A Safari in your own Backyard!

Now that nicer weather is here, it's great to see how the kids play outside in the backyard. The adventures they have... :) We have a couple of little explorers, and it's fun to watch what they can dream up! They'd love to be out and about more often, but with a little baby in the family, and the family car in use most days, we're somewhat less mobile than we used to be. So there's a lot of play in the backyard.

Luckily for us, Team Mom sent us some of the latest releases in the Backyard Safari line! Backyard Safari Outfitters has designed a collection of gear to spur on your little nature explorer. Each product comes with a "pop-up" field guide that gives ideas for possible missions using the gear. As well, you adventurers can collect patches (included in the sets) as they complete missions. Sets can be used on their own, or with other items in the collection, so it's a great idea for gifts over a period of time.

We received several items from the Backyard Safari Outfitters Collection:

• Cargo Vest
• Base Camp Shelter (with mini lantern)
• Camouflage netting
• Lazer Light But Vacuum
• Hiking Stick

The boys are both really keen on all the items, although the age range is 5 and up. Daniel (age 2) doesn't really have any idea of going on missions, he just likes to be in the tent and tries to catch bugs! Jonathan (age 5) has caught on to the mission idea much more, although he likes to use the items in his own scenarios as well. I think that's one of the things I like best about the Backyard Safari items: there's ideas for when you're stuck for something to do, but everything is also open-ended enough to be used in whatever imagination you prefer.


Cargo Vest...($19.99)
is great for convincing yourself and everyone else that you're an adventurer! With many pockets and clips for all your gear, you really adopt an explorer persona! The vest is a great place to stick the iron-on patches for when you've completed missions!

Base Camp Shelter (40" tall)...($39.99)
is like a tent or sun shelter. It comes with 3 poles and sets up quite easily, especially if you're familiar with tents. It doesn't come with pegs, but on a windy day, we found that tent pegs held the shelter down nicely. There's room in the shelter for 2 "sleeping" boys :), and the camouflage netting covers the opening well. Jonathan can almost set up the shelter by himself. The shelter is lightweight and comes with it's own carrying bag.

Camouflage netting (5X8')...($14.99)
can be used over top of yourself or your hideout - so you can "hide in plain sight!" So far, Jonathan still hasn't been able to hide from us for long :) but it gives the adventure that note of secrecy! Plus, if you are using it for watching wildlife (ie backyard birds), it gives enough shelter that movements don't scare the animals away. The netting is made of rip-stop nylon, is stretchy, and available in brown or green.

Jonathan admiring his "catch"!

Lazer Light Bug Vacuum...($19.99)
is really cool! I've even used it myself - when I don't want to catch a bug in the house! :) Jonathan has been busy catching various bugs outside and in (the woodlice in the basement have been keeping him busy). There is a screen at the end of the bug catcher part of the vacuum, but you'd still have to be careful not to suck up dirt that could get in the motor. The "catch" pod has a built-in magnifying glass that doubles as a way to close the pod, so your bug doesn't get away.

Hiking Stick (48")...($14.99)
comes with "carved" wolf's head on the top. Jonathan hasn't used the stick so much - he's more into the other stuff. The stick makes it outside with the rest of the gear, and then gets forgotten in the excitement of bug catching, but that's likely because there's not too much scope for hiking in our backyard! Included are several hiking missions and an iron-on patch.

Backyard Safari items are available online at Summit Toy Shop (the parent company), Amazon.com, Toysrus.com and Toysrus.ca, Mastermind Toys, Calendar Club Canada and Bass Pro Shops.

WIN IT!

One lucky Glimpse winner will be able to start (or add to) the family's collection of Backyard Safari items! They're offering Field Binocs and the 6-in-1 tool set! To enter, please visit Backyard Safari and comment on another product you (or your child) thinks is cool!

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Contest open to CANADA and US residents and ends on July 6, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from Team Mom for Backyard Safari in exchange for being featured on Glimpse. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way. Please see the full Terms of use.