100+ Summer Bucket List Ideas Teens Will Absolutely Love

Here are over 100 summer bucket list ideas for teens. It’s almost summer — a time for those hard-working teenagers to relax, sleep in, enjoy a little downtime, and hang out with their besties. Summer can also be a time to learn something new, hone a particular skill, give back to their community, and try something out of their comfort zone. With travel still somewhat limited, it’s a good idea to have a summer plan.

📌Pin It For Your Friends.📌

Affiliate Disclosure: There are affiliate links throughout this post. This means if you click on a link and purchase a product through that link, then I will receive a small commission for the referral. And that is kinda cool.

The Quintessential Summer Activities to Add to Your Bucket List Ideas for Teens.

1. See all of the must-see movies of the season.

2. Spend the day at the pool or the beach.

3. Gather up goodies in a basket and have an outdoor picnic.

4. Or plan a Barbecue — have their friends all bring a dish and have a teenage barbecue. You may have to help them with the grill.

5. Dye your hair a different color. It’ll grow out by the time school starts up. Or maybe you will love it.

Gather Up a Few Friends for a Themed Slumber Party.

6. Have a tie-dye party with your besties. Purchase a tie-dye kit and a few t-shirts and let’s get this party started.

7. Drive-in movie night. Here is how. Pull your SUV out of the garage and shut the garage door. Set up the back of the SUV with pillows and blankets, and stock with snacks. Project the movie onto the garage doors — instant home drive-in movie. If you don’t have an SUV or truck to back up to the garage, set up snacks and drinks in your car and watch the film from your lawn chairs.

8. Camp out in your backyard.

9. Mani-pedi/Spa night.

10. Complete a 1000 piece puzzle with your friends.

11. Or a make-up tutorial night (there are lots on YouTube).

12. Once you are all made up, have a photo shoot.

13. Host a Sunday brunch after your all night slumber party.

14. Host a book club slumber party.

The Perfect Summer Bucket List Idea for Teens ~ Invite Your Friends to The “Not Your Mom’s” Bar.

Here are a few easy ideas, plus what to include in your setup.

15. S’mores bar. Here are the basics for setting up your s’mores bar.

• Graham Crackers.
• Marshmallows.
• Hershey’s Chocolate Bars.
• Firepit.
• Skewers for Roasting Marshmallows. Try these.

16. Waffle bar (perfect for brunch with friends).

• Waffle Iron, like this one.
• Hungry Jack waffle mix is tasty, but this one from Stonewall Kitchen is extra special.
• Soft Butter.
• Syrup.
• Bacon.
• Toppings: chocolate chips, sprinkles, strawberries, bananas, raspberries, blueberries, cinnamon, and whipped cream.
• And if you are really serious about your waffle bar brunch, add fried chicken.

17. Chili bar.

• Chili. I make chili in the Instant Pot, it’s quick and easy.
• Cheddar cheese.
• Sour cream.
• Fritos.
• Red onions.
• Scallions.
• Jalapeños.
• Tabasco sauce.

18. Smoothie bowl breakfast bar.

• Blender. The Magic Bullet is my favorite.
• Frozen fruits: bananas, berries, kiwi, pineapple, and mangos.
• Acai berries ~ a “superfood” with antioxidants and tons of health benefits — cognitive function, heart health, and sports performance.
• Spinach or Kale for green smoothie bowls.
• Almond Milk or Fat-Free Milk.
• Toppings: granola, berries, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, cinnamon, and coconut.

19. Banana split bar.

• Bananas.
• Ice Cream.
• Check out these cute neon-colored banana split bowls.
• Toppings: whipped cream, chocolate syrup, caramel, sprinkles, and cherries.

20. Taco bar.

• Cooked ground beef, turkey, or chicken.
• Taco shells, soft and crunchy.
• Black beans or refried beans.
• Cheese.
• Lettuce, tomato, and onions.
• Salsa.
• Sour cream.
• Jalapeños.
• Guacamole.
• Cilantro.

21. Hamburger bar.

• Hamburger patties.
• Buns. Pretzel buns are usually a hit.
• Cheese.
• Lettuce.
• Tomato.
• Onions.
• Pickles.
• Jalapeños.
• Bacon.
• Sliced avocados and beets.
• Condiments: ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and barbecue sauce.

Summer Bucket List Ideas for Teens To Do With Family.

22. Visit a college campus you are interested in attending after graduation.

23. Go on a road trip.

24. Cook dinner for your family.

25. Set up a family photo shoot. That makeup tutorial will come in handy for this experience.

26. Go fishing.

27. Ask mom and dad to teach you a few life skills — change a lightbulb, sew on a button, make scrambled eggs and toast, or clean a toilet.

28. Make a family TikTok.

29. Pack bagels and cream cheese, coffee, and OJ, and head out to watch the sunrise.

30. Attend a sporting event. Baseball and softball run throughout most of the summer.

31. Make homemade cake pops with the fam.

Host a Friendly Competition.

