What outdoor activities for teens are there? This list shows what teens rated as being the best outdoor activities to do at the weekend.
So, you’re looking for something to do this weekend are you? Well, this list of ideas for fun outdoor activities for teens will inspire you to get out of the house and do something fun. Some of the activities involve having fun socially with friends, while other activities focus on physical activity.
Example of outdoor activities for teens
1. Go to a concert.
Go and see your favourite artist at the weekend. The gig could be at an open air concert, music festival such as Glastonbury, or at a stadium. For the bigger gigs, you will need to plan ahead and get your tickets as soon as they go on sale. My Concert, Festival and Gig Guide gives tips on tickets, and how to make the best of a fantastic day out.
2. Shop/hang out at the mall.
There are a huge choice of shops where you can buy outdoor clothing and equipment. Just go out and see what bargains there are. Or you could just hang out with your mates.
3. Go out to the diner.
Going out for a meal with your friends is a great way to socialise. Not only do you get great conversation, you can get great food if you choose wisely. It doesn’t have to be an expensive restaurant. A diner gives a choice of food and drink at a reasonable price, and if you get a window booth you can watch the world go by outside. Sitting at a table outside a cafe means you can see more of what’s happening.
4. Organize a “get-together” with friends.
Get a group of friends together and do something fun outdoors. This could be any outdoor activity you can think of.
5. Take a trip to the beach.
A weekend trip to the beach can be quite an event. Get together with some of your friends and head for the beach. Be sure to take all the necessary supplies in a cool box.
There are plenty of outdoor activities teenagers can do on the beach. Fishing with nets in rock pools, sand castles, beach volleyball and other beach games, barbecues, ice creams, fairs, swimming, surfing, watching the good looking guys and girls, meeting new friends…
6. Theme Parks.
Organising a trip to a theme park will provide serious fun and thrills for all. Check for teenager, youth and student discounts. Challenge your mates to ride the fastest rides. A trip to a theme park will take up the whole day, so plan where you are going to eat. You may get wet on the water rides, so make sure you have the right clothing. Some theme parks have lockers where you can store your stuff. Jump the queues by getting a single rider pass.
7. Go to a carnival.
Go and watch the colourful floats and costumes this weekend at a carnival near you.
8. Go to a friend’s house.
Get out of your own house and visit a friend. Perhaps you have a teenage friend who needs some company or cheering up. You could go through lots of photos and remember the great times you have had.
9. Go bowling.
Bowling is far more popular in the US than in other countries. You can always find a bowling alley near you. Check for youth or teenager discounts.
10. Play video games with your friends.
With the introduction of the Nintendo Wii, playing video games with your mates has never been more fun. You don’t have to play shooting games. There are plenty of team games like racing and other sports.
11. Go roller-skating or skateboarding.
Roller skating and roller blading can be fun, exhilarating, or relaxing. The best place to skate is usually along the path at the edge of a beach. The California Inline Skating website has details of numerous skating trails across the state of Carolina. You can rollerblade in the golden sunshine on a smooth path.
Skate parks provide a place to socialise and show off your skills skateboarding. Evenings and weekends can be spent grinding rails and cruising the half pipe. Some outdoor skate parks have a roof, making them an all weather place to go.
You can also rent a sports hall and use it for a roller disco. If you can’t find an organised roller disco at your local leisure centre, then hire the hall and get lots of your friends together. Bring along a decent sound system and the evening will be great.
12. Water Fights
Whether it’s sunny or raining, water fights are always a great laugh. There are cool ideas on this free fun outdoor activity in our article on water fights, water bombs and super soakers.
13. Organize a monthly school social, such as a dance or coffee house.
Having a school social is a great activity. You could rent a village hall and hold a dance, but do you go for a disco or a proper dance where you dance with a partner?
Arranging a monthly social also allows you to catch up with friends you haven’t seen for a while.
14. Go to an arcade.
Go and shoot some aliens.
15. Go mini golfing.
If you can’t cope with the walk around a 19 hole golf course, or even the first 8, then perhaps mini golf is more in your league. Mini golf courses tend to be found near beaches.
16. Visit the museums.
A lot of museums are free, and those that aren’t offer discounts for young people. Museums can become quite busy at the weekend, so choose your time carefully.
