Amazing that summer is here again! This next post is inspired by my sister-in-law who puts a bucket list on the fridge each month of the year and then, along with her husband and two kids, tries to make time for each experience on the list. Of course, you’re never too old to have some new adventures, so with or without kids, here are 30 ideas for making memorable moments, in honor of the summer solstice.
What things did I miss? What interesting things will you spend time outside doing this summer?
May I present (drum roll please!): A Summer Bucket List for Nature Lovers
- Watch fireflies (If you catch them, please don’t keep them long! They have places to go!)
- Camp somewhere new
- Hike to a waterfall
- Hike to an overlook with a view and enjoy a picnic lunch
- Visit an arboretum or botanical garden
- Leave a light on at night for an hour, then go see what interesting moths and other critters you see
- Spend a lazy day on/at a river
- Take a picture of a rainbow
- Watch a sunrise or sunset
- Sit outside at night and watch for bats and listen for owls
- Swim in a mountain stream (brrr! Pick a hot day!)
- Have a s’more beside a campfire
- Walk barefoot in the grass or even better–a muddy river bank!
- Build a campfire the old fashioned way (without lighter fluid! Matches and small sticks please!)
- Look for salamanders after a rain
- Read a book beside a stream/river/pond/lake
- Go on a stream walk
- Sit outside at night and stargaze, and watch for shooting stars
- Go hiking on a rainy day
- Go birdwatching– how many species can you spot?
- Have a backyard campout
- Pick fresh berries and eat them! I recommend putting them on ice cream!(Be sure you can identify them with certainty.)
- Make fresh squeezed lemonade
- Make a sand castle at the beach
- Go hiking solo
- Hug a tree (you’ll be amazed how good this feels! Pick an old one and wish for some of its strength)
- See how many ferns you can count on one hike
- Go somewhere quiet and find a spot to sit–then close your eyes for 5 minutes and just listen. How many sounds can you hear?
- Put up a hummingbird feeder (here are 10 things you may not know about hummingbirds)
- Find a new trail to hike
