Get friends together or join a class to play team sports such as soccer (association football), basketball, or field hockey. Find an activity for one or two people, like surfing, urban golf, or tennis.

You could also come up with an idea for a series of smaller videos, and start a Youtube channel.

Fold a paper heart. You can cut out heart-shaped notes for your loved ones, or get some square origami paper and try to make a fancier version. There are many more origami projects to try as well. Make rainbow crayons, or try melting crayons on hot rocks to make art. Make your slime or play dough. Use these strange-feeling materials for pranks, or just to play with for fun. Make a Solar Hot Air Balloon. These balloons can travel hundreds of miles in a day and are easy to make.

Make cold, refreshing smoothies. Try different, even wacky combinations, either to make a nice cold summer drink or to dare your friends to drink a mysterious concoction. Make a chocolate peanut butter parfait as a delicious dessert. Make hummus for dipping crackers. If you’re ambitious, you could even make homemade bread.

Volunteering also looks good on college applications, although interviews and essays will go a lot better if you are genuinely interested in the work.

If you want to learn even more, try an online college course. Some of the world’s top universities even post lectures online, and these are often more interesting than high school (secondary school) classes. [5] X Research source

If you have an idea for a novel, but are less experienced at writing, try writing a short story and work your way up.

Turn on the sprinklers on a lawn and play tag, hide-and-go-seek, or red rover in the middle of the spraying water. Have a water fight. Fill up some water balloons, buy a cheap water gun at the dollar store, or use a garden hose. This can be a fun one-time activity. . . or the start of a water fight war.

Try making homemade ice cream, either with the classic “salt and ice” method or with a method that recreates the creamy, rich taste of real ice cream. Make popsicles and keep your freezer stocked all summer. Fill your fridge with homemade ginger ale or lemonade. Make an ice lick. Place cold water in a cup with a disposable straw or spoon. Keep it in the freezer for 2 hours, then take it out and eat it while it’s cold and yummy.

Other relaxed indoor activities include sewing, playing solitaire or other card games, watching a movie or listening to music.

Pick a board game that won’t be blown away by the wind, such as Carcassonne, Tikal, or Blokus. [10] X Research source These are all moderately popular games sold at many game stores, but classics like Chess, Checkers, or any board game’s magnetic travel version are even easier to find. A trick-taking card game like Hearts can be played in windy areas, as long as you have rocks or other heavy objects to hold down the tricks.

Don’t pick flowers from other people’s yards without permission, or if the flowers look intentionally planted.