Backyard Safari Outfitters {Review} Outdoor adventures begin here

With the official arrival of summer finally here, I think my kids would hang out in the yard most of the day if I let them. There's something about being outside in the fresh air that seems to inspire them to point out every leaf, bird and blade of grass that strikes their fancy.

But that's not to say that they don't get bored. They can only stand there for so long with the same old bucket and shovel before they start to dream of breaking away from the confines of the deck and heading out on a real adventure. Are there kids that don't yearn to closely examine every aspect of wildlife that they can find? Fortunately, now they can really get active and explore nature with all of the essential field gear that they could possibly need from Backyard Safari Outfitters.

With a collection of over 30 different gear and tools items, Backyard Safari Outfitters has turned traditional outdoor play into an incredible nature adventure every time kids walk out the door. Whether they're heading out to watch birds, comb the beach, trek through the woods, chase a storm or collect rocks, Backyard Safari Outfitters has what they need to be prepared for fun (and learning).

To encourage the educational aspect of exploring our world, each Backyard Safari Outfitters kit comes with a handy, pocket-sized Pop-Up Field Guide full of information and illustrations to really get kids interested in the science aspect of their exploration.

And boy, was Big Sister E interested. The day that she helped me open the box from Backyard Safari Outfitters, you would have thought it was Christmas.

"I get to WEAR that?" Big Sister asked incredulously as we pulled a Backyard Safari Outfitters Essential Field Gear Cargo Vest out first. The perfect thing to get kids in the mood for their outdoor adventure, this polyester vest has the rugged, tough appearance of heading out on a real safari. The six D-rings and various cargo pockets of all sizes are all easily accessible and convenient for clipping on gear or storing any number of interesting finds.

Designed for ages 5 and up, this Cargo Vest was slightly large on Big Sister E, but that definitely didn't stop her from being excited to throw it on and head outside to see what we could find. And, to be sure that she could have a good view up, over, around and under all of the obstacles that we might encounter, the Backyard Safari Outfitters Land & Water Mega View Periscope was just the thing to bring with us.

Extending to over four feet long, Big Sister E did have a few difficulties maneuvering this full-sized periscope (it is also for ages 5 and up), but that didn't stop her from using it for some stealthy spying on any of our yard's unsuspecting wildlife. By simply extending any of the three sections to increase the length, she had a good time peeking into the bushes or over the neighbor's fence to see the cute dog that lives there.

If you have access to water, the Mega View Periscope can also be turned upside down to submerge 16 inches of it for underwater viewing! What a great way to have fun at the beach, lake or even the pool.

But just viewing the creatures in their habitat wasn't quite enough for our backyard safari, we wanted to see them up close and personal. Pulling out the Backyard Safari Outfitters Bug Wrangler's Extreme Suction Bug Vacuum, Big Sister E was really able to get a thrill out of searching for and sucking up many of the crawling and buzzing insects around us.

With two different tips for larger or smaller bugs, this Bug Vacuum features three different suction settings and an easy power trigger that allows kids to be ready at a moment's notice for quick insect-sucking action. Trapping them alive inside the Capture Core, simply remove the yellow nose and look right through the built-in magnifying glass for an extra close-up look.

My little adventurer couldn't wait to give it a try... and then decided that maybe she was afraid of bugs... and then went back to her original assessment of just how exciting vacuuming up insects could really be.

In the end, Big Sister E had a great time discovering how interesting nature could be up close. It didn't matter if she sucked up a bug or a leaf, she was still thrilled. Plus, the removable Capture Core from the Bug Vacuum made it so easy to check out the insects that we caught and then, with one easy turn of the magnifying glass, we were able to let them go just as quickly. It was both entertaining and an adventure for all of us!

A division of the award-winning Summit Toys, Backyard Safari Outfitters has all the gear that kids could need for year-round nature exploration. From just hanging out in the yard to heading off to hike the trails, each item can be used on its own or combined with other gear to encourage children to learn and have a great sense of adventure and exploration, all while being active outside and enjoying nature.

Backyard Safari Outfitters can be found on Facebook and Twitter and their products are available at Toys 'R Us, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Target and on Amazon.com. Prices range from $4.49 to $44.98 and even though all of the items are suggested for ages 5 and up, I just might know for a fact that children of all ages can really enjoy them as well...


(Other than the information and Cargo Vest, Bug Vacuum and Mega View Periscope that I was sent from Summit Toys in conjunction with my membership to Team Mom, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this incredibly fun field gear.)