Most kids love to build things. They also like to participate in contests. This summer outdoor activity combines both and is simple and fun. Building their own sailboat and then watching their creation in action can make a child feel good about him or herself. It also is fun, provides fitness, and exercises creativity and thinking skills.

Toy sailboats can be designed by the child and parent. Another choice is to search the internet for free toy boat building instructions. Many hobby and toy stores also sell ready-made kits that simply need to be assembled. Judging by the child's age and experience, parents can decide which is best.

For more fun, the project can be made into an event with family and friends. Set up a building area in the local park or your own backyard. Each child should have the necessary supplies to complete his or her boat building project. Parents can decide whether all the kids will do the same project or whether they will each choose their own way to build their boats. Be sure to have snacks and refreshments, as the kids will be working hard.

Once the boats are built, they can be taken to a local pond, creek, or stream where the kids are allowed to race the boats. Determine a starting and finishing point. Be sure to watch which way the water current is flowing. That is the direction the boats will need to go. Determine a signal to start. When the kids see or hear that signal, they must drop their boats into the water at the starting point.

The kids will enjoy running alongside the water bank to keep up with their boats. Don't forget that kids should have appropriate footwear when running. You may see them cheering on their on boat, hoping it will beat the rest to the finish line. This provides great exercise and healthy competition. One or more kids may get disappointed if they don't win. It's all part of learning and growing. Prizes or award ribbons can be given to the winners for first, second, and third place.

For the family that loves the outdoors, there is no reason to head indoors during the winter. And one of the most fun and adventurous things you can do as a family is to go geocaching. And yes -- you can even participate during the winter.

What is Geocaching?
If you have a GPS system, you can participate in geocaching. Geocachers make lists of landmarks in a number of local areas, as well as special caches, where you can visit. The idea is to use your GPS system to locate the cache. In many cases, there is a small sign up that you can enter your name on. In other cases, you can take a family photo by the designated landmark and then upload it to a special Web page. In any case, geocaching can be a fun family activity that allows you to learn more about your local area.

During the winter, geocaching can be even more fun. You can use snowshoes, skis or snowmobiles to reach some geocaching locations. Or, if you start out in town, all you need is your car and some warm clothing. Play in the snow after you reach the geocache destination or build a snowman to mark your place.

It can be a good idea to make your geocaching experience educational. Talk about the landmark or the area in which the geocache is located. You can also learn about using GPS to find what you are looking for. This can also be a good chance to talk about other methods of navigation, including maps and using a compass. Also, talk about outdoor survival and what to do if you get lost somewhere.

Geocaching can be more than just a one-time thing. It can be a family hobby and recurring activity. It is something that you can use to build memories. And once you find all of the geocaches in your local area, you can start branching out while on family vacations -- or even add your own geocache locations.