Please note: some of the links below may be affiliate links. You don’t pay more, but we may earn a small commission if you buy something
With summer stretching over 3 months, teens can sometimes find themselves running out of ideas for activities. This list of 101 things for teens to do in summer includes ideas that will help them make money, stand out in college applications, prepare them for college – and then also things that are just plain fun! Because, after all, it is vacation time!
1. Learn Stop-Motion Animation
Teens can dive into the creative world of stop motion animation, where they can bring their imaginations to life frame by frame. By crafting unique characters and scenes from everyday objects, clay, or even LEGO, they can produce captivating mini-movies that showcase their storytelling skills. This hands-on activity not only fosters creativity and patience but also provides endless hours of fun as they see their ideas come to life on screen. There are a number of apps that teach teens stop-motion animation, but you can also invest in a kit.
2. Go Geocaching
Geocaching is a fun, free activity that helps teens get out of the house and explore the outdoors. We have a blog post on Geocaching that goes into more detail about why you should try Geocaching and how you can get started.
3. Do an Escape Room
Escape rooms are a great way for teens to exercise critical thinking skills while having fun with friends or family. Look online to find an escape room near you!
4. Take a College Tour
Summer is an excellent time to tour a college campus with your teen. College tours provide a great opportunity for teens to get in the college mindset and begin narrowing down where they want to go. 7 Sisters has a blog post here that gives more information on college tours if you’re interested.
5. Apply for Scholarships
There are a variety of resources online to help teens find and apply for scholarships. Even if you have younger teens, it’s never too early to start applying for scholarships. If you want more information on getting your teen started finding scholarships, check out this blog post.
6. Start a Business
If there’s one thing nearly all teens want, it’s spending money! If your teen wants to earn some extra income this summer, considering encouraging them to start their own business. 4 One More shares some tips on how to get started here.
7. Participate in Community Service
Not only is community service a great way to let teens give back to their towns and neighborhoods, it also looks great on college transcripts. This blog post by 7 Sisters shares why community service and other skills are important for homeschoolers. This blog post is a good starting place if you’re unsure where to begin.
8. Join a Summer Swim Team
Swimming is a fun way for teens to exercise, make friends, and participate in competition. Many pools and gyms offer summer swim team options for teens and kids, so check around in your area to see what options are available to you!
9. Attend a Governor’s School
Governor’s school is an excellent opportunity for high schoolers to be challenged in courses related to a potential career field. Though deadlines for this summer have passed, you can check your state’s Governor’s School page to see information about applying for next year.
10. Get a Job
Once again, teens want money! It’s important for high schoolers to become familiar with the work environment, budgeting, and to save money for college. Many businesses in your area likely offer summer jobs for teens. Lifeguarding, fast food service, and nannying children are just a few of the many options available to your teen. A quick google search can give you more ideas!
11. Take Summer Classes
While it’s important for teens to relax over summer break, it can also be a perfect opportunity to get ahead on schoolwork. By completing some courses in the summer, teens will have less stress and pressure during the school year. We offer several self-paced online classes for the summer, and you can find more information on them here.
12. Learn to Code
In today’s world, computer programming skills are becoming more and more in demand. Many jobs, even ones outside of the computer field, now require basic coding skills to succeed. To help your teen prepare for this, consider signing them up for FundaFunda’s programming courses.
13. Play Board Games
This one is pretty self-explanatory :). Board games are not something many students have time for during the school year, so they can be a great way to relax in the summer. If you’re looking for some board game ideas, check out our Amazon store where we list our favorite games.
14. Read
Many libraries offer summer reading challenges for teens where they have a chance to win prizes for completing reading goals! Check with your local library system to see what they offer.
15. Play video games
Okay, so this one might not be as productive as some of the others, but it’s a fun way for teens to relax and enjoy their summer. Plus, there are lots of options for educational video games if you want to balance fun and learning 🙂
16. Learn a new hobby
There are endless options of hobbies for teens to try. Encourage your teen to find something that interests them, and then check online or at your library to find some resources to help them get started!
17. Start a blog
Blogging can be a great way for teens to express their creativity and improve their writing skills. Their are a plethora of resources online that can help them get started if they’re unsure of how to being.
18. Learn to Cook
Cooking is a crucial skill for teens to learn, but it’s not always at the top of their priority list. However, if you’re willing to look for some fun recipes to try, it can be a great way to spend time with your teen and help them learn a life skill.
19. Do a CPR Class
CPR is an excellent skill for teens to have, especially if they’re interested in babysitting or being a nanny children. The American Red Cross, the YMCA, and many other organizations offer certification programs that can help your teen learn CPR in a short time frame for a relatively low cost.
