Summer’s here and it’s all good

Summer is finally here. It’s taken a long time for the temperature to heat up but it has, much to the delight of my two young children who are eager to soak up the sun and create fond memories.

The lead-up to summer had me in a bit of a panic as to how to keep them entertained and allow them to enjoy their time out of school. I can safely say (finally) we have created a nice balance of planned activities and an abundance of completely free, unplanned time to spend as a family for the next 10 weeks.

Have you booked your kids into one of several terrific camps in the region? Will you be heading up to the cottage every weekend? Have you planned a family vacation, a road trip? Will you be staying close to home?

No matter what you do, the summer vacation is a time to savour with your family.

This week afforded me the opportunity to take to the waters in my first dragon boating experience. Beginning our journey at Progress Park at Frenchman’s Bay in Pickering, the views from the water were exquisite, the water cool and the wildlife entertaining. It immediately made me realize — something I have always known but tend to forget — you do not have to leave Durham Region to enjoy yourself.

There I was mid-week, paddling in perfect weather, absorbing all that nature has to offer. Everyone aboard remarked that it did not feel like you were in Pickering at all. It was an idyllic picture-perfect scene and I took a snapshot of it in my mind for the scrapbook.

It got me to thinking: why do we have to drive three hours from our homes to call it a summer vacation? Why can’t we create and build those memories right in our own ‘backyards’ with our friends and families?

When your kids are looking for something to do, and you don’t have every spare moment of theirs (and yours) planned out this summer, improvise.

Pack up a refreshing picnic with lemonade, sandwiches, cut vegetables and fruits, a blanket and head to the lake or conservation area. Take them to one of a dozen water parks/splash pads run by our municipalities. Pack up the fishing poles and spend the morning at Lynde Shores...It costs you nothing and it builds a wonderful bank of memories for you and your child(ren). No rent, no long drive and no bugs — except on the trails close to dusk! (Remember, to leave the places you’ve been exactly as you found them.)

This past weekend we added to our own mental scrapbooks. Picnic cooler packed, we spent four hours at Heydenshore in Whitby, soaking up the sun. My son spent hours— no word of a lie — picking through the smooth rocks on the shore, trying to find the perfect ones. I read a new book, nearly cover to cover, and my daughter collected feathers and then we spent another hour at the splash pad. Another page of our family scrapbook.

My emphasis to everyone is on free fun. We all have budgets; we all want to have fun, so why not start right here at home?

Whatever summer means to you. It means family, food, friends and good times. Please take the time to truly enjoy it.

Want to know where to find these special places? Visit www.durhamtourism.ca for more information on trails and conservation areas or download our Family Survival Guide.