(NAPS)—According to a recent national survey, nearly 60 percent of Americans may celebrate one of their family vacations with a “staycation” this year. To help those families looking to save money while still making family time a priority, contributor for GoodHousekeeping.com, blogger of MommaSaid.net and author of the “Stop Second-Guessing Yourself” parenting book series, Jen Singer, has come up with ways to have “s’more” summertime fun right in their own backyards.

Singer, along with Hershey’s and Kraft Foods, offers the following suggestions for converting the backyard into a stay-at-home vacation destination or fun weekend activity:

• Treat a staycation as a traditional vacation. The fun of a backyard getaway is making it feel like a real vacation but with the convenience of being just steps away from home. Families should pack must-have items in a backpack just as if they were packing for a camping trip. Be sure to include water, snacks and warm clothes and blankets for cool nights.

• Make it authentic. Be sure to cover all the camping essentials, such as pitching a tent, to make the experience exciting and realistic. Setting up a tent will help to foster family teamwork and allow a comfortable night’s sleep. Plus, campfires are great for storytelling, singing, cooking and, of course, keeping everyone warm. Remember to supervise children at all times when around the campfire.

• Capture memories. Every vacation has special family moments that you want to capture. Remember to have a camera on hand and snap away. Kids love to get in on the action, so have them take pictures of their own.