Last week it was announced that seven area campsites in South Carolina and Georgia were part of the top 100 campgrounds in the country. While bike trails and swimming are certainly major modes of fun when it comes to camping out, some of the best times can be had right in your own backyard — literally.

On Saturday, the National Wildlife Federation will hold their fourth annual Great American Backyard Campout. The concept is simple enough: get the whole family outside — in your own backyard — and have the campout of your life.

All you really need is a tent, a grill and a few extra supplies to have fun in your yard. It keeps you from driving hours to get somewhere and you have everything you need right at your fingertips.

Get some hotdogs and hamburgers to grill out, grab a flashlight and search the yard for nocturnal creatures that are hanging out, read scary stories to each other and make up your own play. There are dozens of things to do on a backyard campout and the National Wildlife Federation has set up a Web site at www.nwf.org/backyardcampout/index.cfm.

SETTING UP YOUR OWN OUTDOOR THEATER

After a long day in the heat, just before you turn in for the night, you can set up your own movie theater in your backyard. Ask your office if you can borrow their projector for the weekend. Hook up the projector to your portable DVD player or your computer with DVD playing capability and then hang a sheet outside.

Point the projector at the sheet and you have your own outdoor movie theater.

GET IN THE WATER

You don’t have to have a full-size pool to enjoy the water. Buy one of those kiddie pools or inflatable pools for the backyard and have some fun with it. They are relatively inexpensive and they can provide hours of fun — not to mention cooling time — in the heat of summer.

GET OUT YOUR GUITAR

Make your own band during your backyard camping excursion. Pull out that guitar that’s been gathering dust, find an old coffee can and turn it into a drum and grab the harmonica and kazoo from your last attempt to jam like the old days. You could make your own jam session and learn that your best friend has some hidden talents you never knew about.

For more backyard camping tips, visit www.nwf.org/backyardcampout/index.cfm.