As school comes to a close and summer lies just on the horizon, it can be difficult for one to decide how they are going to spend their free hours of the summer. The options are both endless and non-existent. I often find myself wanting to engage in fun summer activities yet having difficulty breaking free from a constant cycle of doom scrolling. There are others reading who I’m sure can relate to that problem, and this summer we are going to break free from that pattern. Here are some fun and unique summer activities to do by yourself and/or with friends so you can enjoy your long break to the fullest!
- Rock Painting: This is a super chill project that will leave you with some nice decor for all your decorating desires. Collect rocks from the sidewalk or the beach, preferably smooth ones, and rinse them off so they’re ready for painting. Acrylic paint works best, and if you have a gloss finish like Mod Podge, the paint on your stone canvas will be less likely to chip. If you’re feeling extra fun, paint a bunch of rocks and leave them by trees or in public spaces for people to find and ponder, “How did this beautiful painted rock arrive here in front of me?” Maybe you’ll inspire someone else to share their art with the world!
- Signature Summer Drink: Lemonade and iced tea are two examples of classic summer drinks that have many variations and keep people refreshed through the sweltering season. All you need to make your own refreshing drink is some water, ice, and unique ingredients that will create a fun new drink that no one has made before. You can also make it a fun activity with your friends where everybody makes a unique drink for each other and you have a tasting party, with drink umbrellas and garnishes galore. This allows everyone to exercise their creativity and enjoy some scrumptious drinks as a result.
- Book Club: When you’re not at school 24/7, it’s easy to fall out of the habit of reading. A good way to hold yourself accountable and keep reading over the summer, if you desire, is to start a book club with others. You can all decide what pages or chapters you want to read in a book, choose a meeting time, and discuss the book and catch up at these meetings. Talking about literature with your pals allows for fun debates and new interpretations you may not have previously thought of. Also, reading outside on a hot summer day is a great way to pass the time while keeping your mind sharp. Maybe even enjoy your signature drink while you’re at it.
- Summer Attire: A good summer wardrobe is hard to come by, so why not just make your own? You can get some white shirts, rubber bands, and make some classic tie-dye, or grab some old sunglasses, glue, and jewels to get some new, fierce, bedazzled sunglasses. The options are limitless, and in the end, you’ll have a ton of unique clothing pieces to wear to all your camps, concerts, and festivals. Summer vibes for all to see!
- Song of the Summer: Grab at least one other person, bring some paper and writing utensils, and decide on a time limit and summer theme. Everybody writes a song based on the theme and shares it with each other once the designated time is up. This is a great way to get your creative gears moving and create a hilarious song for your group to sing all summer long. If you want to take it to the next level, everyone can bring an instrument to play a melody for their song. Bonus points for kazoos!
- Bubbles: You can make your own bubble solution with materials typically found around the house. To make the solution, all you need is to combine a bit of sugar, water, and dish soap to create a solid mixture. Then, if you want to create huge bubbles, you can take two large sticks and two same-sized pieces of rope. Tie both sides of each rope to the stick, and boom—you’ve got a bubble wand to dip in your bubble solution and make bubbles bigger than you!
- Scavenger Hunt: Come up with a list of items in nature that can be found within the region in which you live (ie. oak tree, cardinal, etc.). Then, make teams with some friends as you walk through a neighborhood, park, or hiking trail to see who can find the most or all of the items on the list. This allows for nature exploration and an opportunity to look for things in nature that you might not always pay attention to. If you want to spice it up, everyone can put money or fun prizes into a pot that goes to the winning team.
- Scrapbooking: After the awesome summer you’re going to have, you’ll want to be able to look back every now and then on all the great memories you’ve made! Collect photos and memorabilia from all your experiences and at the end of the summer, get yourself a big notebook to paste all the collectibles you can find into a big collage. Add labels to each object or photo to remind yourself of the specific moments that are easily forgotten. It doesn’t need to be perfect or organized, just an honest representation of what happened during your summer. With a scrapbook, memories become tangible and easier to recall when one is reminiscing. Always live in the moment and let this summer become something you can happily remember when it’s over.