Good day all. The summer is upon us and that means one thing: school is out. Children are at home and you are looking for something to keep them occupied and you prefer that it doesn’t have to be plugged in or charged. Here are some fun and eco-friendly summer activities that will not only keep away boredom, but also allow them to use their creativity, get some fresh air and appreciate Mother Earth.

1) Have an eco-scavenger hunt

Make a list of things you would find in your local park or even the back yard, give them to the kids and allow them to hunt them down. The winner could get a special treat. This is a fun activity because it’s a competition and it gets them outside interacting with nature. You don’t have to be a botany expert to put together a list items – it can be simple things like a clover, wild flower, pine needle, leaves, rock, dandelion etc… This is a fun way to spend the afternoon and it requires very little prep. Just give them a list and pen/pencil and a reusable bag to collect their findings.

A ravine in Toronto's High Park. It's hard to believe that you can watch a Shakespeare play under the stars at the other end of this very same park. Image courtesy of torontoist.com.

2) Eco-outings
Take the kids on an eco-friendly field trip. Bring them to a provincial park or natural conservatory. You can easily find out if your destination offers guided nature walks or other activities. Bring your camera and take pictures of all plants (and bugs) you encounter and afterwards you can create a story about your adventure. Remember to bring along some healthy snacks and water to stay nourished and hydrated in the heat (0ur BPA-free stainless steel bottles are currently on sale for 50% off).

3) Crafts
We here at the Planet Forward blog, have written about dozens of eco-friendly crafts which you can find here.  So save your old egg cartons, t-shirts, jewelry, paper towel tubes etc…and turn them into a fun rainy-day activity. These crafts are not just about a fun afternoon. No, they allow children to see the things we toss out everyday without thought can be repurposed. Teaching a child to be resourceful and cognizant of what they toss in the trash is an invaluable lesson.

4) Gardening
It is a little late to start a full fledged garden from seed however there are herbs and lettuce that you can grow in a window box. This is wonderful way for kids to learn about where their food comes from. Also, they will have a new appreciation for all the work that goes into harvesting food. This is an activity that parents will enjoy as much as children because it’s fun to watch them experience the joys of gardening.

If you don’t want to buy a planter try our crafty gardening solution of an egg carton planter. It’s a lot of fun and inexpensive.

5) Visit your local library.

There is an ulterior motivate to bringing kids to a library- you are keeping them sharp for the next school year. Sadly, many kids do not pick up a book all summer and their skills are not sharp for when class returns. Make it fun; give them the lifelong joy of reading by letting them pick out a book of their choosing. Don’t forget that libraries also have movie and other rentals, so this might be a cost effective way to keep the kids entertained. Beyond reading many libraries have activities for various age groups throughout the summer where kids can interact and socialize for free.

6) Charity

Get your kids involved in charity work this summer. It could be volunteering a few hours at a local program as a family. Or even just collecting old toys, clothes, bikes or whatever you have and finding a local charity that will accept the donation. Charities don’t take the summers off. This is a great way to get kids to think about what they have, and appreciate it.

Let this list of activities be a start to new ideas. Ideas that get kids away from televisions, computers or electronic games and gets them thinking and creating. These are all inexpensive and eco-friendly things to do with your kids this summer and they are sure to be fun. Plus you get to spend time with your kids and create (hopefully good) memories.