Explore the great outdoors
Hit the beach, go boating on the lake, explore nearby hiking trails and 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!
- Go hiking: Older kids can voyage to nearby trails, breathe in fresh air and enjoy scenic views.
- Plan a picnic: Pack your favorite snacks, grab a blanket and spend time at a local park with friends.
- Try kayaking and paddleboarding: Rent equipment and head out to a river for an adventurous water activity.
- Visit a national park: Take a road trip to explore stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife.
- Host a backyard campout: Set up tents, roast marshmallows and sleep under the stars.
- Go berry picking: Head to a local farm and pick fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries and more. You can make delicious jam afterwards.
- Create a DIY slip-n-slide: Use a tarp, water and soap to make your own slip-n-slide for some backyard fun.
- Plug into your surroundings: Challenge yourself to limit the time you spend with your eyes on a screen. You’ll find more meaning in conversations and appreciate connecting with those around you.
- Go geocaching: Use an app to follow clues and discover hidden “treasures” near you in this interactive scavenger hunt.
- Explore a cave: Take a guided tour of a local cave system for a fun and educational adventure.
Summer at the beach means sunny days, cool waves and fun with friends and family.
Get active and try something new
Stay active this summer by trying new sports and activities that get you moving and having fun. From ziplining to learning a new dance style, there are plenty of ways to stay engaged and make the most of your summer.
- Learn a new sport: Try tennis, golf, surfing, rock climbing and more.
- Visit an amusement park: Head to a place, such as Universal Studios and Six Flags for a day full of rides and fun.
- Go ziplining: Head to an adventure park to zipline through treetops for an exhilarating experience.
- Take a dance class: Learn dance styles like hip-hop, salsa or ballroom—it’s a fun way to stay active.
- Visit an outdoor concert: Check local listings for outdoor concerts, and spend the evening enjoying live music under the stars.
- Go to a drive-in movie: Experience an outdoor movie night with classic drive-in vibes.
- Go to a trampoline park: Jump, flip and play games at an indoor trampoline park.
- Have a long bike ride: Pack a picnic and take a long bike ride through a local park. This is a perfect way to explore while staying active.
- Visit a local farmer’s market: Buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and local crafts at a farmer’s market—it’s a great way to support your community.
- Try go-kart racing: Test your driving skills at a local go-kart track.
Catch waves, embrace the adventure.
Get creative and crafty
Get creative and explore new crafting projects that let you express your artistic side this summer. Whether it’s tie-dyeing shirts or starting a scrapbook, these activities will keep you busy and help you create personalized, fun items.
- Make tie-dye shirts: Create fun and colorful shirts to add to your summer wardrobe.
- Start a scrapbook: Document your summer adventures with photos, ticket stubs and other mementos.
- Create sidewalk art: Use chalk to decorate your driveway or sidewalks with inspiring messages or designs.
- Learn to make jewelry: Use beads, wires, or recycled materials to create necklaces, bracelets, or rings.
- Paint a mural: If allowed, paint a large canvas or wall with vibrant colors to brighten up a space.
- Write and illustrate a comic book: Let your creativity flow by drawing characters and creating your own storyline.
- Design a tote bag: Use fabric paint to create a personalized tote bag—perfect for books or beach supplies.
- Make bath bombs: Use household items to make fizzy, colorful bath bombs.
- Start a photography challenge: Take a themed photo each day, such as nature, shadows or architecture, and track your progress.
- Participate in a yard sale: Sell your self-made creations at a self-organized yard sale! Clear out your space while offering your handmade goods to others.
![A student works on an arts project.]()
Unleash your creativity through art.
Connect with friends
Summer is the perfect time to connect with friends and create lasting memories together. From hosting movie marathons to going camping, there are plenty of fun activities to enjoy with your friends all season long.
- Host a movie marathon: Choose a series (Harry Potter, Marvel, or classic comedies) and spend the day watching with friends.
- Plan a game night: Bring out board games like Settlers of Catan, Risk, or Codenames for a fun evening.
