Sustainable Summer Activities for Kids

06/12/20

With the start of summer and after several months of the stay home orders, many parents may be wondering how to keep their children active and engaged.

Through the Department of Parks and Recreation and the San Diego County Library, there are several options to keep kids busy with sustainability-focused activities.

San Diego County parks, preserves, and campgrounds have started a gradual re-opening. At the time of publishing this article, nearly all campgrounds are open to tent and RV campers and reservations are being accepted online. A comprehensive list of parks and amenities that are open to the public can be found at the Parks and Recreation COVID-19 response page.

Department of Parks and Recreation Logo

Hiking and camping are great ways to connect with nature and learn about conservation within the County of San Diego. While enjoying these activities, there are minimum impact practices that can be followed to help promote a sustainable use of natural resources. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has developed seven low-impact principles that can be applied to almost every recreational activity:

  • Plan Ahead & Prepare
  • Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
  • Dispose of Waste Properly
  • Leave What You Find
  • Minimize Campfire Impacts
  • Respect Wildlife
  • Be Considerate of Other Visitors
San Diego County Library Logo

The San Diego County Library is offering numerous online resources for families and kids. This includes Storytime Shorts, eBooks & Audiobooks, Preschool and Elementary School Games, and Online Learning & Homework Help. You can check-out a book about sustainability, link to National Geographic for Kids, find help for your children’s science homework, and so much more.

The San Diego County Libraries will also be launching the Summer Learning Program on Monday, June 22nd at sdcl.org/summer. This program will be offered entirely online and the theme is ‘Summer at your Library: Read, Learn, Create – At Home.’ An event calendar with science programs, storytimes, and other programs will be available.

We hope you find fun, enjoyable, and sustainable activities this summer!