kidsactivities

Lockdown Staycation Ideas

5 Easy Steps to a low cost and low mess indoor camping experience

Thinking up ideas for a staycation is more challenging then ever with lockdown and stay at home orders in place. Planning ahead can be difficult with the uncertainties of the pandemic. We all look forward to long weekends. In Canada, May 24^th is a holiday in honour of Queen Victoria’s birthday and is considered the first long weekend to kick off the summer season. For many Canadians, it means the beginning of camping season, gardening and local festivals, concerts, outdoor markets and picnics. While we can still enjoy some of these outdoor activities, the options are limited by the restrictions of the pandemic. Here’s a staycation idea that actually works really well during a pandemic.

Have you every tried camping in your own home?

Chances are that there is more then one of you out there thinking that even camping in your backyard sounds like a task you are simply not up for.

What if I told you that you are not the only one? It doesn’t have to be difficult. And it can be a lot of fun for both you and your kids!

What if I told you can now camp with the kids, with no packing, no driving, no paying for campsite rental, no bugs, no questionable bathrooms, and you can sleep in your own bed?

This is an opportunity to glam it up with your own style and it will certainly be a post-worthy experience to share – Don’t forget to tag us.

Here’s 5 Easy Steps to create that perfect at-home indoor camping experience!

1. FORT – Set it up!

 

No camping experience is complete without a tent. Depending on the age of your children, you can choose to make this an all-hands-on deck project with the children helping set up your camp site or you can make it a surprise. This can be your child’s bedroom, basement or living room area. Notice I am not mentioning outside 😉!

Make it -check out these links for tents you can create with minimal supplies or talent.

https://www.artbarblog.com/easy-forts/

http://www.thriftyandchic.com/2016/01/diy-4-sided-drop-cloth-teepee-for-20.html

Add mini lights & decorations for a pitch-er perfect tent!

 

2. FOILAGE

 

 

 

Bring the outdoors in! This is really just an extra little thing you can do to bring the outdoors in and enhance the camping experience.

You can gather Outdoor items, stones, logs, branches, indoor or outdoor plants to place around the “campsite” or even setup an artificial tree.

 

 

 

3. FIRE-Spark it up

 

One of the best parts of camping is the bonfire! A bonfire is the perfect place to gather round and sing a campfire song, or tell funny stories. It’s also a great place to read books.

Make it- click on this link for an easy way to build a crafty campfire.

http://aboutfamilycrafts.com/how-to-build-a-campfire/

 

 

 

 

4. Food- Feed the fam!

If you don’t have a fireplace to roast marshmallows the next best thing to the campfire is a BBQ. Grill some hamburgers, hot dogs, corn or make simple PB&J sandwiches. You can even roast marshmallows by holding a stick above the heat of the BBQ grill.

Whatever you decide to do – Keep it simple!

 

Here are 3 S’more options to enhance your camping staycation

Make it-Microwave Smores- https://shelfcooking.com/smores-recipe/

Smore snack bag- https://ziploc.com/en/Recipes/Sweets-And-Desserts/S-Mores-Mix

Make sure you take a nice walk after those sugary smores and tire out those kiddo’s so everyone gets a good night sleep including Mom & Dad!

 

5. FUN!

 

Last but not least, Have Fun!!!

Hopefully by now the kids are tuckered out and ready to retire to their sleeping bags. Before they do, make it dark, turn on those string lights, lamps and flashlights and play with the shadows. Add in some soothing nature sounds and soothing music too!

 

 

 

 

 

You can even make your own stars on the ceiling with a flashlight! Just cover the flashlight with black paper and cut out the stars.

 

 

 

 

 

More ideas to add to your indoor camping experience:

Read some camp related stories

https://www.pre-kpages.com/books-camping-preschool/

Shadow puppets

https://whereimaginationgrows.com/exploring-light-with-shadow-puppet-play/

Starry sky flashlight

https://happyhourprojects.com/make-a-starry-night/

 

To learn more about Alpha’s Discovery Kids Programs, click here!