- Have a bake-off: Compete with friends to make the best cupcakes or cookies, then enjoy the treats together.
- Throw a backyard BBQ: Grill burgers or veggies, set up some music, and have a relaxed get-together.
- Organize a talent show: Encourage friends to showcase their talents—singing, dancing, or even telling jokes.
- Make a music video: Pick a song, plan a storyline, and record a music video for fun memories.
- Play capture the flag: Add some glow sticks for a fun twist on this classic team game.
- Create a scavenger hunt: Make clues for friends to follow and hide items for them to find around the neighborhood.
- Attend a summer festival: Check local listings for food festivals, craft fairs, or live music events.
- Take a road trip to a nearby city: Explore new places and find fun spots to visit with your friends.
Outdoor activities increase fitness and teamwork.
Learn new skills
Summer is the perfect time to pick up new skills and expand your interests. Whether you’re learning an instrument or language, there are endless opportunities to discover something new and exciting.
- Learn to play an instrument: Pick up a ukulele, keyboard or guitar and teach yourself how to play.
- Take a cooking class: Find an online or local cooking class to learn new dishes, like homemade pasta or exotic cuisines.
- Practice public speaking: Record yourself giving speeches or join a club like Toastmasters to improve your skills.
- Learn to sew or crochet: Start with simple projects like pillowcases or scarves—it’s both relaxing and useful.
- Study a foreign language: Use apps like Duolingo to learn Spanish, French or even Japanese over the summer.
- Sign up for an online course: Learn graphic design, creative writing, or coding through platforms like Coursera or Skillshare.
- Learn basic car maintenance: Practice changing a tire or checking oil levels—it’s a great life skill to have.
- Take up gardening: Plant flowers, herbs, or vegetables in a garden or pots, and learn to care for them throughout the summer.
- Learn to make bread: Nothing beats the taste of fresh, homemade bread—try different kinds, like sourdough or focaccia.
- Practice photography: Study lighting, angles, and composition, and take pictures of your surroundings to improve your skills.
Language learning opens global connections.
Give back to the community
Giving back to your community is a meaningful way to make a positive impact while developing new skills and building connections. Grab a buddy and spend a day volunteering. You might find trash cleanup a lot more fun than it sounds.
- Volunteer at an animal shelter: Help care for animals in need, and give them some much-needed love and attention.
- Organize a trash cleanup: Pick a local park or beach and gather friends to help keep it clean.
- Hold a bake sale for charity: Bake treats and sell them to raise money for a cause you care about.
- Babysit: Spend time with younger kids, and help them stay active and engaged.
- Donate clothes: Clean out your closet, and donate gently-used clothing to a local charity or thrift store.
- Make Care Packages: Put together care packages with essentials like toiletries and snacks for people experiencing homelessness.
- Volunteer at a food bank: Help sort, pack, or distribute food for those in need.
- Assist at a community garden: Spend time planting, weeding, and caring for plants to make fresh produce accessible to others.
- Join habitat for humanity: Volunteer to help build homes for families in need—it’s a rewarding way to spend time.
- Tutor younger students: Use your skills to help kids in your neighborhood with subjects like math, reading or science.
- Discover Service Programs Around the World
Lend a hand and make a difference.
Indoor fun and relaxation
Relax and enjoy some indoor fun with activities that bring family and friends together. Whether you’re crafting, reading or cooking, these ideas will keep you engaged and create lasting memories.
- Create a family tree: Spend time with parents or older relatives to start building your family tree and learn more about your heritage.
- Write letters to friends: Grab some stationery and write letters to new friends or even old friends—there’s something special about handwritten notes.
- Make friendship bracelets: Use colorful thread or beads to make bracelets for friends, siblings, or children in your neighborhood.
- Read a good book: Choose a book from your summer reading list and relax outside in the fresh air with a cold drink. The quirky, yet relatable Eleanor & Park is the perfect way to pass the sunny days of summer.
- Make a comic book: Write and illustrate your own comic book filled with unique characters and creative storylines.
- Host a family dinner: Cook a meal with parents or friends, and invite everyone over for a special family dinner.