17. Organize a volunteer activity.
Volunteer at the weekend to help out in your local community. This could be helping out at an old folks home, conservation, or a community project. You may enjoy being a volunteer at the local animal or homeless shelter.
18. Go to the park.
Hopefully you will have a park that is within walking or cycling distance. On a summers day there are plenty of activities for teenagers to do. Hopefully there will be playground equipment for teens, and somewhere to play soccer, frisbee, throwing a ball, chatting, picnics, read a book, play chess, or climb a tree.
19. Go to a multi-use games area with friends.
MUGAs or MUPAs are play areas designed specifically for teenagers. They are usually a five a side fenced pitch that can also be used for basketball or tennis. They have teen shelters so that you can sit and chat even if it is raining. Some even have climbing walls.
20. Get a job and earn some spending money.
As a teenager you can bring in the cash at the weekend to help save up for your outdoor activity holiday. Find out more about what outdoor jobs are available
21. Play cards, chess, pool, ping-pong, etc.
A lot of parks have stone tables with chess boards engraved on them. It can be quite relaxing just sitting under the trees playing chess with a friend. There are even outdoor table tennis tables.
Outdoor table tennis is one of the top 10 most popular outdoor activities for teens . You can set it up in the garden, garage or cabin so that you don’t have to be in the house. Outdoor table tennis tables will cope with all weathers, but can you?
22. Backyard Sleepover.
Just set up your tents in your backyard and invite your friends over for the night. It is more fun when the weather is warmer. If it is too cold for you, then you could always resort to the traditional indoor sleepover. For ideas of what to when you go camping, check out some tips on camping with your boyfriend or girlfriend.
23. Go sledding or skiing.
If there is some snow where you are, go out at the weekend and go sledding or skiing. Here are a few tips on how to make your sledge go faster.
24. Cookout.
Do a bit of cooking somewhere outdoors. If it is not in your own backyard, then you will need permission first. Have a barbecue, grill, campfire, or use portable gas stoves. If everyone bring something to eat, then you should end up with plenty for everyone. If you can’t be bothered, you could always have a small fire in your backyard and toast marshmallows on sticks. Be careful of the hot bits!
25. Watch a movie.
You could rent a movie at home, or for a change of scene, why not go out to the cinema at the weekend and watch the latest film. If you are lucky enough to have a drive-in movie theatre in your town, then it is just great to drive in and park up with your mates. Or you can just cuddle up with the one you love and watch the movie. If you don’t have a drive-in movie theatre, you can make your own outdoor movie theatre in your backyard. All you need is a large sheet hung up, a projector and a computer with a DVD player.
26. Swimming and Water Flumes.
You could go for a swim, but why not make it a bit more exciting and find a pool with a wave machine and water flumes. When it is hot, cool off and experience the thrills of a water park. I know as a teenager you may be body conscious, but perhaps your swimming ability will be more important. You could go wild swimming in lakes or rivers, jumping in from rope swings.
27. Go Fishing
If you just want to chill out and have a chat with your mates, you could go fishing and see if you can catch some whopper.
28. Cycling.
You could combine any of the above activities with a bike ride. If you don’t have any particular purpose, you could just explore your neighbourhood. Go somewhere you haven’t been before. There are more and more cycle routes these days. Pack a picnic and go somewhere with a group of friends. Just chill out and have fun.
29. Go to a sporting event.
There are plenty of outdoor sporting events you can go and watch. Athletics, football, soccer, rugby, basketball, baseball… the list goes on.
30. Treasure Hunts and Scavenger Hunts.
If you want to have a walk outdoors and exercise your brains, then maybe you could go geocaching, or create a treasure hunt. If you live near London, then a Monopoly Run might suit. This is where you have to visit all of the locations named on a monopoly board as quick as possible.
Other Things to Do this Weekend
So what are you waiting for? As you can see, there are plenty of things to do this weekend. For tons more outdoor activities for teens, have a look at our Outdoor Activity List for Teenagers. If you want ideas of things to do outdoors with your partner, look at fun things to do with your boyfriend or girlfriend outdoors, or even try to complete a summer bucket list.