Camping is fun. What better place to camp than in your own back garden? It's a great and easy way to live the outdoor life without having to pack bags, pack the car, double-check the list and make sure everyone has gone to the toilet before you leave!
Camping in your back garden is a great way to have friends stay over who might not otherwise be able to stay in your house. All you need to do when camping is do a bit of planning and it will make moments that last forever.
No matter what age you are, you can turn your back garden into a camping destination. Camping outside is this week's challenge from Dillon Lynch, our outdoor adventurer.
Here are a few ideas to set your camp up for success.
Set up your tents
A pop-up tent can work for camping out at night. Make sure to pitch it correctly as you don’t want it moving or falling down in the middle of the night. If you don’t have a pop up tent, make sure to get or borrow a good quality tent. You don’t want a beach tent or shade that is specifically made for the beach. You want a waterproof tent that protects you from the rain and wind. It’s Ireland after all, we often have four seasons in one night!
If your friends are coming over, help them set up their tent a safe distance away from yours.
Choose your bedding
Sleeping bags are a must when camping outside. The good news about camping in your own back garden is that you can make it as comfortable as you want for your children. You could have a yoga mat, a blow mattress, sleeping bag to lie on, and a duvet to lie on as well as over you. It depends on what you have in the house.You don’t have to rough it, you can glamp it out, camping in comfort and style.
Be warned though – children tend to take everything out with them so make sure you hold onto your own duvet!
You can camp in any weather, especially at home as you’ll have all the comforts. You could have two duvets, two sleeping bags, and still camp in winter! Remember the arctic explorers or mountain climbers stay in camps in the snow! They just make sure to pack very warm attire. Just be prepared to do lots of trips back into the house with all the duvets and blankets!
Choose your PJs
Part of the fun of camping is choosing your pyjamas or nightwear. As you’re at home, you don’t have to worry about over packing the car! If your child wants to wear two pairs of PJs, why not? Letting your children wear what they want (as long as it’s warm) is all part of the adventure.
Make the tent a home
Depending on the age of your child, put some teddys or stuffed animals in for the children. Make sure to have flashlights in the tent so that they know they can always see in the dark. Glow sticks are also great for adding a bit of light but not too much which could prevent sleep.
Set up a seating area
Just like camping away from your home, set up a seating area. It can be as simple as a picnic blanket or bring over your garden chairs and set them up close to the tents.
Have a BBQ
There is nothing quite like the taste of barbecued food while sitting in your tent or beside your tent. When you’re finished eating, you can always toast marshmallows on the BBQ. A must when camping!
Light a fire
If you have a fire pit, then why not light a fire? Sitting around talking and singing around a campsite fire is a traditional activity. If you don’t have a fire pit, try a terracotta pot.
String some lights
Grab some battery powered string lights and hang them off poles around the campsite. They will lend a twinkling, magical feel to your campsite.
Do some stargazing
As the night comes in, lie on the ground, or perhaps a picnic blanket is best. You can point out the stars in the night sky. Stargazing is an amazing activity. You could download an app on your phone such as Sky Guide to see where the stars are. You simply put your phone up to the sky. You could highlight the Plough, otherwise known as the Big Dipper. That helps you point out the North Star. Another one to find is Orion, which is well known for its three-star Belt. It’s a great way to pass time.
Head back in
Depending on their age, your child might not want you to stay out with them. It’s a big adventure that they’d like to do on their own, with their siblings and friends. Head into your house after giving instructions that the door will be left open should they want to come in.
There may be little sleep had and the next morning you might have some very sleep-deprived little people. They’ll recover from the lack of sleep quickly but the memory of sleeping outside will last a lifetime.
For more information, check out your Challenge Information Sheet. To get your cert at the end of your challenge, visit the TRTÉ website where you'll also find details of sporting organisations in your local area.
*All Dillon's challenges should take place within current Covid 19 Government guidelines.
