Summer is winding down quicker than you may realize. Many children have already gone back to school and soon the dog days of summer will be coming to an end. Why not take advantage of these last few warm weekends? This weekend, get the family together and create a campground in the backyard.

Obviously, this family night activity requires a bit of planning. You'll need to grab some camping foods, such as hot dogs and marshmallows for roasting. You'll also need a tent and sleeping bags. If you don't have any, chances are your friends have some you can borrow for the weekend. Last, but not least, you'll need a bundle of wood to create a roaring fire and don't forget a cooler for the drinks and food.

Next, you'll need to think of some activities. Scary stories around the campfire are always a fun idea. Each person can make up their own story and tell their story before bedtime. Another activity that is fun for little kids is to take a hike around the backyard. Take time to look at things like you've never looked at them before. For example, look at the different plants and wildlife. You could even take pictures. A fun idea for older kids is to create a bit of competition through sports or even a campfire cook-off.

There are several advantages to camping out in your own backyard. First of all, there's easy access to clean bathrooms, which is always a plus. Second, you don't have to spend a dime on gas to get to your destination. Last, but not least, if your city doesn't allow fires in the city limits, you can cook everything on a grill. This truly is a family night activity that brings the family together, but doesn't require a lot of money. It's a great way to say goodbye to summer. Don't worry though because there will of course be many more family night activities for the cool months of fall.

Do you have a competitive family? A family that loves hitting the put-put range, paintball courses, and any other place that offers family competition? Then why not think of ways to have tournaments at home? Not only will it save you money, but your family will also have more fun. This week, let's discuss having a bit of friendly competition on family night.

There are a number of different ways for families to have a tournament night at home. It all depends on what your family loves to do most. Your family may love to cook, play video games, or sports. Here are a few tips for turning a bit of family competition into cheap entertainment.

First of all, make the tournament worth winning. It may be a prize that you purchase, such as a small gift card. Or, the prize could be something you don't have to spend a dime on. For example, the winner of the weekly tournament could get out of chores for the following week. This not only encourages your children to want to play tournaments at home, but saves you a ton of money.

What would a tournament be without great food? When having a family tournament night, make it fun. For example, serve appetizers as a meal. You could also make homemade pizza or any other type of food you would normally enjoy while doing similar activities outside the home.

Last, but not least, keep it interesting. The same tournament every week will eventually get boring. Shake things up by having one family member pick the tournament for that week. The only rules are that it has to be something that can be done at home, doesn't require purchasing expensive equipment, and is something everyone can participate in.

Here are a few ideas for family tournaments:

• Cook Offs
• Video Game Challenges
• Team Sports
• Board Game Challenges

There are so many different types of tournaments you could have. It just depends on what interests your family. Bring the idea up at your next family night and ask for ideas for tournaments and prizes.

Most kids love to build things. They also like to participate in contests. This summer outdoor activity combines both and is simple and fun. Building their own sailboat and then watching their creation in action can make a child feel good about him or herself. It also is fun, provides fitness, and exercises creativity and thinking skills.

Toy sailboats can be designed by the child and parent. Another choice is to search the internet for free toy boat building instructions. Many hobby and toy stores also sell ready-made kits that simply need to be assembled. Judging by the child's age and experience, parents can decide which is best.

For more fun, the project can be made into an event with family and friends. Set up a building area in the local park or your own backyard. Each child should have the necessary supplies to complete his or her boat building project. Parents can decide whether all the kids will do the same project or whether they will each choose their own way to build their boats. Be sure to have snacks and refreshments, as the kids will be working hard.

Once the boats are built, they can be taken to a local pond, creek, or stream where the kids are allowed to race the boats. Determine a starting and finishing point. Be sure to watch which way the water current is flowing. That is the direction the boats will need to go. Determine a signal to start. When the kids see or hear that signal, they must drop their boats into the water at the starting point.

The kids will enjoy running alongside the water bank to keep up with their boats. Don't forget that kids should have appropriate footwear when running. You may see them cheering on their on boat, hoping it will beat the rest to the finish line. This provides great exercise and healthy competition. One or more kids may get disappointed if they don't win. It's all part of learning and growing. Prizes or award ribbons can be given to the winners for first, second, and third place.

What family doesn't enjoy a night at the movies? Unfortunately, the economy has made it harder for families to enjoy this activity. A simple night out at the movies for a family of four, plus drinks and snacks, can cost close to $75. In a rough economy, most families simply can't afford this type of entertainment every week. Thankfully, there are ways to enjoy movie night at home. This week, let's bring back family night by enjoying a few movies. There will even be money left over for drinks and snacks.

