I’m always completely blown away when school ends for the summer.

No matter how many countdowns and calendars are slashing away, it always feels like it’s an abrupt shift.

I look forward to a break from car line, a break from lunches (gods forbid you run out of high sodium lunch meat and have to send your kid out the door with the forbidden peanut butter that lands you both in lunch jail. Not that I have anything against protecting from allergies or following the rules for the good of all students health, it’s just an easy backup that no exists) and a break from rushing out the door and into traffic.

When she was in pre-k and kindergarten, summer was little plastic pools and crafts.

When she was in elementary school, it was day trips or community pool time.

And now…

Now she’s in middle school… and, yikes. The world outside of YouTube, Pinterest memes, and Minecraft somehow melted away into a landscape filled with the horrors of social interaction, new types of food that is very much not chicken nuggets, and (gasp) sunlight. And we have many weeks to get through.

But it’s not like she’s a kid who sits quietly on the couch in her own little world, either. She’s fully engaged in her online world while I’m typing away, working from home, but it’s a constant play-by-play on what she’s watching or doing. I’m thrilled that she’s “involving me’ but I’m also experiencing a dripfeed of distraction that isn’t at all conducive to detailed creativity.

One way (for real) that we’ve been able to get the tiniest grip during this crazy stage of I’m-a-kid-not-a-kid is blending tech with… well anything not plugged in.

A few examples we’ve been able to work with are:

Outschool

No, I’m not affiliated, I have to say that right out of the gate. Outschool is a vast hub of online classes (but don’t say that out loud) that are for any age on any topic.

For example, she loves Roblox. On Outschool you can find a time and group where kids are supervised on a private server and meeting and talking with other kids their own age. Some classes are one time meetings and others meet regularly.

Other cool topics for preteens are group art and anime classes, creative writing groups, escape room and trivia sessions, pretty much anything you can think of.

Yes, she’s still plugged in, but it’s supervised play and with faces from all around the world. Outschool.com

Wii

Ok, remember Wii Sports? If you are lucky you can still get a refurbished version by doing some creative Googling. Still plugged in, still playing with electronics, but standing up and with other in-person humans! Like me!

I’ve been looking at the virtual headsets where we can do something physical together, but the Wii is still special in that we can see each other’s reactions, especially the occasional smile! Progress! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_Sports

Geocaching

Geocaching is an outdoor (gasp) activity that combines exploration with technology and treasure hunting! It can be done solo, in a group, as a party idea, on vacation for bored (sigh) kids, etc.

Participants, known as geocachers, use GPS-enabled devices (smartphones) or dedicated GPS units (like a handheld Garmin) to navigate to specific coordinates where hidden containers, called geocaches, are located. Treasure!

The geocaches are usually small but can range in size from tiny containers holding only a logbook for signing that you found it, to breadbox-sized containers with little toys or other small items for trading. So you take something and leave something of equal value for the next person.

The cool thing about geocaching is that they are all over! All of a sudden you’ll realize that there are items to be found in the places you go everyday – shopping malls, parks, museums, random parking lots. This lets you decide what kind of adventure you want to participate in based on physical skill level, time, or weather.

Pro tips:

If you are hunting geocaches, you’ll need to work on your “fly casual” act. That means don’t rush over to find your prize if there are a bunch of non-cachers around. Because they don’t understand the concept, lots of times a bystander will just grab the cache after you leave, not realizing it’s there for the next person. Or move it somewhere “better” because they don’t know there are specific coordinates involved.

Bring water, pens, paper, and little fun items like keychains, stickers, or small toys for trades! Also, it’s a good idea to bring a phone charger!

Check out https://www.geocaching.com/play for more info and to get the app. The free version is all you need to get started and if you fall in love, there is a paid version with upgrades. Again, no I’m not affiliated!

Need more resources?

Geocaching! How To Get Started – Great Solo Or Group Activity!

Geocaching! How To Get Started – Great Solo Or Group Activity!

Why try Geocaching? 

• The kids might have to go (gasp) OUTDOORS!
• Great idea for groups or as a solo adventure!
• It blends technology and nature 🙂
• You get to go on real-life treasure hunts!

Geocaches are hidden in a wide range of diverse areas, making them suitable for a variety of mobility levels. Get hiking in a state park or keep it handicap accessible by looking for treasures in areas with flat terrain or even parking lots!

Included in this PDF are two pages:

Page 1 has all the instructions, pro tips, QR code for a free app, and more!

Page 2 has a log sheet. Print a bunch for parties, campers, or to keep track of your adventures!