The official start of summer is a few weeks away, but for us the beginning of June really puts us in a summertime-frame-of-mind. I’ve seen a lot of great summer ‘bucket lists’ but I really did not want to put that kind of pressure on us to try to achieve a bunch of things on a list. Most of the lists I have seen seemed geared more for the younger set, but you know what? Most things associated with summer are ageless and just as fun as a ‘big’ kid as it was when we were little.

So I just started thinking of all kinds of things that might be fun to do if I heard those fateful words, “I’m bored” and put them down on a list. (You know how I love lists.) Some things are free, some cost, and some require travel, but all are flexible enough that we might get to do about half of the things listed.

Here is what I came up with: (those things that are highlighted are linked to information or directions related to the item)

GO:

1. to a “Pick-your-own” farm
2. attend an outdoor concert
3. camping
4. fishing
5. for a boat ride
6. on bike hike
7. swimming
8. take a hike
9. take a night time walk along the beach
10. to a $1 movie
11. to a ball game
12. to a drive-in movie
13. to a farmer’s market
14. to a lake or the ocean
15. to a local car race or demolition derby
16. to a local festival or country fair
17. to tag sales or flea market
18. tour a factory or other interesting place of business
19. visit a local landmark and learn its history
20. visit a museum
21. visit a park
22. visit an amusement park or summer carnival if available.
23. visit the zoo
24. visit with family
25. walk around your neighborhood picking up any trash you see along the way

DO-PLAY:

MAKE:

1. a birdbath and keep it filled with fresh water
2. a daisy (or dandelion) crowns, necklaces, or bracelets
3. a God’s Eye
4. a house of cards
5. a hummingbird feeder and keep it filled
6. a kaleidoscope (HERE is another site with great instructions)
7. a kite
8. a memory jar
9. a pinwheel
10. a sundial
11. a take a long drawing set from old DVD case
12. a sunbathing mat from towels
13. a wind chime from things you find
14. baking soda rocket
15. bean bag balls
16. build a sand sculpture
17. color, draw, doodle (try doing these with a friend taking turns adding to your masterpiece)
18. create a piece of art from recycled materials
19. easy tie dye with sharpies and alcohol
20. friendship bracelets
21. keep a summertime journal
22. sand art by making your own colored sand 
23. scrapbook
24. something form seashells you collected
25. sponge balls
26. tin can stilts
27. try your hand at a brand new craft
28. go on an alphabet hunt taking a picture of each letter of the alphabet you find.
29. using the pictures from #28, make a collage that spells out your name.
30. your own putt putt course in your back yard

EAT:

1. a giant banana split in a big bowl and pass out the spoons for everyone to dig in
2. a stove top clam bake
3. cook out
4. cook pizza on the grill
5. cook weenies over a campfire
6. count how many licks it takes you to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop.
7. eat corn on the cob
8. eat outside
9. food art
10. have a watermelon seed spitting contest
11. homemade fruit juice popsicles
12. homemade ice cream
13. homemade lemonade
14. homemade milkshakes
15. homemade snow cones
16. indoor picnic
17. outdoor picnic
18. s’mores
19. step out of the box and try a new ice cream flavor
20. try a brand new recipe

Click to download colorful list printouts.

We have already done several items on this list so we are off to a sizzling start to a memorable summer. What kinds of things would you like to do this summer?