25 Fun & Memorable Summer Ideas for Teens and Tweens

For me, watching kids grow up is equal parts heartwarming and mildly tragic. They’ve officially aged out of sprinklers and park playdates—but they’re not quite old enough to disappear for hours like we did back in the ’80s. Maybe it’s that ’80s kid in me, but I feel like turning myself into their full-time summer cruise director would be cheating them out of a little boredom-fueled creativity. Still, I want them to have a fun and memorable summer that lasts longer than a TikTok trend – and doesn’t require a ring light.

We’ve never been the “send the kids off to camp and hope for the best” kind of family. And we’re definitely not the ones juggling five activities a week while living out of the car. That’s just not our style. Home base is our comfort zone. So if you’re fellow homebodies, or just trying to keep summer fun without needing a logistics manager, keep reading. I’ve got 25 fun and memorable summer ideas for teens and tweens—everything from mini adventures to easy projects and simple ways to connect as a family. Who knows? Your kids may think summer at home is actually cool.

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So grab some popsicles, crank up the ’80s tunes, and let’s dive into 25 summer ideas that doesn’t require a camp counselor, a packed schedule, or taking out a second mortgage!

Adventures & Outdoor Fun

On the nicer days when the heat is not trying to kill you (I live in the south), get the sun on your face and the wind in your hair, and go exploring!

Microadventure – Think small and local! Kind of like a mini-vacation without the packing frenzy. Maybe a day hike in the woods at a nearby state park, lunch at a quirky new spot in a neighboring town, or a local attraction you’ve never checked out. Pro tip: aim for one every couple of weeks to keep the summer mojo alive!

Sunrise/Sunset. I am a night-owl at heart, but am willing to get up super early and go to the ocean or riverside to view this beautiful occurrence. Take lots of pictures, then grab a fancy coffee somewhere when it opens! (I’ll be honest, the last time I did this I was eaten alive by sand fleas at the beach – I like the sunsets better!)

Backyard Campout — check out this post from my friend at The Secret Life of Homeschoolers for the ultimate camping at home guide!

Local History Tour — Rediscover your own town—because every place has a story worth telling.

Lawn Games – Throw some burgers on the grill, and enjoy an evening filled with lawn games. A few favorites are: giant Jenga, giant 4 in a row, Yardzee, nighttime frisbee, and reusable water balloons (where where these when I was picking up pieces of latex all over the yard?)

Star Gazing Night — Lay back, look up, and pretend you know all the constellations. If you don’t, then download 11 amazing astronomy activities from Journey Homeschool Academy!

Spend the Day Geocaching! Did you know there are dozens of little adventures right under your nose? For a thorough explanation, check out geocaching.com, and join the world’s largest treasure hunt! Bonus points for sneaking this into your next microadventure!

Creativity – in Kits

Summer is a great time to get creative, start a new hobby, or simply make something that is totally cool! Here are a few ideas!

DIY Tie-Dye Party — Nothing says summer like a color explosion on your favorite tee. Minimize the mess with a kit that includes everything you need. Groovy!

Friendship Bracelets – Many of us 80’s kids spent our summers stringing – if you haven’t introduced your kiddos to the joys of turning embroidery floss into something trendy, you should! Grab a kit and get knotting!

Carving/Building Kits – How cool is this orca soapstone sculpture? A wooden comfort bird? This two-pack birdhouse would be fantastic to make one and gift the other!

Painting Kits – Painting a beachy style project is perfect for when you can’t go to the beach! You don’t have to be an artist to paint by number – take a look at this set of beach prints! They remind me of vintage post cards. Diamond Dotz painting is also enjoyable (and mess free!)

Fabric Kits – I have seen these adorable hanging plants as well as cute animals at craft shows everywhere! I’m thinking of trying punch needle embroidery this summer!

Sun Prints – A favorite summer activity around our house with easy instructions and super results! Grab a kit and make something totally awesome!

Summer School is Cool

Summer is a great time for tweens and teens to explore interests outside of traditional academics. Homeschooling has taught me that learning takes place anytime and is not limited to four walls and a textbook. Here’s a few ideas that teach valuable skills while keeping things fun!

Science Camp – give your kids a faith-based fun learning experience with Journey Homeschool Academy Science Summer Camps. They’re educational and fun for all ages – and are you ready for this? Only $17 per course! Whaaat? Camp is so crazy expensive, and does not always meet your approval – believe me, I’ve heard some questionable stuff over the years. Both my children have taken Journey’s high school science courses and they are amazing! You do not have to be a homeschooler to register for these courses, they are suitable for the whole family and you get lifetime access! Where do you sign up? HERE!

Survival Skills – I have got one of the best books from the master of survival, Bear Grylls! It is perfect for any adventurer in training! And don’t let the suggested age range deter you – it is fantastic for anyone looking to learn about real life stories and the skills to survive! I guarantee you will love it too, grab your copy HERE!

Backyard Bible Studies – My husband and I hosted one many years ago, and would love to do it again! You can do these with your own family, or even better – invite people that live in your neighborhood. The goal is get into God’s Word (and provide snacks). Start with learning the books of the Bible, memorizing verses, learning about the people of the Bible, and so on.

Skillshare – Wowzers! I stumbled upon this while writing this post. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes for creative and curious people.

Duolingo – learn a new language – for free!

Jack (or Jill) of all trades The kids will be on their own faster than we realize. Summer is a great time to teach them basic skills such as auto maintenance and household minor repairs. Perhaps paint a room together, hang pictures properly, change a tire, and unclog a drain this summer.

YouTube – I’m amazed at the free learning available on YouTube! Drawing, photography, cooking, sailing….and on and on and on!

Random ideas

Visit the local library – Most libraries offer a Summer Reading Program for the little ones all the way to adults. They also offer fun activities throughout the summer! Take advantage of a free resource, and READ!

Make a DG run – Who lives near a Dollar General? Everybody does, right? Big kids still enjoy random things like water shooters, sidewalk chalk, silly string, a deck of cards, and candy. With $10-$20 bucks, you can get some fun stuff!

Travel (In the Kitchen) – Okay, so we may not have the means to globe trot, but we can have fun trying different cuisines in the kitchen! Several years ago, we did something similar with another family, and it was so much fun! Two of my favorite cook books are Eat Your Way Around the World, and Eat Your Way Through the USA. Experimenting is a great way to try something new, as well as a way for your teens to work on their cooking skills (while you get you a break in the kitchen- wink, wink).

DIY Photo Shoot — Grab some silly summer props, strike a pose, and snap away!

Movie Marathon — Pop some popcorn, throw on something comfy, and have a big movie night. You can choose movies by theme, decade, or totally random. Another idea is to host a neighborhood movie night! My friend over at Fields of Daisies has a terrific post with all the details!

Some of you might remember being told, “Go outside—and don’t come back until supper.” No phones, no Pinterest-inspired snacks… just sunlight, dirt, and the occasional injury. While we might not live in that free-range kid era anymore, letting kids explore a little still goes a long way. Really— overbooked kids and frazzled parents aren’t exactly summer goals. So, build in a few “do nothing” days. Let them be bored. Let yourself be bored. It’s cheaper than camp and might even lead to a little old-school fun—just with fewer skinned knees and slightly healthier popsicles.

Because summer shouldn’t just be something to scroll past—it should be something remembered.

Each month, I share a free printable and accompanying blog post with fun national days to celebrate—be sure to check it out! You can find it halfway down my homepage!