Written by Samantha Walter-Cano, Edited by Olivia Zugay and Yvonne Florian
Whether you have summer plans or not, we have some fun summer ideas to share with you and your children. After a busy school year, coming up with activities for your family to engage in over the summer can prove to be difficult. For kids, having a lack of activities during the summer can lead to increased screen-time, which is linked to limiting creativity and causing an irregular sleep schedule. This is why we are going to share some of our ideas for fun and educational activities. Summer can be a fantastic opportunity to do some exploring and a little learning while you are at it.
Day on the Lagoon
Whether your children have visited this special place or not, there is always more to explore and to be done at the Environmental Learning Center (ELC). For those who have not yet visited, the ELC is a 64-acre lagoon island nature center located in 255 Live Oak Drive in Vero Beach, Florida 32963. The ELC is home to many trails and interactive activities such as a touch tank and discovery center. ELC also offers family-friendly activities, such as guided kayak tours and pontoon boat rides. During the summer, they host several youth programs and classes for your little ones. The Environmental Learning Center, 255 Live Oak Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32963. Discoverelc.org.
Insect Collecting
As you have probably noticed, Florida is home to numerous insects. Collecting and observing these insects may be a cool way to get outside this summer. And you might not even have to leave your home. Many insects can be found in your own backyard or even your neighborhood. Learning how to identify insects by features and characteristics can be fun and is a great way for your children to impress their friends when they go back to school. Childhood entomology (the study of insects) is a gateway to an interest in science. However, if the thought of handling insects makes you queasy, you can always observe them from far away. For example, watching wild bees land on flowers can be an entertaining pastime. Check your local library for Florida insect identification books, or check out the University of Florida’s Electronic Data Information Source (UF/IFAS EDIS) publications topic page on Insects.
If insect collecting is something your child may be interested in exploring, check out the Florida 4-H Bug Club website. This website is home to many resources as well as activities and games involving identifying insects. Another great children’s arthropod site for the younger children is this downloadable, printable UF coloring book with illustrations of common Florida spiders, “Coloring with Spiders: Our Favorites from Florida“. And the 4-H and Youth Entomology website has many more Entomology topics to explore. You can also visit your local UF/IFAS Extension office to help you identify any insects you catch.
Butterfly Garden
Similar to the last activity, creating a butterfly garden can be a great way to attract beautiful butterflies to your yard. Creating a butterfly garden can be a fun way to teach your children the art of gardening as well as the importance of pollinators.
Although, starting a butterfly garden will take some planning, it is a worthwhile activity and results in beautiful creatures filling your yard. The children will enjoy picking out plants at the nursery, digging hole for planting, and daily watering with the hose to establish the garden. The UF/IFAS EDIS publication, “Butterfly Gardening in Florida” is a great resource for planning this type of garden, including some of the common butterflies you will see and what time of year you will see them and which plants attract them. Remember, your local UF/IFAS Extension Indian River County office and Master Gardener Volunteers can help you with plant choices and planning.
Treasure Hunting
Do you want some fun places to visit but don’t want to travel too far? The Treasure Coast Kids Quest is the perfect outing for you and your family. This activity consists of visiting 6 local Indian River County businesses and completing an activity at each spot. After completion, you receive a stamp as well as some family fun. Once you have collected all 6 stamps, your child will be able to collect their treasure! To learn more about participating in this quest, as well as how to pick up your treasure, check out Kids Quest Treasure Coast – Welcome to Your Adventure. There’s a different adventure for each of Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties.
Fun in the Sun
Our final activity suggestion for you is to explore the county on your own. Indian River County is home to many beaches, nature trails, and historic sites that you can check out with your family this summer. Some of our favorites include Sebastian Inlet State Park for a swim. And viewing the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge for a taste of Florida flora and fauna, which can be done by walking the Centennial Trail or traveling it by boat. Take a drive down scenic Jungle Trail while on your way to Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum. Or visit the Indian River Citrus Museum in downtown Vero Beach before stopping to play in Pocahontas Park.
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