Summer Adventure 2014

Maybe you're driving somewhere exciting this summer, or maybe you have to stay at home.  It doesn't matter because life is an adventure.  I challenge you to find a summer adventure.  Remember all adventure's have their sometimes ugly challenge.  We (I) decided  I wanted an exciting backyard, you can read about it tomorrow. Here are some ideas for those that are limited to staying close to home:

• Library reading program.  Visit other countries, time periods, learn about other people with your kids.
• Plant a learning garden.  Butterflies, hummingbird's, flowers to attract bees..  Then look up the information about your visitors.
• Lowe's and Home Depot offer free classes for kids to build things.  FREE, 100% free, and to my knowledge they are on the weekends.  Maybe the kids can make them, paint them at home and give them to various family members as presents.
• Teach your kids about civic duty at an early age.  
• Collect old newspapers, blankets, and more for your local SPCA or animal rescue (call them ahead of time to find out exactly what they need).  You and the kids can make flyers and leave them with your neighbors with a promised pick up date.  
• Maybe make some snack bags for the homeless, with a little research you can find who is accepting donations.
• Clean a park or even your neighborhood
• Build a stand to hold your old grocery bags and place a small garbage can under it.  Paint a sign to let passerby's know it's a poop collection area.
• Visit the elderly and maybe adopt a grand-parent......
• Completely re-do your kids room (with their input of course).  New paint on the walls goes a long way.  Don't get rid of their old blanket, cover it with a duvet or make a duvet cover.  An area rug, and maybe update the furniture with some paint or wall paper/contact paper and wow you have a new room for pennies.
• Find out about your community.  Is there anything of historical significance?  Go see it with the kids.
• Build something.  Lowe's has a great how-to area with all sorts of building ideas.  From the itty-bitty to the big ticket, you'll find it here.
• Make a goal.  Maybe your summer adventure will be to spend every Saturday at a park with the kids or to learn a sign language with your kids.  There are some great adventure's that are free and educational.
• Challenge your fears, and let your kids see them.  A friend of mine was terrified of shocking herself.  She decided to up her marathon runs and did two Tough Mudder's and a few others that include being shocked.  Her son learned to face his own fears and she learned an inner strength that she didn't know existed.  That being said, be smart about it.  If you're terrified of shark's, pick a different activity than shark diving, maybe get a fish tank with a small shark in it.
• Movies.  Many theater's offer discounted movies during the summer.  Your city may even offer movies under the stars.