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Summer Activities for Kids: A Family Guide

July 13, 2026
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Summer break always starts with big energy. The backpacks get tossed in a corner, the calendar clears, and the kids burst outside ready for anything. Then week three arrives, the afternoons stretch out, and somehow everyone ends up back on the couch with a tablet. Finding summer activities for kids that hold their attention past the novelty stage is the real challenge for most Pennsylvania parents.

Here is the thing worth remembering: summer days go fast. The window between the last day of school and the first cool morning of fall is short, and it is a perfect time to trade screen time for memories the whole family will keep. 

Spend the Day at Lakeland Orchard & Cidery

For a day that checks every box at once, Lakeland Orchard & Cidery in Scott Township is the perfect place to bring the whole family. It sits a short drive from Scranton and packs rides, animals, food, and pick-your-own fun into one all-day outing.

Kids can pick their own fruit all summer long as the festivals roll through the months. July brings Blues, Brews & BBQ with Pick-Your-Own blueberries, August moves into Blooms & Berries for blackberries and you-pick flowers, and September starts the Apple Harvest Festival with rows of apples ready to pick. Between the fruit, kids can head to the Barnyard to meet the Mini Highland Cows, goats, and other animals up close.. The rides are a hit across all ages. The Lakeland Express train and the country carousel suit younger kids, while the Scrambler and jump pads give older kids a place to burn energy. Many weekends bring live music and seasonal special events for the whole family to enjoy.

Lakeland also has great food options, with offerings like slow-smoked BBQ, seasonal desserts, and ice cream, giving you the perfect way to cool off on a hot afternoon. The part parents love most is the value. A one-day pass covers the rides and attractions, so a single ticket buys a full day of memories. We also offer season passes for families that want a place that they can keep coming to whenever they want to add some easy fun to their day.

The season pass also covers admission to sister property Roba Family Farms, which stretches the value even further for families who like to come back. And because the lineup rotates through festivals like Baby Animal Days, the Strawberry Festival, Blues, Brews, & BBQ, and Blooms & Berries, there is something new on nearly every visit. No two trips feel quite the same.

Fun Days Right in Your Own Home

Some of the best summer fun costs nothing and starts ten feet from the back door. Sidewalk chalk turns a driveway into a racetrack, a hopscotch board, or a giant mural that lasts until the next rain. Set out a bucket of popsicle sticks with some glue for your younger kids to build, and you have an easy afternoon of crafts and quiet time.

Water play is the easy win on hot days. A sprinkler, a kiddie pool, or a bin of water balloons can keep kids cool and busy while you read in the shade. For a little structure, send them on a backyard scavenger hunt with a short list of things to find, like a smooth rock, a yellow flower, and something that crawls. A family bike ride around the neighborhood after dinner caps the day and burns off the last of the energy before bed.

Rainy days don’t have to end the summer fun. Pull the cushions off the couch for a living room fort, set up a card tournament, or keep a craft bin stocked for exactly these moments. These small, low-cost activities are the everyday foundation of outdoor fun, and the ones that fill the gaps between bigger outings keep video games from becoming the default.

Summer Camps and Classes

A good summer camp gives kids a structured routine while giving parents a few hours of flexibility. Day camps come in many different styles and formats, making it easy to find one that fits your child's interests and your family's schedule.

Sports camps suit kids who want to run, compete, and come home tired. Specialty camps go deeper on one thing, like art, coding, theater, or science, which is great for an older kid with a clear passion. Many local programs also offer swim lessons, and most towns have a recreation center running affordable weekly sessions all summer long.

The real value of camp goes beyond keeping kids busy. Camp is where they try new things, make new friends outside the usual school circle, and build confidence in a welcoming environment that rewards effort over results. A shy kid who spends a week at camp often comes home a little braver.

A few popular camps near Scranton give you a place to start, with options for sports, science, art, and the stage.

One practical tip for parents of younger kids: look for a half-day or afternoon session before committing to full days. A three-hour morning is plenty for a four-year-old, and it eases the transition for a child who has never been away from home. Make sure to sign up early, since the popular camps near Scranton fill fast once the school year ends.

Plan a Day Trip and Get Outside Together

Once the backyard routine is set, a day trip turns an ordinary Saturday into an outdoor adventure. A morning at the local park, a picnic, and a couple of hours on the playground can bring some more excitement to your kid’s summer day.

Northeastern Pennsylvania makes this easy. Lackawanna State Park, ten miles north of Scranton, has multi-use trails, a lake for paddling, and a pool for swimming, all in one 1,445-acre spot. A short nature trail walk is an easy outdoor activity for mixed ages, since little legs can turn back early while older kids push on. Family field trips to a local farm, museum, or splash pad round out the options and give everyone something new to talk about at dinner.

These outings are the ones that deserve a spot on your family’s summer bucket list. They take a little more planning than a backyard afternoon, but they pay it back in stories. The best part is that some day trips can pack a whole summer's worth of fun into a single location.

Build Your Family Summer Bucket List

A great summer rarely happens by accident. The trick is to mix the summer activities above so no single week leans too hard on one thing. A little structure keeps kids grounded, a little spontaneity keeps it fun, and a deliberate cap on screen time keeps everyone outside more than in.

Here’s a simple weekly framework that works well: 

  • 1 backyard activity: sidewalk chalk, a scavenger hunt, or water play in the yard

  • 1 new skill: a camp session, swim lessons, or learning to ride without training wheels

  • 1-day trip: the local park, a nature trail, or a day at the orchard

Write the plan where the kids can see it, and let them check off each item. A summer bucket list on the fridge turns vague good intentions into something real, and kids love crossing things off. Build in flexibility for the days when nobody wants to leave the house, and keep a backup idea ready for rainy days.

By the time the school year rolls back around, you will have a stack of small wins instead of a blur of video games. That is the goal: a summer vacation that felt full without feeling frantic.

Your Best Summer Starts Now

Summer goes by fast, and the days you actually remember are the ones you spent doing something together. A good season blends simple outdoor play in the yard, a camp or class where kids stretch and grow, and a few standout adventures that make the calendar feel special. Build that mix, and you give your kids a summer worth talking about long after the leaves turn. Looking for one of those standout adventures? Grab your Lakeland Orchard day passes and give your kids a summer day of Pick-Your-Own fruit, rides, and live music they will talk about for years.