Summer Fun Passport

Make a Play Passport to Document your Summer Staycation

Jun 1, 2009 Denise Bertacchi

Fend off the summer doldrums by making this fun summer "passport" full of ideas for family day trips and special outings.

Are you planning to have a stay at home -- or staycation -- vacation this summer? Gallop pollsters recently discovered that roughly 50 percent of people polled don't have any summer plans at all, and the rest are likely to cut back on their spending for travel.

A staycation doesn't need to be boring! With proper planning and a summer fun passport to guide you, summer at home can be full of family fun.

Track Summer Memories -- While You Make Them

This summer passport craft can help your family keep track of the activities everyone wants to do over summer break. After vacation is over it serves as a keepsake of the memories you made together. Make the passport from archival safe paper if you plan to keep it long term.

Steps to Make an Accordion Fold Play Passport

First gather your supplies:

One sheet of drawing or archival safe white scrapbook paper for each passport
One sheet of dark blue paper (optional)
Double sided tape or glue
Scissors
Markers, crayons or colored pencils

Cut the white paper in half long ways. Tape or glue the two strips together, forming one long sheet. Accordion fold the paper into four sections (fold in half, then fold each edge back to the center).

Cut a front and back cover from the blue paper and glue to the outside of the passport. Or use crayons to color the cover. Decorate the cover to say "My Passport."

Fill out the first page to look like an ID, with name, height and hair color, just like a real passport. Include a school photo, or have kids draw their own picture.

Click here to see a good example of an accordion fold booklet by Kodak.

Brainstorm with Your Kids for Daytrip Ideas

Now get the family together and make a list of all the places they like to see over summer break. Make sure your list includes plenty of free and cheap ideas, so you don't blow your budget. Include at least one idea from each family member, including mom!

Need some ideas for fun activities? Use this list to jump start your brainstorming session.

amusement parks, arcades, go-cart tracks, laser tag, indoor rock climbing
state & county parks with lake or streams for swimming, hiking, camping or canoeing
local monuments and historical sites
picnic in the park: choose one with a good playground
swimming at public pools and water parks
museums: children's, art or history
zoos, botanical gardens, science centers
biking: on trails or at parks

Fill the Passport with Summer Activities

Assign an activity from your brainstorming session to each page of the passport. Decorate each page with a photo or drawing of the fun you had at each passport location.

For added realism embellish the pages with passport themed stickers or rubber stamps. You can find passport and travel themed stickers at a scrapbook or hobby store. Or use simple award stickers from the craft aisle of your discount store. Kids can also draw their own custom "stamps" with crayons and markers.

Now whenever someone says, "mom, I'm boooored," grab your summer passport and find a great summer activity to do. You'll have a great summer filling your passport with staycation memories.

The copyright of the article Summer Fun Passport in Kids Crafts is owned by Denise Bertacchi. Permission to republish Summer Fun Passport in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Make fun stamps for your staycation passport