First, let's discuss the movies. There are several options that will help families save money. Pay Per View movies cost around $5. Movie rentals from a local video store are slightly less. But, the biggest savings comes from online rental services. These services can save families a ton of money. For example, most companies offer 3 movies out at a time for around $25. That's 12 movies a month. Just think how much 12 movies would cost at the theater! Best of all, family movie night can be enjoyed all evening long. Everyone can choose a movie they love.

Now what about snacks? Movie theaters make most of their money by charging outrageous prices on simple things like popcorn and soda. For example, a large bucket of popcorn costs around $7 and a large soda costs around $5. You can recreate the entire movie experience for less than $20!

2 liters of pop $6
4 boxes of movie theater candy $4
1 box of microwave movie theater popcorn $6

As you can see, it's much more affordable to enjoy movie night at home. You could even afford to make nachos and hot dogs if you wanted. And, once you discover how much money you can save, you may want to invest in a movie theater style popcorn machine.

Movies don't have to be reserved for the theater to be good. In fact, movies are even better at home. So why not gather the family together this evening and enjoy a few movies? This is truly an activity you can afford every week.

In years past, families have gone out for dinner or even to the movies on family night. Due to the economy, nights like these happen less and less often. That doesn't mean families have to give up family night. In fact, there are many different ways to spend time together that cost very little money. That's exactly what this blog is all about. Each week, we'll discuss different ways to bring back family night. This week, we begin with pizza night.

Have you ever really considered the cost of going out for pizza? Many hadn't until the economy began to slump. For a family of four to enjoy appetizers, salad, pizza, drinks and dessert the cost is over $60. When times are tough, this night out is simply not doable. That doesn't mean your family has to go their separate ways. You can still enjoy family pizza night. Best of all, the cost is much more affordable.

Here's a quick list of what you'll need:

1 large bag of salad mix $4
1 bottle of salad dressing $3
1 large box of frozen appetizers $6
2 pack of pre-made pizza crusts $4
1 jar of pizza sauce $2
1 large bag of mozzarella cheese $4
1 stick of pepperoni $3
2 liters of soda $4
1 cake from the bakery $5

Total $35

You can cut the cost even more by preparing your own pizza crust and serving tea or another drink that can be prepared at home.

Gathering the family at home for family night not only saves money, but it allows the family more time to bond. Instead of being packed into a crowded restaurant, you can enjoy each other's company in the comfort of your own home.

Once you discover how big of a hit pizza night can be, you may want to invest in a pizza stone and peel. This way, you get the best crust possible. One last secret is to ask your favorite pizzeria if you can buy dough from their shop. Most pizzerias will sell their dough at a small price, allowing you to enjoy your favorite pizza at home without emptying your wallet.

If you have a basketball hoop (or a nearby court) and a ball, you're pretty much all set for a fun family recreational event. It's important to keep the whole family in shape and basketball gives the whole body a workout. So, gather family and friends (yes, the little ones, too) and host an amateur basketball tournament. Prior skills and knowledge are not necessary. This is all about fitness and fun.

Once you've figured out where and when you're going to play, be sure you've got everyone covered. If there are smaller kids who won't be able to reach the net with the ball, be sure to get a basketball goal they can reach. Children's size basketball hoops are fairly inexpensive. There are various sizes ranging from toddlers up to teens. Don't leave the babies out of the fun. Babies who are capable of playing with toys can be handed a soft basketball toy to play with. Depending on the baby's developmental stage, active play, such as reaching for the toy or crawling toward it can be encouraged.

Now, on to the actual game day. The weather should be nice enough for outdoor play. Be sure you let everyone know to wear the appropriate clothing for game play. Clothing should be loose-fitting, lightweight and moisture-wicking. Basketball shoes should be durable and have optimal shock absorption. Breathability and cushioning also should be factored in. Also, make sure that shoes worn during a basketball game are lightweight. Otherwise, the legs and feet will get tired before game play is done. I'm not saying everyone needs to have the same shoes as the pros, but foot protection is a must.

Once everyone has arrived and is geared up for game play, teams can be created. Be sure to also account for different age groups. Some families may decide to play these basketball games for prizes, while others may wish it to be non-competitive. Either way you will still get the same exercise, so that part is up to your family. The important part is that everyone gets the chance to play. There should be no players left on the sidelines in this one.

