Having fun with your family is just precious, and no money can buy that. You can just go outside with the whole family around, and it’s guaranteed that everyone will have fun.
However, sometimes you just run out of ideas and don’t know what to do during hot summer days. Luckily, we’re here to help you and give you 10 ideas for outdoor summer activities that are just great for family bonding.
10 Outdoor Summer Activities for Great Family Bonding!
1. Camping
When thinking of a family activity outdoors, the first thing that comes to mind is camping. Camping is just an umbrella term for so many activities that you can do over the span of a few hours or a few days; it’s all up to you.
You can start the day by setting up the tent or the camping location with your entire family, then prepare a small meal for everyone to enjoy. By the evening, you can have a little bonfire where you can roast marshmallows and share stories. After that, you can go stargazing at night and enjoy the beauty of the sky.
Besides the traditional camping activities, you can also go birdwatching or just explore the woods around you.
Overall, camping is an excellent outdoor activity, and the possibilities it brings are endless. Just pack a tent and go into the woods; you’ll find something to do.
2. Hiking
If you prefer physical activities that involve a lot of walking, exploring, and a little challenge, you’ll surely enjoy hiking. Gathering the whole family and going for a hike down a trail with beautiful scenery is something you just can’t resist.
Besides, there’s nothing like that rewarding feeling you get when you reach your destination where you can just relax and enjoy the view. What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and go hiking.
3. Family Picnics
Going for a little family picnic is just wholesome because the entire family can help prepare for it. Besides, it’s an activity that would cost you next to nothing – all you need is a sheet, some snacks, and that’s it!
During the picnic itself, you can bring along some books so your family members can read under the trees. You can also bring some board games that everyone can play while snacking and enjoying the sun.
4. Kayaking
During hot summer days, sometimes all you need to do is rent a kayak and enjoy the water. Kayaking is a great family activity because it’s suitable for all age groups; even the little kids can enjoy the water.
You can also add kayaking to a camping trip and explore your local lake or river. Overall, it’s a fun activity that’s perfect for the summer because of how refreshing water is when you’re in the sun. Just make sure you have life jackets for everyone for your family’s safety.
5. Scavenger Hunt
As a family, you can all sit together and create a list for a scavenger hunt. That way, you can make it as easy or as difficult as you can, and you can ensure all the family members are involved by adding interesting items for them to find.
After creating the list, split yourselves into multiple groups, depending on how many people are participating, go out, and start the scavenger hunt. Of course, the group that gathers all the items first is the winner, and you can dedicate prizes for the winners.
6. Sports Day
If you have a playground near you, there’s no better use of it than having a family sports day. Just go out and play all kinds of sports. You can play team-based ones like football, basketball, or volleyball, or you can play more individual-based sports like roller skating or skateboarding.
The whole point of a sports day is to just go out and play all kinds of games and just have fun with your family members, regardless of their age.
7. Painting
Gather some canvas and colors, go outside, and prepare a setup for the whole family to sit around and just paint. If there are kids involved, make sure you have kid-friendly colors or finger paint for them to have fun too.
Why stop at canvas? You can even paint some rocks, t-shirts, fences, a massive sheet of paper that everyone can draw on and try to complete a whole painting together as a family to train their creativity and let their imagination flow.
8. Trampoline Family Time
Who doesn’t love jumping around on a trampoline all day long? You can even take it a step further; you can make a little trampoline contest with ratings and all that.
Dedicate practice time for each family member where they’re supposed to come up with a routine on the trampoline and then start the final contest. You can also dedicate rewards for the top performers.
9. Oldschool Games
Starting from Slip ‘N Slides all the way to Hide and Seek, Tag, and Tug of War, old school games hold a special place in our hearts, and all family members can enjoy them.
Also, Simon Says, Hopscotch, and Musical Chairs are more examples of outdoor games that you can enjoy with your family.
10. Make a Family Garden
If you’re looking for a more long-term activity that’ll require some effort and dedication, you can start a little family garden. Each member can choose a plant, then care for it and grow it for months or even years.
Not only is it a fun and bonding activity, but it’ll also teach little ones to be responsible for a living plant. Plus, gardening is always rewarding.
Final Words
We hope our suggestions of outdoor activities for family bonding have been useful and sparked something in you to just go outside and enjoy the weather. Now, just go outside and have fun!