7 Wholesome Summer Activities: A Fun and Eco-Friendly Bucket List

By: Tajiya Holland

We’re in the heat of summer, which means finding fun things to do while trying to stay cool! From reading by the pool during the day to walking the coastline with friends at night, the options for summer activities are endless.

If you’re on the lookout for additions to your summer bucket list that also contribute positively to the planet and your community, search no further. We’ve compiled a list of eco-friendly activities that offer enjoyment and a sense of well-being.

Benefits of Conscious Living:

• Creates a sense of self-pride
• Promotes embracing simplicity
• Provides alternative perspectives
• Provides a community with similar interests & feelings of belonging

Enjoying summer with a conscious mindset doesn’t mean you have to change or sacrifice the adventures you’re seeking. Already have plans to travel abroad? Consider making simple adjustments, such as staying at eco-friendly hotels or learning about local cultural heritage.

Whether you decide to embark on this summer bucket list solo or with a group of friends, these suggestions can help you savor every moment of the season.

7 Fun and Eco-Friendly Summer Activities

Farmer’s Market

Support your community by visiting a farmer’s market. Here, you can purchase baked goods and produce directly from sustainable agriculture practitioners. If you’re keen on sourcing in-season crops, consider visiting a local U-pick farm. If you’re in the United States, you can easily find farmer’s markets and local food sources nearby.

Why it’s eco-friendly: Studies show that U.S. produce travels over 1,500 miles before being consumed. Buying local allows for a reduced carbon footprint and helps support small businesses.

Painting

Explore the joys of traditional summer activities like tie-dyeing and painting, but with a twist. Opt for natural products instead of acrylics and synthetics, or create your own ink using berries, vinegar, and salt. Consider giving new life to an old t-shirt by dyeing it with food scraps like avocado peel, spinach, and red or purple onion.

Why it’s eco-friendly: Natural dyes are biodegradable and non-toxic. Therefore, less pollution and water contamination when rinsing off brushes.

Host a Happy Hour

Do you have tiny pots of herbs on the windowsill or fresh veggies and fruit growing out back? Unwind after work while hosting happy hour featuring garden-fresh cocktails. If a rhubarb-rosemary daiquiri or a raspberry mojito sounds intriguing, this is a must-try!

Why it’s eco-friendly: Having a garden, regardless of its size, helps reduce carbon emissions. It involves minimal or no use of pesticides and chemicals. Additionally, since there’s no packaging involved, it leads to reduced fossil fuel usage.

Kayaking

Get out on the water and explore the wilderness. Paddle through rivers and lakes, watching wildlife in their natural habitat. While kayaking is a low-impact aerobic exercise for muscle strength, it’s also very meditative. For an ultimate view of your surroundings, rent a transparent kayak to see what’s in the water below you.

Why it’s eco-friendly: Kayaking does not disrupt local ecosystems. Unlike commercial boats, kayaks do not use gasoline and oil or produce noise pollution.

Host a Low-Waste Cookout

We understand that throwing items in the bin is easy, but loading up a dishwasher is just as simple. Choose reusable cups, plates, and utensils instead of single-use ones. If you need nighttime decor, consider using solar-powered outdoor string lights, which add charm and contribute to the ambiance.

Why it’s eco-friendly: By opting for reusable items, you and your guests collectively produce less waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. Many items in landfills take hundreds of years to break down if they even decompose at all.

Host a Beach or Trail Clean Up

On a beach day or during a hike, take the opportunity to pick up trash. Before having a beach picnic, collect garbage from the nearby areas. Along the hiking trail, carry a small bag for picking up litter as you go. You can do this alone, with a few friends and family, or organize an event for nearby residents to join.

Why it’s eco-friendly: Small plastics left on forest floors can fuel wildfires and release toxic chemicals into the air. Moreover, microplastics in the ocean pose hazards to sea animals and even humans. Conducting clean-ups helps minimize and prevent these harmful effects.

Low-Waste DIYS

Before you buy more household supplies, consider identifying the ones you can easily make yourself. Items like air fresheners, all-purpose cleaners, and produce wash can be created at home. You might already have most of the items and ingredients needed. These DIY products only require reusable items like jars and natural ingredients from your pantry, and they take very little time to make.

Why it’s eco-friendly: By making your own products, you avoid overconsumption and reduce waste. You get new products from old materials, eliminating the need for discarded plastic that can contaminate water systems and negatively impact the air quality.

Adventure consciously

Which summer activity are you adding to your bucket list? Whichever you choose, share what you’re doing and what you’re learning with others to create awareness. Encourage others to take part in discovering ways to live more eco-friendly throughout the summer season.