It’s officially summer, and New England summers make for some of the best camping weather imaginable.
Summer is officially here, which means it’s officially camping season! In fact, this weekend is that national Great American Campout, an annual event sponsored by the National Wildlife Foundation encouraging everyone to spend some time getting back in touch with nature.
Everyone can participate, no matter how experienced you are at camping. Are you an avid backpacker or camping enthusiast? Hit the trails with your gear on your back and sleep under the stars! Maybe an RV or pop-up camper is more your speed, or you prefer “car camping” or “glamping.” If you’re new to camping, you could always try a tent in your own backyard where anything you forgot to pack (and your own bathroom) are only a short walk away!
Really not up for a night under the stars? Set up a tent or blanket fort in the living room! Try leaving the lights off after dark and only using flashlights to get around if you leave your “tent.” You can even make a pretend campfire with paper towel tubes and tissue paper. It may not keep you warm, but it’ll still be great to sit around while you tell ghost stories.
Wherever you camp, you won’t want to miss out on a quintessential camping tradition: S’mores. The classic recipe calls for roasting a marshmallow over an open fire, then smooshing it between graham crackers and some Hershey’s milk chocolate. Camping indoors? “Roast” your marshmallow over the stovetop or in the microwave!
Want to make your s’mores extra special? Try some mix-ins! Replace graham crackers with chocolate chip cookies, oreos, waffle cones broken in half, rice krispie treats (cut them thin), fudge stripe cookies, or other sweet, crunchy goodies. Hershey’s bars can be swapped for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kats, or another favorite chocolate bar. You can add a spread like Nutella, caramel sauce, peanut butter, or fruit jam. And some fresh fruits could even be delicious additions, like sliced bananas or strawberries!
No matter how you participate in the Great American Campout, make sure to bring along some great books or audiobooks. Need some book ideas to get your kids in an outdoorsy mood? Try a book from this Camping Books for Kids booklist. And don’t forget to sign up for one of our Summer Reading programs, these books will totally count toward your goal!