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100 fun things to do in summer for teenagers

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For many families, summer is a time to break free from the usual routine and embrace some quality fun. If you’re looking for a boredom-free, less-screen-time summer, numerous exciting activities are waiting for your kids.

Whether they enjoy outdoor escapades, creative projects, or picking up new hobbies, let's explore some fantastically fun things to do in summer, tailored for teenagers.

100 fun things to do in summer for teenagers

Outdoor adventures

1. Go camping in your backyard: Tent, s'mores, and starry skies.

2. Start a nature scavenger hunt: Explore and collect items from nature.

3. Try geocaching: Treasure hunting in your community with GPS.

4. Organize a beach clean-up: Help the planet with friends at the shore.

5. Take a bike tour: Discover new places on two wheels. But always wear a helmet! 

Indoor activities

6. Learn to cook a new cuisine: Travel the world from your kitchen.

7. Start a blog or YouTube channel: Share what you love online. (But only with parental approval and following online safety guidelines).

8. Have a movie marathon: Binge-watch your favorite series or genre.

9. Create a DIY spa day: Homemade masks and bubble baths.

10. Organize a board game tournament: Board game face-offs with friends.

Physical exercises

11. Join a local sports league: Get active with team sports.

12. Try yoga or meditation: Find your zen online or with apps.

13. Set a fitness challenge: Push yourself with a personal goal.

14. Learn a dance routine: Master new moves from online tutorials.

15. Go hiking: Enjoy nature and a solid workout. But stay hydrated, bring a buddy, and make sure parents know where you are! 

Mental exercises

16. Read a book every week: Tackle a summer reading list.

17. Learn a new language: Apps like Duolingo or Babbel can help. Or take a class!

18. Write a short story or novel: Unleash your inner author.

19. Start a journal: Reflect through writing.

20. Solve puzzles: Brain teasers like crosswords or Sudoku.

Learning experiences

21. Take an online course: Pick up new skills from Coursera or Udemy.

22. Visit museums and art galleries: Check out teen programs.

23. Volunteer: Give back and learn something new.

24. Attend a workshop or camp: Find your passion, from coding to art.

25. Explore a new hobby: Photography, painting, coding, you name it.

Social activities

26. Host a picnic: Friends, food, and outdoors.

27. Start a book club: Read and chat about it.

28. Organize a talent show: Show off what you've got.

29. Have a themed party: Costumes, decorations, and fun.

30. Learn magic tricks: Impress everyone with your magical prowess.

More cool ideas

31. Create a summer vlog: Capture and share your summer highlights.

32. Visit a farmers market: Discover local treasures and tasty bites.

33. Have an outdoor painting session: Paint the world in your colors.

34. Do a digital detox day: Unplug and rediscover the world.

35. Build a treehouse or fort: Craft your cozy retreat.

36. Take a self-defense class: Empower yourself.

37. Create a summer scrapbook: Treasure your memories creatively.

38. Practice photography: Capture summer through your lens.

39. Host a cultural exchange dinner: Taste the world with friends.

40. Learn to play a new instrument: Make music part of your summer.

41. Organize a community sports day: Friendly games and laughs.

42. Volunteer at an animal shelter: Make furry friends.

43. Create a themed YouTube playlist: Curate your favorite clips.

44. Host a DIY pizza night: Chef it up with friends.

45. Take a pottery class: Shape clay into art.

46. Go on a thrift shopping spree: Find unique fashion gems.

47. Start a vegetable or herb garden: Grow your own greens.

48. Attend a workshop or lecture: Learn something intriguing.

49. Make homemade ice cream: Invent your flavor.

50. Try stand-up paddleboarding: Balance, paddle, and enjoy. Be sure to follow all water safety rules carefully and only paddleboard in waters with a lifeguard or supervision. 

