100 Ways To Get Outside In Summer For 1000 Hours Outside

If you’re joining the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge, summer is the perfect time to make big progress, especially for kids.

The key isn’t planning elaborate outings every day. Instead, it’s about giving kids simple, fun ways to spend more time outside.

Kids naturally thrive outdoors when they have the space to explore, play, and use their imagination.

To make it easy, here are 100 kid-friendly ideas to help your children spend more time outside this summer, whether you have a big backyard or just a small outdoor space.

Read: How to Start the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge

100 Outdoor Ideas for Kids This Summer (1000 Hours Outside)

Free Play & Simple Fun 

1. Eat all your meals outside
2. Bring your favorite toys outside
3. Sit and watch clouds. Call out what they look like.
4. Roll down the grass hills
5. Draw with sidewalk chalk
6. Blow bubbles
7. Play with a ball
8. Run races around your street
9. Play tag
10. Practice cartwheels or tricks
11. Have a dance party outside
12. Play pretend outside
13. Create an imaginary world with cardboard boxes
14. Play with toy cars outside
15. Set up dolls or action figures outside
16. Build small “homes” for toys
17. Dig in the dirt
18. Collect sticks
19. Collect rocks
20. Wash the car

Water Play 

21. Run through a sprinkler
22. Water balloon games
23. Fill buckets and pour water
24. Play with water guns
25. Wash toys outside
26. Make mud pies
27. Create a backyard “car wash” for bikes
28. Splash in a kiddie pool
29. Play with cups and pouring
30. Freeze toys in ice and melt them
31. Spray plants with a hose
32. Make a mini “water park.”
33. Plant some flowers
34. Play the “fill the bucket” challenge
35. Wash outdoor furniture
36. Make bubbles with dish soap
37. Play with sponges and water
38. Make ice cubes and play with them
39. Sit in the shade with a cold drink
40. Have a popsicle outside

Creative Outdoor Activities 

41. Paint outside
42. Draw nature pictures
43. Make leaf rubbings
44. Create a nature collage
45. Build with sticks
46. Make a fairy garden
47. Decorate rocks
48. Make a nature bracelet
49. Start a nature journal
50. Draw what you see
51. Build with LEGO outside
52. Create chalk art
53. Design a scavenger hunt
54. Make a bird feeder
55. Create a treasure map
56. Build a mini obstacle course
57. Take photos outside
58. Make sun prints
59. Create outdoor crafts at a table
60. Draw with water on the ground

Active Play 

61. Set up an obstacle course
62. Jump rope
63. Ride bikes or scooters
64. Play catch
65. Kick a soccer ball
66. Run laps for fun
67. Climb on playground equipment
68. Practice balance (logs, curbs)
69. Play hopscotch
70. Race across the yard
71. Play follow-the-leader
72. Do a backyard workout challenge
73. Play freeze dance outside
74. Toss frisbees
75. Climb hills
76. Practice skipping
77. Do relay races
78. Play “red light, green light.”
79. Play Red Rover or Ring around the rosy
80. Have a mini sports day

Exploring & Adventure 

81. Go on a nature walk
82. Visit a park
83. Look for bugs
84. Watch birds
85. Collect different leaves
86. Go on a scavenger hunt
87. Walk around the neighborhood
88. Visit a playground
89. Explore a trail
90. Watch the sunset
91. Look at stars
92. Listen to outdoor sounds
93. Visit a garden
94. Walk near water (lake, beach, etc.)
95. Climb rocks
96. Explore a new outdoor spot
97. Sit quietly and observe nature
98. Build a small fort
99. Have a picnic outside
100. Let kids choose the adventure

Tips for the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge (With Kids)

• Keep it simple, kids don’t need much to have fun
• Let kids lead the play whenever possible
• Don’t worry about mess (dirt, water, grass, it’s all part of it)
• Aim for consistency, not perfection
• Even short outdoor moments add up quickly

1000 Hours Outside This Summer 

Overall, spending more time outside doesn’t have to be complicated; it just has to become part of your everyday routine. Instead of overthinking it, try keeping things simple and approachable so it feels easy to head outside more often.

At the same time, remember that consistency matters more than doing something big or elaborate. Even short moments like a quick game, a walk, or a little free play can really add up over time.

As a result, your kids will begin to naturally spend more time outdoors, and you’ll likely notice more creativity, more movement, and more enjoyment in those everyday moments.

So, start small, come back to this list whenever you need inspiration, and most importantly, enjoy the process along the way.

Read More About The 1000 Hours Outside Challenge:

1000 Hours Outside Challenge (and what it is):

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How to get started with the 1000 hours outside challenge:

Starting something new as a family can feel exciting and intimidating at the same time. If you’ve heard about the 1000 Hours Outside and felt inspired but also unsure where to begin, you’re not alone.

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How To Get 1000 Hours Outside (the easy way)

Between school, work, sports, meals, and everyday life, it can feel like there simply isn’t time to add one more thing. But what most families discover is that the challenge doesn’t require adding more to the schedule; it’s about using the time you already have differently.

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