Summer Treasure Hunt
Print out a few of these treasure hunt game pages and let your kids hunt around in the backyard for everything on their list. If you want to play this game on the beach or on a family trip, we have a list of treasure hunt games for that too.
Get the full version Summer Treasure Hunt Card from Crafts by Amanda.
Related: Beach essentials checklist
Glow in the dark water bottle
If you can wait until it's cooler, head outside after the sun goes down and take advantage of glow-in-the-dark water bottles, which you can use as a base for nighttime kickball or to light up the walkway in your driveway.
Get the full version Glow in the dark water bottle Tutorial from Crafts by Amanda.
Watermelon summer picture sign
Older kids will love making this wooden watermelon sign for their room, and you can find everything you need to make it at your local craft store.
Get the full version Watermelon summer picture sign Tutorial from Crafting Cheerfully.
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Recycle vegetable waste
Give your kids a basic gardening lesson and get their little hands moving by planting recycled vegetable scraps – you'll be amazed at how much food you can keep out of landfills.
Get the full version Recycle vegetable waste Tutorial from A Piece of Rainbow.
Related: How to Host an Outdoor Garden Party
Outdoor Movie Night
With this perfect setup from Savvy Mama, have an outdoor movie night using a simple white sheet as your screen. Don't forget the popcorn!
Get the full version Outdoor Movie Night Tutorial from Savvy Mama Lifestyle.
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TOSY Light Up Frisbee (3-Pack)
It's a great time to play in the dark – light up some glow-in-the-dark Frisbees and have some fun after the sun goes down – it's one way to get some exercise before bed.
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Mud play in a backyard restaurant
Take mud play to the next level with the Crafting Chicks' seaside restaurant, where each item on the menu is made with (you guessed it) mud. Your kids will love cooking for you and their friends. Remember: Just pretend To eat it.
Get the full version Mud play in a backyard restaurant Tutorial from The Crafting Chicks.
Two-ingredient slime
Slime is messy, so it's a great outdoor activity: lay a tarp on a table in your yard or on your patio and let the kids play. Bonus: This recipe only requires two ingredients, so it's super easy to make.
Get the full version Two-ingredient slime A tutorial from Hello, Wonderful.
Human Ring Toss
You've probably heard of ring toss, but what about human ring toss? As the name suggests, instead of small rings, we use tubes. Fun, right?
Get the full version Human Ring Toss Game tutorial from Kid Friendly Things to Do.
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Flower Fairy
Become one with nature and gather materials for these precious flower fairies – don't forget the feathers!
Get the full version Flower Fairy Tutorial from Meaningful Mama.
Beach ball relay race
Inspire a healthy competitive spirit with a beach ball relay race that the whole family can participate in. Increase the difficulty by adding different challenges and have everyone take turns using different sized balls.
Get the full version Beach ball relay race Kid Friendly Things to Do tutorials.
Rainbow tie-dye pants
Transform bright whites into rainbow works of art. Tie-dyeing is fun for pre-teens and teens, but it can get messy (and prone to spills), so it's best suited as an outdoor activity.
Get the full version rainbow Tie-dye pants Tutorial from Oh Yay Studio.
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Sponge water bomb
Water balloons create a ton of plastic waste, so make water play more eco-friendly with this sponge water bomb tutorial. Kids will love dipping their water bombs in cool water and tossing them around to escape the summer heat.
Get the full version Sponge water bomb Tutorial from Crafts by Amanda.
Homemade ring toss game
With just three items (paint, paper plates, and a ruler), you can make your own ring toss game, which is just as much fun as playing the game itself.
Get the full version Paper Plate Ring Toss Tutorial from Kid Friendly Things to Do.
Pressed flowers
Picked flowers don't last long, but pressed flowers can be enjoyed for a lifetime. Learn how to press flowers and keep the memories of the summer you spent together forever.
Get the full version Pressed flowers Tutorial from The House That Lars Built.
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Outdoor Tic-Tac-Toe Craft
Find the perfect stones to create this DIY outdoor tic-tac-toe game. Paint the stones any color you like, or follow Typically Simple's example and create bee or ladybug themed game pieces.
Get the full version Outdoor Tic-Tac-Toe Craft A tutorial from Typical Simple.
Rock Family
Paint the rocks with bright colors of your choice and draw fun faces with markers or stickers. Oh Yay Studio uses a Cricut but you could also use a Sharpie.
Get the full version Rock Family Tutorial from Oh Yay Studio.
DIY Mason Jar Bird Feeder
Help birds have a great summer by making this DIY Mason Jar Bird Feeder. Bring your binoculars with you on a camping trip and watch your new avian friends enjoy the food.
Get the full version DIY Mason Jar Bird Feeder Tutorial from Let's DIY It All.
Buy bird food
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Bigfoot Race
If you have a few spare shoeboxes, try a Bigfoot race – kids will love stomping around the yard in these fun shoes.
Get the full version Bigfoot Race Tutorial from Meaningful Mama.
DIY Backyard Plinkoboard
Adults may remember Plinko The price is reasonableIntroduce your kids to this fun game of chance by making your own outdoor Plinko board that will provide hours of fun for the whole family.
Get the full version DIY Backyard Plinkoboard Tutorial from Happiness is Homemade.
Christina Montoya Fiedler is a Los Angeles-based freelancer with over 15 years of experience writing for online publications. Her work has appeared in Good Housekeeping and Woman's Day, and she has written everything from gift guides to personal essays. She has a BA in English from Chapman University and is working towards her early childhood teaching certification. She is proud of her Native American (Okay Owingeh) and Mexican-American ancestry.
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