51. Attend an escape room: Solve your way to freedom.

52. Learn to sew or knit: Craft your creations.

53. Write letters to friends or family: Pen your thoughts.

54. Make a summer playlist: Soundtrack your adventures.

55. Create a vision board: Dream and plan visually.

56. Try a new water sport: Dive into fun.

57. Host a movie night under the stars: Cinema in the open air.

58. Explore mindfulness and meditation: Find inner peace.

59. Organize a charity fundraiser: Make a difference.

60. Learn about a new topic each week: Be endlessly curious.

61. Create an obstacle course: Challenge your agility and speed.

62. Go bird watching: Spot and identify feathered friends.

63. Start a collection: Curate your passion.

64. Visit a historic site: Connect with the past.

65. Make a time-lapse video: Fast-forward nature or city life.

66. Host a cultural film night: Globe-trot through films.

67. Learn to code: Dive into the digital world.

68. Write and direct a short film: Tell your story on screen.

69. Participate in a reading challenge: Read, read, read.

70. Explore a national park: Adventure in nature's wonders.

71. Try out a new hairstyle or color: Express your style.

72. Make tie-dye shirts: Splash color creatively.

73. Learn origami: Fold paper into art.

74. Go on a photo scavenger hunt: Capture and collect images.

75. Try indoor rock climbing: Scale new heights indoors.

76. Host a garage sale: Declutter and earn.

77. Plant a butterfly garden: Attract beauty to your yard.

78. Create a comic book: Illustrate your epic tales.

79. Learn a magic card trick: Dazzle with sleight of hand.

80. Paint rocks and hide them: Spread joy with art.

81. Make a summer journal: Chronicle your sunny days.

82. Visit an amusement park: Thrills and fun await.

83. Organize a car wash fundraiser: Clean cars for a cause.

84. Create a backyard carnival: Your yard, your circus.

85. Have a water balloon fight: Splashy fun to cool down.

86. Try making different lemonade flavors: Quench thirst creatively.

87. Create a time capsule: Preserve summer memories for the future.

88. Go fishing: Relax by the water with a rod in hand.

89. Visit an aquarium or zoo: Get up close with animals.

90. Try rollerblading: Glide around town for a fun workout.

91. Organize a neighborhood sports tournament: Compete with friends and neighbors.

92. Learn calligraphy or hand lettering: Beautify your writing skills.

93. Try birdhouse making: Attract feathered friends to your backyard.

94. Play mini-golf: Enjoy a round of golf with a twist.

95. Host a karaoke night: Sing your heart out with friends.

96. Try hand-decorating pottery: Personalize your own dishes and cups.

97. Go fruit picking: Enjoy fresh berries, apples, or peaches straight from the source.

98. Learn improv comedy: Try the art of “yes, and” and have a few laughs. 

99. Make sea glass art: Collect smooth (no sharp edges) sea glass from the beach and place them in flower beds or your garden for a little sparkle. Or glue it onto construction paper or wood to make a unique craft.

100. Dig for gems: Go with your family to a working mine and search for your own crystals and gems. 

Tips for helping teens make the most of their summer:

  • Encourage them to try new things and step out of their comfort zone (safely).

  • Find a balance between structured activities and free time for relaxation.

  • Plan ahead but also be open to spontaneous adventures.

  • Encourage them to disconnect from technology and enjoy the outdoors.

  • Support their hobbies and interests, even if they differ from yours.

  • Remind them to stay safe and make responsible choices.

  • Spend quality time together as a family, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

  • Set up a summer budget or talk about summer chores and jobs to earn extra cash for summer fun.

While this list provides a starting point, the possibilities for summer activities are nearly endless. The fun is in exploring new interests, challenges, and most importantly, having fun! Summer is a perfect time to grow, learn, and make lasting memories.

Want more? Visit the Greenlight Learning Centerfor helpful resources on all things family, finance, and fun.

This blog post is provided "as is" and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Some content in this post may have been created using artificial intelligence; however, every blog post is reviewed by at least two human editors.


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