Family Fun

Looking for a way to kick off your summer? Here's an idea for family fun, no further than your backyard. Sponsored by National Wildlife Federation to encourage families to turn off their televisions, iPods, Wiis, computers, MP3 players, cell phones and all things high tech, and experience a night with Mother Nature including listening for nocturnal wildlife (maybe even seeing a few animals), star-gazing, cooking outdoors, telling stories, and exploring the world right in your own backyard.

Last year thousands of families from around the country participated in the Great American Backyard Campout. This year's designated Backyard Campout Night is Saturday, June 28.

This initiative is part of a National Wildlife Federation campaign to rescue our nation's kids from what famed author Richard Louv calls "nature deficit disorder." Research now shows that kids spend an average of 44 hours per week plugged in to electronic media. For the first time in our country's history, we have an entire generation growing up disconnected from nature.

Camping in your backyard is a great way to introduce your kids to the fun and adventure of sleeping under the stars. It also brings families closer together without the distraction of television, computers, and video games.

The National Wildlife Federation provides everything you need to head out into the great outdoors called your backyard. The website has packing lists, recipes, nocturnal wildlife guides, exploration activities, and nature guides. Check it out at www.backyardcampout.org. Families can even sign up on the site to share their campout plans and experiences.