Let’s go camping!

You must have gone camping before. It was a lot of fun, wasn’t it?

Well, you can do it again. And you need not even go far. Camping is one summer activity that happens in the great outdoors, anywhere — even in your own backyard.

Do you have a big backyard? Or does one of your friends?

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Yes, setting up a camping activity can be quite easy and quick — and you need not travel at all. Plan one in your yard or garden. It’s like having friends come to your house overnight except that you spend it outdoors.

What’s great about doing a yard camping is that you get to learn how to organize an activity among your friends. Try to do all the planning yourselves, asking the adults only for permission and minor assistance.

Several days or one week before you schedule your camp, meet with your friends and have a planning session. Make sure you discuss your needs, as follows:

1. A tent or two (depending on how many are coming. It’s easier to organize if you limit your crowd to no more than five.)

2. Blankets enough for all of you, in case it gets chilly; throw pillows, and other soft things to lie on.

3. You may want to have some blow-up mattress or sleeping bags if you want to rest in comfort.

4. A small table for your food.

5. Mosquito repellants for protection against mosquito bites. You may wish to also have mosquito patches or any available protection from mosquitos; you can have mosquito coils arranged around you tent.

6. Water and juice.

7. Food for your supper (hotdogs, burgers, pizza, or any easy-to-eat-without-mess foods, and some snacks in case you get hungry in the middle of the night.

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During the planning session:

• Make a sketch of your camping ground (where things should be: tent, table, and seating area).

• Make a checklist of everything you need.

• Schedule a day to prepare the camping area: clean it of doggy do-do, ant hills, trash, or other irritants and other nasty things that might spoil your night.

• Assign who will bring what: ex. a cooler for your ice. Suggested food are: bags of chips, pizza, peanuts, gummy bears, bread, cookies, popcorn, etc. Suggested drinks are: lemonade, juice, or any beverage that can cool you. You may simply order take-out food on the day itself; it’s up to you.

• Other ideas:

o Bonfire: this will need the supervision of an adult so you have to ask permission from your parents first.

If you are able to get the necessary permission, have some hotdogs and marshmallows on hand to roast.

o Treasure hunt: this has to be prepared by an adult (clues and tokens) so you will all have an opportunity to be surprised. Request mom or big sister to do it.

o Hide and Seek and other Filipino games: try to research or ask around for games you could play while camping.

o Memories: have one camera to take shots of whatever you want recorded. Be silly, be happy! In the future, you will always look back to these photos that recorded a wonderful time.  Aside from all the individual shots, take a group photo of everyone who participated.

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Very important to remember: Camping is a time for bonding and having physical activities. Do not bring any of your electronic gadgets (except for a camera). Spend the whole time chatting, laughing, and interacting with each other.

Won’t you share with me your camping experience after the event? Visit my blog at www.leavesofgrace.blogspot.com or email me at [email protected].