By Adrienne West
Here are three easy DIY projects for summer fun that you can do in a day or weekend. They can be as simple or elaborate as you want to make them.
Project 1: Fire Pit
Materials: Shovel, 3 cubic feet of gravel (6 50-pound bags), 3-4 tubes of landscaping glue and 112 blocks (20 pounds each)
What is better than making s’mores over a campfire? How about making s’mores anytime you want over your own fire pit in the backyard? Let the kids help with this project, and it will become a fun family memory. Here’s what we did in one weekend using materials from Home Depot and some elbow grease.
We decided to go big with this one and started by digging a hole 4 ½ feet in diameter and a foot deep and then filling the bottom with gravel—kids can help with this part.
Next, lay the blocks inside the circle, smearing some landscape glue between layers and overlapping holes to ensure a solid foundation. It took six layers of 17 3-by-7-inch blocks each to get to the height of 3 feet. These numbers will vary depending on the look you want and the blocks you choose.
The only thing left to do now is enjoy it. The fire pit is a great addition to any backyard and will be enjoyed by both kids and adults.
Project 2: Zip Line
Another fun idea that will be sure to get the kids running around instead of sitting in front of video games this summer is installing a zip line. It can be as high and as long as you want, and everything you need is online. Check out backyardziplines.com, ziplinegear.com, and treehousesupplies.com.
Project 3: In-ground Trampoline
And finally, why not install a safer version of the beloved trampoline in-ground? The kids still get exercise and joy out of bouncing for hours while you can relax, knowing that a fall won’t be catastrophic. A safety net can still be installed on the outside, too. Some great options can be found at in-groundtrampolines.com, familyleisure.com and jumpsport.com.
