5|31|25 - Summer is Almost Here: Time to Explore the Great Outdoors!

Hey there, explorer! Are you ready to find some fun outside? Summer is the perfect time for adventures—there are bugs to discover, trails to follow, and a sky full of sunshine and possibilities! 

Whether you’re in the backyard, the park, or on a big family trip, there’s a world of discovery waiting just outside your door. Let’s go!

Nature Walks and Treasure Hunts

Go on a nature walk and become a backyard detective! Look for:

🔍 Animal tracks
🍃 Different shaped leaves
🪶 Colorful feathers
🪺 Bird nests (look, but don’t touch!)
🐞 Cool bugs like ladybugs and beetles

Make your own nature treasure map or checklist and see how many things you can find!

Splash into Summer Fun

Is it super hot out? Time to cool off!

☑️Run through a sprinkler
☑️Splash at the lake or beach
☑️Try a frozen sponge toss (like water balloon dodgeball!)
☑️Make your own backyard water park

Don’t forget your sunscreen and a towel—and lots of giggles! 😄

Backyard Camping

You don’t have to go far to sleep under the stars! Set up a tent (or a blanket fort!) in your yard and try:

• Making s’mores (even in the oven or microwave!)

• Playing flashlight tag

• Stargazing and telling silly stories

• Listening for owls or crickets

Camping in your yard = big adventure with your own bathroom nearby!

Sing Classic Campfire Songs at Your Campout

Here are some favorites that kids have been singing for generations:

🎶 “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain”
A fun, fast-paced song where you can add claps, stomps, and silly actions!

🎶 “This Land Is Your Land”
A beautiful song about how nature belongs to all of us. Great for mellow moments under the stars.

🎶 “Kumbaya”
A gentle tune that brings everyone together in peaceful harmony.

🎶 “The Bear Went Over the Mountain”
Perfect for young campers—it’s funny, easy to sing, and can go on as long as you like!

🎶 “Boom Chicka Boom”
This one is LOUD and FUN with repeat-after-me silly voices (try a cowboy voice or robot voice!).

🎶 “Down by the Bay”
A goofy song where you make up your own rhyming lines:
“Did you ever see a goose… kissing a moose?”

Bug Watching & Butterfly Chasing

Summer is bug season—in a good way! See if you can spot:

🐛 Caterpillars
🦋 Butterflies
🐜 Ant lines
🐝 Buzzing bees
🌻 Ladybugs on flowers

Use a magnifying glass and a notebook to become a Junior Bug Scientist! Just remember to be kind and gentle—bugs are busy too!

Wheels and Trails

Get rolling on:

🚲 Biking around the neighborhood
🛴 Scootering to the park
🛹 Trying out your skateboard
🦽 Racing around in wagons or rollerblades

Add sidewalk chalk signs or obstacles for extra adventure!

Pick-Your-Own Adventures

Visit a farm or garden to pick:

🍓 Strawberries
🫐 Blueberries
🌽 Corn
🍑 Peaches

Then try a taste test or help make a snack with what you picked—yum!

Or try these treats!

1. Banana Popsicles (Frozen Monkey Sticks!)

What you need:

• Bananas

• Yogurt (any flavor!)

• Sprinkles or crushed cereal

• Popsicle sticks

How to make it:

1. Peel a banana and cut it in half.

2. Stick a popsicle stick into each half.

3. Dip in yogurt and roll in sprinkles or cereal.

4. Freeze for 1–2 hours.

➡️ Cool, creamy, and monkey-approved! 

2. Watermelon Pizza

What you need:

• A round watermelon slice (1 inch thick)

• Berries, kiwi, or grapes

• Greek yogurt or whipped topping

How to make it:

1. Spread yogurt or whipped topping on your watermelon slice.

2. Top with fruit like pizza toppings!

3. Cut into triangle slices and serve.

➡️ Fresh, fruity, and fun to eat like pizza! 

3. Trail Mix Energy Bites

What you need:

• Peanut butter (or sunflower butter)

• Honey

• Oats

• Chocolate chips, raisins, or sunflower seeds

How to make it:

1. Mix 1 cup oats, ½ cup peanut butter, and ⅓ cup honey.

2. Add mix-ins like chocolate chips or raisins.

3. Roll into little balls.

4. Chill for 30 minutes in the fridge.

➡️ Perfect for a backpack snack break! 

4. DIY Ice Cream in a Bag (Science + Snack!)

What you need:

• ½ cup milk

• 1 tbsp sugar

• ¼ tsp vanilla

• Ice and salt

• 1 small zip bag + 1 large zip bag

How to make it:

1. Put milk, sugar, and vanilla in the small bag and seal.

2. Fill the large bag with ice and ¼ cup salt.

3. Place the small bag inside and shake for 5–10 minutes (use oven mitts!).

➡️ Ta-da! You just made your own ice cream! 

Quick Safety Tips for Summer Explorers

• Wear a hat and sunglasses

• Drink lots of water

• Use sunscreen—even on cloudy days

• Wear shoes for running and climbing

• Watch out for bees and ants that could sting or bite

Stay safe so you can play ALL DAY!

Let the Summer Adventure Begin!

This summer, you can be a bug hunter, a mud pie chef, a cloud watcher, or a trail explorer. The best part? You can have a new adventure every day—just go outside and let your imagination lead the way! 

See you in the sunshine, explorer!