When Is School Out? Fun Things to Do This Summer

Memorial Day weekend — it’s often described as the unofficial start to summer.

But when does summer really officially begin? In 2015, the summer begins with the solstice on Sunday, June 21 at 12:38 p.m. ET., according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

For many families, another official start to summer is the last day of school; for Fairfax County Public Schools that is Friday, June 19. That’s when students will get out two hours early and, until Tuesday, Sept. 8, be unfettered, free as a bird, footloose and fancy free. That’s 80 days.

How will they spend that time? Here are some ideas...feel free to add your own in the Comments box below.

• Run barefoot in the grass through the sprinkler. (See some ideas for sprinkler games, courtesy of the National Wildlife Federation.)
• Organize a lemonade stand in front of your house. (You can even help fight childhood cancer; find out how at Alex’s Lemonade Stand, they’ll tell you how.)
• Camp out in the backyard with your friends. (You can host a public campout too--check out the info from Great American Campout.)
• Check out the $1 summer movies schedule, all summer long, courtesy of Regal Entertainment Group.
• Go to an Arts in the Parks performance, especially for kids, on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. They’re free!
• On those rainy days, grab a deck of cards and show your kids how to play War, Slap Jack or Go Fish! (see Today’s Parent’s “10 Kid-Friendly Card Games”)
• And when the days are sunny, hit an area pool and play “Marco Polo” or “Shark.” (See “10 Classic Swimming Pool Games” from howstuffworks.com)
• Make your own popsicles...check out these fruit popsicle recipes from Country Living.
• Take part in a Summer Reading Program at your local library (registration starts on June 19).
• Check out the Fairfax County Summer Day Camps Guide.
• Play mini-golf (check for a Fairfax County mini-golf site near you).
• Go to a Nats baseball game (you can join the Jr. Nationals Kids Club here)
• Check out a performance at Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theater in the Woods.
• Learn how to play golf--check the PGA’s Web site, they’ll steer you to lessons in your area.
• Not into golf? Try tennis: The USTA can help you out.
• Summertime might be the ideal time to adopt a pet. Check out the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.
• Spend a day at the National Zoo or find out about their Summer Safari Day Camps.
• Take a sight-seeing boat tour on the Potomac, from Mount Vernon.
• Ride the Capital Wheel at National Harbor.
• Tie-dye a T-shirt outside in a bucket (The Rit Studio will show you how)
• Go to a pick-your-own farm (find one here).
• Learn how to ice skate at an indoor rink (you can try Skatequest in Reston or try another indoor rink in the area like Kettler Capital Iceplex in Arlington or the Mount Vernon RECenter.
• Spend the day at a water park (see a full list of Northern Virgina water parks here)
• Blow bubbles outside (find out how to make your own bubbles here, courtesy of bubbleblowers.com)
• Pack your own picnic lunch and go on a picnic (there are plenty of Fairfax County parks with picnic areas)
• See a “Peter Pan In-the-Round” performance at Tysons.
• Create your own “Little Free Library” for you and your neighbors to enjoy.

PHOTO: Oak Mar mini-golf; photo courtesy of Fairfax County