Great American Backyard Campout

The Great American Backyard Campout is June 25.

Gather your friends and family, set up some tents in your back yard, build a campfire and get back in touch with nature.

Oh, and share some snacks, of course!

Here are some tasty ideas from Mother Nature Network:

Homemade Trail Mix:

Let kids create a mix from their favorite nuts, dried fruits, seeds and dark chocolate chips.

Air- or oil-popped popcorn:

Forgo the microwave bags and spend five minutes popping a Dutch oven full of kernels in the kitchen to share in the back yard.

Fruit kabobs:

Cut cantaloupes, watermelon, pineapple and other fruits that won’t turn brown quickly, add some grapes, and put on small skewers. Kids think food is more fun on a stick.

Water:

Yep. Water. Tell everyone participating to bring their own reusable water bottle and provide pitchers of plain water and some flavored with fresh fruit like lemons and oranges for them to refill their bottles. There’s no need for sugary soft drinks.

Organiced-up S’mores:

A campout calls for S’mores, but you don’t have to stick to the traditional brands of chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows, do you? Try alternative brands like Endangered Species Milk Chocolate Bug Bites (the perfect size for a S’more), Health Valley Graham Crackers, and make-your-own marshmallows using organic ingredients.