The National Wildlife Federation hosted its eighth Great American Backyard Campout on Saturday.

The event aims to keep kids away from electronics and to get them outside.

A Harrisonburg family decided to go camping to the Hone Quarry campground in Dayton because they also want their kids to enjoy the outdoors.

Tracey Zahabi said coming to the campground is a way to take a break from technology.

"It's very relaxing," she said.

But she said more importantly is a way for her two kids to get in touch with the outdoors.

"It's a great way to unplug. Get them there's no tvs, no electricity, no video games. Nothing like that. That forces them to get in the water and play around," she said.

"Some kids actually don't mind taking a break from playing video games to do some outdoor activities," Tracey said.

Zahabi said sometimes her kids complain about playing outside but once they are here they enjoy it.

"I like nature, that's like my favorite thing," Noah said.

Zahabi's son, Noah, plays video games often.

"They take a lot of electricity and hurt your eyes sometimes when you play them a lot."

He said they don't compare to what he sees here.

"Here's like beautiful nature birds, fish, trees," he said.

His mother couldn't agree more.

"You are by the water, you can hear the water going over the rocks and it's just quiet, you hear the birds.There's a lot of things that when you're right off the interstate that you usually don't get a chance to hear."

© Copyright 2013 WHSV / Gray Television Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.