Rerouting Ants?

[graylocks]

there's a continuous line of small ants (not fire ants) caravanning a stoop in my carport where my son likes to sit and contemplate life. he finds them annoying and wants them destroyed. i've pointed out that they are thankfully outside and outnumber us by the billions. i've tried a simple spray on the steps but it merely detours them slightly.

any ideas on how i might reroute them to take a different path to wherever they are going in the back yard? using the other, people-less side of the house would be fine by me.