Hey Friends,

Every summer I tell myself I am going to be organized. I picture labeled beach bags, healthy snacks packed ahead of time, and everyone calmly applying sunscreen before leaving the house.

What actually happens is somebody loses a shoe, somebody else spills yogurt in the car, and I forget the towels approximately 65% of the time.

Buuuut it's all still worth it, even with the chaos.

Summer with kids does not have to be fancy to be memorable. Some of our favorite days are the random “let’s just go somewhere outside” kind of adventures. Honestly, I think kids remember popsicles and creek stomping way more than complicated plans anyway.

So this week I wanted to share a few of our favorite simple summer adventure ideas that actually feel doable.

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3 Ways to Simplify Summer

1. Shaded Creeks

My kids could spend all day at the creek. We bring butterfly nets to try and catch tadpoles. Sometimes we also catch crawfish. They also enjoy wading through the water and playing in the sand on the shores. We always make sure to bring our sand toys, as well. I love that they are free, entertaining and help us beat the heat.

2. Keep a mini adventure bag in the car

I love keeping a mini adventure bag in the car because it means we can go somewhere at a moment's notice.

Ours usually has:

• Cheap towels
• Extra clothes
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Sidewalk chalk
• Bubbles
• Extra snacks

It turns regular errands into spontaneous fun. If we pass a splash pad or trail, we can actually stop instead of saying, “maybe next time.”

3. Create a daily schedule

I try to pick ONE main thing and stick to a schedule that is doable every day for us. I decide where we are going the day before so I don’t have to decide in the morning. I make my kids pack our stuff for the day so they can practice thinking about their needs and packing. This is typically what we do in the summer.

8 am: Breakfast

9:30 am: Fun out of the house

12 pm: Lunch at home or packed picnic

1 pm: Home independent play time

3:30 pm: Chores

4 pm: Screen time

5:30 pm: Make dinner

6 pm: Dinner + Family time until bed

4. Create a DIY Bingo Board

Each year we create a Bingo Board and make it like a summer bucket list! This year I created a blank one, so you can make your own! You can go for a black out or just a bingo!

Get it here.

Or you can use one of my pre-made summer bingo boards with ideas put in for you:

​KC Bingo Board ​

​Outdoor Bingo Board ​

Get my FREE in KC list!

This list has over 200+ free ideas in Kansas City so you can have all the summer fun without busting your budget! It has beaches, playgrounds, splash pads, indoor fun, events, and more!

Get it here!

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Summer Finds We Actually Use

Here are some of my favorite products that help create summer memories and make life a little easier.

Our go-to picnic blanket We use this constantly for parks, outdoor movies, and “sit here while the kids throw rocks in the water” moments. It folds up small and cleans off easily, which matters because grass stains apparently find us immediately. Picnic Blanket

The Campout Cookbook Campfire cooking just got a lot easier with this cookbook. The recipes are delicious and simple. Camping Cookbook

Kavu Sling Bag I love this bag because it's practical and cute. As a bonus, it holds a lot of stuff. Sling Bag

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From the Blog

Summer Outdoor Activities for Kids Here's another link to my summer activities blog. My ideas for summer activities are endless! Summer Activities for Kids

Summer Activities in KC with Kids I have 26 ideas in this blog for summer activities in Kansas City with kids. We could stay in the metro area all summer and never be bored. Summer in KC

Things to do in Rapid City Our family had an amazing time in Rapid City, SD. The city is full of nature, adventures and family-fun. Check it out! Take me to Rapid City