15 Great Ideas for Your Summer Bucket List

 

Summer’s finally here and that means almost three whole months to get outside, dive into a good book, hit the road for an adventure of a lifetime, and explore! Check out this list of must-dos and get excited for our favorite season.

1. Plug into your surroundings

Challenge yourself to limit the time you spend with your eyes on a screen. Spend that would-be screen time in the outside world and notice the little details around you. You’ll find more meaning in conversations and appreciate connecting with those around you.

2. Get lost in a good book

Dive into your summer reading list! The quirky, yet relatable Eleanor & Park is the perfect way to pass the sunny days of summer. Some favorites from Rustic staff members include: The Things We Carried, Run, The Poisonwood Bible, and The Book Thief.

3. Visit an amusement park

Can someone say Wizarding World of Harry Potter?! Pull out your robes, remember not to put your wand in your back pocket, and save up your sickles for a frozen (non-alcoholic) butterbeer.

4. Enjoy the great outdoors

Hit the beach, go boating on the lake, explore nearby hiking trails or take a walk in the park. Don’t forget sunscreen, lots of water and a sweater—you’ll want to enjoy a bonfire and s’mores after the sun sets!

5. Channel your inner child

Summer vacation is the time to let loose and be a kid again. What better way to remember your youth than to hang out with actual kids?! Whether it’s babysitting or camp counseling, you’ll be sure to work up a sweat with little ones running circles around you.

6. Clean out your closet and donate your old clothes

Take a day to go through your closet and pull out everything you no longer wear. Ask yourself, “Does this piece bring me joy?” If the answer is no, throw it in a bag and donate it to those who need it more!

7. Take a roadtrip

Find the friend with the biggest car and pack it with snacks, sleeping bags and good tunes. Roll the windows down and hit the road!

8. Explore a museum

Science? Fine art? Animals? Find the ones where they let you touch stuff and spend a day discovering something new! Most have students discounts.

9. Try new foods

Ever try Ethiopian food? Burmese food? Check out local restaurants or get a group a friends together and test out a new recipe. You’ll become hooked on tea leaf salad and wonder why you didn’t try it sooner!

10. Attend a summer festival

Check local media outlets for food truck extravaganzas, flea markets, local artists crafts fairs, outdoor concerts and traditional cultural festivals. You’re sure to find an exciting outdoor summer event near you!

11. Go on a Geocaching scavenger hunt

Channel the time you do spend on your phone in a more interactive way with Geocaching. Create an account on your phone and take off on the scavenger hunt of a lifetime! Your phone will give you all the clues until you find the prize and then move on to the next puzzle!

12. Volunteer

Grab a buddy and spend a day volunteering. You might find trash cleanup a lot more fun than it sounds. If you think you’re “not good with kids” or not patient enough to work with elders—try it anyway! You’ll be surprised by how much you can accomplish when you’re helping someone else.

13. Learn a new language

It’s never too late to pick up something new! Learning American Sign Language is a huge plus if you ever want to work in special education, and Mandarin can be helpful for booming international companies.

14. Learn a new sport or activity

Rock climbing? Surfing? Break dancing? Chess? The possibilities are endless!

15. Have the adventure of a lifetime

Want to take your service global AND learn about new cultures, meet incredible, like-minded peers and see amazing views? Join a Rustic Pathways program this summer!