The Summer Olympic Games – at home!

Amp up the competition and bring the most exciting sporting event to your backyard! The whole family can compete, and it gets everyone active and moving. Start with your own opening ceremony. Get crafty with the kids and put together uniforms, hats, flags, and even stuffed animal mascots! You can pick your favorite sporting events, or make up your own! Here are a few ideas:

• Relay race
• Soccer match
• Whiffle ball
• Bean bag toss
• Discus throw (using frisbees or even paper plates)
• Hula hoop competition
• Tug-of-war
• Cannon ball contest (if you have a pool, see who can make the biggest splash!)

Camping Trip

Whether you love the great outdoors, or prefer to go “glamping”, you can do both at home!

• Have the kids pack a backpack of what they think they’ll need for a night under the stars.
• Set up a tent in the backyard, fill it with comfy blankets and pillows, and bring some flashlights.
• If sleeping in air-conditioning is more your thing, you can pitch a small tent inside, or make your own tent with a blanket fort!
• With adult supervision, you can make a camp fire outside to roast smores or pop fresh popcorn. Or, prepare snacks in your kitchen and simply use glow sticks or an artificial candle as your camp fire.
• You can even play nature sounds from a cell phone to really set the scene!
• Tell stories around the campfire, and drift off to sleep.

Local Activities

Catching a bit of summer cabin fever and need to get out of the house? We’ve all been there! Luckily, there are tons of (free) recreational activities in west Orange County to make your staycation one to remember. Check these out!

• Splash Park at Downtown Winter Garden
• Tucker Ranch Nature Preserve
• Oakland Nature Preserve
• Nherling Gardens
• West Orange Bike Trail
• Activities & classes at the West Oaks Library and Winter Garden Library.

Have a Safe Summer

Whether you’re traveling to a far-off destination or celebrating summer break at home, safety is always the most important. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides many summer safety tips for both abroad and at-home vacations:

• Stay cool and keep hydrated to prevent heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
• Wear sunscreen and protective clothing to prevent sun burn and sun poisoning.
• When swimming at a pool or beach, ALWAYS supervise children and swim near lifeguards.
• If you’re swimming in an ocean, lake, or river, pay attention to any signs communicating a warning to swimmers.
• Use insect repellent when outdoors.
• Follow food safety protocols when preparing, serving, and storing food to avoid foodborne illness.
• Wear a helmet when riding bikes, scooters, or rollerblading.
• Buckle up properly during road trips.

Get creative and stay safe, and you’ll be sure to make summer memories that last forever. After all, they don’t call Florida a “forever summer” for nothing!

We Want to Hear from You!

What vacations and staycations do you have planned? Tell us below!