Tips to Savor Summer

As summer nears its end, the annual back-to-school craziness lurks just around the corner. Before the chaos begins, however, try this bucket list of family fun activities to savor the last days of summer freedom. It’s a great way to create some lasting memories!

• Throw one last summer barbecue. Enjoy the company of friends and family while soaking in the outdoors before fall and winter set in.
• Try geocaching with the family. Geocaching is like a scavenger hunt, only you use a GPS (or GPS app on your phone) and drive around town to find hidden treasures. Check out Geocaching.com to learn more and to find out where to search near your home.
• Visit a museum. It’s hot outside, so why not go inside and enjoy the cool air-conditioning while exploring some great exhibits? Choose a museum that will spark your children’s interests and get them in gear for learning more when they go back to school. Discover all local museums here.
• Take a last-minute road trip. Routine soon will take over, so be spontaneous while you still can. You don’t have to travel far. Pull out some gear and camp out at a local campground. Tell stories by the campfire, roast marshmallows and just have fun!
• Dance in the rain. A few raindrops won’t hurt you; for some, it’s quite refreshing. So step on out there in your galoshes with your little ones and dance!
• Go bird watching. With a pair of binoculars in hand, head into the great outdoors to see what types of feathered friends you can find. Borrow a bird guide from your local library beforehand and bring a notebook along to log the birds you see. Or visit MyBirdz.org and click on your state to find out what birds are in your area.
• Go berry picking. Several local farms offer berry picking. After gathering the berries, be sure to save those that are overripe or crushed; they make great paint! Just smash them up and mix with a little cornstarch. Voila! Read our complete KC Berry Picking guide here.
• Go to the fair. Ride the Ferris wheel, eat deep-fried fair food, play games and win prizes. Have fun! Read our complete KC Festival Guide here.
• Play brain games. Help your children get into the back-to-school mindset by scheduling several times throughout the day for fun, interactive brain games (puzzles, cooking, sorting, etc.). You might also schedule a time each day for silent reading.
• Plan one last bash. Spend a day at the beach, the lake or the zoo. Do something fun and local that can end the summer with a house filled with smiles.
• Volunteer in the community. There is no better time for teaching your children about empathy and compassion than now. Visit an animal shelter and play with the cats and dogs—have your children make cat toys to take along for the felines. Purchase school supplies and take your kids to drop them off at a local charity. Volunteer in a local food pantry. The possibilities are endless. Visit VolunteerMatch.com to find places in your community where you can volunteer with your children.
• Create chalk art. Invest in some sidewalk chalk and turn your sidewalks into masterpieces! Don’t forget to take a picture.
• Take out the kiddie pool or slip-and-slide. Invite friends and have some laughs and fun in the water one last time.
• Set up a lemonade stand. Whip up some tasty lemonade (don’t forget the ice) and set up shop on your driveway or sidewalk. Let the kids decorate the sign. There’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned lemonade stand in the summertime.
• Take a hike. Learn about nature while the sun is still shining and the flowers are still blooming. Research local hiking trails or arboretums and tie on those walking shoes! Hiking trails are free and often lined with great plant life you and your children can study. Arboretums, while not always free, are wonderful places to learn about plants.
• Go mini golfing. Find a local mini golf course and play one last game before summer’s end. Find local mini golf courses here.
• Jump rope. Pull out the jump ropes and have fun enjoying this nostalgic pastime. A definite must-do for summer’s end!
• Visit a farmers market. Let your children pick out fruits and vegetables to purchase. Who knows, they may find something new they’d like to try. Farmers markets often have great activities for kids too! Read our complete KC Farmers Market guide here.
• Play some lawn games. Try croquet, horseshoes or badminton (to name a few). There are so many to choose from. Have some family fun in your own yard!
• Have a family car wash. Clean the car as a family! Whip out the swimsuits, buckets, sponges and soap and have fun in the sun…and water. (Don’t forget the sunscreen.)
• Go to a drive-in movie. Remember those? Let your kiddos experience the fun of sitting in the car, munching popcorn and watching a great flick.
• Have a game night. Turn off the screens and pull out the board games. There’s nothing like spending quality time around the table talking, laughing and playing some of your favorite games. Bingo!

You also can create a summer bucket list of your own. Visit Pinterest.com for some free printable bucket lists, then hold a family meeting and make your own back-to-school bucket list. Take turns adding to it and then do it. See how many items your family completes before school begins—and be sure to take lots of pictures!

Kansas City mom and author Gina Klein is excited to start a back-to-school bucket list with her family!