Cell phone
- Shoebox (or box of similar size)
- Magnifying glass
- Glue
- Black Paint
This is DIY projector is simple to make and only takes a few minutes. It is a great option for those who don’t have access to a project and want to create a backyard movie night memories with their families.

NOTE: If you don’t have a projector, check with your local library. Many libraries have them available to check out.

DIY projector screen setup

Start by choosing the best viewing location in your yard and setting up your “screen.” If you have a projector screen, feel free to skip over the DIY screen portion below.

Once you have your location, gather your curtains and smooth them out as best as you can. You will then hang the frosted curtain in the back and the white curtain on the top to create your very own DIY projector screen. We hang ours on a retaining wall in our yard and use pavers to hold the screen down. If you’re hanging from a fence, consider heavy-duty clips or heavy-duty duct tape.

You could also project your movie onto a large white wall (maybe the side of your house) or a garage door.

Outdoor theater setup

Once your screen is ready, consider adding a canopy tent over the screen. While not necessary for a backyard movie night, adding a canopy tent over the screen will help create a cozy theater feeling. It also blocks light from the sky, allowing you to begin the movie a little before dark. This is great when you have little ones that can’t stay up late enough for it to be completely dark.

Place your table in the middle of the screen and set up the projector according to the included instructions. Ensure you have the correct connectors if you plan to stream a movie from your phone, tablet, or computer. We made the mistake of not checking when we first purchased our projector and ended up having to move indoors after the kids were outside and ready. Plan ahead and read the instructions in advance!

Also, if your projector doesn’t have built-in speakers, you may need to set up a speaker as well. You can use a portable Bluetooth speaker or whatever you have on hand.

Backyard outdoor movie night seating

When we do outdoor movie night, we tend to mix seating up every time to keep things exciting and interesting. Sometimes we spread out blankets; sometimes, we use lawn chairs. We’ve also done it camp style and set up tents! Consider bean bags or sleeping bags. I’ve even seen some families have the kids turn empty cardboard boxes into cars and then create a “drive in” movie night feel!

It’s a family preference, but switching up something as simple as seating can be used to add in another element of fun and surprise. You can leave the kids in charge of deciding which setup to use at each backyard movie night.

Family movie night snacks

Have fun here and let the kids indulge some. Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Dollar store snack trip. I take my boys to the dollar store and let them pick whatever movie treat they want. For this day, nothing matters. All of our healthy, balanced eating goes out the door. They’re free to choose whatever they want; the only catch is it’s limited to one thing.
- Create a snack box. To make it memorable, we package a treat and popcorn in individual baskets along with a drink. It makes the kids feel like they’re at the movies, and it makes cleaning up easy.
- Make it dinner and a movie. Depending on the day, sometimes we have dinner along with the movie. It can range from pizza to sandwiches to roasting hot dogs over the fire. As long as it’s easy to make and carry, it works well for backyard movie night.
- Roast marshmallows. If you have a fire pit in your yard, it might be fun to pause the movie and take a break for a marshmallow treat.
- Have a snack tray ready. If popcorn and candy are getting old (can that even happen?), you can mix it up by making a snack tray. Throw some cheese, crackers, veggies, and fruit on a tray and set it out for when the post-dinner movie munchies hit.
Backyard outdoor movie night in Fall and early Winter

If your kids are like mine, they’ll love watching movies in the backyard and will be hard-pressed to come back indoors for movie nights. Outdoor movie nights aren’t just for summer months. Depending on your weather (and how adventurous your family is), you could do outdoor movie night year-round! As temperatures drop, be sure to add extra layers of warmth to keep your kids toasty. You can also add blankets (even heated blankets).

While we’re known to light a fire in all seasons, a fire pit comes in super handy for extending the backyard movie night season. Our Solo Stove gives off some of the best heat ever and is smokeless, so we don’t all smell like a campfire when we go back inside. It does a great job of keeping us warm while we’re enjoying backyard movies.

