What to Do This Summer: Fun Activities for Families

Summer’s magic lies in its open-ended days. A little planning turns that blank calendar into a highlight reel of laughter, learning, and fresh air. Check out our summer activity ideas for fun anytime and anywhere. Then, if you’re in or near Terre Haute, use our local guide to plug into community events that multiply the fun while supporting neighbors in need.

Budget-Friendly Summer Fun Ideas for Families

Looking for ways to keep boredom at bay without draining your wallet? Try these classics, tweaked for maximum engagement:

• Backyard water park: A sprinkler, a tarp turned slip-and-slide, and a few plastic bins of water balloons create a cooling oasis with zero admission fees.

• Library passport challenge: Most public libraries offer summer reading programs with prizes. Grab a stack of books, then stamp a “passport” you make from folded cardstock each time someone finishes a title.

• Sunset scavenger hunt: Write down 10 things you can spot on an evening walk — fireflies, a crescent moon, the smell of cut grass — then hit the sidewalk as temperatures drop.

• Kitchen science: Bring the chemistry lesson outside: place Mentos in diet cola or create solar ovens from pizza boxes and foil. You’ll combine STEM, snacks, and the thrill of a minor explosion.

• Neighborhood field day: Put up a sign-up sheet and let every family host one low-effort station (water-sponge relay, tug-of-war, chalk art). Rotate every 15 minutes to keep energy high.

• Volunteer vacation day: Spend a day on a community service project. For example, you could pick a local beach, creek, or trail that needs a cleanup. Provide gloves and a picnic reward. Kids learn stewardship while logging steps on their fitness trackers.

• Backyard campout: Pitch a tent, tell ghost stories, and stargaze for Perseid meteors in early August. You get all the fun of regular camping, plus indoor plumbing just a few steps away.

These activities are great for blending movement, creativity, and social time. They also scale for toddlers through teens: little ones love sensory water play while older kids can design the scavenger list or oversee the grill during a post-cleanup cookout. Sprinkle a few dates on the calendar now so you’re not scrambling when “I’m bored” echoes through the living room.

Terre Haute Spotlight: Adventure on Your Doorstep

West central Indiana families enjoy a compact menu of attractions that rival bigger cities without the two-hour traffic jam. Here are a few favorites:

• Deming Park splash pad and pool for beating the heat, plus miles of shaded trails for a lazy afternoon ride or walk. 

• Terre Haute Children’s Museum, a three-story playground of hands-on exhibits where tweens can pilot flight simulators while toddlers build foam block skyscrapers. 

• Griffin Bike Park, home to beginner-friendly pump tracks and expert jump lines alike. Bring helmets; rent bikes on-site if needed. 

• Larry Bird Museum (free admission) for sports nostalgia and interactive hoops challenges. 

• Visit local bowling lanes, which often have Kids Bowl Free programs, letting children 15 and under roll two free games per day all summer. Shoe rental runs just a few dollars.

Round out your itinerary with Saturday farmers markets, Rex baseball games, or a picnic at Maple Avenue Nature Park.

Catholic Charities Terre Haute: Summer Events That Give Back

Catholic Charities Terre Haute pairs family fun with community impact. Put these dates on your fridge:

Wabash Valley Rubber Duck Regatta: July 4th

Fifteen thousand bright-yellow ducks will make a splash at Fairbanks Park during this year’s Wabash Valley Rubber Duck Regatta! Each “adopted” for $5, one lucky duck earns its backer $10,000, and proceeds bring hope to neighbors across our community. The 2025 race begins at 7 p.m., ending just in time for a concert and Independence Day fireworks. Bring blankets, grab festival-style snacks, and practice your quack chant.

Find adoption locations online here!

Family Night at Ryves Youth Center: Third Wednesdays

From 4:30–6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, Ryves throws open its doors for a hot meal, kids games, and resources for the entire family. Themes change monthly. All families are welcome! Drop in! No RSVP required.

Learn more here and get ready for the next Family Night!

Ryves Youth Center: Summer Camp

If your kids are looking for a day camp full of learning, fun activities and laughter, look no further than Ryves Youth Center’s Summer Camp: Serving Up Values. Campers will enjoy daily activities, meals and snacks and field trips (based on attendance). There’s no registration fee, but space is limited. Complete the registration form to reserve your child’s spot.

Camp runs daily from 11am-5:30pm.

By pairing your family’s summer events with our mission, you teach kids that fun and service aren’t opposites — they’re a powerful combo.

Pack the Calendar, Not the Suitcase

Summer doesn’t have to cost airfare or theme-park prices. A garden hose, a few library books, and a duck adoption or two can turn ordinary weeks into a scrapbook-worthy season. So draft that game plan:

• Circle the third Wednesday of each month for Family Night.

• Adopt a flock of rubber ducks for the Wabash Valley Rubber Duck Regatta on July 4th.

• Sprinkle daily adventures — backyard campouts, museum day trips, evening scavenger hunts — between the big events.

Come August, you’ll have a sun-kissed photo roll, kids who discovered new talents, and the knowledge that you made a tangible difference in your community.

See you at the river — don’t forget sunscreen!

Here at Catholic Charities Terre Haute, we provide help and create hope by nourishing the minds, bodies, and spirits of children, families, adults, and seniors. By collaborating with community partners, we provide nutritious food, safe shelter, quality youth programming, and essential personal and household needs to our neighbors. Donate today to support meaningful community change!