It’s officially summer now, and soon classes will be letting out. Here are 150 ideas to add to your summer bucket list. There is a wide variety of ideas for all age and ability levels, and many of these are appropriate whether you’re making a summer bucket list for your family, or on your own. How many of these fantastic summer adventures will you check off your own Canadian summer bucket list?

150 Canadian Summer Bucket List Ideas

1. Have a Bonfire

2. Swim in the ocean

   Make sure to slap on some sunscreen for all your water sport fun, to keep from getting uncomfortable and dangerous burns from the suns rays. Here are my favourite natural sunscreens.
   

3. Swim in a lake

4. Swim in a river

5. Take a hike

   You can find the Canada Trails website here, and check out a list of 60 awesome hikes in Canada here.

6. Search for Geocaches

   Read more about these real-life treasure hunts here.
   

7. Place Your Own Geocache

   Want to add one of your own to the list of registered caches? Find instructions here.

8. Watch for Whales

   Head to one of our oceans and get yourself on a whale watching tour.

9. Go Fishing

10. Eat From a Food Truck

11. Shop at an Artisan or Farmer’s Market

    
    

12. Find a New Playground

    This is a fantastic app for finding all the playgrounds near you when you’re out of your element anywhere in the world.

13. Attend a Music Festival

14. Watch an Outdoor Movie

    Are there any playing in a city or town park near you?

15. Go To A Drive-In Movie

    Here’s a master list made in 2016 of all the drive-in movie theatres in Canada.

16. Go Camping

    Hesitant to camp with a toddler? Here are some tips from our personal experience.
    

17. Camp In The Backyard

18. Go On a Roadtrip

    Canada’s Rocky Mountains make for a breathtaking summer road trip I remember dearly from my own childhood.

19. Swim and Slide at a Water Park

    Here are Canada’s 10 best water parks to get you started.

20. Splash at a Splash Park

    These neat parks where you can spray water and splash through sprinklers, wading pools, and other shallow water features are also called spray pads, splash pads, and spray parks. Search for one near you.
    

21. Go To A Fair or Amusement Park

    Check out Canada’s top 10 amusement parks here.

22. Grow Something

    Whether you have acres, a small garden bed, a few planters on the patio, or some small pots on your window sill, you can grow something pretty or tasty (or both).

23. Pick Berries

    Raspberries, blueberries, huckleberries, mountain huckleberries, strawberries, blackberries, salmon berries, thimble berries, saskatoon berries… Canada is ripe with berries in the summer time.

24. Make Jam

    Here is the most simple way to make blackberry jam, that doesn’t require special canning equipment.

25. Bake a Pie

    Save yourself the hassle and buy a quick-mix pack for the crust, but invest the extra time on a lattice top. You’ll feel pretty proud of the pretty pie.
    

26. Build a Fort

    

    You can make lots of different types of forts using blankets, tarps, lumber, sticks, and whatever else you can find. Here are some useful instructions for building a stick fort in the woods, if you want to get more technical than leaning up some sticks against a tree.

27. Host a Potluck

    Have a summer picnic or BBQ celebration in your yard or a park, and invite everyone to bring a dish to contribute.

28. Watch The Clouds

29. Build a Fairy Garden

    Bring the magic of Salt Spring Island’s Mt Erskine and Fairy Landing to your own backyard.
    

30. Have a Sing-Along

    Whether you’re at the beach or around a campfire, sing-alongs make my heart feel happy. If you or someone with you plays guitar, ukulele, or another instrument, great. But sing-alongs are still fun a cappella. (Read this for an easy way to teach yourself to play guitar or ukulele.)

31. Go On A Picnic

32. Have a Staycation

    Play tourist in your own town and see what your part of the world has to offer.

33. Build a Sand Castle

34. Go Canoeing

35. Go Kayaking

36. Go Paddle Boarding
    

37. Have a Water Fight

38. Drive Go-Carts

39. Go Paint-balling

40. Ride a Gondola

    Here is a list of all the gondolas in Canada here and aerial tramways in Canada here.

41. Play Street or Field Hockey

    What’s more Canadian than a good ol’ hockey game?

42. Relax on an Island

    East Coast or West Coast, island life is a little bit slower. Here are some fun things for families to do when visiting Salt Spring Island in the Gulf Islands.

43. Make a Bow & Arrow

    The most simple way is to tie a string tight to both ends of a straight, bendy stick, and use pine cones or twigs as arrows.

