Whidbey Island Naval Air Station is hosting 125 military families at the Cliffside RV Park for its third annual Great American Backyard Campout June 26 through June 28.

The campout is a program of the National Wildlife Foundation, sponsored by the Outdoor Industry Foundation. NAS Whidbey Island’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation adapted it as a community activity designed to provide recreation readily and safely to family members remaining behind during deployments.

“My goal is to provide a family-friendly opportunity that spouses may not have done normally while their family member is deployed,” said Dave Myers, Outdoor Recreation and Cliffside RV Park manager, who is spearheading the event.

MWR provides all necessary gear such as tents, sleeping bags and lanterns, for the weekend, as well as food cooked Dutch oven-style. The weekend’s activities include an array of family-focused outdoor recreation including campfire activities by MWR staff, stargazing with the Island County Astronomical Society, a GPS scavenger hunt, arts and crafts, surf fishing, Leave No Trace class, archery, a night sensory hike, bird watching with the Audubon Society and more. All gear, food and activities are entirely free of charge to all families participating.

The campout has gained popularity since its inception in 2007. All 125 available spaces are full, with an additional 25 military and family members on a waiting list in hopes of partaking in the weekend fun.