DIY Summer

My favorite season of the year is on the horizon! The warm temps (the hotter, the better as far as I’m concerned), the unstructured days, the break from routine and the daily grind all speak to my soul. And, once my girls were school age, I so enjoyed having them at home for weeks on end. But, I know to many parents, the thought of those unstructured days may cause some stress. With a little planning, those days can remain somewhat free and unstructured, while still keeping kids busy. Below are some suggestions on ways that I planned for summer fun that gave us much-needed downtime, sprinkled with activities to stave off the, “there’s nothing to do!” chorus. 

Co-op Camp

For several summers, a dear friend and I would each plan a week of camp. We both had girls the same ages, so it was a perfect fit. My camp themes included Under the Sea, Giving Back in KC and Candy. I’d plan activities (the internet is a wealth of information and ideas and I’m sure now with AI it’s even easier!) and outings to go along with our theme. For example, Under the Sea we made a giant collage of sea creatures, visited the Aquarium and spent a day at Shawnee Mission Park beach. With built-in buddies for the week, when there was free play or down time, the girls were thrilled to have a friend to play with on the swing set or pull out the Legos and build with. A win-win-the girls got to spend a week with friends and I had a week “off” while they attended co-op camp!

Summer of Free

I clued in one summer that early each June that many local establishments celebrated Donut Day by giving away free donuts. That same year, Sonic happened to be giving away free root beer floats one evening. We biked up to our nearby location and enjoyed a yummy treat for free!  I declared that summer the Summer of Free and we looked for all of the ways we could have fun around KC for free. With just a little bit of time spent researching, you will be able to fill several weeks of family fun without spending a dime!

Bucket List or Bingo

To kick off summer, each member of our family puts together a list of things that are must-dos over summer. One non-negotiable on mine each year is blueberry picking. But other activities change from year to year. This year, since my older won’t be home for the summer (sniff, sniff) my younger and I are playing coffee shop bingo. We’ve put together a list of shops we’d like to visit and will try to fill in the entire card. 

With just a little planning, a DIY summer is within reach! But never fear! If you need some assistance to plan your summer. Oakhill has got you covered. Students can attend Oakhill’s summer camp, Fully Charged, for just one or two weeks, or more, depending on your family's needs. Get ready for the best summer ever!