From the Archives (2006): Backyard Camping

A favorite FoxTrot storyline from August 2006…

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 7, 2006 - Paige: Why the glum face? Peter: You didn't hear? Dad decided that with the high price of gas, our "let's save money" camping trip to the mountains would be too expensive. Paige: So we aren't going camping?! WOohoo! Peter: I didn't say that. Paige: I'm confused. Peter: Go look in the yard. Roger: Kids, help me set up these tents...

August 7, 2006

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 8, 2006 - Andy: You want us to camp in our back yard for a week?! Roger: It'll be an adventure! Andy: You're insane. Roger: Fine. Stay inside. But don't come crying to me when you look out the window and see how much fun the kids and I are having out here. Right, kids? Paige, Peter, and Jason (out of frame): You want us to camp in our back yard for a week?!

August 8, 2006

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 9, 2006 - Paige: It's not fair! Roger: What's not fair? Paige: You're making us kids camp in the back yard with you while Mom gets to stay inside the house! Roger: Your mother is a special case. She's what's known as a "wet blanket"...a "spoilsport"...a "non-team player"... Paige: I'm all those things, too! Roger: Ok, fine. You can't divorce me.

August 9, 2006

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 10, 2006 - Jason: Why are you making us sleep outside? Roger: Because it's good for you. It builds character. It builds resilience. It puts hair on your chest. Jason: Really? Roger: Absolutely. Jason: Ha ha, Paige! Guess what? Roger: Let's keep that between us men, ok?

August 10, 2006

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 11, 2006 - Paige: I'm bored. Roger: Bored?? Paige, there's plenty to do! you just need the right mindset! (out of frame) Forget that we're in our back yard. Do what you'd do if we were camping in the wilderness. Paige: Complain that I'm bored? Roger: Besides that.

August 11, 2006

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 12, 2006 - Roger: You kids might want to get in your tents. Peter: What for? Roger (out of frame): It's going to get really wet in a little while. Jason: I don't see any rain clouds. Roger: I need to water the lawn. Jason: I really hope no one asks me what I did on vacation. Peter: I've learned it's best to lie.

August 12, 2006

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 13, 2006 - Jason: And it's said that if you listen, you can still hear the sound of his beating heart! Paige: Lame. Jason: And there, dangling from the car door's handle, was a bloody metal claw! Paige: Yawn. Jason: It wasn't until they go home that they learned the McCoy Lodge had been burned down 25 years ago! Paige: Face it, Jason. You can't scare me. Jason: And when she opened the closet, all the clothes were polyester! Paige: AAAA! Jason: I just needed to warm up. Paige: Tell me it's not true! Tell me it's not true!

August 13, 2006

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 14, 2006 - Roger: The key to camping in the back yard is to use your imagination. Pretend our fence is a sheer cliff of granite! Pretend those squirrels are roaming black bears! Jason: Pretend the neighbors aren't staring at us right now? Roger: Let's, um, get in our tents.

August 14, 2006

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 15, 2006 - Paige: Ha ha! I get my own tent! Jason: Be sure to close the zipper all the way. Otherwise that possum might get in. Paige: What possum? Jason: Marcus and I saw one out here a couple nights ago. Paige: How come I'm stuck sleeping by myself?! Jason: Ha ha.

August 15, 2006

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 16, 2006 - Andy: Aren't you supposed to be outside camping with your father? Peter: Dad said we could come in to use the bathroom. Andy: Seems you've lost your way. This is the TV room. Peter: And as Dad always taught us, if you get lost, stay put.

August 16, 2006

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 17, 2006 - Roger: Isn't this great, kids? Even in our own back yard, we can still enjoy the quiet lullaby of nature. Game-boy (inside tent): Blip blip bloop bleep blip blip bloop! Roger: Turn off the Game-Boy, Jason! Jason (inside tent): But Donkey Kong's a gorilla! That's nature!

August 17, 2006

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 18, 2006 - Jason: Let's not have a repeat of the last time we shared a tent. Peter: What happened? Jason: You dreamed you entered the land of giant burritos and tried to eat me in my sleeping bag. Peter: Sheesh. You are so paranoid. Zzzz...Donde estoy?...Zzzz... Jason: PETER, WAKE UP!

August 18, 2006

FoxTrot comic strip by Bill Amend - "Backyard Camping" published August 19, 2006 - Andy: What happened to your backyard campout? Roger: One night was enough. It's just too hard to get any sleep out there. Andy (out of frame): Hey, I hear you. The hard ground, the early morning dew, the odd noises... Roger: Don't get me started about the noises. Andy: Crickets? Roger: Complaining children. Children (out of frame): Hey, we stopped at 4 A.M.

August 19, 2006

FoxTrot Comics by Bill Amend – Summer Backyard Camping with Roger and the family