- Try new ice cream recipes: Experiment in the kitchen to create fun flavors of homemade ice cream.
- Design a summer bucket list: Write down all the fun things you want to do before the summer ends, and check them off one by one.
- Create a time capsule: Collect items that represent your summer—photos, letters, or objects—and bury them in your backyard for a future surprise.
- Have a spa day: Create a relaxing atmosphere with DIY facemasks, soothing music and calming scents for a mini spa day at home.
Make new friends and build relationships
Summer is the perfect time to meet new people and build lasting connections.
- Go to summer camp: Attend a day camp or overnight camp to meet new friends, participate in fun activities and build lifelong memories.
- Volunteer at a nursing home: Spend time with older adults at a local nursing home—they will appreciate the company, and you can learn from their experiences.
- Work at a soup kitchen: Help serve meals and get involved in your community by volunteering at a soup kitchen.
- Get a summer job: Find a summer job like babysitting, working at a retail store, or lifeguarding at the pool to earn some spending money.
- Organize a car wash: Raise money for a cause you’re interested in by hosting a car wash with friends.
- Be a camp counselor: Spend your summer helping younger kids at camp while building leadership skills and making new friends.
- Help out at a community event: Volunteer at local events, like festivals or farmer’s markets, to meet new people and support your community.
- Join a new club: Whether it’s a sports league, chess club, or art group, joining a club is a great way to make new friends over the summer.
- Throw a movie night: Invite friends over for a backyard movie night with a projector—set up blankets, pillows, and snacks.
- Organize an art show: Host an art show at home where your friends can display and talk about their artwork—invite family and neighbors to attend.
Bond over shared memories.
Outdoor adventure and fun
Get outside and enjoy all the fun the summer has to offer with exciting outdoor adventures.
- Have a water balloon fight: On a hot day, invite friends over for an epic water balloon fight—it’s one of the most classic fun summer activities.
- Take part in a local fun run: Many communities organize fun runs during the summer. Grab your friends and enjoy running for a good cause.
- Spend a day boating: Rent a boat, kayak or paddleboard and spend a day on the water with friends.
- Go horseback riding: Visit a local stable and experience nature while riding through scenic trails.
- Roast marshmallows at a campfire: Gather friends or family and roast marshmallows for s’mores while sharing stories around the campfire.
- Play ping pong: If you have access to a table, play ping pong or get a net to set up on any table for a competitive game.
- Take a family day trip: Spend a day exploring a nearby town or natural site with the whole family.
- Go fishing: Grab a rod and reel and head to a local lake or pond—it’s a great way to relax and connect with nature.
- Create an obstacle course: Get creative in your backyard by building an obstacle course to challenge yourself and friends.
- Play card games outdoors: Bring a deck of cards to the park, and play games like Rummy, Spades, or even Poker while enjoying the fresh air.
Excitement, adventure and fun.
Fun things to create and share
Get creative this summer by making something special to share with friends, family or even the world. From writing stories to raising money for a good cause, there are endless ways to express yourself and make memories.
- Write a short story: Use summer as a perfect time to write a short story or even start a novel. Work on your iambic pentameter.
- Make a documentary: Record your adventures or create a film about a topic you’re interested in to share with friends and family.
- Organize a garage sale: Take a day to go through your closet and pull out everything you no longer wear. Ask yourself, “Does this piece bring me joy?” Is the answer no? Throw it in a bag and donate it to those who need it more!
- Raise money for a cause: Organize a bake sale, car wash or craft sale to raise money for something meaningful to you.
- Make a music playlist: Create the ultimate summer playlist and share it with friends for your road trips and hangouts.
- Create a summer journal: Write about your experiences, add pictures and reflect on everything you’ve done over the summer.
- Plan a themed party: Host a themed party, like an 80s throwback or a costume party—invite friends, decorate and play themed music.
- Spend time gardening: Whether you grow vegetables, herbs or flowers, gardening can be rewarding and calming.
- Write a letter to your future self: Seal it up and plan to open it at the end of high school or after college to see how you’ve changed.
