Outdoor activities are excellent for your health and offer many opportunities to bond with other people. While some outdoor fun like fishing is best pursued alone, other activities are more enjoyable when done as a group. Examples include hiking, geocaching and boating.
With warmer weather here to stay, it’s time to start filling out your summer calendar. This time of year presents many opportunities to enjoy God’s beautiful creation while developing friendships and encouraging each other. Here are five outdoorsy activities you can enjoy this summer with other church members.
1. Go for a Hike
Hiking surrounded by nature is one of the best things you can do for your brain do this summer. Exercise stimulates healthy blood flow and can improve attention and clarity of thought. Studies also show that time in nature reduces stress and brain fog, freeing up your mind for creativity and joy instead.
To prepare for a group hike, make sure that everyone is dressed for the weather. Sturdy shoes are essential for steep climbs and long hikes. If you’re out after dark, you’ll need headlamps and an ironclad plan for getting back to your vehicles safely. Pack plenty of water and make sure you take a map that’s not digital. You should also let other people know where you’re going.
2. Plan a Picnic
To reap the benefits of nature without an intense workout, plan a church picnic. You can ask everyone to bring food and use a sign-up sheet to ensure there’s enough to feed everyone who comes. Choose a fun park with plenty of tables and lots of room for kids to play and explore. You can also host this event at a pool or near a lake with swimming.
If your church is full of active, sporty people, organize a few group games. Choose a park with a volleyball net, a basketball court or an open field for a game of frisbee. You can also take a football or soccer ball along. Make sure to bring extra sunblock and pack enough water to keep everyone hydrated.
3. Hone Shooting Skills
You could also go to an outdoor shooting range this summer. Over the fall and spring, many people are busy hunting for wild game like turkey, deer and elk. Summer is the perfect time to hone your shooting skills before the next season. A shooting range gives you the opportunity to get competitive and practice as a group.
Firearm safety is of the utmost importance anytime you’re using a gun. Virtually all firearm accidents can be avoided by following four basic rules: always treat a gun like it’s loaded, only point at things you want to shoot, keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready and ensure there’s nothing important behind your target. Follow these rules and your group will have an awesome time.
4. Play Paintball
If you want an adrenaline rush without using actual firearms, plan a paintball battle for your church. Rental fields offer equipment like guns and masks or you can play on a church member’s property with equipment you already have. Safety should be your first priority – at the very least, all members need protective eye and head gear.
Wear clothes you can get dirty and make sure you cover your whole body. Paintballs can hurt and it’s not a good idea to let them strike bare skin. Good running shoes, gloves and a hat are other useful essential pieces of equipment. Playing paintball builds communication and teamwork skills so it’s an incredible way to build relationships.
5. Do Yard Work
During the summer, yard work and outdoor chores ramp up. Instead of doing them alone, organize several groups to tackle these chores together. You can take turns visiting each others’ homes and completing work like mowing, raking, tree-trimming and landscaping. Elderly couples or young families may especially need help with outdoor work.
Working together will make yardwork a lot more fun and help everyone finish these tasks faster. After your group has completed a long day of outdoor work, order pizza and have a bonfire. People were meant to live in community and summer yard work is an amazing opportunity to enjoy working and resting together.
Fun in the Sun
One of the best parts of summer is getting to spend more time outdoors. You can make the most of this season by planning outdoor events with your church that invest in each others’ lives. Relationships grow when you spend time together, facing challenges and having fun. Use these five ideas to plan a fun summer schedule for your church.
Hiking, playing paintball or visiting a shooting range are great ways for energetic church members to spend the weekend. Families with little kids and elderly couples can enjoy a picnic or yardwork party. Plan a variety of events so your church can enjoy a fun summer of bonding in the great outdoors.
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