Ultimate Guide to Free Summer Adventures with Kids

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The Magic of Free Summer Adventures

Summer activities don’t need to break the bank. There’s nothing wrong with summer camps and water parks, but they can get costly.

The best adventures I’ve had with my kids have been the ones that cost nothing. We’ve bonded over our shared adventure, the kids have learned a lot, and we’ve all had a great time.

And for me, that’s the whole point.

As parents, it’s easy to get caught up in the extravagance we see in the curated posts online. But I’ve decided to slow down and reject that pressure.

I’ve started looking for ways to give my children an adventurous childhood without spending much money and being rushed and busy all the time.

It can be challenging to get started, but it gets easier to find free summer adventures everywhere once you do.

If you’re unsure where to start, keep reading below for inspiration.

Creating Your Summer Bucket List

One thing I’ve started doing is creating a summer bucket list. This is a simple list of things we can do throughout the summer that don’t involve a lot of planning.

This is a great thing to get your kids involved in as well. Sit down together and come up with a list of activities you’d all like to do through the summer. These can be anything from a big outing to a simple walk in the woods.

Getting your kid’s input is a great way to get them excited for the adventures ahead. It also takes the pressure off you to think of all the ideas yourself.

No doubt your kids will have some creative ideas. Pinterest can also be a great place to get some inspiration. But if you need a little help getting started with making a list of free summer adventures, here are a few ideas that may help:

Individual Adventures: Fun Kids Can Find on Their Own

Summer unlocks a treasure trove of opportunities for kids to explore their surroundings with zest. It allows them to dive into adventures that spark creativity and nurture independence. Crafting a summer bucket list offers endless moments for individual discovery and joy.

Embarking on nature explorations, kids acquaint themselves with the whispering woods and chattering streams, where every leaf turns into a storybook page.

• DIY projects—take a nature walk and collect items along the way. With paper and a little glue, transform mundane materials into art.
• Backyard fun—build forts, make obstacle courses, or even count the different kinds of bugs they find.
• Educational adventures—counting the different kinds of birds they find, finding cool bugs, or even stacking stones can provide an educational experience.

These kinds of free summer adventures provide both joy and growth. It can spark imagination and even inspiration for future activities and adventures.

Outdoor Exploration

We’re very fortunate to live in a place with many walking trails and wooded areas that are easy to access. We often take the opportunity for adventure using these free resources. And the more we get out, the more we want to.

We also visit different parks regularly for picnics. My older son loves the novelty of packing up lunch, spreading out a blanket, and exploring a new place while eating.

My kids also love water, so beach adventures are a favorite. We go on sunny days but don’t always wait for them. Even a cloudy day of exploring the beach for driftwood or beach glass can be a great way to spend an afternoon.

Beach Day Essentials

Beach days with the kids provide many opportunities for free summer adventures and memory-making—as long as you’re prepared, of course.

I have a checklist of things to bring on any adventure. For a beach day, though, I might bring a few additional items.

You may have other essentials you’d like to bring, but my checklist should provide a good start to making your own:

• Beach towels: Essential for drying off and wrapping up after swimming.
• Sunscreen: Reapplication is vital to protecting everyone’s skin from harmful rays.
• Water bottles: Keeping hydrated under the sun ensures we can keep the fun going all day long.
• Snacks: Healthy, easy-to-eat options keep energy levels up and hunger at bay.
• Beach toys: From buckets to frisbees, these spark creativity and encourage physical activity.
• First aid kit: Ready for any scrape or sting, making safety a top priority.
• Picnic blanket: For a comfortable seating area that’s versatile and easy to clean.
• Extra clothes: Everyone appreciates being able to change into dry clothes after playing in the water.

I like to keep a beach bag ready to go, so when we decide on a last-minute trip to the beach, I only have to toss a few things in, and we’re ready to go. You’ll get to be the fun, spontaneous mom you want to be because you’ve prepared ahead of time.

Fostering a Love for Hiking

Hiking for me and my kids is one of our favorite things. We have some usual paths we visit often, but we also like to explore new trails.

I often point out things that change over the summer to my kids. Leaves grow larger, the ground dries up, and things bloom. Nature is constantly changing, and my kids love looking for things that are different from our last hike.