44. Paint Stones

    Find some rocks and paint them. To create little treasures for others to find, hide them along a trail or in an outdoor play space.

45. Watch for Wildlife
    

    Keep an eye out while on road trips, hikes, and camping adventures for some of Canada’s plentiful wildlife, like bears, beavers, deer, eagles, moose, rabbits, mountain goats, and so much more.

46. Fly a Kite

47. Go Skinny Dipping

    
    

48. Tube Down a River

49. Grow a Sunflower House

50. Plant a Vine Teepee

51. Read a Book

    One you actually want to read for fun.

52. Go On a StoryWalk®

    Check if your local library puts on any of these neat literature walks that motivate your children along a trail. If not, here is how to get one in your community.

    A post shared by The Adventures Of Hannah & Z (@hanspray) on Feb 17, 2017 at 9:00pm PST

53. Take an Outdoor Yoga Class

    Or if you want to do yoga on your own with your little ones, read this post on yoga tips and tools for kids.

54. Start a Meet-Up

    There’s not a group with your interests that gets together in your community? Start one!

55. Build a Toy Boat & Sail It

56. Learn To Tie Knots

    Find some advice on this and other outdoor learning here.

57. Run Through & Lay In a Field
    

58. Gaze at the Stars

59. Take a Train Trip

    Find out more about the different Canadian train trips here.

60. Fly On a Canadian Helicopter Tour

61. Put Together an Obstacle Course

    Not wanting to make one up yourself with what you have around? Order this splash obstacle course on Amazon here (Affiliate link).

62. Leave Random Kindness Notes

    

63. Set Up a Lemonade Stand

64. Have a Yard Sale

65. Go On a Scavenger Hunt

    Get instructions to make up your own nature scavenger hunt here.

66. Start An Ant Farm

67. Start a Worm Farm

68. Make a Daisy Chain

    

69. Build a Wind Chime

70. Make a Sun-Dial

71. Watch a Parade

72. Volunteer

    What’s important to you? Contribute to your passions or your community and see what volunteer options are out there.

73. Play Disc Golf

    Find free disc golf courses in Canada here.
    

74. Play Tennis

75. Play Golf

76. Visit a Tree-Top Adventure

    Find a zip-line park in your province here.

77. Go Horseback Riding

78. Plant a Tree

79. Plant Flowers

    Make sure they are bee-friendly plants, grown without dangerous neonicotinoids that do more harm than good.

80. Ride a Bike

81. Join a Photography Club

82. Find a Waterfall

    Here is a list of the waterfalls in Canada.

83. Go on a Winery Tour

    Read my experience and what I learned on my first winery tour here.

84. Make Popsicles

    Check out this recipe for healthy protein popsicles.

85. Play Bocce

86. Play Horseshoes

87. Go Beach-combing

88.  Visit a Farm
    

89. Build a Birdhouse

90. Explore a Cave

    Here is a list of caves in Canada.

91. Attend a Sporting Event

    Baseball? Soccer? Lacross? Even if you don’t follow a sport, it can be fun to go out and cheer for your local team.

92. Blow Bubbles

    Get a giant bubble recipe here.

93. Play Capture the Flag

94. Walk on a Slack Line

    Order one on Amazon here. (Affiliate link)

95. Visit a Corn Maze or Labyrinth

    A post shared by The Adventures Of Hannah & Z (@hanspray) on Jun 19, 2017 at 9:12pm PDT

96. Jump Through a Sprinkler

97. Make Duck Calls with Grass

98. Go Bird Watching in Canada

99. Climb a Tree

100. Make Smores

101. Weave a Basket

102. Pick a Wildflower Bouquet for Someone

     Be careful about where and what you pick. Don’t pick endangered species or anything out of park lands.
     

103. Make a Stepping Stone

     Personalize your garden or make a gift for someone special. If you line the concrete with heavy-duty plastic wrap, little hand and foot prints could be made for each year. DIY instructions for stepping stones here.

104. Enjoy Cabin Life

     Head up to the family cottage on a lake, make friends with someone who has a cabin along the coast, or rent one for yourself.

105. Paint with Natural Paint Brushes

     Find more details in this post on Autumn fun activities.

106. Watch Fireworks

     You can usually find fireworks on Canada Day, or at these other popular fireworks festivals in Canada.

