Summer

Can you remember your favorite summer fun as a child? Re-creating events to make a memorable family summer is easy. Start with a list of the top ten fond recollections you have of summer activities from your childhood. Then think how you can reinvent those activities so that the memories will last for generations. My favorite summer memory was traveling by train from Minnesota to Arizona to visit my grandparents. One of the train cars had a massive sky dome. Climbing to the upper deck of the sky dome where the sun poured through the glass ceiling, we played cards, read books, and took in the rich smells of coffee wafting through the air. Happily crunching on pretzels, we were mesmerized by the scenery zooming by. While you may not be able to take a cross-country train ride with your family, even a short trip from one town to the next will delight children who seldom take the train. Pack special snacks, games, and activities for a memorable family adventure. Even without a train trip, beating summer boredom with family and friends can be a fun and creative bonding experience. Try a throwback to younger years by scheduling family fun nights and playing board games. Invite neighbors and friends over, and ask them to bring their favorite snacks. Keep Fridays open for summer field trips. Visit a nearby town, and play mini golf, or go hiking and rock climbing. Invest in outside game equipment like a soccer goal or a croquet or badminton set. Set them up next to your garden or favorite lawn chair. While the kids are playing, you can be present while still enjoying your own hobbies. Schedule a time with grandparents or close relatives, and ask them to teach your child a new skill like canning jam or building a birdhouse. Family and friends are a wealth of inspiration. Invite them to be a rich part of your summer life. Every town or city has a plethora of summer fun. Utilize the local community events to keep a spark in your summer. Find out what community education classes will be offered. Often there are multiple options, such as swimming lessons, photography classes, local historical tours, summer reading programs at the library, and county or state fairs. Small towns often host one-day summer fests that include pie-eating contests, dunk tanks, and parades. Larger cities offer free museum days, water parks, and kids’ day events. The chamber of commerce is a great place to find out about events. Use your local resources! Finally, consider searching for outdoor activities in nature or agriculture. U-pick berry farms are always a delightfully sweet experience. Go for walks and pick flowers to press and label in a summer scrapbook. If flower picking is not on your child’s fun list, consider picking up aluminum cans to earn cash for recycling. Visit a farmer’s market or a local farm that offers tours, and enjoy the tastes and smells of fresh vegetables and herbs. If you have a tent, go camping in your backyard. Read an adventure novel by flashlight to add an air of intrigue to the night. It is low-budget and can be just as enjoyable as camping in the wilderness. The added bonus is that you can still enjoy your favorite coffee and a warm shower in the morning. Backyard barbeques and late night campfires with lots of s’mores are simple activities that can be spiced up when combined with capture the flag or catching fireflies. Plant a garden and watch it grow. Order two or three baby chicks from a hatchery, and read about how to raise them. Sell them on Craigslist after three months and discuss entrepreneurship. Take lots of pictures, upload them, and create a summer picture book to capture your outdoor memories. Making summers memorable can be easy, low-cost, and fun. Think of family and friends, local communities, and outdoor opportunities for activities. Savor the memories, keep them alive, and create your list today! These are just some of the many things you can do to make your summer memories last for years to come. Michelle  Fryc  has coached, taught, and mentored multiple award-winning students and published authors. While serving  for over six  years on active duty in the Army, her natural teaching  ability  and writing skills enabled her to provide lasting instruction for hundreds of soldiers.  Her passion is to see every individual’s writing potential unlocked one student at a time. She has won multiple awards, including  Outstanding Texas History Teacher of the Year. Log in or register to post commentsMichelle Frycs blog Log in or register to post comments