32. Plan a Scavenger hunt — Pinterest is your best friend when looking for ideas for a scavenger hunt for teenagers.

33. Game night with Giant Jenga, Pictionary, or Scrabble.

34. Host a karaoke competition.

35. Or a cupcake bakeoff.

Step Out of the Comfort Zone and Do Something Adventurous.

36. Find a local zipline adventure. 

37. Or an adventure course.

38. Hot air balloon ride?  

39. Learn how to roller-skate.

40. Here’s a big one — a 24-hour digital detox. Yep, I said it — no phone for 24 hours.

41. Go horseback riding.

Maintaining Fitness Should Be On All Teen’s Summer Bucket List.

42. Take online yoga classes. Yoga with Adriene, found on Youtube, has beginner to advanced yoga classes for free.

43. Go for a swim.

44. Find the local hiking trails.

45. Or go on a bike ride.

46. Kayak in the springs.

47. Train for a 5K.

48. Learn how to stand up paddleboard.

49. Or to ride a skateboard.

Be a Tourist in Your Town (it’s all the rage in a pandemic).

50. Check out the local museums.

51. Become a restaurant critic.

52. Go to the zoo.

53. Find out where the locals go hiking and biking.

54. Discover the best breakfast spot in town but sampling them all.

Summer Bucket List Ideas for Teens To Do at Night.

55. Find a friend with a monster telescope and go stargazing.

56. Fire up the pit and cook s’mores.

57. Movie night on the lawn.

58. Glamping in your backyard.

59. Set up laser tag at home.

60. Go to a local drive-in movie; they are making a comeback.

Learn Something New.

61. Take a photography class.

62. Learn how to type correctly.  

63. Schedule driver’s education classes. It never hurts to learn all of the rules of the road from a professional, plus it’ll give mom a break from a potentially stressful situation.

64. Learn how to play an instrument such as the piano, violin, or guitar.

65. Cook your favorite meal from a different culture. Ours would be Puerto Rican.

66. Learn how to bake cookies or make a cake from scratch.

67. Take up a new sport like tennis or golf.

68. Start a garden. Check out this hydroponic garden and grow lettuce for days.

69. Create magic — learn how to do magic tricks.

70. Learn a new language. Rosetta Stone has been teaching languages for over 25 years. The platform is the most popular language-learning app and the Gold Standard when it comes to learning a new language. Check out the options here.

Do Something Relaxing.

71. Take a nap.

72. Nothing wrong with a Netflix, Star Wars, or Harry Potter marathon.

73. Host a night of pampering with your friends. Here is how.

74. Read a book.

75. Even better — read a book in a hammock.

Give Back to Your Community.

76. Volunteer at the local pet rescue.

77. Clean out your closet and donate your clothes to Good Will.

78. Hold a garage sale and donate the proceeds to charity.

79. Make get-well-soon cards for hospitalized kids.

80. Gather up the besties for a “Give Back” party where they all bring something to donate to the local food pantry. 

Do Something Crafty and Creative.

81. Make a scrapbook.

82. Redesign, redecorate, and paint your room.

83. Write a poem.

84. Paint a mural on your wall.

85. Learn how to crochet or make a quilt.

86. Start a YouTube Channel.

87. Write in your journal about your experiences during the pandemic.

88. Learn how to make beaded jewelry.

89. Write a short story or a book.

90. Begin a Teen Podcast — this may be a better option than getting in front of a Youtube camera for an introverted teen.

Make Extra Cash.

91. Negotiate with mom and dad on some big chores around the house. Offer your services for a fee — wash the car, mow the lawn, clean the windows in the home.

92. Start a neighborhood dog walking business.

93. Or apply for a summer job.

94. Host a garage sale with your besties.

95. Clean out your closet and sell your clothes. Check out Thred Up, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or a local consignment boutique.

96. Become a summer camp counselor.

97. Become the go-to neighborhood math tutor.

98. Learn how to make beaded jewelry to sell to your friends and family.

Start a Blog — Here Are a Few Ideas for Topics.

99. Local restaurant critic blog.

100. Teen travel blog.

101. Teenage bucket list blog.

102. Book or movie review.

103. Teen cooking blog.

104. How to prepare for college admissions blog.

105. Make-up or fashion blog.

106. DIY or craft blog.

107. Scrapbooking.

108. How to make money as a teen blog.

You Will Need to Purchase a Few Accessories for Your Teenagers Summer Bucket List.

• Projector for movie night.
• Tie-Dye Kit.
• Skewers for S’mores.
• Waffle Iron.
• Instant Pot.
• Magic Bullet.
• Banana Split Bowls.
• Ghirardelli Chocolate, White Chocolate, and Caramel Sauce.
• Giant Jenga.
• Scrabble.
• Pictionary.
• Portable Charcoal Grill.
• Hammock.
• Picnic Basket.
• Rosetta Stone Language Learning App.

Have a peaceful and safe summer. And let me know what you would add to this comprehensive list — I would love to get it to 200 summer bucket list ideas for teens.