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There's not much time left to camp out before you'll need an igloo instead of a tent. But sleeping under the stars on a crisp autumn night is something special. There are autumn leaves to be enjoyed, animals seeking food for winter, and it feels extra cozy by the campfire.

For many years I was under the impression that camping was a huge ordeal that took forever to organize and was a lot of work. If things are too hectic to actually go to a campsite, try camping out in the back yard. Then you have all the conveniences of home (i.e., bathroom!) paired with all the fun of camping.

Here are some tips to make backyard camping a hit!

1. Set up the tent several hours before nightfall. It's frustrating to try tent acrobatics in the dark. Also, the kids can play around with it, increasing their excitement for the camp out.
2. If you have a fire pit, use it for cooking and for marshmallow roasting. Otherwise, you can improvise by using your charcoal or propane grill.
3. Do the same activities as if you were really far away from home: tell stories, play games, and start new traditions.
4. Get a book from the library on constellations, and spend some time studying them and learning the stories of their origins. For additional fun, find your own constellations and make up your own mythology.
5. Let kids take an active part in the setup and execution of the camp out. They can help with the tent, unroll sleeping bags, set out food, and more. By making them a part of the experience, they'll treasure it all the more.

15 Minute Moment
Count from 1 to 100 without missing a number. Try some variations depending on how old your child is. Try skip counting, even numbers, counting backwards, or singing the whole version of "100 Bottles of Juice on the Wall."