Summer Camp for Grown-Ups

Hi Friends,

Happy 4th of July!! I must admit, it’s difficult for me to say that right now. As the daughter and granddaughter of a veteran, it’s hard to acknowledge that the fireworks, national anthem, and flags, which always brought me a sense of pride and peace, no longer feel the same. The current state of affairs in the US is weighing heavily on my heart and mind. My usual coping mechanism is to dive deeper into work, especially since I’m fortunate enough to love what I do and the people I work with and for.

However, as I was working on this post, I had an epiphany: if I work through this feeling, I might miss out on the simple joys of summer! Before I know it, fall will be here, which is typically our busiest time at Balance Design, followed by the holiday season. This realization scared me and made me want to do something every day to truly enjoy the summer. I’m calling it “Summer Camp for Grown-ups.” I remember summer camp as a carefree, never-ending place of crafts, nature, silliness, and fun. I thought it would be fun to recreate some of those joys as a roadmap for more summer fun. These ideas can be done in any order and you can combine several into one day!  I’m sure I’ve missed many things that make you think of summer, so please share all the ideas I’ve overlooked!

I hope these ideas offer a fresh perspective and add a bit of fun to your life!

Day 1: Have a Barb-B-Que

Day 2: Eat a popsicle

Day 3: Light some sparklers

Day 4: Go for a short forest  hike

Day 5: Go tubing

Day 6: Go to a baseball game

Day 7: Eat boiled peanuts

Day 8: Eat regular peanuts

Day 9: Plant a plant

Day 10: Draw a flower or a landscape or a simple face

Day 11: Go the the bookstore, and choose some fluffy summer reads

Day 12: Go to a botanical garden

Day 13: Go to a pool

Day 14: Go to an ice cream parlor

Day 15: Make a lanyard or a pot holder

Day 16: Go kayaking

Day 17: Take an urban hike

Day 18: Find a restaurant patio for a beverage

Day 19: Find a great pair of flip flops

Day 20: Wear above flops

Day 21: Set up a sprinkler and find some neighbor kids to play

Day 22: Eat watermelon and blueberries

Day 23: Eat corn on the cob

Day 24: Build a campfire

Day 25: Eat S’mores

Day 26: Go to the mountains

Day 27: Go camping

Day 28: Find and watch the fireflies

Day 29: Buy a hummingbird feeder and food

Day 30: Set up the feeder

Day 31: See if the hummingbirds find it (check over the next week)

Day 32: Get back to your pile of books

Day 33: Get a new, beautiful or funny jigsaw puzzle

Day 34: Lay out the puzzle with the right side up, to encourage assembly

Day 35: Work your puzzle, as desired

Day 36: Go to a local farmers market

Day 37: Buy fresh flowers

Day 38: Go sailing

Day 39: Dine near the water

Day 40: Buy ice cream from a musical truck

Day 41: Buy some playdough-open it, smell it and make something

Day 42: Go to a fabric store and cut some samples

Day 43: Make a collage with your samples

Day 44: Go to a flea market

Day 45: Find something to collect

Day 46: Take a summer vacation

Day 47: Find an interesting rock

Day 48: See if you notice a feather

Day 49: Get a new bathing suit

Day 50: Get/Wear a sun hat

Day 51: Get/Wear a sundress (sorry guys, unless you want to!)

Day 52: Ride a bike

Day 53: Ride a scooter

Day 54: Visit a fountain or waterfall and get in

Day 55: Eat outside (can you do this almost every day?)

Day 56: Read in an outdoor chaise

Day 57: Buy a beachball, blow it up, and play with some neighbor kids

Day 58: Hang clothes on a line

Day 59: Collect some city wildflowers

Day 60: Throw a summer party

Day 61: Skip rocks

Day 62: Spit sunflower seeds

Day 63: Hang in a hammock

Day 64: Ride in a convertible with the top down and the music loud

What do you think? Let’s take some time and enjoy the season.  Be creative, playful, curious, and perhaps most importantly, take the time to simply be, and to appreciate this short season.  I will also take my own advice, so if you see me, please ask how summer camp is.    Let me know your thoughts on summer camp ideas. I always love your [email protected].

Happy Summer,

Stephanie