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At night, backyard is magical

Join thousands of other families across the country pitching tents in their backyards this Saturday as part of the the National Wildlife Federation's "Great American Backyard Campout" campaign

Date published: 6/24/2008

By KIM BAER

Wildlife advocates call it "nature deficit disorder."

The problem? Children who are so into their electronics and tied up with extracurricular activities that they don't play outside.

"They just can't relate to nature, really," said Ashleigh Poff, marketing and outreach coordinator with Reston-based National Wildlife Federation.

NWF officials hope events such as the Great American Backyard Campout can help change that.

The annual event is meant to help families see that hanging out together outside can be fun.

Participating is easy: Just spend the night in the backyard.

"People might be a little bit intimidated by camping, but they don't need to be," Poff said. "You don't need a big fancy tent, or a really expensive sleeping bag. You can even go outside with blankets."

About 18,000 have registered for Saturday's event on the federation's Web site at nwf.org/backyardcampout, Poff said.

Two Fredericksburg-area residents are among them.

Drake Riggins plans to pitch a tent in his Spotsylvania County backyard Saturday afternoon and spend the night outside with his three children.

Riggins said his family often camps out in the summertime.

The kids, 7, 6 and 4, like to play flashlight tag, make s'mores and walk down to nearby Ni River Reservoir, where they sit quietly and wait to see what animals come out.

Cris Siegal's 6-year-old son, Lukie, is already asking which friends he can invite to his Stafford County home for his backyard camp-out.

Siegal's wife and their two daughters will probably stay inside.

The boys plan to toast marshmallows, take a nighttime walk and tell stories.

Siegal, who remembers camping out as a kid, hopes backyard camping will lead to bigger trips.

"It's something I enjoy," Siegal said, "and something hopefully he'll enjoy."

Kim Baer: 540/368-5028
Email: kbaer@freelancestar.com

Want to give backyard camping a try? Make sure younger children know what to expect, said Cathy Corker, chief ranger at Spotsylvania's Lake Anna State Park. Prepare them for how dark it will be outside. Talk to them about the noises they'll hear outside, too. Let them help set up camp. Corker's 7-year-old daughter likes to help pitch the tent. "It gives her a sense of worth, that she is helpful to the family," Corker said. Then let the kids "move in" to the tent, setting up their sleeping bags and other gear. Teach them some of the rules of tent living, too, such as taking off their shoes before going inside, Corker suggested. Here are some suggestions from Riggins and Corker: Roast marshmallows and tell stories. Take a nighttime walk around the neighborhood with flashlights. Play flashlight tag. Catch fireflies. Lie on your back and look up at the stars. Look at insects. Pin a light-colored sheet on a clothesline, then shine a lantern on the sheet. Check out the different kinds of insects that land on the sheet. More suggestions, including campfire songs, crafts and other activities are on the NWF's Web site at www.nwf.org/back yardcampout. Camping out in the backyard this weekend? Tell us how it went. Send stories to Kim Baer at kbaer@freelancestar.com.

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Date published: 6/24/2008