Now that the season of sunshine and warmth is upon us, it’s time to enjoy the great outdoors. Getting outside in nature is a wonderful way to improve your mood, increase physical activity, and boost your immune system. On top of that, it’s a wonderful way to make lasting memories with your family.

Sometimes the best summer days are spontaneous - the ones where everything just flows smoothly, and everyone is having a great time! But, if you want to enjoy your summer in the most fabulous way possible, it makes sense to have a few ideas tucked away in your back pocket… Just in case.

1. Why Buy More Stuff When Nature Is Free?

OK, so there will always be a need to buy stuff. Everyone likes a bucket and spade when they’re building sandcastles, right? But, there are a whole load of eco-friendly activities you and your family can enjoy without splashing cash out unnecessarily.

Take a look at some of our favourite go-to activities that encourage kids of all ages to get out and about in the sunshine. Discover new ways to interact with your environment, while learning about - and respecting - the natural world. What could be better than that?

2. Give Gardening A Go

Gardening has incredible benefits for adults and children alike. Whether your garden is a sprawling meadow, or whether it’s contained in a single raised planter - it doesn’t matter. Growing a plant from a tiny seed helps children visualise the life cycle of nature. It helps them to understand how to nurture life and encourage growth.

And if you choose to grow some herbs, fruits or veggies, enjoying a meal made with your very own produce is an excellent way to connect the natural world with nourishment. Strawberries don’t grow in Tesco…and seeing those tiny green fruits blossom into delicious, sweet, and juicy goodness is a summer activity that dazzles all the senses.

Showing children that harmful chemicals aren’t necessary for a plant to grow will shape how they think about the food they consume. Sustainable gardening is full of responsibilities, but also extremely rewarding.

Another idea, if you have the space, is to give something back to the bees. Bees work hard and are a central part of the natural world. Manicured lawns belong to the gentry of the 19th century. Our native wildflowers are beautiful, bee-friendly and often perennial - many of them will come back year after year without any interference. They’re more than just a pretty face too. The root systems filter water below the ground and help prevent flooding from summer storms.

3. Hiking, Walking And Taking The Time To Appreciate The Environment

If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere with nature walks, reserves, or parks nearby, then you may consider taking your kids on the trail.

Taking time to observe nature - the plants and the animals - helps your mind take a step back from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life. It helps to reduce stress and gives a closer look at how the ecosystem functions.

Remember to prepare well for this though - especially if it’s an unfamiliar location. Map your route, take plenty of water and food, and wear sunscreen. It’s also a good idea to let someone know where you’re going, and charge your phone before you set off!

Spending time with your kids in nature, and sharing that experience together, is a great bonding activity. There’s something about simply walking and observing the natural world that helps give perspective on cities and towns - as well as how our actions can impact nature.

4. Make Some Outdoor Art

Using non-toxic materials, or recyclables, you and your kids can create some fantastic works of art inspired by nature. For example, hunt for a variety of textures and materials (perhaps on a nature walk) such as fallen leaves or petals, pebbles, and sticks. Use them with some non-toxic paint to create a masterpiece.

Or, you (probably your kids, though) might fancy building a bug hotel. All it takes is some old pieces of wood and some leaves piled up in a shaded part of the garden. It’s a construction project that’s bigger (and cheaper) than Lego - plus, it’ll give some warm, tired bugs a nice place for a nap.

If you plan early enough, you could even grow your own pea-plant tent. By setting up some pea plants in buckets and training them to climb the ‘walls’, you’ll have an all-natural den ready for the summer heat.

The best part about an outdoor art project is that there are no expectations. Use what you have, find what you need, and bring your idea to life!

5. Bring On The Scavenger Hunt!

An immersive game that can be played as individuals, or as teams. And, the difficulty can be changed depending on the ages of the players. The idea is, everyone gets a list of natural objects they must find. The person/team that completes the list first wins.

You can stage this in your garden or at a local park. Wherever it takes place, the game encourages children to explore the area and really see what’s around them. It might also encourage creative thinking while developing some deductive reasoning skills.

6. Family Bike Rides

This is a great way to increase physical exercise. But not only that, but there’s also navigation, road safety, and learning how to travel from A to B without relying on fossil fuels. Young kids will relish a family adventure on two wheels, but teens might prefer to go with their friends instead - and that’s alright.

Bike safety and being a responsible cyclist are essential skills for all bike riders. Learning how to do all that whilst enjoying some independence is a whole skill set in itself.

There are some beautiful cycle routes that are away from roads, out in nature, where you can stop as a group and observe the world around you for a bit. It’s refreshing to get away from your daily environment. Visiting different environments - or if you’re lucky you’ll get to see a few on a single bike ride - opens your eyes to the natural world around us.

7. Let’s Go Camping!

Camping is a really fun activity that breaks the monotony of living in a house surrounded by 4 walls. It’s wild and rejuvenating - and you don’t even have to go far. If you have a garden, get the tent up! Beware though - it might get hot in there during peak summer weather.

If you travel further afield (or even if you don’t), remember to tidy up and leave no litter. Make sure any campfires are fully extinguished too. The goal is to find peace in nature, experience something new, or even just mix it up a bit for funsies. If you’re wild camping, please respect the local rules in place to protect the wildlife, plants, and nearby residents.

8. Pack A Picnic

A simple picnic is a great day out for kids. Eating outdoors is thrilling after the long, cold winter. Whether it’s on a bench in a local park, or sitting on a blanket near a river, picnics are a top summer activity for many kids. It combines family time with observing the great outdoors, playing and running, eating, and running some more. Take a kite or a frisbee to turn a good picnic an absolutely fantastic one!

It’s great exercise, alongside the other benefits for growing bodies - hand-eye coordination, timing, and belly laughs, amongst others.

Combine your picnic with some nature observation and art, or invite your friends and family along too. Make it an event for socialising, exploring, and enjoying time with the people you care about.

Keep it eco-friendly with reusable packaging, and limit the single-use plastic in your hamper. Pick up your litter and pop it in the bin. If there’s no bin nearby, then keep it aside until you get home or pass a bin on the way.

9. Find A New Sport

During the summer, there are plenty of sports camps available. If your kid already has a favourite outdoor sport, they can use this as an opportunity to 1) get better with more practice, or 2) try something completely new.

Football, rugby, volleyball, basketball, and tennis are hugely popular options. But you may live near an archery range, or have a kid that loves cricket. Any sport that’s accessible, affordable and interesting for your kid is ideal.

If there’s nothing around that suits, then why not arrange a friendly match with friends? It doesn’t have to be perfect. Outdoor exercise, teamwork and encouraging environmentally friendly entertainment are the important points.

10. Support The Community

Summer is the prime fair season. But not all fairs are eco-friendly. Farmers markets that promote local, sustainable produce give your kids a chance to interact with environmentally friendly local businesses. They can ask questions, and check out what’s been growing around them.

Some fairs organised by local groups can also be eco-friendly. They may have local produce, food from nearby businesses, and stalls of locally produced items. Taking the time to look at what eco-friendly alternatives are available - rather than mass-produced tat - can help your kids understand the difference between cheap and high-quality.

Phew! What A Busy Summer… You could even combine some of these activities to create one incredible outdoor adventure!

Whatever activities you get up to this summer, remember the golden rules:

• Wear sunscreen - and if you’re in water then reapply as needed

• Sun hats, shades, and loose-fitting clothes help kids keep cool

• Drink plenty of water

• Always supervise young children, especially when near any water

We hope you have a fabulous, eco-friendly summer! Let us know what activities you and your kids love when the sun is shining

This post was created for It’s Our Planet Too by Samantha Bunce, a freelance writer.