Tug-of-war has long been a fun, family activity. Turning it into an organized neighborhood event makes it even more entertaining. It's also a great way to fit some family fitness into the schedule. Tug-of-war can exercise all the muscles of the body. This type of game can also help foster teamwork.

It may sound difficult to organize a neighborhood game, but it doesn't have to be. First, decide where to hold the event. It might be at a park or at your home, if your yard is large enough. If you can be prepared for an uncertain number of guests, pass out fliers advertising the event with contact info. If you'd rather limit the event to a certain number of people, pass out invitations to the neighbors of your choice.

To play tug-of-war, divide people into teams, as well as age groups. Be sure you have ropes geared to the age levels. There also can be family teams, but be sure everyone knows to play a gentler version if there are younger kids present.

There should be a line drawn on the ground in chalk. A team stands on either side, with all team members holding the rope. When the game is signaled to start, each team pulls on the rope. The object of the game is to pull all members of the opposing team over the line. Whichever team accomplishes this first is the winner. If there are a large amount of participants, or if people want to play one-on-one, rather than in teams, tournaments can be held. Each winning team or person plays against the next team until there is one last winner.

To make the event more enjoyable, you can make it an all-day thing, with snacks and recreational activities in between. If the event is held at the park, kids can play on the playground, in between competitions. Other good activities for in-between include frisbee, jump rope, and ring toss. If games are going to be in the grass or the dirt, it is suggested that people wear shoes with thicker traction. If they will be on asphalt or concrete, grip is still required, but not as thick.

Sometimes spending time with family can be as simple as putting a twist on a popular sport or activity. Remaining active is important to the family's health and also is a great way to have some fun together. The relay race is a classic sport that families and athletes have enjoyed for years. Skateboarding also is a family-friendly sport. Mixing the two can add to the fun.

Materials
Open Safe Paved Area
Skateboard
Sidewalk Chalk
Whistle

Preparation
Before the race begins, be sure the family is wearing appropriate footwear. No one should be running (or skateboarding) in sandals or dress shoes. Appropriate active footwear should be lightweight and supportive. Be sure that the traction on the shoes is appropriate for asphalt, as well as skateboard riding.

Other preparations for the race includes gathering the materials. Prepare the race by drawing a start and finish line on the ground with chalk. The start and finish line should be enough distance apart for a good racing area. The actual length may vary depending on your family's endurance levels.

How to Play Skateboard Relay Race
Place a racer at the start line, as well as the finish line. If you have more than two family members, those members should split up evenly and line up behind the other players. The player at the start line should have the skateboard. Blow the whistle to signal the start of the race. The player at the start line skateboards to the player at the finish line. The skateboard, rather than a baton is the hand-off item.

The player at the finish line then rides the skateboard to the start line and the next player in line is handed the skateboard. The race continues until all family members have had a chance to skateboard. This is a non-competitive version. For a competitive version, teams can be created. Game play would be the same, except there would be two or more start and finish lines, depending on the number of players. Whichever team finishes first is the winner.

Those who are too young to skateboard the traditional way, such as younger children, may sit on the skateboard instead of standing.

Family story time often creates special memories. To add a unique twist that is sure to create plenty of memorable moments, try doing something unique with story time. Here's a fun way to add a good dose of drama to your family's routine.

Materials Needed
Your Family
A Good Book or Two
Imagination

How to Play
Once you've picked out a good book for active family story time, examine the book for characters. Each family member can choose characters from the story to act out. If there aren't enough characters in the book, members can take turns with characters or choose scenery from the book as their "character." Family members also must take turns being the narrator.

After each parent or child reads aloud each page, the family acts out that scene. There is no need to practice acting out the story beforehand. The improvisational method of doing this adds to the fun. The point of active family story time is not to get the scenes right, but to have fun while enjoying a good book together. Even if there are enough characters for family members, adding scenery and props for the family adds to the fun. For instance, a story could read "Jimmy proudly finished all of his chicken soup while mom and dad looked at him with a smile." If that portion is the contents of one page, the narrator would read that aloud. Two family members could acts as parents smiling at another who is acting like they're eating up a bowl of soup with a big smile on his face.

Another page of the story could read, "Jimmy then went outside to play fetch with his dog, Rover. Rover likes to jump over logs while he chases his ball." One family member could be Jimmy and another could be Rover. For a variation with family members as props, one or more family member could be the log that Rover jumps over to fetch the ball.

