There’s nothing quite like warm summer weather and having a stretch of time off to relax and enjoy it with the ones you love. Many of us have spent more time than usual inside over the past year and a half, so it’s definitely time to get outside and play! This list of outdoor activities will get both adults and kids excited to put away the devices in place of some good old-fashioned summertime fun.
Remember to follow the public health recommendations in your local community so that you’re staying safe while having fun outside.
- Create the perfect bonfire. Buy a premade outdoor fireplace, or try building your own, taking care to ensure that you always follow recommended safety rules when you have a campfire. Once you’ve got your fire burning, pull out the marshmallows and s’mores fixings for a sweet treat, then start telling ghost stories or singing classic campfire songs.
- Make homemade popsicles. Nothing beats a cool treat on a hot day — especially one you’ve made yourself! Get your kids in the kitchen to help you make healthy and delicious fruit popsicles. Just remember these take several hours to freeze, so plan accordingly.
- Play outdoor games. Frozen t-shirt race, beanbag ladder toss, fishing for marbles and yard dominos are just four of the 27 family-friendly outdoor games featured in this helpful article. Some require more prep and equipment than others, but you’re sure to find something that will inspire you to get your outdoor game on!
- Make some messy art. You don’t have to worry about spills and splatters when you’re making art outside, so get creative in the great outdoors. You can even use nature as your inspiration and create with found objects like twigs, leaves and stones. Create an art gallery in your backyard and sip kid-friendly mocktails while you peruse your private collection.
- Hold your own family Olympics. In celebration of the summer Olympics being held in Tokyo this month, host your own family Olympic games. Plan a few indoor events in case of bad weather (paper airplane toss, living room obstacle course, and paper-plate discus throw are all great ideas), but assume you’ll be able to hold your events in the great outdoors. Don’t forget medals and Olympic-themed treats. Visit Activity Village UK for more inspiration and free printable winners certificates.
- Go on nature walks. You don’t need an agenda — you can simply head out into the wild and enjoy the sights and sounds as you stroll. But you could also encourage your kids to collect fallen items like pinecones, twigs and leaves for future art projects, identify different trees and plants and log them in a notebook, take photographs, or even build a gnome home using found items. Engaging with nature helps children appreciate and protect it. Visit local conservation and national, state or provincial park websites to find out about marked trails and outdoor events.
- Host a scavenger hunt. Kids love a challenge, and an outdoor scavenger hunt is a fun and active way for them to truly engage with the world around them. There are many ways to approach this, but a quick search online will yield dozens of ideas and printable resources that will make it quick and easy to organize. Make sure to have a prize for the winner, and chilly treats for everyone to enjoy after the hunt.
At Foresters Financial™, we understand that setting aside time for fun is a big part of family well-being. That’s why we offer grants to help our members organize hundreds of complimentary Community Volunteer and Fun Family activities that help families spend quality time together in local communities. Members, log in to MyForesters to learn more about applying for grants and attending activities in your community.
It doesn’t take much to make summer memories that will last a lifetime when you’re spending time with friends and family. Even if all you do is set aside a few hours each day to toss a ball around, play in the dirt and drink lemonade in the shade, you’ll be able to look back on some very beautiful memories.
419971 CAN/US (07/21)
