Summer.
For some, it’s an escape from the monotony of schedules, a break from the drive of academics, and a welcomed respite from commitments.
For others, it’s a season where too much is forgotten and not enough is done. Long summer days are a time to get ahead: get a job, volunteer, or continue doing traditional schoolwork.
No matter what summer looks like for your family, here are a few creative ideas for educational and fun summer activities for your high school students.
1. Optimize vacations
Vacations can include the obvious educational activities like museums, historical sites, science centers, etc. There are also opportunities for more organic learning. Are you vacationing by the ocean? Figure out the tidal pattern. Someone finds an odd looking insect? Look it up. See an interesting plant? Practice some amateur botany skills.
Your high school students can also help plan those vacations, which not only equips them with great life skills, but may result in some surprising experiences.
Consider asking your high school student to:
- Research vacation locations
- Research/book hotels/rentals
- Map the road trip
- Find local activities
- Find local restaurants/meal plan
There are two keys to this activity being successful: (1) keep the process conversational and (2) keep it from becoming too overwhelming. You want this activity to be manageable for your students.
Visiting family can also be an opportunity to learn! Document the family tree, record family recipes, or collect family stories. Interview grandparents and record the interviews—you won’t regret it!
2. Use summer camps to test out your future or gain skills
I recommend using summer camps as intentional opportunities to explore careers or interests. This approach allows students to explore post-high school plans without making major commitments.
For example, is your student interested in nursing? Try a nursing camp. Has your student mentioned pursuing law? Look for a debate camp. Want to equip your students in their faith? Worldview camp!
There are lots of options out there, but you start with these three organizations:
- Generation Joshua: A summer camp where teens run the country for a week. Brought to you by our friends at Generation Joshua.
- Patrick Henry College Leadership Camps: Week-long, interest-focused camps rooted in a vibrant Christian worldview where teens grow deeper in faith, forge lasting friendships, and sharpen their academic skills.
- Worldview Academy: A week-long Christian apologetics course.
3. Explore a new hobby (or more than one!)
Summer is a great time for your high school student to do an informal deep dive into an interesting activity. Key word: informal.
The goal is to give your child space to explore an interest simply for the sake of being curious. No camps, no formal lessons—just good, old-fashioned self-motivated exploration.
Do they need some inspiration? Here are some random ideas in no particular order:
- Gardening
- Learn an instrument (ukulele?)
- Art (like watercolor or sketching)
- A new language
- Car maintenance
- Chess
- Photography
- Cooking / Baking
- Sewing
- Carpentry
- Biking
- Rollerblading
- Embroidery
- Bird watching
- Pickling (the food)
- Cartography
- Calligraphy
- Soap Making
- Origami
- Fishing
- Build or fix a radio
- Metalworking
- Astronomy
- Try a new sport (like pickleball!)
4. Do a summer challenge
Developing discipline is a life-long process. Many of our experiences are long-term commitments—practicing a musical instrument, playing a sport, working a job, etc.
Summer challenges are a great way to tackle short-term goals. Your high school students can create their own challenge or find one online . This structure also provides a more concrete plan, which some students prefer.
For example:
- Adventure challenges: Visit all the national parks in your state. Try a new recipe each week. Learn one “old-fashioned skill” per week.
- Daily challenges: Commit to a 30-day or 60-day challenge. Try something that delights or challenges you! Take a picture each day for 30 days. Walk 10,000 steps a day for 60 days.
- Personal development challenges: Implementing a new habit? Track it every day. Learning a new language? Commit to reaching a certain level by the end of the summer. Find a certificate you can complete in two months.
You could also look for challenges like the National Bible Bee’s summer study which provides a scripture memorization plan.
5. Read through summer reading lists
This suggestion isn’t creative or unique, but we are firm believers in reading and reading full books, cover-to-cover. Some of us regularly complete year-long reading challenges, and at least one team member reads books in other languages—for fun.
Summer is the perfect time to try new genres, do a deep dive into an area of interest, or read for the pure delight reading brings. Read good books. Read challenging books. But don’t just read them. Think about them, wonder about them, analyze them, talk about them with friends and family.
Not sure where to start? We recently wrote a blog post about summer reading lists (which you can find here).
In summary…
If you can’t tell, summer breaks were one of my favorite moments growing up. It provided a change of pace to mix life up a bit and try new things.
You may already be familiar with some or all of these ideas—or they may be completely new to you! Regardless, I hope you and your high school students are excited about this summer and enjoy finding creative ways to encourage learning.
