Frequently Asked Questions

About the Event

1. What is the Great American Backyard Campout?

2. Can I register my campout if I'm not camping out June 23, 2012?

Logging In

1. Why do I need a user name and password?

2. How do I change my password?

3. I put my name and email address on the first page of the Registration process, but didn't receive an email with my user name and password. What do I do now?

Registering to Camp

1. How much does it cost to participate?

2. Why do I need to make a password for my team?

3. What is the requirement for a "Team"?

4. How do I register if I used to register as a "Community Partner"?

5. How do I join a campout that was already registered on your site?

6. What if I do not have a computer to register?

7. What should my Campsite Team Name be?

8. How can I set a fundraising goal?

9. Is there a fundraising minimum?

10. Am I going to be charged to register?

11. If I register as an "Individual Camper", can I form a "Team" later?

12. Am I supposed to register my fellow campers before completing registration? What if I'm not sure who is coming yet?

Fundraising:

1. Do I have to fundraise to participate in the Great American Backyard Campout?

2. How can I raise money?

3. How is the money used?

4. How can people donate to me online?

5. How can people donate to me offline?

6. What are the incentive prizes or fundraising rewards?

7. When will the prizes be mailed to me? When will I receive my t-shirt?

8. How can my company match my funds?

9. Can team members share or split donations?

Donating:

1. How do I donate to a Team?

2. How do I find a camper's personal fundraising web page?

3. Why is the "Donate" search not finding a camper that I know has registered?

4. Why is the "Donate" search returning more than one listing for a camper?

Participant Center:

1. How do I get to my Participant Center?

2. How do I find the web address for my Personal or Team web page?

3. How do I make a personal URL for my Personal or Team web page?

4. How do I edit my team's webpage?

5. How do I edit my personal page?

6. How do I invite people to join my campout?

About the Event:

1. What is the Great American Backyard Campout?
   On June 23, 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. You can join the Great American Backyard Campout whether you are an experienced camper or first-time campers. We have all you will need to get you ready to camp at your fingertips on the official website at www.backyardcampout.org.

2. Can I register my campout if I'm not camping out June 23^rd?
   Absolutely, we want you to experience your camping adventure whenever it is convenient for you. If you choose to fundraise, please be sure to make sure all your donations are received by NWF by July 31, 2012, in order to be eligible for the Fundraising Rewards.

Logging In:

1. 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 free camping resources and tools including packing lists, recipes and activities, and your own Participant Center where you can send email updates to your team members, customize your personal page, track your fundraising progress, and more.

2. How do I change my password?
   Once you are logged in to the site, you can change your password by clicking "Update Profile" at the top of the site, just below the Twitter, Facebook and Flickr icons. Here you can change your password, name and contact information.

3. 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 Register to Camp. You will be asked to enter your first and last name and your email address. We will create a special user name and password for you, which will be provided on the thank you page and will be sent to your email address.

Registering to Camp:

1. How much does it cost to participate?
   There is no registration fee to participate, although every participant is encouraged to raise $100.

2. Why do I need to make a password for my team?
   Creating a password for your team prevents members of the general public from joining your team and campout in the registration process. Only individuals who know your team’s password will be able to become your team members.
   Note: Please be aware that all team 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.

3. 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.

4. How do I register if I used to register as a "Community Partner"?
   There is no longer a designation for a Community Partner. Simply register as a "Team." If you are the team's lead, you will be registering your Team and you will be the Team Captain.

5. How do I join a campout that was already registered on your site?
   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 Register to Camp and select Join an Existing Campsite when presented with the three registration options (Team or Community Partner, Individual, or Join an existing).

6. What if I do not have a computer to register?
   Registration is only available online this year. However we do encourage you to host a campout anyway!

7. 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, Kittery Trading Post, Smith Family Team, Izzie's Campers). Be sure to provide them with a copy of your URL to make it easier to find your team on our website.

8. 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. Take a look at the Fundraising Rewards under the Event Details tab on the Homepage and set the bar high to earn one of the great NWF prizes.

9. Is there a fundraising minimum?
   There are no minimums, although we encourage everyone to set a goal of $100 each.

10. Am I going to be charged to register?
    There is no registration fee to participate, although every participant is encouraged to raise $100.

11. If I register as an "Individual Camper", can I form a "Team" later?
    You will need to contact us to make that change for you. Send us an email at campout@nwf.org with this request.

12. Am I supposed to register my fellow campers before completing registration? What if I'm not sure who is coming yet?
    You may register campers up until the day of the event. Just be sure to provide them with your team name or URL.

Fundraising:

1. Do I have to fundraise to participate in the Great American Backyard Campout?
   Fundraising is optional, however we encourage you set a goal of $100 and ask 5 to 10 friends or family members to donate to your Campout. We've already created emails for you to send them from your Participant Center — just click on the Email icon at the top.

2. How can I raise money?
   Fundraising tips are located under the "Get Ready" tab located on www.backyardcampout.org. 

3. 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.

4. How can people donate to me online?
   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.

5. 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, 2011, in order to be eligible for prizes to:
   
   NWF, Attention Great American Backyard Campout
   11100 Wildlife Center Drive
   Reston, VA 20190-5362

6. What are the incentive prizes or fundraising rewards?
   A complete listing of incentive prizes is located under the Event Details tab of www.backyardcampout.org.

7. When will the prizes be mailed to me? When will I receive my t-shirt?
   All incentives will be mailed to participants approximately 6 to 8 weeks after the Campout event. Mailing will begin approximately August 9.

8. 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 the benefits manager or human resources department. Send the completed form to the National Wildlife Federation 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.

9. 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:

1. How do I donate to a Team?
   Click "Donate" at the top right of the main site navigation. Select "Search for a camp group" 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.

2. 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 Camp Group" 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.

3. 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.

4. 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:

1. 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 logging in using the link at the top of the site or from the Get Ready dropdown menu.

2. 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…
• Click "Donate" at the top right of the main site navigation. Select “Search for a camper” to search for yourself or “Search for a Camp Group” 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.

3. How do I make a personal URL for my Personal or Team web page?
   On the homepage of your Participant Center, there is a column on the right with your team’s name, password (if you set one), fundraising goal, and other options. Click the option “Update Personal URLs”, (it is located beneath the field to set a new fundraising goal). Follow the directions on the “Update Settings” page to create a personal URL for your personal or team page.

4. How do I edit my team's webpage?
   You can edit your team page by selecting the “Team Progress” icon located along the top of your Participant Center.

5. How do I edit my personal page?
   You can edit your personal page by selecting the thumbprint icon, “Personal Page”, along the top of your Participant Center.

6. How do I invite people to join my campout?
   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:

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