Summer is fast approaching, and for many caregivers, that can bring a mix of excitement and anxiety. How do you create a fun, engaging season for your children without stretching your budget too thin? For many families, the challenge lies in balancing memorable experiences with finan cial realities.
The good news is that summer activities don’t have to be expensive to be meaningful. A little planning can elevate even the simplest moments into something special. Start by considering what you already know about your family. What does each person enjoy? What hobbies naturally lend themselves to warm weather fun? Involving everyone in the planning process not only sparks creativity but also helps build a list of activities that feel exciting for all ages.
It’s also helpful to talk with your family about balance—mixing “big” outings with simple, everyday adventures keeps the summer enjoyable without overwhelming your schedule or your wallet.
To help you get started, here are some ideas for low cost activities and adventures: Bright and Beautiful Outdoor Adventures • Create a scavenger hunt with items found in nature—such as a yellow leaf, round rock, feather, tree nut, seed, shell, or pinecone—and collect them in a paper bag.
• Camp in your own yard. No tent? No problem. Drape a large sheet over a folding table to make a cozy homemade shelter.
• Explore a local walking trail and play “I Spy” to keep younger children engaged.
• Turn your driveway or sidewalk into an outdoor art studio with chalk. Give each child their own square or let them collaborate on a larger masterpiece.
• Build a backyard obstacle course using squirt guns, a wading pool, water balloons, or a sprinkler for added excitement.
• Take in a community festival or celebration as a family. Include a picnic as part of your outing at a park or even in your own yard!
Indoor Expeditions
• Plan a weekly family meal where everyone contributes. Toddlers can help with simple snacks like celery and peanut butter, while older children can prepare veggie trays. Teens and adults can team up on the main course to make it a true family event.
• Create a treasure hunt inside the house or around the yard.
• Host a family game night with board games or puzzles. Draw a name from a jar to decide who chooses the game.
• Enjoy a movie night with popcorn— try adding chili powder or taco seasoning for a fun twist.
• Set aside time for drawing, crafting, coloring, or creating. Homemade playdough or slime is inexpensive, hands on fun for all ages.
While many of these activities can be done at home, there are plenty of low cost options in your community or state as well. Day trips to a zoo, swimming park, or nature center are classic favorites. If your budget allows, consider a bigger adventure— such as visiting a nearby state park or taking a float trip down a local river.
Whatever you choose, embrace the sunshine, savor the moments, and enjoy the wonder that comes from intentional family time this summer.
Engineer optimistic that bridge construction could be completed by early July EMPORIA (KVOE) -- Despite an extensive repair effort to the surface of the county’s new Rocky Ford Bridge in recent weeks, Lyon County Engineer Wayne Scritchfield is opti mistic the structure will be ready for traffic by early next month. Scritch - field told KVOE News he is hopeful it could be open by the second week of July; however, there is no exact date set just yet. Scritchfield's com ments came to KVOE News Friday as part of what he called a “minimal update” with a pair of projects just recently wrapping up.
The repairs to the bridge’s surface were needed after rebar was poking through the new concrete deck in spots, following the decking pro- cess in early April. Scritchfield tells KVOE News the cause likely devel- oped when the contractor's "finish" materials on the bridge’s new concrete “came out of adjustment.”
Scritchfield tells KVOE News the next steps in the bridge construction process will be the placement of guardrails, which will occur once the handrails have cured, which could take up to 14 days. This will be fol- lowed by final grading and dirtwork, again with an early July completion time, which Scritchfield noted will be entirely weather dependent.
The surface repairs were the first significant construction issue for the new bridge, which is replacing the longstanding bridge erected in 1907. The old bridge, alternately known as the Bird Bridge, infamous for being the site of the Sandra Bird murder in 1983, is getting shut down to vehicle traffic but will remain in place.