Enjoying your garden this summer doesn’t have to just mean stopping to smell the roses. Everyone and their neighbor wants an epic summer vacation, especially after being cooped up most of this past year. However, not everyone has the opportunity to jump in the car for an extended road trip or a camping adventure in a state far away.
For those who still want the fun of an outdoor experience that the whole family can enjoy, no rule says you can’t simply head out for an evening in your garden. Indeed, turning your backyard or garden into a family campground is an excellent idea. You can have all the pleasure of enjoying the night air, a starry sky, and sleeping in a tent without having to listen to cries of “How much further?” from the kids.
If you’re a little leery of how to pull off a fun-filled summer sleepover with the kids successfully, never fear. We’ve put together some amazing garden sleepover ideas that are sure to have everyone smiling, giggling, and finally relaxing in a way people haven’t been able to for quite some time.
Preparing for your garden sleepover
Remember that you want things to go smoothly and without any major issues. You don’t want anyone to have excuses to go back home or go back indoors. Don’t forget that if things can go wrong, they usually will, unless you’re prepared. So! Take the following two major steps to make sure your fun isn’t spoiled before it even begins.
- Make sure you have emergency contact information for all the kids’ parents (that is, if you have your kids’ friends over).
- Ensure you’re aware of any allergies your kids’ friends might have so you won’t purchase inappropriate foods and snacks.
Create an outdoor movie night
Nobody said you have to go camping in your garden. You can, of course, but maybe you want to save that for another summer night. In that case, you could still set up a fun outdoor movie night! All you have to do is get yourself a screen, projector, and some speakers. Then create a comfy seating area. Make sure you’ve got plenty of snacks and something to drink, and when it gets dark enough, voila!
To keep things as easy as can possibly be, you can use the inside wall of a large tent or even hang a sheet to use as your screen.
Let’s play paintball!
If you have older kids (and plenty of outdoor space), you could conceivably engage in a friendly game of paintball. Just be aware there are some garden games for kids where you need to be a little creative with your garden’s area. For instance, you could set up shelters and barricades by laying old tables on their sides, stacking shipping pallets, or carting in some bales of hay.
Remember to make sure everyone has protective equipment and a change of clothes. Other than that, though, a game of paintball can be an excellent way to get all the kids running off some energy before settling down for an actual campfire cookout!
Build a garden firepit
If you choose to go camping in your garden, it just wouldn’t feel like the real deal without a campfire. Plus, you can’t roast marshmallows or tell ghost stories without one. Therefore, you need a dedicated area where you can keep the fire safely contained. But that doesn’t mean you have to go all out and build a firepit that adheres to local building codes.
Measure out a circle with about a five-foot diameter. Grab a shovel and dig the circle out to a depth of about six inches. Flatten out the bottom. Create your fire in that, and be sure to douse it with a five-gallon bucket of water before hitting the sack.
Change up your campfire hot dogs
Of course, if you have picky eaters, just stick with the basics: ketchup and mustard. However, if the kids are more adventurous, you could try out pickles, onions, horseradish, mayonnaise, sour cream, and chili peppers.
In fact, here’s an interesting recipe for campfire hotdogs everyone will enjoy!
Sing around the garden campfire
You can’t carry a tune, you say? No worries at all! Nobody truly expects people singing around a campfire to sound like The Braxtons or The Osmonds. Grab a ukulele or a guitar and start belting out some tunes. The kids will join in, and you’ll have a blast!
Break out a deck of cards
A little friendly poker where marshmallows are your bets could be ideal! Of course, if you’re looking for something more active, you could always play horseshoes or set up a game of croquet or badminton.
Tell ghost stories around the campfire
A night with friends out under the stars wouldn’t be complete without one or two tall tales featuring a ghost, a hook, or some other stereotypical fright night fare. To make it more fun, grab some flashlights and illuminate your face from below.
Whether you’ve roughed it in real camping trips before or not, enjoying an outdoor summer sleepover with your kids can be a blast if you prepare beforehand. Don’t forget to draft your kids when you need help. Grab your hotdogs and s’mores supplies and enjoy the kind of outdoor garden adventure you’ve been dreaming about since last year.