It is recommended to try this outdoors or in an open room for the most flexibility in active movement and theatrical stunts.

Spring is tentatively showing itself in many parts of the country. (Not where I live; we just got almost 12 inches of snow.) For many families, this means the end of indoor recreation activities and a chance to get back outside and enjoy nature. You can help your kids learn to enjoy the outdoors -- and make great family memories -- by keeping a nature journal.

Nature Journal as a Family
One of the fun things you can do together is head outside and keep a nature journal. The National Wildlife Federation offers some helpful hints for making a nature journal. Possible subjects are included, and this can help you get a good start on what to do for a successful nature journal. You can look for such items as plants, animals and rocks, as well as listen to the different sounds being made. The wind in the leaves or the sound of a stream can make great subjects for the nature journal. Older children can learn how to identify different plants, animals and rocks that are common to your local area.

A nature journal should include observations about the things heard, seen and even smelled. Have your children describe their experiences. Older children can write for themselves, and you can help the younger children. Encourage your children to draw pictures of what they have seen, using crayons or markers. You can even take pictures and add them to the nature journal. Have your children see how close they can get to drawing what is seen in the picture. You can add pages as needed, using a three-ring binder or keep the nature journal in a series of notebooks.

Remember, though, that spring can still be a little chilly. Make sure that you have jackets and hats, and are dressed appropriately for the weather. Good walking shoes are a good idea. Once you start your nature journal, you can make a new journal for every season.

There are a number of delicious treats that you can make with your children for Holidays . And while you can't take homemade treats to school anymore, it is possible for you to make treats for neighbors and friends. Baking is a great family recreation activity. It creates memories and encourages family bonding, teaches children a valuable skill and can be educational in terms of math and reading practice. Here is an easy, tasty recipe that you can easily do with your children:

Chocolate Caramel Bites
These treats are simple to make and good to eat. You need:
60 pretzels (square works very well)
Unwrapped Rolo candies
M&M candies (plain milk chocolate -- in the respective Holiday colors)

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Get out a baking sheet or baking dish and lay the pretzels inside, along the bottom. You can line the bottom with foil in order to minimize any possible mess. Put one Rolo candy on top of each pretzel. (Have the kids count them as you go.) Next, place the baking sheet in the oven and heat for three or four minutes, until the Rolos start to soften and spread their shapes. Bring out the baking sheet and carefully place one M&M in the center of the melted Rolo.

Let the candies set. This can take an hour at room temperature or 15 to 20 minutes in the refrigerator. Leave the candies on the banking sheet during this time. Remove the candies from the baking sheet when they are set and put them in a sealed container. You can also use festively colored cellophane bags tied with ribbon and pass them out to friends and family with cards made from construction paper. (The cards can be made while you are waiting for the candies to set.)

This treat can be made for Easter, the 4th of July, Valentine's Day, Halloween or Christmas. Simply buy the M&M candies in their special holiday packages.

For the family that loves the outdoors, there is no reason to head indoors during the winter. And one of the most fun and adventurous things you can do as a family is to go geocaching. And yes -- you can even participate during the winter.

What is Geocaching?
If you have a GPS system, you can participate in geocaching. Geocachers make lists of landmarks in a number of local areas, as well as special caches, where you can visit. The idea is to use your GPS system to locate the cache. In many cases, there is a small sign up that you can enter your name on. In other cases, you can take a family photo by the designated landmark and then upload it to a special Web page. In any case, geocaching can be a fun family activity that allows you to learn more about your local area.

During the winter, geocaching can be even more fun. You can use snowshoes, skis or snowmobiles to reach some geocaching locations. Or, if you start out in town, all you need is your car and some warm clothing. Play in the snow after you reach the geocache destination or build a snowman to mark your place.

It can be a good idea to make your geocaching experience educational. Talk about the landmark or the area in which the geocache is located. You can also learn about using GPS to find what you are looking for. This can also be a good chance to talk about other methods of navigation, including maps and using a compass. Also, talk about outdoor survival and what to do if you get lost somewhere.

Geocaching can be more than just a one-time thing. It can be a family hobby and recurring activity. It is something that you can use to build memories. And once you find all of the geocaches in your local area, you can start branching out while on family vacations -- or even add your own geocache locations.

