With warmer days on the horizon, you might be looking for some fun and frugal outdoor activities to enjoy as a family. After all, what is better than spending time together as a family and saving a few bucks while you are at it? You don’t need to go all out or spend a lot of time and money to make some meaningful summer memories with your family. Instead, take a peek at the list below of seven super simple and budget savvy summer activities that not only will your family love, but will keep some cash in your pocket! Take a peek and see how easy it is to enjoy these fun activities!
Make your own obstacle course. Have kids first plan and design their course on paper. What elements will it have? What skills will it test? What materials are needed? Once the planning is done, head to the yard and start assembling. Then, gather the family, gather a stop watch, and have fun running through the course until you drop!
Host a bike wash. Kids love getting wet in the summer. Gather some buckets, towels, dish soap and a hose. Then, invite the neighborhood kids over for a bike wash! Kids will love getting wet while they also get their bikes squeaky clean. You can even have a contest for the cleanest bike afterwards complete with snacks and prizes.
Enjoy an astronomy night. Set up telescopes and meet at dusk. Bring library or internet references with you to help you identify the stars, planets, and constellations in the sky. Bring a blanket for your comfort so you can all spread out and explore the night sky together. Flashlights make this activity extra fun!
Have a neighborhood field day. Have each participating family bring an activity and snack, then pick a date and time to meet. Break into teams and complete the activities and enjoy a snack after. It is a great way to mingle with neighbors as well as get some exercise.
Go bird watching. Gather your binoculars and internet or library references and go on a bird watch. If you have a tape recorder you can try to record and identify their calls and songs. Or, take a sketch book and draw pictures of what you see. You can make a list of the birds you identify as well. When done, take a simple pie pan or orange peel and fill with seed to leave out for your feathered friends.
Related: Bird Watching Books
Host a benefit food drive. Have you noticed food drives are never held in the summer? But the need is still there. Host a neighborhood food drive. Kids can entertain with songs and dances or by displaying chalk drawings on the sidewalk. Ask that each neighbor come down and see the talents on display in exchange for a can of food. Then, call your local food bank who will be happy to pick it up!
Make a recycled monster. Gather all of your old cereal boxes, milk jugs, cans, etc. and build a monster in the front yard. It can be as big and complex and scary as you wish! You can make it a group activity and really get a lot of recycled materials to work with. Kids will love working as a team and building their monster using recycled items!
Related: Recycled Craft Books
As you can see, these are a few excellent examples of simple and budget savvy summer activities. Enjoy them as a family or as a neighborhood! They are a great way to pass the time, get out and get some air, and keep plenty of cash in your pocket!