Uh oh...
It appears that you're using a severely outdated version of Safari on Windows. Many features won't work correctly, and functionality can't be guaranteed. Please try viewing this website in Edge, Mozilla, Chrome, or another modern browser. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused!
Read More about this safari issue.
Camping is good for the soul. It connects you with nature and with your family, and it’s a rite of passage for kids. The best news is that you don’t have to travel far to have a successful campout. Arkansas is loaded with great campgrounds, but the best campground around might just be your own backyard. You’ll save on gas money, there are no fees, and you’ve got all the comforts of home just steps away.
Every summer, the National Wildlife Federation’s Great American Campout encourages families to reconnect with nature, sleep under the stars, and spend time outdoors. Arkansas has a lot of natural beauty to appreciate, but respect and appreciation for the outdoors begin at home. So let’s keep it simple and camp out without going anywhere! This is your ultimate guide to an Arkansas backyard campout, and I’m going to walk you through everything you need to have a great experience in your backyard.
Arkansas Backyard Campout Schedule
If this is your first family campout, a Friday night with no Saturday plans is a great place to start. This leaves room for schedule adjustments and ensures you won’t be dragging around cranky kids who stayed up too late. Although a campout is a kid-centered event, I highly recommend you involve the whole family in the planning and setup. Bonus points to moms and dads who make it all night in the tent! It’s a great way to work together and really connect as a family.
4 p.m. – Set Up Camp
Pitch a tent. Setting up a tent can be tricky, but many hands make light work. If this is your first time using the tent, I suggest laying out all the poles and pieces and checking (and double-checking) the instructions before beginning. Take your time, and allow yourself some grace.
Roll out sleeping bags. You can lay the sleeping bags on the floor of the tent, but adding an air mattress or some extra blankets underneath can add some comfort. My son likes to add his pillow and a favorite stuffie.
Hang string lights. String lights create a fun atmosphere, but aren’t a requirement for a good time. A few flashlights make it fun and are helpful for late-night bathroom runs.
Set up a fan. I don’t have to tell you, but Arkansas is hot. A fan keeps air circulating and makes nighttime a little more restful. We just ran an extension cord from our porch.
- Packing for Your Arkansas Camping Trip
- Arkansas Camping Gear Essentials
- Camping with Kids: Enjoying Arkansas Outdoors as a Family
- Camping with Teens: Building Family Memories One Campfire at a Time
5 p.m. – Backyard Nature Scavenger Hunt
I always underestimate just how much wildlife resides right in my yard. A backyard scavenger hunt is a fun way for kids to discover the unexpected, plus it gives you a few minutes to gather what you need for dinner.
Look for:
- Cardinals, Blue Jays and other backyard birds
- Butterflies
- Dragonflies
- Different leaf shapes
- Animal tracks
- Wildflowers
You can download a printable scavenger hunt or track your finds in a nature journal.
6 p.m. – Campfire Dinner
One of my favorite parts of camping is eating outdoors. It doesn’t matter if it’s a grilled dinner, something cooked over the campfire or a simple picnic; eating outside is an experience I rarely pass up. Go ahead and light the campfire or fire up the grill and create a memorable family meal.
- Premade Camping Meals Featuring Arkansas Products
- Tips for Stress-Free Camping Meals
- Camping Trip Meal Planning
7:30 p.m. – Backyard Games
Playing a few backyard games is a great way to get the wiggles out before you start to slow down for the evening. The games can be as simple as tossing a frisbee or a football or kicking around a soccer ball. Game time is often the highlight of the night.
- Flashlight tag
- Glow stick ring toss
- Cornhole
- Ladder golf
- Capture the flag
8:30 p.m. – Arkansas Nature After Dark
As the sun sets, much of Arkansas’s fauna is just waking up. The sky comes alive with birds getting their final snack before bed and bats that are just waking from their slumber. The sound of crickets and cicadas fills the air, and deer tentatively step out of their hiding places in search of some tasty greens. Take a few moments to silently enjoy the transition of the Arkansas Night Forest.
Look and listen for:
- Fireflies
- Bats
- Tree frogs
- Crickets and Cicadas
- Owls
If you want to have a little fun with your kids, send them on a snipe hunt!
9 p.m. – Campfire Stories
The highlight of every camping trip has to be the campfire. Grab a few lawn chairs and gather around to grill s’mores and tell stories. It’s a great place to unwind and relax and simply enjoy the silence as the flames dance over the logs.
Campfire Stories:
- Sparking Imagination | The Art of Telling Campfire Stories
- Arkansas Folklore: Monster Edition
- Ozark Howler
- Seeing the Light – The Mystery of The Gurdon Light
- Outlaws of Arkansas | Legendary Lawbreakers
- Summer Read-Alouds for Arkansas Families
Note: Use parental discretion when sharing scary stories before bedtime.
Campfire Snacks:
- Arkansas Campfire Dip Recipe
- Premade Camping Meals Featuring Arkansas Products
- Camping Trip Meal Planning
10 p.m. – Stargazing
Arkansas skies offer up some incredible stargazing opportunities. It’s also the perfect time for a little learning disguised as adventure and fun.
Teach kids to find:
- Big Dipper
- Little Dipper
- North Star
- Identify planets
- Name the phase of the moon
If you live in town, getting it dark enough to observe the stars can be a challenge. Plan a visit to Buffalo River – Arkansas’s First Dark Sky Park in the future.
Bedtime
When it’s time to tuck in for the night, give everyone a chance to head in for a bathroom break before settling in. Sleeping someplace new can be a little scary, but I tend to downplay it as much as possible so there is less chance of a midnight disruption. And don’t underestimate the security of a stuffie and a flashlight.
The Next Morning – Backyard Camp Breakfast
Firing up the campfire or the grill to cook breakfast is a great way to finish the backyard campout before heading back to your regular routine. You can go all out with pancakes, eggs and bacon or serve simple bowls of cereal.
Campsite Cleanup
Campsite cleanup is just as important as the setup. Getting everything put away in its proper place means you’ll be able to find everything you need for your next backyard campout. Challenge the kids to help pack up camp just like you would at a real campground.
Printable Backyard Campout Guide
We often think outdoor adventures require a state park reservation, a camper or a full weekend away. Sometimes all it takes is a tent, a few lawn chairs and a willingness to stay outside a little longer than usual. The Great American Campout is really about slowing down, looking up at the stars and making memories close to home.
We do the work.
You check your email.
Sign up for our weekly e-news.
Get stories sent straight to your inbox!
Like this story? Read more from Julie Kohl
In light of America's 250th birthday, it's been fun to look back at how...
For most people, guitar competitions bring to mind highly trained...
As excited as my son is for the start of summer break, it never takes...
Join the Conversation
Leave a Comment