Another thing I like to do is have a printed scavenger hunt. Having specific things to look for is fun, and with every item found, my kid feels more and more accomplished.

I typically keep my phone in my pocket unless we look up information on something we’ve found, which is often the case. We’re always wondering something about an animal or plant we’ve seen. We learn a lot by just Googling our questions as they come.

We also really enjoy counting the different kinds of birds we see and hear along our hikes. I love the Merlin Bird ID app. This app is the best I’ve found at identifying bird sounds and photos. I use it often, even when we’re just hanging out in our yard. And it’s free!

Backyard Camping Adventure

If you’ve got the space but no budget for a campsite, a backyard camping adventure can be really fun.

Even putting up your tent can be an adventure and learning experience all on its own. It’ll teach your kids about teamwork and that everyone pitching in ensures we have a good time.

My kids also love getting our sleep space all setup. Deciding who sleeps next to who and making it cozy is a great way to let them make some decisions.

Making a simple firepit and having a campfire is half the fun! I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t love a good campfire. My kids are no exception.

Roasting marshmallows and cooking supper over the fire feels like an adventure—even in your backyard.

Backyard camping is also a great way to dip your toes into camping with young kids. It allows you to test the waters in a low-consequence way. You can go inside at any point if something isn’t going well. If you forget something, you can grab it.

DIY Summer Crafts

There are so many summer crafts that kids can do that don’t cost anything. If you’ve already got some crafting supplies, you can find many things for kids to do. These are especially good for rainy days when you want to stay dry.

Beach tote bags are something you can make if you’ve got some old towels. Painting rocks you’ve found on a previous adventure can brighten up your garden. Gluing items you’ve collected on your travels, like sticks and leaves, to paper to make art is always a hit.

You can find outdoor activities on Etsy that you can reuse over and over.

These summer crafts not only fill rainy days with a lot of fun but also teach a valuable lesson on sustainability. We’ve discovered joy in turning items we would otherwise not use into treasures.

Learning Through Play

If you’d like to leave the house on a rainy day, check if your local museums have a free admission day. This can be a fantastic way for kids to learn about history and science.

Museums can spark their imaginations and prompt them to ask questions they might not usually think about.

Depending on what’s in your local museum, it may give them ideas for science experiments they’d like to try at home, too.

Libraries are a treasure trove of adventure. There are so many books that can facilitate adventure and give ideas for your summer adventure bucket list.

You can find information on whatever you want to learn about. You can read about other people’s adventures, get ideas on what adventures you’d like to try, and even get recipes to try on your next campout.

My favorite subject to read about is nature. Books on local wildlife and fauna are typically available.

I particularly like to know what types of plants to avoid while out. My older son ate a random mushroom once, and because we hadn’t read about mushrooms yet, it resulted in a trip to the ER. What he ate was harmless, but if we’d read about it beforehand, we’d have saved ourselves the time and stress.

Picnics in the Park

I have always found that planning a picnic in the park melds affordable outings, creative adventures, and summer crafts into one delightful package. We pack our basket with a variety of foods.

Things that kids can come and go from work well for us. We do like to bring an ice pack to ensure things don’t go bad so quickly on hot summer days.

Simple sandwiches (think PB&J), fruit, veggies and dip, cheese sticks, and hummus and crackers are favorites around here. This provides a variety of nutritious foods that keep our energy up.

There are other things you’ll need to bring with you as well. You’ll need a blanket to sit on—I recommend one that is thin and easy to carry. I’ve used an oversized comforter, and getting to and from your picnic site is a pain with everything you need to bring.

And, of course, there’s always sunscreen and bug spray. You don’t want to end a fun-filled day with a nasty sunburn or a collection of bug bites.

It’s also a good idea to bring some activities. Frisbee, a ball to kick, or a scavenger hunt can help keep your little ones moving when they finish eating.

Looking Forward to a Summer of Adventure

You’ve got your summer bucket list and some fantastic indoor fun planned. Don’t forget to document it!

We have an adventure wall at my house. It’s a wall filled with photos of our adventures. As you look forward to a summer of adventure, think about how you’d like to capture those memories.

An adventure wall works for our family, but maybe a photo album you continue adding to will work better for you. Or even an adventure folder on your phone.

Whatever you choose, I promise you’ll love looking back on all your adventures. And your kids will, too.