Dubois County CARES offers 67 ideas to keep kids engaged this summer

When school lets out, the gap in supervision can feel as big as the calendar. In Dubois County, where 23.8% of residents are under 18 and SAMHSA says first-time substance use peaks in June and July, the summer plan matters.

1. Start with 4-H

Purdue Extension Dubois County offers projects for children in grades 3-12. That gives older kids a steady outlet for time, effort, and responsibility.

2. Include Mini 4-H for younger siblings

Mini 4-H is open to children in grades K-2. It helps families keep younger children engaged instead of handing them a screen for the afternoon.

3. Use the Dubois Area YMCA Youth Activity Center

The Youth Activity Center, also called the Interactive Zone, serves children ages 7-17. It gives tweens and teens a place built for their age group, not just a corner to sit in.

4. Put Camp Summer of Fun on the list

The Dubois Area YMCA says Camp Summer of Fun is for children who have completed kindergarten through 5th grade. That age range fills a common gap for families who need care beyond the school day.

5. Reserve a spot for Kamp 4 Kids

Jasper’s Kamp 4 Kids serves children ages 4-6 and runs June 2 through July 25. It is one of the clearest local options for families with preschool and early elementary children.

6. Ask about Camp C.A.R.E.

Camp C.A.R.E. serves special needs children and adults in Dubois County. That kind of option matters because summer planning should include children who need more support, not less.

7. Build the week before school ends

The best summer plans start before the first free afternoon. A simple calendar can prevent the scramble that often leaves parents solving boredom at the last minute.

8. Keep one anchor activity every weekday

A daily anchor can be a camp, a lesson, a chore block, or a pickup game. The point is to make each weekday feel predictable enough that kids know what comes next.

9. Leave one open block on purpose

Not every hour has to be scheduled, but the day should not be empty. A planned free block can lower conflict and still keep the day from drifting.

10. Pair older siblings with younger ones

A teen can help supervise a tween, and a tween can help keep a younger child occupied. That shared routine reduces the burden on working parents and builds responsibility at home.

11. Set a pickup time that never changes

Working families need a handoff plan that does not move every day. A fixed pickup window cuts down on confusion and last-minute texts.

12. Build a carpool before June starts

A reliable carpool can make the difference between participation and staying home. It also spreads the load across families instead of leaving one adult to solve every ride.

13. Ask grandparents for one standing day

A regular day with grandparents or another trusted adult can break up the week. It gives kids a connection point and gives parents one dependable hour of relief.

14. Put park time on repeat

The county’s parks can become a simple daily reset, especially when the weather is good. Regular outdoor time helps replace restless screen time with movement and fresh air.

15. Plan one fairgrounds day

The Dubois County Fairgrounds can serve as a familiar destination for family time, even when the schedule is loose. Turning one spot into a regular outing makes summer feel organized without being expensive.

16. Add Bohnert Park to the rotation

A familiar park gives kids a place to run, climb, and talk with friends. That kind of routine can help families avoid the endless loop of house, car, and couch.

A community center gives families another indoor option when heat or rain changes the day. Backup spaces matter when children need supervision but the weather refuses to cooperate.

18. Keep the Ruxer Clubhouse in mind

Community spaces like the Ruxer Clubhouse can help fill the gap between school and evening. Even one dependable local gathering place can make the summer easier to manage.

19. Make one weather backup plan

Rain, heat, and storms can wipe out an outdoor afternoon fast. A backup plan keeps the day from collapsing into boredom the moment the forecast changes.

20. Keep a rainy-day tote ready

A tote with books, paper, games, and simple activities can save a long afternoon. It helps parents avoid defaulting to more screen time when the weather turns.

21. Make screen-free breakfast a rule

The first hour of the day sets the tone. A screen-free breakfast can create a calmer start and make it easier for kids to move into something active.

22. Make screen-free dinner a rule

Dinner is one of the few times the whole household may be in the same room. Protecting that hour gives families a chance to reconnect after a scattered day.

23. Limit late-morning scrolling

Late-morning phone use can swallow the whole day before it begins. A simple cutoff helps keep kids available for actual plans.

24. Give teens a daily task list

A short written list can keep older kids from drifting. It also gives them a real sense of contribution instead of passive free time.

25. Let tweens help plan lunch

When children help choose lunch, they are more likely to take ownership of the day. It is a small way to build responsibility without turning summer into homework.

26. Teach grocery shopping

A quick trip to the store can become a lesson in planning and budget awareness. Kids learn that meals do not appear by accident.

27. Teach meal prep

Simple meal prep can keep a teen busy and give the household one less thing to worry about. Even basic skills make a child more independent and a parent less stretched.

28. Teach laundry

Laundry is a summer skill that pays off all year. A child who can sort, wash, and fold is one less child waiting for a parent to do everything.

29. Teach budgeting

Summer spending can add up quickly, especially with snacks, outings, and small fees. Letting kids see the numbers makes the cost of fun more concrete.

30. Teach ride scheduling

Older kids need to learn how to ask for rides early and clearly. That habit makes family logistics smoother and cuts down on conflict.

31. Set aside reading hour

A quiet reading block can restore a day that feels too loud or too fast. It also gives kids a break from constant stimulation.