Quiz: What kind of structure is Hoover Dam? If you said dam, pretend you hear the sound of a buzzer going off. You are wrong. Technically speaking, Hoover Dam is not a dam, it's a retaining wall. To get even more specific, Hoover Dam is a retaining wall that is used to block the Colorado River about 30 miles away from Las Vegas. Las Vegas is the site where you and the spouse and other adults can try to break the bank by counting cards while playing 21. During the day, however, you really need to travel that 30 miles and take in what has often been designated one of the modern wonders of the world. If you have kids, this side trip away from the glittery and glam of Vegas makes even more sense.

No child getting his or her first look at the amazing, if misnamed, Hoover Dam is likely to yawn. Amazement may either be preceded or succeeded by fear when they realize they are actually going to take a tour along the top of this magnificent monstrosity. Once you get there, you will find two types of tours, the Power Plant tour and the whole Hoover Dam tour. The Power Plant tour is available to kids as young as four years old, while the so-called Hoover Dam tour excludes children under eight years old. If possible, try your best to convince the good folks who run things at Hoover Dam that you five year old is an eight year old that is simply short for his age because there is no doubt that even younger kids will be fascinated by the inner workings of Hoover Dam.

Many adults have been pleasantly surprised to learn that a trip to Hoover Dam leaves them with a feeling of breathless wonder that they cannot even get inside one of the more spectacular casinos. And the best thing is that a tour of Hoover Dam won't cost you nearly as dearly as that trip to the 21 table is likely to cost.

I'm not a big fan of Valentine's Day as a holiday, but I do enjoy all the sweets that go along with it. Indeed, I often use Valentine's Day as an excuse to make all sorts of decadent delights. And, usually, it is possible for my son (and sometimes my husband) to help out.

Cherry Cake
This is actually a fun breakfast for Valentine's Day -- something special your family can do every year.

For the cake:
3 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast (active)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
21-ounce can of cherry pie filling

For the glaze:
1/2 cup confectioner's (powdered) sugar
2 - 4 teaspoons of milk

Before you begin, make sure have the ingredients on hand. Also, make sure that everyone is in clothing suitable for baking. We like to do our Valentine's Day morning baking in pajamas. This way we can just put them in the wash when we're done.

Mix 1/2 cups of the flour with the sugar, salt and yeast. Heat 1/2 cup of the milk along with the butter and the water. Add to the flour combination and then add the eggs. Use a mixer to beat at a low speed, getting all of the ingredients moist. Then beat for three minutes at medium speed, stirring in the rest of the flour gradually, forming a batter. Cover and let rise until the size doubles (about 45 to 60 minutes).

Grease a 13 x 9 pan. Save out 1/4 of the batter and pour the rest into the pan, spooning the cherry filling on top. Add the rest of the batter over the cherry filling. Let rise for another 30 minutes. Heat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Make the glaze by mixing the powdered sugar and the milk until the glaze is at a desired consistency. When the cake is done, drizzle the glaze on top. You can use apple or blueberry pie filling in this recipe, too.

There are a number of fun family activities associated with holidays. One of the holidays that can be especially for kids (and parents) is Valentine's Day. It's a great time to teach your children about giving heartfelt messages -- no expensive gifts required. One of my favorite Valentine's Day crafts is the melted crayon heart. The heart can be given as a gift, or it can be taped to paper or cardstock to make a homemade Valentine card.

Making a Valentine's Day Crayon Heart
First of all, you will need the following items to make the melted crayon heart:

• Pieces from crayons (old and broken crayons are great for this), with the paper wrappers removed.
• Muffin tin with heart shapes (you can find these at most baking stores -- especially in February).

If you plan to mount the crayon heart in order to make a Valentine card, you will need these additional items:

• Heavy construction paper or card stock.
• Mounting foam available at most craft stores or art supply shops (double sided -- regular tape will not be strong enough).
• Scissors
• Markers

The first thing to do is heat the oven to 250 degrees. While the oven is warming up, send your kids in search of crayon pieces. Put the crayon pieces in the heart shaped muffin tin molds. It takes between 10 and 15 minutes for the pieces to melt into fun, swirled hearts. A cookie sheet placed under the muffin tin can catch overflow.

Let the crayon hearts cool. While this is happening, I like to increase the temperature in the oven and make sugar cookies with my son. When we're ready to bake the cookies, the melted hearts have usually cooled so that we can take them out of the molds.

If you plan to make cards with the melted crayon hearts, take the heavy paper and cut out large shapes (circles, squares -- or even larger hearts). Use the mounting foam to stick the crayon hearts to the heavy paper and use the markers to write a message and decorate to your heart's desire.