107. Make a Plant ID Journal

     Get to know the plants in your ecosystems and create a journal to keep notes and examples of local flora.

108. Check Out a Viewpoint

     Climb a mountain or take a drive, and find a beautiful view. Find some of Canada’s most scenic drives and viewpoints here.

     A post shared by The Adventures Of Hannah & Z (@hanspray) on Jun 2, 2017 at 4:28pm PDT

109. Collect Loose Materials

     Wander outside and collect natural materials for loose parts play and transient art.

110. Send a Message In a Bottle

111. Make a Map

     Learn some simple mapping skills and map a route you travel.

112. DIY a Water Discovery Wall

113. Build a Sandbox

     Use a kiddie pool or a small tent for an easy version.

114. Take a Balloon Ride

     Here is a list of hot air balloon operators in Canada.

115. Host a Pancake Breakfast

116. Go Boating

     Buy, rent, or borrow for adventures on the water, fishing, swimming and taking in the views.
     

117. Visit a National Park

118. Check Out One of The Seven Wonders of Canada

119. Take a Multi-Day Trail Trek

120. Visit a Brewery

     Canada is known for it’s beer, so we couldn’t leave this off the Canadian Summer Bucket List. Hang out on an outdoor patio at one of the many entertaining Canadian breweries.

121. Soak in Some Hot Springs

     Here’s a list of hot springs in Canada.
     

122. Pan for Gold

     There are many locations to pan for gold across Canada. Here are some instructions on gold panning.

123. Draw or Write in the Sand

124. Blaze a Trail

     If you own a bit of property, take some snippers and make a new trail to walk.

125. Build a Portable Sauna

     Otherwise known as a sweat lodge or steam tent. DIY instructions here.

126. Carve or Whittle

127. Hang in a Hammock
     

128. Make a Slingshot

129. Set off a Bottle Rocket

130. Make Potions and Perfumes

131. Paint with Dandelions

     Pick dandelions (which are often considered weeds) and rub them on paper, cardboard, or even your own skin.

132. Place Rock Designs

     Make temporary art with rocks placed just ever so.
     

133. Build Balancing Rock Towers

     It’s a task of patience, steadiness, and physics.

134. Set Out a Bee Watering Station

     All you need is a bowl with water and marbles. Watch this easy DIY that helps the bees here.

135. Spray Water Colours

     An old sheet or some large paper, and a spray bottle with water colour paints (or even water with food dye) makes for some interesting art experiences.

136. Make Dandelion Wishes
     

137. Press Flowers

138. Set Up a Mud Kitchen

139. Hang a Zip Line

     You can hang your own zip line in your back yard with this kit from Amazon (affiliate link).

140. Get Buried in Sand

     Extra bucket list points if it’s creatively done, so you look like a mermaid or something else neat.
     

141. Go Rock Climbing

     Check out this information on rock climbing and bouldering in Canada.

142. Feed Ducks

     Don’t feed ducks bread crumbs, though, as it actually hurts their stomachs. Learn more and find some duck-friendly nibbles here.

143. Paint with Water

     When it’s dry and sunny out, you can “paint” with just water and paint brushes, watching it disappear as it dries.

144. Make a Rock Garden

     If you have a little one who likes to collect rocks wherever they go, this is not only easy but a useful way of displaying the kept rocks.

145. Make a Driftwood Sculpture

146. Go Diving

     Get certified and see some amazing underwater sights. Check out the best dive sites in Canada here.
     

147. Make a Light Show with Phosphorescence

     If you hit the coastal waters in the right place at the right time, you can experience stunning bioluminescence when plankton in the dark waters are agitated.

148. Make a Flower Petal Sensory Bin

     Take this Canadian summer bucket list idea and make a real summer bucket. Roses and lavender work especially well and have beautiful fragrances to enjoy, as well.

149. Find a Sit Spot

     Remember Pooh’s thoughtful spot? Find a quiet place of your own to go sit, reflect, and just be. This is a great practice for children.

150. Forage for Edible Plants

     Be careful and make sure you know for sure what you’re harvesting as there are poisonous plants out there that can make you very sick or worse. That being said, here is a list of 15 edible plants in Canada. Look around for a foraging class near you to learn proper identification of local species.

What did I miss? I know I left plenty out of this Canadian summer bucket list. Leave me a comment below or on social media to let me know what you would add to your own summer bucket list, whether or not your in Canada.

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