Camp Out on June 27

First posted on 05-13-2009

Detach yourself from the computer, television, Wiis, iPods and iPhones for just a little while and take that time to enjoy the outdoors that await you in your own backyard.

The National Wildlife Federation is sponsoring the Great American Backyard Campout on June 27 this year, culminating Great Outdoors Month which is celebrated the entire month of June. It’s an opportunity to spend the night with Mother Nature, have a cookout, watch the stars and listen to the sounds of nocturnal animals right from your backyard, or experience the wilds in a campground near you.

With an economic climate that is certain to keep most people closer to home this summer, the Great American Backyard Campout is a way to have an inexpensive “staycation” without the need for costly motel rooms and high-priced gasoline.

At a website set up by the National Wildlife Federation, you can find all the tools you’ll need to put together a memorable camping experience. Visit http://www.backyardcampout.org to find guides to nighttime wildlife, recipes for camp cookouts, lists of what to pack and more.

At the same website, you can also register your June 27 camping trip and share your story with others across the country with your own campsite homepage, camping tips newsletters, planning materials and an invitation form in case you want to invite friends and neighbors to join in. The site includes a map of the United States that shows how many people are participating and where they are located.

It is especially important to include children in this outdoor activity. For the first time in our nation’s history, we have an entire generation of young people growing up with a disconnect to nature. Studies have shown this disconnect can lead to consequences that include increased childhood obesity, lower levels of self-sufficiency and a lack of interest in maintaining nature and wildlife.

The number of campers participating in the Great American Backyard Campout has increased steadily over the years as thousands of people all across the U.S. have taken one night to experience camping and nature.

Whether reliving camping trips or experiencing one for the very first time, the Great American Backyard Campout is a way to connect with nature, sleep out under the stars and even network with others across the U.S. who are doing the same thing.

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