Great American Backyard Campout

I'm an outdoor girl with granola in her pockets. I get excited over a good pair of Merrell hiking boots, not a pair of Enzo flats. A camping vacation is truly a vacation to me. My husband and I spent nearly a month camping and backpacking on our honeymoon. Yes, we're a tad odd.

But what I've realized over the years is not everyone loves camping. Some people hate it. I know people who will intestinally blow-up before pooping in the woods. Yet this does not mean they don't love the stars, fresh air, a crackling campfire and even the chilling call of a coyote in the middle of the night. They'd be willing to camp if their Home Sweet Home porcelain perch was nearby.

Voila -- a solution to this intestinal barrier! Join the festivities this Saturday in the National Wildlife Federation's 4th annual Great American Backyard Campout. You can set-up the tent right in your backyard or hook-up with other close-to-home camping enthusiasts via their campout finder. Over 22,000 are gathering their gear for backyard fun this weekend. I'll be camping, too. We're heading up to Devil's Lake, Wisconsin to camp and rock climb sans kids with the Chicago Mountaineering Club -- our virgin outing with this influential group. See you under the Big Dipper.