The Boffa’s
“Summer Fun List”
by Nana Boffa
June 17, 2010, page 10.....

Ahhhh… the kids are out of school, faces shining and happy, and summer stretches ahead as one big, wondrous adventure full of fun and excitement … But wait, if this isn’t your scenario, and the last day of school leaves you with palms sweating, wondering what to do with those little faces all summer, fear not! Cole, Seth and I have put together our summer fun list of all things big and small we’d like to do this year. It’s a family tradition, we post it on the fridge, and every time I get the “I’m bored” or “There’s nothing to do,” we head to the list and make a plan. Feel free to use our ideas or make up your own – its a fun activity, and you might be surprised with what your kids want to do. After all, summer really isn’t that long, and its fun to play. Happy vacation everyone!

The Little Things
• Pick berries and make jam (kids love this, and the jam can be used for teacher gifts next year)
• Squirtgun wars
• Lawn Olympics: croquet, bocce, etc.
• Field Days: greased watermelon, sack race (use pillow cases), egg in spoon, egg toss (get the friends in on this one. It’s as much fun to plan as it is to do.) Ice cream (and watermelon, if it survived) are a must afterwards
• Capture the Flag and Broken: again, get the neighborhood kids in on this one. Capture the Flag is a favorite of mine. It can also be played with families. Rules can be found on the web for both games.
• Swimming: Charlotte Beach, Kingsland Bay State Park, Lake Arrowhead, Vergennes Pool
• Fishing (You need a license and worms.)
• Dinner at your fire pit – or Charlotte Beach
• Look at the clouds and find the animals
• Play basketball: pig/horse/goat (If you don’t have a net set up, head to CCS.)
• Play football, soccer, baseball, kickball, flashlight tag, any outdoor game – get a game going with neighborhood kids – a great early evening activity.

Rainy Day Ideas
• Bowling
• Art projects: get supplies at Creative Habitat or other craft stores ahead of time
• Read – together, on your own, books on tape – all are great!
• Write a story together and illustrate it.
• Try Talent Skate Park for indoor skateboarding.
• ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center
• Ice skating (See Leddy schedule on page 18.)
• Pizza Putt for laser tag (Get a group for this. You can get a discount and pizzas if there are enough.)

Medium Sized Ideas
• Visit the skate parks in Essex, Vergennes and Burlington
• See a Drive-in movie in Colchester.
• Take a ferry ride; have lunch/dinner across the lake.
• Bike at Catamount
• Ride bikes on the Shoreham ferry and visit Fort Ticonderoga
• Hikes: Mt. Philo, Snake Mountain, Camels Hump, Mt. Mansfield, Mt. Abe, Adirondacks
• Green Mountain Audubon
• Visit bike paths for biking and creemees: Burlington, Waitsfield and Stowe
• Golfing: visit the driving range in Ferrisburgh or the mini golf in Essex
• Shelburne Farms (Passes are available at the Charlotte library.)
• Shelburne Museum – bring a picnic to eat by the carousel or the Ticonderoga
• Kayaking (We have boats, but they can be rented in Burlington.)
• Paddleboarding in Burlington (at Oakledge Park)
• Camping: Set up a tent in the back yard, or visit a state park
• Visit the Burlington or Middlebury Humane Societies to walk the dogs. (Check in ahead of time.)

Bigger Ideas
• Thunder Road in Barre
• Ausable Chasm (800-537-1211)
• Visit the yaks in Waitsfield.
• Pond Hill Rodeo
• The Great Escape or Bromley (Get discounted tickets at Town Hall.)
• Park Safari in Hemmingford, Quebec
• Visit Old Montreal (Bring bikes for the path, wander the streets and shops.)
• Science Museum – explore!