20. Learn Self Defense
Self defense is a practical, healthy activity for teens to try. Check near you for programs that could help your teen learn self defense.
21. Do Driver’s Ed
For many teens, driving is one of the biggest activities they look forward to during their high school years. Since the school year is often hectic, though, some teens might find themselves too busy to prepare for their driver’s test. Summer is a perfect time to get your teen enrolled in driver’s ed and help them prepare to get their permit or license.
22. Go Camping
This one definitely is not just for teens! Camping can be a fun bonding experience to help the whole family spend some time together and enjoy the outdoors.
23. Take Part in a Theater Production
If you have teens who are interested in the arts, consider looking near you for any theaters that are casting for summer productions. This can help teens gain a deeper appreciation for theater, step out of their comfort zone, and have lots of fun!
24. Write a Book
For teens who love to write, summer is a great time to consider organizing their thoughts and ideas into a novel! if your teens are really serious, they might even consider trying to get the novel published, or selling copies of it to friends and family members.
25. Build a Website
As mentioned earlier, computer skills are a must-have for teens in today’s world. During the process of building a website, teens can learn a variety of skills in computer applications, graphic design, and more.
26. Learn a new language
There are countless benefits to learning a new language, and summer is a great time for teens to get in the habit of practicing. They can start learning for free as well by using Duolingo, a free website and app with lessons and practice schedules for many different languages.
27. Add Language-Learning to TV Watching
If your teen decides to start learning a new language, watching TV can help them with their target language! BY switching the audio in the shows to their target language and adding subtitles in English, teens start to learn how language is used in natural conversation. This is great for adults too!
28. Study for the ACT/SAT
The ACT and SAT are major components in earning college scholarships today. If your teen wants to start studying in advance, they can check this blog post for tips on getting started. Additionally, FundaFunda offers an ACT prep class that includes many resources, as well as a full-length practice test.
29. Design and Run a Camp for Kids for a Week
This is a big undertaking, so teens might need to start now to plan for a camp next year! Hosting a camp for kids gives teens a chance to earn money and learn valuable organization skills. It can also be a lot of fun to teach younger kids about something your teen is passionate about!
30. Go Salamander Hunting
There’s nothing like getting outside and hunting for some creatures. If you want to make this educational, you can research what types of salamanders, lizards, and snakes live in your area.
31. Calculate your Carbon Footprint
If your teen is interested in learning about the impact their lives have on the environment, they can use this calculator to help them see how different parts of their life affect the earth.
32. Plant Trees to Offset Carbon Footprint
Once your teen knows the impact they’re having on the environment, they can start taking steps to offset those effects! Planting trees is a great activity to take steps to care for the environment.
33. Visit an Elderly Neighbor
Chances are, you know an elderly person near you who spends a large amount of time alone. It’s amazing the impact teens can have by doing something as simple as visiting for an hour once a week. This is also an opportunity for teens to learn from those who have lived in different time periods, and maybe even make a new friend.
34. Go Hiking
Hiking is a fantastic way for teens to take a break from busy lives and enjoy the outdoors for a couple of hours. If you’re not sure about places to hike near you, take a look at this website to find a trail near you!
35. Try Baking and Decorating Cookies or Cakes
Like cooking, baking is a great opportunity for teens to express their creativity, and make something yummy to eat! If they enjoy it, you might even consider signing them up for a class on baking or decorating.
36. Compete in an Unusual Competition
There are unique summer competitions for things like air guitar, Rubik’s cube solving, cheese rolling races, poetry slams, esports gaming tournaments and more. Google around to see what is available in your area.
37. Go on a Field Trip
Field trips are a fun way to allow teens to explore new areas in their town.
38. Start a Podcast
If your teen enjoys listening to podcasts, they might enjoy starting one of their own! Here’s a podcast to listen to for more information about how to get started.
39. Choreograph a Dance to your Favorite Song
With free time, teens can choreograph and produce their own experimental dance performances to stage locally for family and friends or for a wider audience on social media.
40. Give Your Computer a Tune-up
Fiddling with computers can be an intimidating thought, but there are some basic computer maintenance skills teens can learn that can help avoid hours of frustration with computers that refuse to work.
41. Nature Study Mini Road Trips
Nature study mini road trips are a fun way to get out and about and help teens appreciate all that nature has to offer. For more information on what they are and how to do one, look at this post by BJ’s Homeschool.
42. Bird Watching and other Nature Activities
Bird watching might sound boring to some teens, but it can be a lot of fun, and provide a great way to learn about different types of birds and their calls. BJ’s Homeschool even has a post about how you can turn birdwatching and nature studies into a high school credit!
