How do I invite people to join my team campout?
About the Event
What is the Great American Backyard Campout?
On the fourth Saturday every June, thousands of people across the nation will gather in their backyards, neighborhoods, communities and parks to take part in a one-night event that will provide an experience for all generations to connect with nature. This year’s event is on June 22, 2013. You can join Great American Backyard Campout whether you are an experienced camper or first-time camper. We have all you will need to get you ready to camp at your fingertips on the official website at www.backyardcampout.org.
What is the purpose of Great American Backyard Campout?
Today 25% of kids play outside daily—as opposed to 75% a generation ago—but the average child spends nearly seven hours each day using electronic media. The positive effects of daily, unstructured time outdoors on kids’ health and happiness are well-documented and wide-ranging. National Wildlife Federation encourages families and friends to Be Out There™ to give back to American children what they don’t even know they’ve lost—their connection to the natural world. For more information on the Be Out There™ movement which Great American Backyard Campout supports, please visit beoutthere.org.
Can I register my campout if I'm not camping out June 23rd?
Absolutely, we want you to experience your camping adventure whenever it is convenient for you. If you choose to fundraise, please be sure all your donations are received by NWF no later than July 31, 2013, in order to be eligible for the Fundraising Rewards.
Logging In
Why do I need a user name and password?
Your user name and password allows you to log in to the Great American Backyard Campout site and get access to your own Participant Center where you can send email updates to your team members, customize your personal page, track your fundraising progress, and more.
How do I change my password?
If you remember your password, log into your account. Once in your Participant Center and go to “Profile” at the top of the page. Once in your personal profile page, click “Change/Reset Password”. If you don’t remember your password, go to “Email me my login information” below the Returning User box.
I didn't get an email with my user name and password. What do I do now?
Are you already registered? If so:
- Check your spam box for the email with your log in information. System messages can often get caught by a spam filter.
- If the email is not in your spam box, go to www.backyardcampout.org and click "Login" at the top of the page. Here, you can request that your user name or password be sent to your email address again.
- If you are still not receiving your login information, contact us at campout@nwf.org.
Not registered yet?
Go to www.backyardcampout.org and select the “REGISTER FREE” button. You will be asked to enter your first and last name and your email address. You are then able to create a user name and password, which will be provided in the thank you email sent to your email address.
Registering to Camp
How much does it cost to participate?
There is no registration fee to participate, although every participant is encouraged to raise $100 to support NWF’s mission.
Why do I need to make a password?
Creating a password prevents members of the general public from joining your campout in the registration process. Only individuals who know your password will be able to become your team members.
Note: Please be aware that all pages are visible by visitors to the site and you should not place any information like your password, campsite location, or any other details that you do not want visible to the general public on your team’s page. We encourage you to use the email tool in the Participant Center to circulate this information.
How can I make my campsite open for all to join?
When registering your team Campout, your site will automatically be made “public” for others to enter your team name and search for your Campout. You also have the option to list your public site on the Nature Find platform located on the Nature Find tab. In order to make your page private, see question 4 below.
How do I change my site from “public” to “private” so that campers need a password to join?
Log into your Participant Center and select the “Personal Page” tab. Click the link that says “URL Settings” and click “Private”.
What is the requirement for a "Team"?
There is no size requirement for a team. They can be very small, or very large in number. Team members can be your family, friends or co-workers or a combination of all three! You will want to add other participants at the end of the registration process if you are hosting a campout and want to create a public webpage for others to join.
How do I join a campout that was already registered on the Great American Backyard Campout website?
Be sure to ask your Team Captain or whoever is coordinating your Campout for the team name or the URL. Then all you need to do is go to the REGISTER FREE page and click on “Join an Existing Group or Team”.
What if I do not have a computer to register?
Registration is only available online. However we do encourage you to host a campout anyway by asking a friend who has a computer to help you register.
What should my Campsite Team Name be?
Name your team anything your campers will easily remember (i.e. County of San Diego, Sun N Fun RV Resort, Hurd Trading Post, Smith Family Team, Erin’s Campers). Be sure to provide them with a copy of your URL to make it easier to find your team on our website.
How can I set a fundraising goal?
During registration you are asked to set a personal fundraising goal. If you have registered as a team, you were asked for a team goal as well. You can change your fundraising goal at any time through your Participant Center. We encourage all campers to set a goal of $100 each, although any and all donations are appreciated. Please refer to the Fundraising Rewards page to view all of the great NWF prizes.
Is there a fundraising minimum?
There are no minimums, although we encourage everyone to set a goal of $100 each.
Am I going to be charged to register/how much does it cost to participate?
There is no registration fee to participate, although every participant is encouraged to raise $100. You may easily make a donation of any dollar amount you choose.
Am I supposed to register my fellow campers before completing registration? What if I'm not sure who is coming yet?
If you select the “form a team option” you may register campers up until the day of your campout. Just be sure to provide them with your team name or URL. Individual campers can register up until the day of their campout as well. Please note that registration will remain open past the June 22nd date for participants who choose to camp at another time. Registration will close on October 31, 2013.
Fundraising
Do I have to fundraise to participate in the Great American Backyard Campout?
Fundraising is optional, however we encourage you to set an individual goal of $100 and ask 5 to 10 friends or family members to donate to your Campout. In a typical week only 6% of children ages 9-13 play outside on their own. We’re encouraging our campers to raise funds to support programs that help America’s kids to switch screen time with green time. We’ve already created emails for you to send them from your Participant Center—it’s easy.
What if I don’t want to fundraise, but would like to make a flat donation?
