Summer Fun

6 Ideas for Summer Fun - From Ladies Home Journal
When did summer turn into a season of planning, packing, stressing, and spending? Sure, it can be great to take a big family vacation, but don't forget how much kids love the little things -- and how much there is to do right outside your own back door. A cozy campfire or a cool treat is all you need to have a blast. So this summer, go (really) local and enjoy the simple pleasures of your backyard.
Set the stage.
Make your yard feel more inviting: Hang strands of festive holiday lights, get a hammock for lounging, or add a small decorative fountain for soothing sound effects. You can also try arranging the space into a series of "rooms." Make zones for eating, active play, and a tucked-away retreat just for you.
Keep cool.
No backyard pool? Put on your suits and improvise with a cheap kiddie pool or let loose under the sprinkler. Pass out squirt guns or water balloons. For a more relaxing treat, fill a spray bottle with water and refresh yourself with a chilly mist.
Fire it up.
Pass the evenings chatting and watching the fire flicker. You can buy an outdoor fireplace or chimney at most large discount stores. (Never build a fire directly on the ground without checking local regulations.) Roast hot dogs and marshmallows, and don't forget to tell ghost stories and sing camp songs.
Head out on a photo safari.
Grab your camera and explore the natural wonders of your yard. Add butterfly bushes or a hummingbird feeder to entice subjects. Or create a simple wildlife habitat by installing a small pond or a birdbath and growing native plants. Look for details from the National Wildlife Federation at nwf.org/gardenforwildlife.
Be reel.
Turn your backyard into a cineplex and screen the latest blockbuster or a classic flick. Borrow or rent a projector and show your movie on a tripod screen or outdoor wall. Invite everyone to spread out on lawn chairs and blankets, then serve Popsicles and popcorn all around.
Stargaze.
After dark go outside with some blankets and set up your own DIY planetarium (avoid house and street lights for the best view). Learn the locations of a few constellations beforehand and try to find them on a clear night. (Check out skymaps.com for printable charts.) And be sure to keep an eye out for shooting stars.
A couple of fun games - From Disney Family Fun
2 Games in 1
Here's a simple way for families to exercise both their minds and bodies. Start by writing the names of favorite sports on slips of paper. Drop the slips into a hat and randomly pick two. The object: to come up with a game that's a hybrid of both. We've provided some examples below.
What You Need
Paper Pencil, pen, or marker
Hat Sports equipment for chosen games
Instructions
1. Goffle (golf + wiffle ball): Tee off with a Wiffle ball and bat and take turns putting into a coffee can on its side.
2. Hu-Square (hula hoops + 4-square): Like 4-square, only players guard hula hoops instead of chalk boxes.
3. Bowl-quet (bowling + croquet): Set up three to five empty plastic soda bottles on a flat surface, then see how many you can knock down in two tries with a croquet mallet and ball.
Game fans of a certain age might recall playing lawn darts with heavy, metal-tipped projectiles, which were banned (thank goodness) back in 1988. Our homemade version, made of sand-filled plastic bags, takes away the danger but retains the fun.
On Target
The game is played like horseshoes. Place the rope targets on the ground about 35 feet apart (shorten the distance for younger players). Two teams of one or two players stand next to one target and take turns lobbing their darts toward the other target. Players throw a dart by holding it by the fringe and tossing it underhand. A team gets 3 points for each dart that lands at least halfway inside the target, 1 point if their dart is nearest to, but outside the target. The first team to get 21 points wins.
What You Need
4 plastic shopping bags Duct tape in 2 colors
2 cups sand 4 cable ties at least 6 inches long
Scissors 2 5-foot lengths of rope (we used 5/8-inch plastic rope)
Instructions
1. For each of the four darts, lay one shopping bag flat on a table. Fold one bottom corner up to meet one side of the bag and secure it with a strip of duct tape, folding the tape around the seam, as shown (A).
2. Cover the front and back of the triangular section of the bag with additional duct tape (B).
3. Fill the taped section with 1/2 cup of sand. Gather up the bag, twist it, and secure the twist tightly with a cable tie (C). Trim the tie's end.
4. Trim the bag's top to 4 or 5 inches above the tie. Snip the bag's top into thick fringe, making sure your cuts stop at least a half inch from the tie.
5. For the two targets, form the rope pieces into circles and join their ends with duct tape.