43. Leadership Activities
Not only are these activities opportunities for your teens to learn valuable life lessons, but they also look fantastic on college and scholarship applications. This blog post gives information on a few opportunity for teens, and you can find many more by looking at businesses and charity organizations in your area.
44. Find your Gifts
Everybody has gifts, and summer is a great chance for your teen to spend some time finding his or hers. This blog post on raising leaders gives more information on ways to encourage your teens and younger children to figure out their gifts.
45. Learn to Make Videos
Whether making them for YouTube, church events, or just for fun, there are countless places where teens can use the ability to make videos and many free video creation tools. And, as mentioned in this post, it can also be used as an elective for high school credit!
46. Learn how to write the college essay
It is better to start working on the college essay during summer when there is no pressure of school work. Here are some tips to help you.
47. Upgrade your study space for next year
48. Do a Scavenger Hunt in your city
Let’s Roam is one that is available in many cities! Read our post about the one I did with one of my local students
49. Participate in a LARP or a Historical Reenactment
Teens can have a lot of fun participating in Live-Action Role-Playing (LARP). LARPing allows teens to immerse themselves in fantasy worlds, acting out characters and going on quests with games of live combat. In a more serious vein, historical reenactments are another great opportunity for teens. Check with your local history museums to see if they have any reenactments coming up.
50. Start a Garden
51. Learn to play an instrument
52. DIY projects
There is no end of DIY projects you can do and Pinterest can provide lots of information. In this post, you can learn about making thread, dyeing, and weaving
53. Write to a pen pal
54. Visit National Parks
55. Bring cookies/flowers to a nearby nursing home
56. Volunteer at a local animal shelter
57. Find a new fun elective for next year
Spend some time over the summer thinking about electives you will enjoy. Homeschoolers aren’t limited to ones their school offers, so the sky’s the limit! Here’s a list of elective ideas to get you going.
58. Find out what you want to be in life and future vocation
Spend some time exploring future career options by doing some online research or talking to people you know.
59. Go Bowling
For teens 15 and under, sign up to be able to bowl free all summer. But if you are older than that, it is still an affordable and fun activity.
60. Learn how to make soap
Learn how to make soap and then use it, gift it or sell it!
61. Make Bath Bombs
Bath Bombs are fun to make and use and give as gifts. And if you love Harry Potter, you will want to try your hand at these Harry Potter themed bath bombs
62. Learn how to make candy
Who does love activities that involve food? This post not only explains how to make candy but also the science behind it! In the post are links to recipes for loads of different candy!
63. Build Circuits
You can find plenty of Youtube tutorials to help you, or this post on how how to make a circuit bug with easy-to-collect materials.
64. Make Some Art
Even if you think you are no good at creating art, you should give it a try. Everyone can learn to doodle at least!
65. Explore a Cave
There is a lot more to caves than just a dark empty space in some rocks, so be sure to educate yourself on caves before you go
66. Color (cause no one is too old to!)
Coloring can be very relaxing and is enjoyed by all ages nowadays.
67. Mountain Bike
68. Make a Walking Stick
Find a sturdy stick and follow these instructions to make a walking stick.
69. Learn to Make Coffee or Tea
Many people enjoy coffee and tea, but have no idea how to make it themselves. This French coffee kit comes with everything you need to make your own French press coffee. Likewise, this chai tea kit comes with a teapot, tea strainer, and directions to make traditional chai tea.
70. Go ice-skating
71. Learn to sell on eBay
You can do your own research or take the easy way and enroll in a mini class that walks you through all the steps to make money.
72. Enroll in a MOOC
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are a great way to take a free class over the summer. This podcast episode explains more about them and why you should consider enrolling in one this summer.
73. Paint or tie-dye a T-shirt
74. Play mini golf
75. Visit a farmers’ market
76. Canoing/ paddleboarding/tubing
77. Take a free class at Apple
78. Go indoor or outdoor climbing
79. Make a budget
80. Take a lifeguard course
81. Visit a museum
82. Research your family tree
83. Scrapbook or Journal
84. Play frisbee or frisbee golf
85. Learn how to change a tire
86. Go Fishing
87. Have an outdoor picnic
88. Join Planet Fitness free for summer
15 – 18 year olds can enjoy a free Planet Fitness membership this summer. No excuses now not to get fit!
89. Make a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle
90. Job shadowing
91. Train for a half-marathon
92. Learn the names of all the countries of the world
Play this fun game on Sporcle to both learn and check how you are doing.
93. Make a time capsule
94. Become a pro at origami
95. Make jewelry
96. Have a movie marathon with friends
97. Recycle old jeans into something new – like a pencil bag
98. Go rollerskating
99. Take a photo a day / improve your photography skills
100. Write a song
101. Throw a party for someone
Got more ideas of things for teens to do in summer? Add them in the comments!
