Printable Summer Bucket List

Last Updated on May 20, 2025

This Summer Bucket List will make sure summer doesn’t pass you by without enjoying these traditional seasonal activities with your family.

This list is packed with ideas that work for all ages and energy levels. Whether you’re planning a staycation or just want to make the most of sunny afternoons, this printable is a great way to spark creativity, encourage family bonding, and keep boredom at bay.

Although, I’m not going to lie, this is also an easy way to give my kids a ready list of things to do when they inevitably start complaining one week into summer break that they have nothing to do.

Jump to:

• Why is a Summer Bucket List Important?
• Creative Way to Use the Summer Bucket List
• Activities Included on This Summer Bucket List
• Mom Life - Made Easier
• Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools for Printables
• Dowload the Printable Summer Bucket List
• Printable FAQs
• Additional Summer Fun Ideas

Why is a Summer Bucket List Important?

With the relaxed pace of summer, it’s easy for kids to fall into a routine of screens and boredom. A bucket list provides a fun, visual reminder of all the little (and big) things you want to do together and gives kids a sense of excitement and ownership over their summer plans.

Here are some other things you’ll like about having a bucket list:

• These ideas are great for family bonding. You’ll get to spend quality time together actually doing things together, rather than just being in the same room together doing your own things.
• It encourages families to step outside their comfort zones and try new things together, which might make a child more confident when they need to try new things on their own (going to a new school, playing a new sport, etc.).
• Several of the activities encourage kids to learn and be curious. Summer is often known as the season when kids experience learning loss, but completing activities on a bucket list can help prevent that.
• A summer bucket list allows families to set goals, work towards them, and experience a sense of accomplishment. Your goals can be whatever you want—like completing a certain amount of items on the list per day/week/month.

Creative Way to Use the Summer Bucket List

Here are some creative ways to use this printable summer bucket list to keep it fun, engaging, and visible throughout the season:

• Hang it on the fridge or a bulletin board and check off items as you complete them. Add photos, drawings, or souvenirs next to the list and swap those items out as you complete new activities.
• Cut up the list and place each activity that can be easily completed into a jar. Let kids draw one at random when they say they’re bored or when you need a quick idea.
• Pick one or two activities (or as many as you have time for) from the list each Sunday and schedule them into your week as a family.
• Pair the list with a summer scrapbook or journal where kids can write or draw about each activity they complete.

Activities Included on This Summer Bucket List

Most of the ideas on this summer bucket list are things your kids can do right at home, plus lots of free summer activities for kids. However, I’ve also listed a few “field trips” for the family – fun summer activities that create great memories.

• Play in the sprinklers
• Attend an outdoor concert
• Camp in the backyard
• Make lemonade
• Make snow cones
• Climb a tree
• Visit an amusement park
• Visit the library
• Paint rocks
• Catch lightning bugs
• Catch fireflies
• Run through a sprinkler
• Eat watermelon
• Watch a thunderstorm
• Go bowling
• Go to a fair or carnival
• Draw with sidewalk chalk
• Have a relay race
• Visit a farmer’s market
• Tie dye shirts
• Watch the clouds
• Roast marshmallows
• Visit the beach
• Eat an ice cream cone
• Watch the sunset
• Do a scavenger hunt
• Water balloon fight
• Make root beer floats
• Make a pizza box oven
• Play flashlight tag
• Go swimming
• See a movie
• Watch fireworks
• Watch a meteor shower
• Play volleyball
• Have a picnic
• Do a treasure hunt
• Go fishing

Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools for Printables

Printer: This one is a great budget printer. If you’re willing to spend just a little more though, this is a better option. And if you’re looking for an all-in-one home office machine, this one does it all, has high reviews and includes 2 years of ink.

Ink cartridges: Speaking of ink, this is where the cost of using printables can really add up! To save BIG on ink, buy it from CompAndSave.com. It’s substantially cheaper than anywhere else and they carry ink for all major printer brands and models.

Printer paper or cardstock: If you’re printing for one-time, quick use, print on regular printer paper. If you need the printout to hold up to being handled often or if you plan to laminate it to use it multiple times, choose cardstock.

Laminator: Laminating your printable is an inexpensive way to use it multiple times. Just use dry erase markers and wipe off when you’re done so you can use it again!  Alternately, you can cover the printable with clear contact paper to achieve the same thing or place the printable in clear page protectors.

Binder or Folder: If you’re using page protectors for your printables, binders are such an easy way to keep them together and organized. I love this colorful set. If you prefer to stick with standard white though, this set is highly rated and very affordable. And if you need larger binders, this set is terrific. If you go with folders, I like these.

Storage boxes: I like to keep a collection of coloring pages and activity sheets for kids in these plastic storage boxes that I pull out whenever I need to keep kids occupied. I like to keep my printable checklists and packing lists in this file organizer.

Hole punch: If you don’t use page protectors but want to use binders to organize your printables, a hole puncher will be your best friend. This is the one you want if you’ll be punching holes in several pages at a time and want to do so easily. And this bargain option is ideal if you don’t mind limiting your hole punching to 2-3 pages at a time.

Markers and Pens: The right writing instrument makes a big difference! Depending on what I’m writing, I have different preferences. Here are my favorites for each type:

• Ball point pens – These are the ones I use for regular note taking
• Gel pens – My favorites for journaling
• Erasable gel pens – I use these for my calendar so I still have pretty colors but can easily change things if my schedule changes
• Fine point permanent markers – These are my favorite for coloring
• Felt tip pens – I use these on Post-It notes for my own reminders or notes for my family
• Markers – These are my favorites for kids since there are no caps to lose and the kids can easily open and close them on their own

Clipboard: I love this clipboard for on-the-go with the kids. It has built in storage for both printables and markers or pencils.

Dowload the Printable Summer Bucket List

To download the printable, just fill in the form below. You can then save and/or print it immediately.

Printable FAQs

Additional Summer Fun Ideas

Keep the summer fun going strong for you and your family with these other free ideas, recipes and printables.

• 30 Ways to Make Summer Fun for Kids (Without Breaking the Bank): Looking for cheap and creative summer fun for kids? This list has 30 screen-free activities to keep your little ones active, engaged, and smiling all season.
• Printable Summer Reading Challenge For Kids: This printable summer reading challenge is the perfect way to make reading fun for kids over the summer months. Challenge kids to read more this summer!
• 100 Things To Do This Summer: This printable 100 Things To Do This Summer List is a great way to stop boredom during summer months. This huge list of fun activities will keep you busy.
• The Very Best Simple Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe: This incredibly creamy, no-churn chocolate dessert takes minutes to prep and requires just a handful of ingredients and no special equipment. Perfect for summer treats or year-round chocolate cravings!
• Homemade Ice Magic Recipe: This Ice Magic recipe is a classic! It’s so easy to make with just two ingredients and it hardens instantly when poured over ice cream.
• Raspberry Blondies Recipe: This raspberry blondies recipe is the perfect sweet and tart treat for summer. The chewy blondies will be a hit with friends and family.