7 Ways to Get Your Kids (or Yourself!) Outside This Summer – After spending the winter and spring cooped up indoors (and, for many, putting in extra long hours in front of a screen during the busiest seasons at work), it’s finally starting to be consistently warm in most parts of the country. It’s time to embrace it and get outside!
If you live in a place (like I do in Utah) where nature is a part of your daily life, challenge yourself to think outside the box and try something – either in your town or outside it – that you haven’t done before. We’re largely creatures of habit, and without even realizing it we might take the same walking route each day or gravitate to the same weekend activities. There’s not necessarily anything wrong with that, but see how your perspective might shift when you switch it up and try something new.
1. Visit a national park. There are over 400 national park sites in the U.S. alone. Make a list of the 15 or 20 that are closest to you (a quick Google Maps search should help you identify them), and write each name down on a separate slip of paper. Put the papers in a hat and let your kid (or a partner, friend, or relative!) choose one at random to visit. You could even have lunch in a nearby town – you might stumble across a gem!
2. Set up a sprinkler. Do you remember those lazy days of childhood where (if you were lucky) you got to run through a sprinkler in your yard or splash around at a waterpark? Depending on space constraints, see if you can recreate that experience for your kids. Don’t have kids? Invite some adult friends over to beat the heat and embrace their inner child. Bonus points if you have water balloons on hand.
3. Embark on a scavenger hunt. If you live in a larger city, it’s possible that there are already organized events where all you have to do is show up and start the challenge. These pre-planned routes often introduce you to parts of the city that you might never have noticed before, so it’s a great way to get outside while also learning something new. If you live in a smaller town or rural area, create your own scavenger hunt! There are tons of prompts online (ChatGPT is great for this), and all you have to do is divide participants in teams and send them on their way!
4. Take on a physical challenge in your state. Many states have physical challenges (think things like a coast-to-coast bicycle ride, obstacle course, or canoe race) that take place over a few hours or sometimes even a whole weekend. This can be a great way to train for something interesting and explore a part of your state that you may not have otherwise thought to visit. If you’re unsure where to find such challenges, do a simple online search or put out a request for ideas from friends on your Instagram story,
5. Play MasterChef, Farmers’ Market Edition. Summer is the absolute best time of the year for fresh produce, but it’s basically a crime to let it sit around in your refrigerator for days. Go with your kids (or a significant other or friend) to a farmers’ market in your local area and set a time limit and dollar amount to give some structure to your visit. Once everyone has their ingredients, challenge each other to a cooking competition. I can almost taste the vegetables still warm from the sun!
6. Plan a hike or mini camping trip, even if it is in the backyard. Whether or not you are a fan of sleeping in tents, summer is a great time to get outside and unplug from the digital world. Rent a tent or RV for the weekend (or, if you really need plumbing, book a short stay at a cottage). Take a stack of books and put your phone on airplane mode. Bonus points if you make s’mores.
7. Grow something and use it in a recipe. Whether it’s an item in a big garden or an herb from a pot on your windowsill, there’s something incredibly rewarding about producing something from just a seed and a bit of dirt. If you’re just starting out, dip a toe in by growing some basil and using it in a caprese salad with tomato and mozzarella. It’s easy to do from anywhere, whether you live in a sprawling countryside home or a studio apartment.
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