Summer Bucket List – Make Your Own Fun

Summer Bucket List

With only one more day of school left for Mr. B, it’s time to figure out some fun things to do this summer. The boys are all signed up for a summer school program, Mr. B is playing baseball, and I’m teaching a 6-week summer session, but I know I’ll still be hearing “I’m bored!” or  “What are we doing today?” and especially the “Mom, I need you to entertain me. NOW!” if I don’t have an arsenal of activities in my back pocket. So, it’s time to make our Summer Bucket List!

For me, our summer bucket list is different from the monthly goals I set for our family. It’s all about stuff we want to do, instead of stuff we need to do. If something on the list turns out to be not so fun, or if no one really wants to do it, it’s totally OK. If we don’t get through half of the list, but we still have a great summer, totally OK too.  It’s basically ideas that I can fall back on when the novelty of playing in the sprinkler, running with the neighborhood pack, or climbing on the swing set wears off.

You can take a look back at past bucket lists HERE and HERE.

Criteria

I’ve come up with very strict criteria for what can be included on our summer bucket list:

• Must be FUN for all members of the family
• Must include access to an actual bathroom for Mom (ie. NOT a porta potty, pit toilet, or bush)
• Must be SAFE for the whole family (example: Swimming must include at least 2 adults, since I can’t safely watch all three boys without massive amounts of stress)
• Must NOT be STRESSFUL for MOM
• Must be approved by MOM
• At least some items must involve getting active (need to wear those boys out and keep mom in shape if she can’t get to the gym!)

That should work. Now, on to the fun!

The List

• Discover and play at new parks starting with a Park Hop Day (spend about 15 minutes at each, and then move to the next!)
• Take a family bike ride at least once a week
• Visit a Splash Pad
• Picnic at the Zoo
• Go to Bay Beach Amusement Park
• Take a trip to Little America Amusement Park
• Visit our State Capital, Madison
• Go to a Church Festival
• Attend one of the many other festivals our city has (Bastille Days, Festa, German Fest, Summerfest, Kidsfest, etc.)
• Go to one of the traveling beer gardens (beer for the adults, playgrounds for the kids. Win. Win.)
• Sign up for the Summer Reading Program at our Local Library
• Have a campfire and make S’mores
• Go to a few of the Kid Series Movies (only $3!)
• Cookout a few times a month
• Have a board game day when it rains
• Have an arts, crafts, and dance day or two

What’s on your Summer Bucket List?

What other ideas do you have for me and our family? Do you write out a summer bucket list?

Please leave me any fun ideas below.

I hope your summer is off to a fantastic start!