When I was growing up, I loved summer. The days full of swimming at my best friend’s house, all the books I got to read, the late nights and the fireworks and the family time.

Summer was good times.

As a mom, I look back at the summers of my growing up years and see a stark difference between how I spent my childhood and how my kids could be spending theirs.

When I was young, there were no kindles. No iPads. No toddlers with cell phones.

We played outside. We rode bikes. We started card games at the kitchen table after dinner. We talked and made popcorn and spent hours putting together puzzles or attempting to finish another never-ending game of monopoly.

Summer is coming, you guys. And I don’t want my kids to waste their summers with their eyes glued to a screen.

I'm guessing you feel the same. We don't want a distracted summer.

We want an Intentional Summer.

We only have a few weeks together, where I get (yes, GET – someone remind me of that in August, okay?) to have both of my kids home with me all day every day, and I want to make the most of every single day.

I think we can do it.

I think we can have an Intentional Summer, full of outside adventures and creative play and late night card games and laughter-filled family time and meaningful memories.

But I think it will take a bit of planning. Or at least a massive resource of great ideas complete with things to do and books to read and places to go.

And that’s what I’ve got for you here in this planning guide!

Below you'll find a thoughtful workbook and a variety of resources for your summer planning pleasure. From daily activities to an overarching family Bible study plan for the whole summer, you're sure to find a few great tips and tricks to help you plan an incredible summer with your family.

Summer does not have to be overwhelming, or exhausting, friends. No, it does not. I believe summer can be restful, enjoyable, and meaningful – especially if we start spending our time looking into the faces of our children instead of scrolling through our neighbor’s instagram feed.

With a little planning (I’m talking LOOSE PLANNING here, people – it is summer, after all!) I think we can have a season full of fun, rest, and memories for the whole family.

Print off your workbook, dive into the resources below, and get to planning!

Let’s do this, friends! Who’s up for an intentional summer?