Wondering how to make the best of those long summer nights?  Well then gather your besties and head outside for a night of summer fun under the stars!  Camping isn’t just for boys!  Who knew you could have so much fun in your own backyard?

Location, location, location
The first step in planning an awesome camping experience is scouting some prime real estate.  Once your girls arrive, grab your sleeping bags and tents to reserve your site in the best spot available.  Your backyard will work just fine, but be sure you’re not trespassing on someone else’s property or you could get into some serious trouble!

Remember, when deciding on a location, safety always comes first!  It’s always a good idea to bring a First Aid kit just in case someone scrapes her knee.  And if you’re going to attempt to make your very own campfire, not only get your parents’ permission, but have them supervise you as well.  You don’t want to mess around with fire!

Don’t forget, be kind to Mother Nature and she’ll be kind to you!  Taking care of our environment is everyone’s responsibility.  One of the most important rules of camping is to leave everything better than the way you found it.  Clean up after yourself and take your trash with you.  And whatever you do, please do not disturb the wildlife.  You’re a visitor to their home, so do your best to be a great guest! 

As always, comfort is key!  This is no time to dress to impress, so ladies, leave the cute capris and wedge sandals at home! 

Make room for munchies!
You know a girl’s gotta eat!  Get ready for midnight snacks galore with these yummy and easy-to-make treats!

•    PB&J:  Your fave after-school snack can go camping with you!  The easy-to-carry and protein-packed sandwich is perfect for a backyard campout.  Just grab some bread, peanut butter and jelly, and then you’re good to go!

•    GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts):  There are many variations to this make-your-own-trail-mix snack!  Mix your fave foods, such as raisins, nuts, pretzels, M&Ms, and sunflower seeds in a Ziploc bag to make a fun and fabulous camping treat everyone can enjoy!

•    S’MORES:  All you need for this delicious campfire favorite are some graham crackers, marshmallows, and—last, but certainly not least—Hershey chocolate bars!  After an adult helps you get the campfire going, you can use either real sticks or store-bought skewers to roast your marshmallows.  Once your marshmallows are a nice golden brown (or burnt if you like it), slide them onto your chocolate bar and top with graham crackers.  They taste so good, you’ll be begging for s’more!

Just for fun
You and your BFFs have a long night ahead of you when you’re camping!  To help you have the night of your lives, check out these late night activities to keep you busy and having fun!

•    Ghost stories:  Everyone loves a good ghost story.  You can look up a great ghost story online or at your local library—or better yet, you can create your own!  Setting is important, so make sure it’s spooky!  But be careful not to overwhelm your friends.  The important thing is to have fun, not to be so scared you can’t sleep!

•    Stargazing:  You can watch Mother Nature put on a spectacular nighttime performance when you lie down and watch the stars.  Some cool summertime constellations to look for include The Big Dipper and The Little Dipper.  If you’re lucky, you can maybe catch a shooting star.  Don’t forget to make a wish!

•    Sing-a-long:  You’re never too old to sing campfire songs!  Gather your besties for a round of campfire classics, such as “Kumbaya,” “She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain,” and “Yankee Doodle.”  Brownie points for busting your own rhymes or playing songs on a harmonica!

•    Campfire games:  When you’re tired of singing, you can play some games to get everyone pumped!  “Two truths and a lie” is a fun icebreaker to help everyone get to know each other better.  Each player makes three statements about herself: two that are true and one that is false.  Other players have to determine which statement is false.  The next person makes three statements and you keep playing.  You could also play fun games such as Freeze Tag, “I Spy,” make up your own scavenger hunt, or create some interesting shadow puppets using your campfire.  Of course, some of the best games are the ones you make up yourself!

Don’t forget!
As the Scouts say, “be prepared.”  Here’s a handy camping checklist of important things to remember:
•    Tent
•    Sleeping bags and extra blankets
•    Pillows
•    Sunscreen
•    Bug Spray
•    Food and water
•    Flashlights and extra batteries
•    Warm clothes
•    First Aid kit
•    Camera
•    Cell phone for emergencies