Prepare young kids to last the night

Backyard outdoor movie night is a ton of fun, but it can be more challenging for littles to stay up after dark. If you have young kids, prioritize nap or rest time on movie nights. That way your little one will be well-rested and in a much better mood. It can make a big difference in how the experience goes for your family. You can also have a quiet activity at the ready for your younger children, especially if they tend to lose interest in movies before they are over.

How does your family enjoy movie night?

About the author

Zenovia is a self-proclaimed outdoor enthusiast, freelance travel and adventure blogger, wife, and mom to three young boys (ages 8, 5 & 2). Originally from Chicago, Zenovia and her family live in Huntsville, Alabama, and spend many of their days exploring and learning about the area. She is the Founder and CEO of Black Kids Adventures, Inc, a non-profit organization that focuses on getting Black and Brown families to spend time together exploring and enjoying nature. Zenovia is a Visit North Alabama Ambassador, 2021 Land Trust of North Alabama Board Member, YMCA Board Member, WildKind Ambassador and a monthly contributor for We are Huntsville and Huntsville’s CVB. You can follow along with her mom and family adventures and find inspiration for your own family adventures at Black Adventure Crew.

You can find Zenovia online in the following locations:
Instagram: @blackadventurecrew
Facebook: @blackadventurecrew
Website: Black Kids Adventures
CAMP, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, RECIPES, SUMMER
Tips for Backyard Camping with Kids
- June 29, 2021
Camping with kids is so much fun, but it’s also so much work! If you’re intimidated by venturing out for a camping trip with your kids or just want a fun way to spend a few more hours outside together, why not give backyard camping a try! Today, Creative Team member Meghan Garriott, Illinois mom of 3 is here with us sharing some brilliant and creative tips and tricks to make your backyard camping with kids adventure a success!

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Backyard camping with kids

Camping is a great way to get outside, enjoy nature, and spend some quality time unplugged. Camping with children can be tough and intimidating, though. Especially if you’re new to camping. Trying to remember to bring everything they need, keeping them entertained, and cooking food they like to eat can be stressful and overwhelming.

Camping with kids is worth it, but it is a lot of work. If you have multiple children the amount of work and difficulty level can multiply quickly. However, we have a great solution that will be less work, less hassle, super fun, and get you and your kids prepared and excited about a camping adventure!

Let me introduce you to backyard camping. Backyard camping is just that…camping in the backyard. It’s a great way to ease into real camping or just a great way to get outside and enjoy nighttime nature without the hassle of packing up everyone and everything. If you’re just getting started with camping, want to see how your kids will handle it or just want to spend an evening under the stars (with all the amenities of home nearby), backyard camping is going to be perfect for you!

Image credit: @meghangarriott

How to pick your backyard campsite

When setting up your campsite in your backyard, there are a few things to consider:
1. Cooking and eating (campfire and table/chairs)
2. Sleeping arrangements (tent or other)
3. Activities or games (enough space to play)
You don’t need a ton of space for backyard camping, but you’ll want to have a designated space for each of these things, if possible. All three of these designated areas can vary greatly depending on where you live, the size of your yard, and what you plan to use for each.

Eating, sleeping and spending time outside are the quintessential elements needed for a camping trip. You don’t have to get fancy with any of them, but try to incorporate them to give yourself and your kids a genuine camping experience. Below are some ideas you can use to plan your camping trip in the backyard.

Image credit: @sara_mccarty

Backyard camping food

A big part of the camping experience is the food. The great part about backyard camping is you don’t have to pack up all that food first and haul it to your campsite. You don’t have to worry about coolers and ice and bring everything you need to cook. You can be a little more creative with your camping food with your refrigerator so close.

If you have a place in your backyard for a campfire or a small fire pit, we highly encourage you to use it for your camping meals! That will help give you an authentic camping experience and help you gain confidence in what you’ll need to cook when you’re on a camping trip away from home. Plus, it’s super fun for the kids! It’s definitely not every day they get to cook over a fire! If you don’t have a fireplace or a fire pit using, the grill at home is another good option.

Some of our family’s favorite campfire foods include the classics like s’mores and hotdogs. We also love some more creative creations like grilled jelly and cream cheese sandwiches, “cinnamon bears”, and campfire pizzas. Foil packet dinners are always fun. I’ve included some kid-friendly camping recipes below!

