Fun, budget-friendly summer activities for 2020

Summer looks pretty different this year, but that shouldn’t stop you from making the most of this summer. In this blog, we have compiled a list of budget-friendly, safe summer activities for people and families of all ages. Check it out!

1. Have some good old, backyard fun. For kids from 1 to 92, nothing beats a day in the backyard. Set up your sprinkler, grab a freezie pop, and go wild!

2. Try your hand at gardening. Gardening doesn’t need to be expensive – you can even grow vegetables from some kitchen scraps! Growing your own food is very rewarding, so grab a few pots, a bag of dirt, and some tomato and basil seeds from the store and get to growing. This is a fun activity for you and the children.

3. Get around to those DIYs. How many DIY supplies are piling up in your closet right now? Pull them out and get to crafting!

4. Read, read, read! The library still isn’t open, but the Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish libraries have a vast digital book library. Simply log into your online account, and you can borrow and download ebooks to your Kindle, computer, or even your phone.

5. Have fun with sidewalk chalk. Pick up some chalk from the dollar store and let the kiddos (or yourself) create some masterpieces.

6. Have a picnic in the park. The park has been a popular destination the past few months, but you can still find a quiet and secluded park for a picnic. Pack up an old blanket, some snacks, and a deck of cards, and enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the shade of an oak tree.

7. Get lost in your own neighborhood. Turn your walk into an adventure! Go down a street you’ve never explored before, find new places in your neighborhood you’ve never seen before. Almost all phones have a GPS on them, so you can always find your way back home if you get lost for real.

8. Grow your sunflowers! We are giving away free sunflower kits at all of our branches all summer long. Stop by and pick up a kit (or two, or three!) and grow some beautiful sunflowers to bring joy to the whole neighborhood.

9. Try out a new hobby. Things like painting, embroidery, and knitting are low-cost hobbies for beginners and are excellent for children and adults alike. You may even have some supplies laying around your house right now!

10. Fire up the grill. We may not be able to have huge summer cookouts this year, but it doesn’t mean the grill must remain dormant. Cook up a feast for yourself, your family, or your roommates just because it’s a perfect summer afternoon.

11. Make s’mores and tell scary stories. You don’t need to be camping to enjoy the best parts – s’mores and scary stories! Whether you have an outdoor fire-pit, a grill, or just your stovetop, cook up some s’mores and sit under the stars (or in a couch fort!) to trade your best scary stories.

Summer fun may look different this year, but we can still have a wonderful season. Do you have any budget-friendly summer suggestions? Let us know on our Facebook @POECU.