This year, you will have the option during registration to make a flat donation of $10 or more.
How can I raise money?
Fundraising tips are located under the "Get Ready" tab located on www.backyardcampout.org. Be creative and share your own fundraising tips with us at campout@nwf.org
How is the money used?
National Wildlife Federation uses 80 cents of every dollar you raise for the Great American Backyard Campout to support programs that address the problem of America’s indoor childhood and the health risks associated with these. Your funds are used to establish and maintain programs to make outdoor time a priority to protect children’s health and ensure their readiness to learn.
How can people donate to me online?
Funds raised online are automatically directed to NWF. All you need to do is provide them with the URL to your personal page where they are prompted to make a donation to you. It’s easier if they have a credit card available. You’ll find you’ll reach your goal quicker if your donors contribute by credit card.
How can people donate to me offline?
For funds raised offline (money raised by a participant and the donor has sent the participant a check), please use the form located in the Participant Center (Printable Donation Form) and be sure it is received by NWF no later than July 31, 2013, in order to be eligible for prizes. Please mail offline donations (checks only, no cash) to:
NWF, Attention Great American Backyard Campout
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA 20190-5362
What are the incentive prizes or fundraising rewards?
A complete listing of incentive prizes is located under the Event Details section of the website. Click the “fundraising rewards” tab on the left hand navigation to view all prizes. Briefly, raise $25-$49 and receive a small Bison OR Polar Bear Plush*; raise $50-$99 and receive a Campout T-shirt; raise $100-$199 and receive a camping tote; raise $200+ and make a symbolic adoption and help protect our nation’s wildlife. You’ll receive an authentic certificate and large plush for one of: black bear, fox, or deer*
*NWF will choose $25-$49 plush AND $200+ animal adoption based on available inventory. Please Note: Incentive items are not cumulative and are subject to substitution for comparable items. Please allow six to eight weeks to receive your prizes after the Great American Backyard Campout national date June 22, 2013.
All donation money must be received by the National Wildlife Federation office by July 31, 2013, to be eligible for incentive prizes.
When will the prizes be mailed to me?
All incentives will be mailed to participants approximately 6 to 8 weeks after the Campout event. Mailing will begin approximately August 15, 2013.
How can my company match my funds?
Matching gifts are a great way to increase donations. Check to see if your company will match employee contributions and encourage your donors to do the same. Request an application from your benefits manager or human resources department. Send the completed form to the National Wildlife Federation (write Great American Backyard Campout on the form) along with a copy of the Donation Form indicating the camper’s name and address. NWF will verify receipt of your gift and complete the process.
Can team members share or split donations?
We encourage all donors to donate to one camper in order for that camper to reach his or her fundraising goal.
Donating
How do I donate to a Team?
Click “Donate” at the top right of the main site navigation. Select “Search for a Camping Team” to search for a team. Enter the team’s name and click “Search”. If you do not know the team name, select “Advanced Search” on the right for more criteria options. From the list of results, click the team name. This will take you to the team’s page and you may select the option to donate to that team.
How do I find a camper's personal fundraising web page?
Click “Donate” at the top right of the main site navigation. Select “Search for a camper” to search for an individual or “Search for a Camping Team” to search for a team. Enter the criteria and click “Search”. From the list of results, click the camper’s name or the team name. This will take you to the camper’s personal page or the team’s page.
NOTE: If the camper has selected to make his/her personal page private, the name will not display in the search results. You will need to contact the camper and request he/she send you the link to their personal page.
Why is the "Donate" search not finding a camper that I know has registered?
That camper may have selected to keep their personal page private, which hides it from the general public, including search results. You may contact the camper and request he/she send you the link to their personal page.
Why is the "Donate" search returning more than one listing for a camper?
The search results are based on a first and last name basis. There may be several registered campers with the same name as the camper for which you are searching. If your camper is part of a team or company that information should display in the search results and help you identify the individual.
Participant Center
How do I get to my Participant Center?
You can get to your Participant Center after completing registration from the button on the registration summary page. If you have already registered, you can reach it by clicking the Login link at the top of the homepage on the website.
How do I find the web address for my Personal or Team web page?
- If you have made or would like to make a personal URL for your web page, read Question 3. Or…
- b. Click “Donate” at the top right of the main site navigation. Select “Search for a camper” to search for yourself or “Search for a Camping Team” to search for your team. Enter the criteria and click “Search”. From the list of results, click your name or the name of your team. This will take you to your personal page or the team’s page. From here, you can copy the URL from the web address window.
NOTE:If you have selected to make your personal page private, your name will not display in the search results. In this case, use the option to create a personal URL in the Participant Center and circulate that direct link.
How do I make a personal URL for my Personal or Team web page?
Once logged in to your Participant Center, click the “Personal Page” tab at the top. There will be a gray box that displays a URL for your page. To edit this URL, click the “URL Settings” link.
How do I edit my team's webpage?
If you are the Team Captain, you can edit your team page by selecting the “Team Progress” icon located along the top of your Participant Center.
How do I edit my personal page?
If you are the Team Captain, you can edit your team page by selecting the “Team Progress” icon located along the top of your Participant Center.
How do I invite people to join my Campout?
If you have formed a team, from your Participant Center, you can send emails to new contacts or contacts in your address book. In the email area of your Participant Center, you will find a sample recruitment email template or you may choose to write your own email. When customizing your message, you can add a personal URL directing the recipients to your team’s webpage, where they can easily click a link to join your team. (See question 3 for directions on getting a web address for your personal or team page)
If you didn't find an answer to your question here, please feel free to contact us: