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While some areas of the country are gearing up for school to start in a few days, others have another month of summer fun, which at this point is starting to look a little ragged and desperate.

If you’ve run through the to-do list you enthusiastically compiled in May, it’s time to check out these eight suggestions from Melissa Breyer at Treehugger to tide you and the kids over until the opening bell rings.

Photo scavenger hunt

One of my favorites (you don’t even need kids for this one!) and one that works in the city, suburbs, or country. Make a list of shapes and put them on a chart: Heart, circle, square, letters, crescent, etc. and make a copy for all hunters. Then have everyone grab a camera (you don’t need Leicas for this, old digital camera, phone cameras, whatever is on hand will work) and head outside…

Make a Nature (or Garbage) Journal

Bring out junior’s inner Charles Darwin with a nature walk and corresponding journal. Bring a blank book and colored pencils and make notes and drawings of what you observe. To make a scrap book, collect samples and specimens like leaves, twigs, and flowers and paste them into the book.

For the adventurous, make a garbage journal (really! think of it as social commentary). Collect bottle caps, interesting wrappers, bits of string and catalogue them…

Full story at Treehugger.

Saving your sanity with kids.

Photo credit: Fotolia