Contributions

You have no posts

We reward new content.

START POST

Whoo Knew

No replies

Share your opinion on topics.

CONVERSATIONS

Contests

No entries

Win gift cards and more.

Your Profile

FOLLOWERS

Users

POINTS EARNED

REDEEM

Outlooks & Setbacks Saturdays

Thanks & Gratitude

Enjoying Summer Holidays

Summer holidays are just upon us here and I am so glad to be able to enjoy the summer holidays with my kids.

I know that many families struggle to know what to do with their kids in the summer to keep them busy and out of trouble, but I love the summer where our schedule is flexible and we are free to make plans as we please.

My kids are still fairly young, so trips to the parks and the water parks are really all we need for a fun-filled day! The city we live in has lots of great options for water parks; in fact, we have one outdoor park that has a huge wading pool. It is the perfect place for small kids. They can swim, run around, play with water guns, and just enjoy the day - all for free!

There are also so many great day camps throughout the summer that kids love. There are sports camps, art camps, music camps, Bible camps, science camps, and any other camp you can think of!

My nieces even go to a week long overnight camp for kids that is a great way to build new friendships and experience new skills.

You can choose to spend a lot of money on summer activities or you can make due with a small budget and explore the great outdoors.

If you are struggling to come up with ideas to fill the summer, think about ways that you can get outside and explore the great outdoors! 

Recommended Movie

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel
2005

Interesting Fact #1

In Australia, summer officially lasts from 1 December to 28 February, and therefore includes traditional holidays such as Christmas and New Year.

SOURCE

Interesting Fact #2

In Canada, the first day of summer vacation for public schools is the last Saturday in June. However, in some provinces students get a Professional Activity day on the final Friday of that school week, and their last day would be on the Thursday.

SOURCE

Interesting Fact #3

The dates vary depending on the location of the school district but generally follow the same schedules; most schools in the Northeastern United States end in June and start the Wednesday after Labor Day (the first Monday in September, with teachers reporting back on Tuesday), while the majority of schools in the Southern United States have schools end in May and start again in August.

SOURCE

Quote of the day

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” ― John Steinbeck

Article of the day - 11 Fun Facts About Summer Vacation

1. Summer vacation is a recent invention

Two girls are standing in front of the ocean. They are wearing sunglasses, white T-Shirts and Lei.

Students on Rustic Pathways’ Aloha Service.

One of the interesting summer facts is that summer vacation is a recent creation. While its exact origins are unclear, the tradition of taking a summer break between school years is attributed to the United States.

By 1900, the 9-month school calendar became common. As cities grew and urban areas heated up, families escaped summer heat by spending time in cooler areas, leading to lower attendance and longer summer breaks.

2. Summer break is global, but the length varies by country

The length of summer vacation varies worldwide. Generally, summer break is the longest school break, lasting in average from four to 13 weeks, depending on the country.

In the United States, summer break typically lasts about two and a half to three and a half months. Students finish the school year between May and June and return in August or early September.

So, how long is the school break around the world?

Country Average Duration of Summer Vacation (Weeks)
Albania 13
Afghanistan 13
Iran 13
Turkey 12
Mongolia 12
Saudi Arabia 12
Greece 11
Angola 11
United States 10
Spain 10
Portugal 10
Canada 9
Italy 9
Ghana 9
France 8
Brazil 8
Vietnam 8
Iceland 8
Kenya 8
Japan 6
Australia 6
Mexico 6
United Kingdom 6
Germany 6
New Zealand 6
India 6
South Africa 6
South Korea 6
Pakistan 6
Thailand 4

3. It’s always summer somewhere in the world

You can enjoy summer year-round by traveling between the Northern and Southern hemispheres. In Europe and the U.S., students usually take their summer break from June to August.

Meanwhile, in Southern Hemisphere countries like Australia and New Zealand summer vacation falls between December and January. So, when it’s beach time in Australia, students in Finland are sledding through the snow.

RP's student is smiling while holding a surfboard on her way to the ocean.

RP’s students enjoy summer vacation around the world – here in Australia.

In places with warm weather all year, like Thailand and Mexico, summer breaks vary, often aligning with the hottest months.

Explore Student Travel Programs to Thailand

4. The top summer song of all time is “I’ll be missing you”, according to Billboard

Billboard‘s top summer song of all time is “I’ll Be Missing You” by Puff Daddy (now Diddy) and Faith Evans featuring 112.

Every memorable summer deserves a great soundtrack. Here are the top summer songs from the past ten years, according to Billboard:

Year Song Title Artist(s)
2024 I HAD SOME HELP Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
2023 LAST NIGHT Morgan Wallen
2022 AS IT WAS Harry Styles
2021 BUTTER BTS
2020 ROCKSTAR DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
2019 OLD TOWN ROAD Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
2018 IN MY FEELINGS Drake
2017 DESPACITO Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
2016 ONE DANCE Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla
2015 CHEERLEADER OMI
2014 FANCY Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX

5. France, Spain and the U.S. were the most visited countries in 2023

Rustic Pathways's students on a trip to Paris. Enjoying a sightseeing bus tour with a view on the Eiffel Tower.

