Yeah!!! Yeah!!! This is the sound of students, parents, and teachers on the last day of school. Anticipating the fun ahead: travels, plans for sleeping in, vacations, get togethers with friends, sleepovers, baseball games, outdoor fun, swimming, camping, . . . and the list goes on!
In all this excitement, parents enjoy the upcoming lazy schedule: no homework, no morning and/or bed routines, no shuffling kids around to before/after school activities . . . just a relaxing time enjoying life and each other! Yes, parents enjoy summer, too!
I don’t know about you, but about four maybe five weeks into summer, I would start hearing from my kiddos, “I’m bored!” or “There’s nothing to do!”
Who can relate?
Yes, you know what I’m talking about. You check the calendar and see we are halfway through summer vacation.
What am I going to do?
Summer is the perfect time to get your kiddos involved in a variety of activities that continue to promote learning. As a classroom teacher, I wish I was able to take my students on field trips each month to experience first hand so many learning opportunities that just can’t be done in the classroom. Unfortunately, monthly field trips isn’t possible; therefore, summer is the perfect opportunity for family field trips that build student knowledge and can be tapped into during the school year.
Don’t worry about figuring out what to do for the next five to six weeks. I’ve included a list of fun, learning opportunities that will keep your kiddo engaged and enjoying summer vacation, while not costing an arm and leg!
My TOP 10 Activities for FUN in Alaska or Wherever YOU May Be!
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1. Take a hike along a local trail, to the neighborhood park, in the mountains or along the beach. Make certain to bring some water in my favorite bottle, a trail mix snack, and wear comfortable shoes. Find a place along the way to stop and enjoy Mother Nature!
2. Visit the local museum! This is a great time to learn about history, science, and actually participate in the learning. This is called experiential learning!!
3. Check out the local sports scene! Heading to a local park, ballpark, soccer field . . . you’ll see some great athletes play their heart out and enjoy a new sport!
4. Enjoy a sunset, if you live in the lower 48. In Alaska, the sun doesn’t set! We enjoy 19 1/2 hours of daylight where I live. The remaining time is a twilight. We celebrated the Summer Solstice on June 21 with a BBQ, gardening, and a baseball game.
5. Grab that tech device and relax under a tree engaged in reading some new titles, reviewing some math skills, researching a passion. It is important to keep those new academic skills growing to avoid the “summer slump”. Don’t forget to get KindleUnlimited for all your reading and listening requirements. Check the side bar for a direct link.
6. Plant a garden! Kids love playing in dirt, and what better way than to teach about sustainability food source, providing beauty in our environment!
7. Here’s another sustainability food source – fishing! Each summer my family and I head down to the Kenai River to do some dip netting. We love fresh Pacific Salmon and freeze it for our winter feast.
8. How about a backyard tent escape or a trip to the campground? Spending time outdoors is such a relaxing way to relax and enjoy time away from the busy day to day activities!
9. Enjoy some time with the kiddos getting messy with art materials!! Paint is always a fun medium to create with. Here my children and I participate in local Paint Nights. I don’t consider myself an “artist”, but these paintings turned out great!!
10. When you are ready to take a break, whether after a day of fun in the woods, or your backyard, a great bonfire is a sure fire way to end a hard, exploring day!
What are your summer plans? Get the kids outside, engage in art, visit the museum, play games . . . and you’ll never hear, “I’m bored” again!
Share your summer fun in the comments!
Every now and then, my fiance and I like to find random flea/farmer markets! It’s amazing what treasures can be found there at super affordable prices!
What a fabulous summer idea!! It is always fun to see what can become a new treasure.