32. Keep books where kids can reach them

A basket of books in the living room works better than a stack hidden away. When reading is visible, it is easier to choose.

33. Build a bike route

A safe, familiar route gives kids a goal and a little freedom. It can turn a boring afternoon into movement without needing a big budget.

34. Walk the neighborhood together

A walk after dinner can settle energy and open conversation. It is a low-cost habit that works for younger children and teens alike.

35. Invite one friend over with a plan

Unstructured hangouts can go sideways fast. A planned activity gives kids a social outlet and keeps the visit from turning into aimless screen time.

36. Encourage volunteer shifts

Helping at a church, school, or community event can give teens purpose during long weeks. Service also keeps them connected to adults outside the home.

37. Tie chores to music

A little music can make basic housework easier to finish. It is a simple way to turn a boring responsibility into something that moves faster.

38. Rotate who chooses the outing

Let one child pick the weekly activity, then pass the choice to someone else. Rotation cuts down on complaints and gives everyone a stake in the plan.

39. Keep a family calendar on the fridge

A visible calendar keeps the whole household on the same page. It also helps busy parents see trouble spots before the week gets crowded.

40. Check summer jobs early

Teens who are old enough for work need time to find openings and line up transportation. Early planning can keep them occupied and earning instead of idling.

41. Offer babysitting with guardrails

Some older teens can help with younger children if the expectations are clear. That can be a practical answer for families who need backup care.

42. Keep friends in the same routine

Kids are less likely to drift when their friends are also busy. Shared routines across Jasper, Ferdinand, and Huntingburg can make summer feel more connected.

43. Protect sleep schedules

Late nights often lead to late mornings and unproductive afternoons. A steady sleep routine helps kids stay more balanced and easier to manage.

44. Protect mealtimes

Regular meals reduce chaos and keep everyone from grazing all day. That structure matters most when the rest of the day is flexible.

45. Keep water in the car

Hot-weather errands can turn into a problem quickly. Water on hand keeps the day safer and makes it easier to stay active.

46. Keep sunscreen in the car

Summer fun can come with a fast sunburn if families are not ready. A small bottle in the glove box or bag can prevent a painful afternoon.

47. Keep emergency numbers updated

A summer plan works better when adults can reach one another quickly. A current contact list is a small safety step with real value.

48. Set rules for water days

Pools, splash pads, and creek outings all need supervision. Clear rules about where kids go and who watches them help prevent avoidable trouble.

49. Set rules for bike helmets

A bike should come with a helmet, not just a warning. Safety habits are easier to keep when they are automatic.

50. Talk directly about alcohol

Dubois County CARES has centered its prevention work on positive daily choices and youth substance-free living. The conversation at home should be just as direct, especially in a season when risk rises.

51. Talk directly about vaping nicotine

The organization’s 2024 parent survey focused partly on youth vaping nicotine concerns. Naming the behavior clearly makes it easier for parents and kids to talk honestly about it.

52. Talk directly about marijuana

The same parent survey also asked about marijuana concerns. That is a reminder that summer supervision is not just about boredom, but about real health risks.

53. Use the parent survey as a conversation starter

The survey gives parents a local frame for talking about what worries them most. That can turn a vague lecture into a real family discussion.

54. Praise positive daily choices

Dubois County CARES says it works to support and contribute to positive daily choices. Recognition at home can reinforce the same message without turning summer into a sermon.

55. Celebrate small wins

A clean room, a finished chore, or a good afternoon with a sibling counts. Small wins build momentum and keep kids from feeling written off.

56. Give teens a leadership task

Teenagers do better when they are trusted with real responsibility. A leadership role can be as simple as leading a younger sibling, planning a snack, or tracking the schedule.

57. Give tweens a project board

Tweens like seeing progress. A board with summer goals, chores, and activities turns time into something they can actually see moving forward.

58. Use school connections for structure

School-based clubs can still matter when classes end. Keeping those connections alive helps youth stay tied to adults and peers who know them.

59. Ask Dubois County School Corporation where options remain

Families often miss opportunities simply because they do not know where to look. A quick check with the school corporation can surface clubs, contacts, or summer pathways.

60. Compare every option against the real budget

A good summer plan has to fit household finances, not just ideals. Families should ask about fees early so cost does not become a silent barrier.

61. Ask about help if a fee is too high

Not every family can pay for every program out of pocket. Asking about support is not a weakness, it is how access becomes more equitable.

62. Use free days strategically

Free days are useful when they are planned, not accidental. A low-cost outing or home project can make the week feel full without adding financial strain.

63. Mix one paid activity with two low-cost ones

That balance can keep summer affordable. It also prevents the family budget from being consumed by a single program.

64. Lean on countywide partners

Dubois County CARES is part of a broader network that includes schools, youth groups, and community organizations. Families do not have to solve summer alone when the county already has several partners in place.

65. Keep an eye on June and July

SAMHSA’s warning about first-time substance use peaking in those months makes timing matter. The middle of summer is not the time to assume kids will self-manage every hour.

66. Review the plan every Sunday

A weekly check-in can catch problems before they grow. It is the easiest way to adjust for weather, work shifts, and changing kid energy.

67. Treat summer as structured, not empty

That is the real lesson behind the 67 ideas. In a county with plenty of young people and a real prevention challenge, a little structure can protect a lot of peace.