See the Eiffel Tower with us on a trip to Paris!

In 2023, France, Spain and the U.S. topped the list of the most visited countries.

Here are the ten most popular travel destinations, according to UN Tourism:

  1. 100 million arrivals in France
  2. 85.2 million arrivals in Spain
  3. 66.5 million arrivals in the United States
  4. 57.3 million arrivals in Italy
  5. 55.2 million arrivals in Turkey
  6. 42.4 million arrivals in Mexico
  7. 37.2 million arrivals in the United Kingdom
  8. 34.8 million arrivals in Germany
  9. 32.7 million arrivals in Greece
  10. 30.91 million arrivals in Austria

6. Every four years, the Summer Olympics become a top travel destination for sports fans

Attending the Summer Olympic Games is a bucket list experience for many sports fans looking to see athletes set a world record. This turns different cities into top summer vacation destinations every four years.

The first Summer Olympics in the modern era took place in Athens in 1896, with just 241 athletes from 14 countries. As you travel to Greece, don’t miss this chance to explore the birthplace of the Olympic Games.

>> LEARN MORE: 117 Fun Facts About The Olympics

7. Millions of people in the U.S. attend summer camps

Every summer, millions of people across the U.S. attend summer camps. Joining a summer camp can provide a great opportunity to build social skills, enhance confidence and foster teamwork in an exciting setting.

A group of smiling students stands in a circle outdoors, arms around each other, enjoying a fun and energetic moment together.

Students connect over summer camp activities.

8. The hottest weeks of the year are called “dog days of summer”

The “dog days of summer” refer to the hottest weeks of the year, typically occurring between July 3 and August 11 in the Northern Hemisphere.

As a non-native English speaker, I have to admit I was confused by this expression and wondered what dogs had to do with hot days in summer. Little did I know that there’s no direct connection at all.

The dog days of summer are named after the Dog Star (Sirius), located in the Canis Major constellation. Ancient Greeks blamed Sirius for the hot temperatures, discomfort and illness that came about during summer.

While the ancient Greeks and Romans associated Sirius with bad luck and drought, the Egyptians viewed its rising as a positive sign. The “dog days” of Sirius meant the flooding of the Nile River which was crucial for Egyptian agriculture.

A girl is enjoying a colorful ice cream on summer vacation.

Who doesn’t love ice cream on a hot summer day?

9. The U.S. celebrates National Ice Cream Month in July

July is the hottest month of the year (Weather.com). This makes the month ideal to celebrate National Ice Cream Month. Americans eat an average 20 pounds of ice cream each year, with vanilla taking the crown as the favorite flavor, followed by chocolate and cookies and cream.

Extra fact: Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, where Americans consume over 7,000,000,000 hot dogs. Hot weather does odd things to diets.

10. Summer is packed with festivals worth traveling for

Many festivals fall during the summer season, making it a perfect time for celebrations across the globe worth traveling for. Warm weather creates the stage for iconic events like Spain’s La Tomatina and Sweden’s Midsummer.

Here are some festival highlights during the summer months worth traveling for:

  • Midsummer – Sweden (June 19-25): Midsummer celebrates the summer solstice and marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The day is also the shortest day in the Southern Hemisphere, marking their winter solstice. Swedes gather in the countryside to dance around the maypole, light bonfires, wear flower wreaths and watch the “Midnight Sun Game”
  • Independence Day (Fourth of July) – United States (July 4): The biggest national holiday in the U.S., featuring fireworks and parades. Many countries also celebrate independence in summer, including:
    • France – July 14th (Bastille Day)
    • Pakistan – August 14th
    • India – August 15th
    • Indonesia – August 17th
    • Brazil – September 7th
    • Mexico – September 16th
    • Chile – September 18th
  • Nit del Foc (Night of Fire) – Barcelona, Spain (June 23rd): In Barcelona, this summer solstice celebration honors St. John the Baptist with bonfires and fireworks.
  • O-bon – Japan (August 13-15): A festival honoring ancestors with lanterns, flower displays and traditional dances, culminating in ceremonies to send spirits back with floating candle-lit lanterns.
  • La Tomatina – Spain (Last Wednesday of August): In Buñol, this famous festival turns into a giant tomato fight, covering the streets in red and offering a playful way to embrace summer.
  • White Nights – Russia (April 22 to August 21): St. Petersburg celebrates near 24-hour twilight with all-night festivals and concerts, capped off by the Scarlet Sails celebration and fireworks show.

11. Local economies benefit from summer vacations

Local economies benefit from summer vacations. In the U.S. alone, summer vacation brings billions into the tourism industry, supporting many jobs.

Travelers spend money on accommodations, food, transportation and activities, helping local businesses grow. For 2024, the Allianz Travel Insurance estimates Americans will spend $214 billion on summer vacations.

Question of the day - What is your favorite summer activity to do with your family?

Thanks & Gratitude

What is your favorite summer activity to do with your family?