Kids' Surprise Summer Staycation at 'Camp Atkinson'
Who needs hellish road trips and soaring flight costs? The Atkinson family organised an extra-special glamping getaway much closer to home
As lovely as it is having the kids home when school breaks up for the summer, it can also mean grasping at ideas for how to keep them entertained. For Matt and Lisa Atkinson, this resulted in a decision to organise a fun ‘staycation’ for themselves and their two girls by setting up a classic campsite in their own backyard for a week. After surprising their daughters Finlay and Lila with a very stylish camp in the comfort of their garden, these two definitely get the coolest parents award.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Lisa and Matt Atkinson, with their two daughters Finlay, age 7, and Lila, age 5, and their golden retriever, Daisy
Backyard size: The entire block is 1,100 square metres and the backyard takes up about half of that
Location: Mount Eliza, Victoria
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Lisa and Matt Atkinson, with their two daughters Finlay, age 7, and Lila, age 5, and their golden retriever, Daisy
Backyard size: The entire block is 1,100 square metres and the backyard takes up about half of that
Location: Mount Eliza, Victoria
The backyard is a large space which is usually only occupied by a trampoline, so there was ample room to turn it into a family-fun campsite.
“The unveiling was like something out of one of those home makeover shows, it was awesome to see the looks of surprise and delight on their faces,” says Lisa.
“The unveiling was like something out of one of those home makeover shows, it was awesome to see the looks of surprise and delight on their faces,” says Lisa.
The goal was to stay outside of the house as much as possible, so they only went inside to use the facilities – and take advantage of the air conditioning on a couple of 40-something-degree days.
Matt and Lisa wanted the whole family to get away from life’s little distractions including TV and iPads. Lisa says she wanted to encourage conversations, enjoy the outdoors and have some quality family bonding time.
Matt and Lisa wanted the whole family to get away from life’s little distractions including TV and iPads. Lisa says she wanted to encourage conversations, enjoy the outdoors and have some quality family bonding time.
The fun didn’t stop outside either; inside the generously-sized tent were comfy beds for Mum, Dad and the girls, as well as delightful decorations including bunting, fairy lights, cushions, rugs, games and magazines.
Gathering around to play board games was also a great old-school way for the Atkinson brood to come together as a family. “We love our board games, and Santa brought us a Family Feud board game that the girls were obsessed with playing!” says Lisa.
Happy Glamper did a lot of the work for the family, setting up the tent, beds, rugs and chairs. Lisa and Matt also bought some clam shell wading pools from Bunnings, put in a Slip’n Slide and added a totem tennis set for outdoor fun.
It wasn’t just fun for the kids; Lisa and Matt loved the fact they could enjoy their backyard, a space which is rarely used. “I loved waking up in the morning, going inside to make a coffee for me and a chai for Finlay (we are the early birds of the family), and sitting in the deck chairs in the fresh morning air having a chat with my little girl,” says Lisa. They also played some Monopoly while Matt and Lila slept, “I swear that kid’s going to be a real estate mogul,” Lisa adds. “She’s a brutal Monopoly opponent!”
As many parents would know, the summer holidays can feel quite long. Lisa says that they normally try to break it up by going away in the middle of January. “Finlay and Lila generally get along really well, but after spending six weeks together day in and day out they are ready to kill each other!” she says.
However, being at home this time, they embarked on local adventures including day trips, movies, beach time and play dates to keep the kids entertained.
However, being at home this time, they embarked on local adventures including day trips, movies, beach time and play dates to keep the kids entertained.
‘Yay’ banner: Pony Rider
Fortunately for Lisa and Matt, they work for themselves and so have flexible hours, which helps over the holidays. “I really feel for parents who have to work full time and figure out how to keep the kids entertained in the meantime,” Lisa says.
When the sun set, the family also borrowed a portable fire pit from a friend so they could have campfires under the stars. With Matt growing up in the US, he was keen to give the girls the classic campfire experience with s’mores galore and spooky stories. Lisa was able to find all-in-one s’mores kits at Aldi just prior to Christmas, and they made good use of them on this home holiday.
TELL US
How have you kept the kids entertained over the holidays? Lets us know in the Comments section, and feel free to share your photos too.
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TELL US
How have you kept the kids entertained over the holidays? Lets us know in the Comments section, and feel free to share your photos too.
MORE
Are Your Children Missing Out on Child’s Play?
10 Backyard Additions for Active (and Not-So-Active) Kids
Your Guide to a Fun-Filled and Family-Friendly Backyard
Finlay and Lila had been continuously asking their parents to go camping in the lead-up to the holidays. “We’re not really a camping family though,” says Lisa. “We don’t have the stuff, and to be honest, we’re not great at roughing it – we like our creature comforts.”
Knowing their limitations, the Atkinsons asked camping specialists Happy Glamper to help set the scene alongside their own unique touches. They wanted it to be a surprise, so they took the girls out for lunch while the tents were set up, and blindfolded them to reveal the grand surprise!