We have a great article about involving kids in the fire-making process. And another on tips for outdoor cooking with kids, which will tell you how to get your kids involved in food prep and meal planning for your camping trip.

Image credit: @meghangarriott

Creative campfire recipes

Here are a few of our family’s favorite campfire recipes and treats. None of these are too complicated and you can get as creative with them as you want and to your family’s taste. I hope you’ll try a few of these recipes out at your next backyard camping adventure!

Grilled jelly and cream cheese sandwiches

To make grilled jelly and cream cheese sandwiches we use a campfire pie iron. Use two slices of buttered bread. On the inside of one slice use about 2 tablespoons of whipped cream cheese, on the other slice use your favorite fruit jelly or jam. Use the pie iron to cook them just like you would a regular grilled cheese about a minute or so for each side.

Then enjoy a delicious and easy grilled jelly and cream cheese sandwich. This can be a great breakfast option or a dessert option. This can also be made over your backyard grill if you are not using a firepit.

Cinnamon bears

“Cinnamon bears” are a family favorite that I made with my family camping while growing up. These use a loaf of French bread, butter, cinnamon, sugar, and a roasting stick. Cut the French bread into thick slices. Dip the sides into butter then into a cinnamon-sugar mixture. Put it on the stick and roast over the fire till the sugar caramelizes. This was always our go-to breakfast growing up!

Cast-iron skillet pizza

The last creative camping dish you should try during your backyard camping trip is cast-iron skillet pizza. A cast-iron skillet is a great Multi-use tool for camping and for in the kitchen. Check out this recipe for the cast iron skillet pizza. If pizza isn’t your thing check out this list for a ton of fun cast iron camping recipes.

Foil-packet meals

Foil packet meals can be anything you want them to be! These can be made ahead of time and placed on/in the fire to cook. We usually do some combination of meat and veggies, tossed in seasoning and maybe a dab of olive oil. We’ve done everything from steak strips with Brussel sprouts to freshly caught trout with lemon and broccoli.

Image credit: @sara_mccarty

Backyard camping sleeping arrangements

The great thing about sleeping outside in your backyard versus a traditional campsite is it probably has less wildlife (and fewer bugs), so your outdoor sleeping options are a little broader. When considering the different sleeping arrangements for backyard camping don’t overthink it. Kids will likely be excited to sleep with whatever you give them because it is fun and exciting just to be sleeping outside!

And while you may have fewer bugs in the backyard than out in the wilderness, it’s still a good idea to spray whatever you plan to sleep in with some bug spray or permethrin to keep mosquitoes and ticks away.

Image credit: @sara_mccarty

Backyard tent camping

Tents range in size, rooms, and difficulty to set up. If you are camping in your backyard to prepare for a larger camping trip it’s a good idea to set up your tent at home first. And even sleep in it! This way, you know what you are doing once you get to an actual campsite, and you know all the tools and gadgets you will need once you are away from home, how much space you have inside and the way you want to set everything up. This step is great for helping build your confidence if you’re a new camper.

If you aren’t preparing for a camping trip away from home and are just backyard camping for fun, any kind of tent will do. Homemade tents built out of sheets or tarps can be a fun activity and learning opportunity for kids. Or you can even set up camp in the kids’ clubhouse or make some kind of fort.

Image credit: @thimbleandtwig

Hammocks

Tents are not the only way to sleep outside! If you have some trees or poles to use, hammocks are a super fun and comfortable option for backyard camping and really allow you to enjoy the night. We recommend the hammocks with mosquito netting so you don’t get eaten alive overnight!

If opting for hammocks, you’ll want to make sure the kids using them overnight are older and are able to get in and out of them easily on their own. Hammocks may not be an appropriate option for young kids to sleep in overnight.

Image credit: @wonderclubexplorers

Sleeping bags

Don’t have a tent or a clubhouse or a hammock? Never fear! Sleeping bags can be used alone on the ground – they’re not just for use inside a tent. If you live in the county or in a smaller town with minimal light pollution, sleeping in a sleeping bag underneath a full sky of stars is magical. If you lay long enough and pay attention to the sky on a clear night you will likely even see a few shooting stars!

