There is so much we want to do in the summer months. The weather is finally nice (here in CT) and we can finally take our adventures outside. We love new activities. (Or really any family activities.)  But honestly, without a plan in writing, we don’t get around to doing the things we love.

We have found that if we write down our plans (and then schedule them), they actually happen. If we just say, “One day, we should do <enter whatever fun activity here>”, they never seem to happen. Either we forget about them, or simply run out of free time to schedule them. That is why having a personalized summer bucket list is a must have!

Be sure to check out our bucket lists for every season!

• Fall Bucket List
• Winter Bucket List
• Spring Bucket List

WHY DO YOU NEED A SUMMER BUCKET LIST?

• Do you sit around wondering how you can fill your days?
• Are your weekends filled with various birthday parties and summer BBQs and you never have time to fit in your own family fun?
• Do you look back on prior months and wish you did certain activities that you never got a chance to do?
• Do you always intend to catch up with certain friends (or schedule playdates) but never come around to doing it?
• Do you have a list of books your want to read, movies you want to see, or concerts you want to attend?
• Do you wonder what to do with the kids on a rainy day?
• Do you look back on the summer and wonder where it went, but don’t have anything to show for it?
• Do you want to maximize your summer and have THE MOST FUN EVER!

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need a summer bucket list!

A summer bucket list is a simple resource that encourages you to brainstorm all the fun activities that you want to plan. Having a summer bucket list encourages you to think about the life that you want to live and is the first step to putting it into action. By putting together a summer bucket list, you are forced to think about all the things you want to do, people you want to see, places you want to visit, and put them out into the universe to happen.

Putting together a family summer bucket list gives everyone in the family a chance to choose adventures and contribute to your family’s precious memories.

HOW DO I PUT TOGETHER A SUMMER BUCKET LIST?

Typically, you put together a summer bucket list in the beginning of the summer, but there isn’t any reason you can’t start mid-summer! All you need is a paper, pen, and your thinking caps on. (Of course, I’m biased, and would suggest using my summer bucket list template, but you can use a simple blank paper as well.) (See the form below to access your free printable summer bucket list template.)

To start, brainstorming all of the fun activities and adventures you want to go on. I like to categorize my bucket lists into the following categories:

• Outdoor Activities
• Indoor Activities
• Nighttime Activities
• Places to Go
• Playdates to Schedule
• People to Visit
• Things to Make
• Things to Learn
• Books/Movies/Concerts

I like to do this together as a family. That way everyone gets a say and can contribute to planning the fun.

ACCESS YOUR FREE CUSTOMIZABLE SUMMER BUCKET LIST TEMPLATE HERE

As a gift to my subscribers, you can access your free summer bucket list printable by entering your email below or accessing the summer bucket list template in the resource library. Not a subscriber? You are welcome to join in! There is no cost to being a subscriber! As a subscriber to Jac of All Things, you will receive one weekly email from me with a life hack or other piece of practical advice (that is exclusive to subscribers!) In your weekly email, you will also receive notification of anything new or trending on Jac of All Things. Join in on the fun! (And if you don’t like it, you can unsubscribe at any time!)

PUTTING YOUR SUMMER BUCKET LIST INTO ACTION

Once you have your personalized family summer bucket list, you have to put it into action. Writing it all down is a good first step but planning it out is even better. Grab a calendar (or use my free customizable summer bucket list calendar) to start scheduling out when you want to do the various activities on your list.

I prefer to schedule out the big activities in advance but leave some room for spontaneity. (You can’t predict the weather for the whole summer so it would be hard to schedule out all the outdoor and indoor activities in advance without knowing the weather.)

Here is a sample of our family’s personalized summer bucket list calendar:

WHAT TO PUT ON YOUR FAMILY SUMMER BUCKET LIST?

Every list is going to be different, but here are some ideas that we have on our bucket list.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

amusement park

berry picking

farmer’s market

fishing

fly a kite

go to a ball game

have a scavenger hunt

hiking

make a lemonade stand

mini-golf

park

picnic at the beach/park

play catch

play with sidewalk chalk

pool

ride a bike

slip and slide

splash pad

water balloon fight

water park

INDOOR ACTIVITIES

bowling

bounce house

build a blanket fort

children’s museum

cook a new recipe

create a care box for our troops

create a memory box or time capsule

do a puzzle

go go-karting

go to the movies

painting

play a board game

rock climbing

trampoline park

visit your local library

write a letter to a friend

NIGHTTIME ACTIVITIES

campfire s’mores

drive-in movie

fireworks/sparklers

free summer concerts

game night

go camping

have a sleepover

make fondue

make your own pizza night

stargazing

THINGS TO MAKE

build a garden

create photo books

handprint flower pots

homemade birdhouse

make chalkboard wall (directions here!)

make homemade ice cream

make homemade Play-Doh

make Oobleck

OTHER IDEAS FOR SUMMER BUCKET LIST

Books to read

Concerts you want to attend

Movies you want to watch

People to visit

Places to go

Playdates to schedule

Things you want to learn about

DON’T FORGET YOUR FREE CUSTOMIZABLE SUMMER BUCKET LIST TEMPLATE

Simply, enter your email address below to join as a subscriber and instantly receive your free template. As a reminder, you will receive weekly emails from Jac of All Things with exclusive life hacks, practical advice for everyday life, and new information posted on Jac of All Things.