Our End-of-summer outdoor family traditions

The end-of-summer is upon us and while I looooove fall in the Midwest, the end of one season and the start of a new one is always a bittersweet feeling for me!

The fall brings the start of school, new routines, and let’s not forget — homework! One thing that’s helped our family ease back into the school year is by celebrating the end of a great summer with a few family traditions.

I don’t have too many memories of “back-to-school” traditions from my own childhood so I love the idea of incorporating new ones for my kids to (hopefully) look back on with fondness! Family traditions, whether big or small, act as the heartbeat of our memories and kids not only desire stability and familiarity but having a fun and simple tradition to celebrate the end of summer can help children move through a new season or transition period smoothly.

OUR FAVORITE END-OF-SUMMER TRADITIONS

School typically starts after Labor Day for us so we treat the long holiday weekend as one last hurrah to summer! Here’s 3 traditions we have to celebrate the end of summer -

HEAD TO THE BEACH

A perk of living in Michigan? We’re always close to a body of water. I read somewhere recently that said when you’re in Michigan, you’re never more than 6 miles away from some kind of water - whether it’s a river, lake, or one of the Great Lakes. It’s our tradition to spend at least one afternoon during the long weekend before school starts at our nearby lake. It’s a tradition we’ve grown to love and we celebrate with our other “beach friends” that come to the lake too.

VISIT OUR LOCAL CIDER MILL

The end of summer and start of fall signals the opening of many local area cider mills! We love to head to our nearest cider mill on opening day to enjoy hot cider mill donuts and crisp apple cider while enjoying the simple sights and sounds of nature. My kids race to the nearby creek, donuts in hand and a paper bag full of corn kernels, ready to feed the ducks that visit the creek.

EAT OUTSIDE

Yes, I know this sounds incredibly simple almost to the point of being dull. Did you notice how I didn’t even bother to say “Have a BBQ outside?” When you live in Michigan, you know the days to eat outside are numbered so we take full advantage of the historically pleasant weather. It could be breakfast, lunch, or dinner - I could be cooking or maybe I’m not. Pizza is a Friday night family tradition (love a good family Friday night tradition) and one that we enjoy outside to celebrate the end of summer!

Creating your own end-of-summer outdoor traditions is a great way to celebrate the season and bond as a family. Start by thinking about activities that your family loves and that resonate with your interests—whether it's a sunset picnic at your favorite park, a weekend camping trip, or a backyard movie night.

Look around your community for events or natural spots that can become part of your yearly ritual. There are so many FREE activities to take advantage of in your own community. The key is to choose traditions that feel meaningful and enjoyable for everyone — remember, the most well-loved traditions are often the simplest so don’t focus on making it a big production. It could be as simple as cupcakes in the park as a family!

These traditions don’t have to be elaborate; the most important thing is that they bring your family together in a way that feels special.

What end-of-summer outdoor traditions does your family have?

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Skip the homework!