Staying cool during summer can be tricky. Running your department can be time-consuming and finding new activities to excite your participants isn’t always that simple.
RecDesk is known for our ease-of-use, but we also work hard to bring simplicity to every aspect of running your department. Sometimes that includes pulling together ideas, so you don’t have to!
We’ve put together some activities to keep the kids busy and cool all summer long. Whether you’re looking for heat-friendly options or new alternatives to try, we’ve got you covered. Take a look and see if there’s something the kids in your programs may enjoy this summer:
Looking to Try Some New Water Activities on a Budget? We’ve Got You Covered:
Water Balloon Toss: A classic for everyone to enjoy. Simply fill several small balloons with water, pair up players starting at 4-5 feet apart. The goal is to keep tossing without popping the balloons. After each toss, the players take a step back to increase the stakes, whichever team is left standing with their balloons intact is the winner!
Fill the Bucket: Start with 2 teams, place a bucket full of water at one end and an empty one across, about 15 feet away. Each team gets a large sponge, and the goal is to fill the empty bucket faster than the opposing team. Make it better by having the players carry the sponge on their heads; it ensures everyone cools off and has a great time.
Water Tag: A high-energy activity that combines laser tag and water fights. Each player gets a water blaster, and the last player to remain dry is the winner. Supply buckets of water to keep your players supplied and set up some barricades to get the competition going.
Ice Chalk: This is an excellent DIY craft for everyone! What you’ll need: 1 cup of corn starch, 1 cup of water, and food coloring or washable liquid colors. Mix everything together, pour the mixture into ice molds, freeze until solid, then draw!
Too Hot to be Outside?
Homemade Hand Fans: With just paper, craft sticks, and glue, everyone can have their own hand fans. Bring markers and stickers so each participant can customize their fans and make the most out of it.
Glow in the Dark Dance Party: Kick back and enjoy a cool day in the gym! Grab some glow sticks, a speaker, and go crazy. Kids can get all their energy out and dance it out in the dark.
Reading Challenge: Head over to the public library and challenge your participants to read as much as they can in an hour or two. Combine education with some friendly competition and see how many pages can be read. Offer prizes to those who went above and beyond to motivate them!
Out of Ideas? Try:
Scavenger Hunt: Pick a theme, create a list of items or landmarks for players to find, and provide bags or cameras to record and gather findings. Hide actual items, pick out specific leaves, or get creative with ideas of things for your participants to find! First person to find everything wins!
Cloud Watching: Gather around the park and have the kids watch the clouds. This can be a fun activity for them to try and find different shapes, objects, and animals in the sky. Make it more fun by having them draw what they see!
Staying cool and offering fresh ideas doesn’t have to be hard! Try some of these ideas this summer and watch the kids in your recreation programs enjoy their summer break to the fullest extent! Tune in the first week of August for more ideas from us on staying engaged and active in the summer heat.
