50+ Summer Activities for Kids + a Free Summer Bucket List Template

It’s hard to believe the August long-weekend is already here.

Summer is flying by but the good news is there’s still plenty of time to soak it all in and you don’t need expensive vacations or jam-packed weekends to create meaningful memories. Often, it’s the little moments that kids remember most.

If you’re looking for summer activities for kids, we’ve rounded up plenty of ideas for families and home childcare providers, plus some of our favourite spots around Durham Region to help you make the most of what’s left of the season.

Create a Summer Bucket List Together

A fun family tradition is creating a summer bucket list at the beginning of each month.

Instead of planning everything yourself, invite your kids to help. Their ideas are often the most fun, and when they’re involved in creating the list, they’re even more excited to check things off.

Some of the best suggestions are wonderfully simple.

• Ice cream for breakfast
• A backyard movie night
• Camping in the backyard
• Visiting a brand-new playground
• Staying up late to watch the sunset

Download a free Summer Bucket List template here!

Summer Activities for Kids to Add to Your Bucket List

Outdoor Adventures

• Visit three new playgrounds in different towns.
• Spend the day at a beach you’ve never visited.
• Go on a sunset walk and pack a few snacks.
• Try a nature scavenger hunt.
• Visit a splash pad in a neighbouring community.
• Explore a new hiking trail.
• Plan a playground hop and visit three parks in one day.
• Camp in the backyard.
• Host an outdoor movie night with blankets and popcorn.

Food & Treat Fun

• Try a new local ice cream shop.
• Have ice cream for breakfast.
• Pack a backyard picnic.
• Start a weekly Freezie Friday tradition.
• Make s’mores around the fire pit.
• Visit a local bakery or café you’ve never tried.

Creative Fun at Home

• Have a “Yes Day” where your kids choose one special activity.
• Make sun catchers or paint rocks.
• Turn your driveway into a sidewalk chalk art gallery.
• Enjoy a face painting afternoon.
• Have a giant bubble day.
• Build an indoor or outdoor fort.
• Try simple backyard science experiments.

Local Adventures

• Visit a new indoor play place.
• Explore a farmers’ market.
• Attend a local fair or community event.
• Watch an outdoor movie.
• Spend the day exploring a nearby town.
• Visit your local library.

Don’t Forget Friends & Family

Some of the best summer memories are made with the people we love. Add a few activities that include friends, cousins, grandparents, or neighbours.

Ideas include:

• Host a backyard BBQ.
• Meet friends at a splash pad.
• Plan a coffee and playground morning.
• Go for a family hike.
• Visit a community festival together.
• Invite neighbours over for an outdoor movie night.

Having a bucket list means you’ll always have ideas ready whenever everyone asks, “What should we do today?”

Summer Activities for Kids in Home Daycares

Summer bucket lists work just as well in home childcare settings.

Creating one with the children in your care builds excitement, encourages independence, and gives everyone something to look forward to. Children love helping decide what comes next, and you’ll often discover ideas you wouldn’t have thought of yourself.

Some favourites include:

• Water play day
• Freezie Fridays
• Face painting
• Backyard camping morning
• Nature treasure hunts
• Bubble Bonanza
• Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival
• Outdoor dance parties
• Sensory play stations
• Weekly playground adventures
• Popsicle and storytime picnics
• Mini Olympics
• Gardening day
• Summer crafts
• Backyard movie morning

The best part? These summer activities for kids don’t need to be elaborate. Keep them flexible, child-led, and focused on fun.

Popular Summer Activities for Kids in Durham Region

If you’re local to Durham Region, here are a few places we love visiting throughout the summer. Many members of the Her Yes Club community are based nearby, so we wanted to share a few family favourites. If you’re outside Durham Region, let us know where you’re located and we’d love to put together a list for your area too!

Summer Movie Nights in Clarington

One of the best free family activities each summer is Clarington’s outdoor movie series.

Bring lawn chairs, blankets, popcorn, and settle in for an evening under the stars.

These evenings are perfect for:

• Easy family outings
• Meeting up with friends
• Letting kids play before the movie starts
• Creating another memory for your summer bucket list

Be sure to check Clarington’s event calendar for this year’s dates and locations.

Indoor Play Places in Durham Region

Need an escape from the heat or a rainy day activity?

Some local favourites include:

• NEB’s Fun World (Oshawa)
• Sky Zone (Whitby)
• Playcious (Whitby)
• Kids Zone Indoor Playground (Ajax)
• The Den (Oshawa)
• Gym-O-Gym (Pickering)
• Durham Escape Rooms (Whitby and Oshawa)
• Funville (Oshawa)
• Volt Electric Playland (Bowmanville)
• Jolly Bubble (Whitby)

Outdoor Parks & Playgrounds

Some of our favourite parks across Durham Region include:

Clarington

• Rotary Park
• Guildwood Park
• Courtice Community Complex Park
• Newcastle Recreation Complex Park

Oshawa

• Lakeview Park
• Stone Street Park
• Alexandra Park

Whitby

• Kiwanis Heydenshore Park
• Baycliffe Park
• Brooklin Memorial Park

Ajax

• Waterfront Park
• Rotary Park
• Audley Recreation Centre Park

Pickering

• Frenchman’s Bay Waterfront
• Dunmoore Park
• Southcott Park

Splash Pads

Perfect for hot summer afternoons.

• Rotary Park, Bowmanville
• Iroquois Park, Whitby
• Rotary Park, Ajax
• Pickering Village East
• Lakeview Park, Oshawa

Trails & Nature Walks

Looking for a slower pace? These are great for evening walks, scavenger hunts, and getting outside together.

• Bowmanville Valley Trails
• Heber Down Conservation Area
• Lynde Shores Conservation Area
• Harmony Valley Park
• Greenwood Conservation Area

Make the Most of What’s Left of Summer

Summer doesn’t have to be filled with expensive trips or perfectly planned days! The moments your children will remember most are often the simplest ones. A splash pad after dinner. A picnic at the park. Running barefoot through the backyard. One more story under the stars.

However you spend the rest of the season, we hope these summer activities for kids inspire you to slow down, say yes to a little more fun, and make a few more memories before the school year begins.

Are you a parent searching for childcare or a home daycare provider looking for support? Join the Her Yes Club community by downloading the app from the App Store or Google Play Store today.