Welcome to Summer…and the Longest Day of the Year!

Today marks the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, also known as the summer solstice – the longest day of the year. It occurs around June 20, 21, and 22, when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most inclined towards the sun; because of this, the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, providing the maximum amount of daylight.

Cultures around the world celebrate the summer solstice with festivals, dances, and bonfires. To help you celebrate, we’ve come up with a list of outdoor activities you can enjoy today or any day this summer. 

Outdoorosity’s Summertime To-Do List

Nature Activities:

• Go on a nature scavenger hunt around your neighborhood or through the woods
• Release ladybugs – You can buy them online and send them out into your yard
• Visit (and play) in a waterfall
• Cloud watch
• Go camping (at a park or even in your backyard)
• Go stargazing
• Catch fireflies (and let them go again)
• Go on a night hike
• Learn to identify the birds in your area
• Visit a national park
• Try to catch the sunrise AND the sunset
• Photograph spider webs with the morning dew
• Go horseback riding
• Learn to use a compass
• Take a nature photography expedition
• Go on a wildflower or butterfly watching hike
• Explore a botanical garden

Creative and Craft Activities:

• Make a bird feeder
• Make a fairy house
• Paint rocks
• Build your own nature discovery center
• Start a nature journal

Water Activities:

• Go swimming
• Have a cannonball contest
• Make a slip and slide
• Go canoeing
• Go kayaking
• Go tubing
• Try paddleboarding
• Go whitewater rafting
• Go fishing
• Take a surfing lesson
• Have a beach bonfire
• Collect seashells or driftwood

Food and Cooking Activities:

• Try some S’more Science
• Cut open a watermelon and enjoy with friends
• Plan a picnic at your favorite park
• Have a bonfire and roast marshmallows
• Buy lemons and make fresh lemonade
• Grow herbs
• Visit a farmer’s market
• Go berry picking
• Host a summer-themed BBQ or luau party
• Grill fresh seafood or vegetables
• Bake fruit pies or cobblers with seasonal fruits
• Create a DIY outdoor pizza night

Outdoor Games:

• Play disc golf
• Play putt-putt
• Have a corn hole tournament in the yard
• Play flashlight tag
• Organize a water balloon or squirt gun fight
• Play beach games like beach volleyball or frisbee
• Set up a backyard obstacle course or relay races
• Have a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt in a park

Community Activities

• Volunteer for a local community event or cleanup
• Attend outdoor fitness classes
• Host a neighborhood block party or potluck
• Join a community sports league or team

Have a favorite activity that’s not on the list? Let us know in the comments!