Now that summer is in full swing, you will want to have some fun excursions up your sleeve. Hopefully your kids haven’t complained about being bored yet; but we know as parents that as the summer progresses we are more likely to hear that moan of despair! We would like to help you prepare this summer with some fun excursion ideas for your kiddos. Just because school is out doesn’t mean that field trips are suspended. Here’s a few fun field trip ideas for your little ones.
Geocaching
This summer spend a day hunting treasure! If you haven’t experienced this fun hobby yet, you are missing out. Geocaching first came into existence in the year 2000. In this hide and seek game, participants use either their smart phones or a GPS to locate hidden containers (caches). Once you locate the cache, you sign a log book and record the date you found it and put the container back in its original spot. Most caches contain a little prize to take with you. Remember, if you take a prize, you must leave one in its place. When we did this with our kids, we found a small plastic Frisbee and left Silly Bandz in its place. To learn more about geocaching and find sights near you, visit the official site at www.geocaching.com.
Explore a Museum
When is the last time you visited a museum with your little one? Most of us either have a local museum in our community or one within driving distance. Even if you have already visited the museum in your town, don’t shy away from taking another trip. The great thing about museums is you can discover something new every time! Many museums will frequently bring in new exhibits for its patrons to view. Our local museum once had an exhibit all about the history of chocolate. We enjoyed learning about this yummy delicacy and when we finished touring the exhibit we enjoyed some chocolate ice cream. Even if your museum does not currently have any new or exciting exhibits, you can still find ways to engage your kids as they tour. For instance, you could create a scavenger hunt of items to find in the museum and then have your child make a picture of the found item. Before you choose a day to visit, contact your museum and see if they have certain days or times of day when it is cheaper to visit. Don’t underestimate the fun that can be had at a local museum!
Catch a Train
This is a fun idea for kids who don’t live in big cities and therefore don’t get the opportunity to use public transportation. This summer pick a day to ride the train to a nearby city. My daughter’s middle school class did this recently and the kids loved it! I have to admit that I enjoyed it as well. Perhaps you could also check out some books from the library prior to your trip and let your kid do a little research on trains. This will help build his anticipation for the fun day ahead. Be sure to have an idea of what you would like to do when you reach your destination. Perhaps you could pack a lunch and picnic in a nearby park. A little shopping excursion could be fun as well. Just make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to catch your return train! After you get back home, have your little one draw a picture or write a description of his day. This family field trip is sure to create memories your kiddo will talk about for a long time.
Even if you are not going away for vacation this year, a few short summer excursions can go a long way to making your child’s summer a memorable one. We want to hear about some of the field trips you take with your kids this summer! Please leave a comment below so we can all benefit from your experience. Have fun and stay safe!