Sleeping bags come in lots of fun options, with different thicknesses, and tend to roll up and pack up nicely and easily for kiddos. We recommend a lightweight sleeping bag if you’re camping in the summer months. If you don’t have sleeping bags though no worries. You are just steps away from the house when backyard camping, so it is easy enough to throw some blankets and pillows outside to use as well.

Another perk to being in your backyard is having easy assess to electricity. So if you want to be extra comfy while sleeping outside you can blow up a nice big air mattress to put in your tent. This is often what my husband does when camping in the yard with my kids. You can also use a blow-up pool raft.

Image credit: @sara_mccarty

Set the mood for backyard camping

A tent and a campfire are probably enough to really make it feel like camping! But if you want to get extra creative and really set the mood, stringing lights, setting out tiki torches, or just using some lanterns is a fun way to bring light to your backyard campsite. Since you’re just at home perfection can go out the window. You can string up some old Christmas lights or some rope lights. If you don’t have those, tiki torches are a great way to keep bugs away and give off some added campfire glow (you can even get citronella torch fuel).

While you’re putting up lights or lanterns, don’t forget about the playset or tree house if you have them! Even though the children may play on these playsets every day, playing on them in the dark with some fun lighting will bring new life to them and give them something fun to do after the sun sets.

Image credit: @meghangarriott

Backyard camping games and activities

And speaking of fun things to do when you’re backyard camping, now is the time to break out the slackline, glow sticks, sparklers, and flashlights for some fun games!

Slackline

During daylight hours, one of our kids’ favorite things to do on a camping trip is to play on the slackline. We always bring our slackline on camping trips and set it up for the kids to play on. Sometimes they’ll spend hours walking on it, bouncing, playing games, challenging each other. It’s a great screen-free way to keep them entertained.

Glow sticks

Glow sticks are fun, but when kids are decked out in glow bracelets and necklaces, they are also a great way to be able to see your children as they run around in the dark! Last summer we found a glow stick ring toss game that entertained the kids outside for quite some time. You could easily make your own glow stick ring toss by making rings out of some sticks and sticking a few straight in the ground.

Flashlight tag

Another fun and classic evening game is flashlight tag! Every house I’ve ever stayed at has had different flashlight tag rules. So grab your flashlights (or headlamps) and your running shoes, make up your own rules, and get out and play!

Catching fireflies

Here in the Midwest, our favorite backyard activity is catching fireflies. This activity can be reserved for dusk, before you break out your glow sticks, sparklers, and flashlights. If using a mason jar to collect and observe, try turning it upside down to better see them, as the lightning bugs like to fly upwards. Try to make sure you release them after 15 minutes so they can find their mate and continue making more lightning bugs for future fun!

For more on lightning bugs, we’ve got a whole post dedicated to Fun with Fireflies.

Image credit: @meghangarriott

Backyard camping freedom

Taking kids on the road for a camping trip can sometimes be stressful and overwhelming. But, when you bring camping to your own backyard a whole new world can open up. Your options for food, fun, and sleep are so much greater, which can allow the whole family a little more fun with a lot less stress. Backyard camping is a great way to gauge your family’s interest and ability to go on another camping trip a little further from home. Happy camping!

What are your favorite backyard camping tips?

About the author

Meghan is a country living, mom of 2 boys in rural central Illinois (with a baby girl on the way). She is a Physical Therapist Assistant by trade but spends most of her time outside with her family. At home, she has large flower, herb, and vegetable gardens to tend to and 3 large dogs to play with. As a family, they enjoy hiking, camping, boating, fishing, and helping her in-laws show and raise livestock. Photography became a hobby while in isolation after her oldest son’s bone marrow transplant. It has since become a passion to capture her family’s daily life. Throughout her family’s journey with rare disease and transplant, the outdoors have been a safe space for the whole family to grow, learn, and thrive.

You can find more from Meghan online in the following locations:
Instagram: @meghangarriott
RWMC posts: Meghan Garriott