Summer Kickoff: Bucket Battle + Sweet Treat
Summer is officially here! With kids out of school, and nights extending longer as we approach the summer solstice, we feel a shift in our rhythms. It can be fun to mark an official start to this time of year with a fun gathering of friends. Even if you don't have access to a pool, you can make a splash to cool off with our fun sponge bomb bucket battle idea!
This fun summer activity is a great alternative to a water balloon fight. You don't have any balloons to fill... and even better, you don't have any balloons pieces to pick up afterward! Once you make these, you can reuse again and again all summer long!
To pull this off, you will need the following:
- Package of colorful sponges
- Twine
- Buckets (5 gallon is best)
Method:
- Cut each sponge into 3 or 4 strips (along the length)
- Mix colors and make stacks of 8 or 9 strips (3x3 or 4x2)
- Tie bundles of colored strips together
- Knot twine securely tightly to form "starburst"
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For a cheaper version, you could also use car sponges cut in half to achieve the same amount of fun!
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You can set up teams, or just let kids run around every man for himself. The beauty of this is that you don't have any mess to clean up! Just toss the sponge bombs in the bucket until you're ready to use for next time! We loved this idea from the Minimal Mom.
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Consider including fun treats such as cake pops or if you're looking for a cooler summertime treat check out our creamy popsicle recipe.
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Cake pops are a fun interactive recipe to make and in which you can include kids to join in helping. It's basically cake crumbs that are mixed with icing or chocolate, and formed into small spheres or cubes (in the same way as cake balls) before being given a coating of icing, chocolate or other decorations and attached to lollipop sticks.
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Ingredients/ Supplies:
Cake mix (any flavor)
Can of frosting (vanilla is recommended)
Melting wafers (any flavor/ color) or melting chocolate (milk or white)
Cake pop sticks (6" or 4")
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Method:
- Bake cake mix according to directions.
- After it cools, crumble cake into the bowl (kids love this part!); make sure to make a uniform fine crumb with no large chunks.
- Add in any "toppings" such as mini chocolate chips or sprinkles.
- Stir in the frosting (start with half a can and continue to add until thoroughly combined).
- Form cake balls by rolling dough between hands to form balls (dough should easily stick together); a cooking dough scoop works well,
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*To ensure maximum adhesion to cake pop sticks, melt a few wafers and dip sticks into melted candy and then place them halfway into the cake balls. Place cake pops onto baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Place cake pops with sticks into the freezer for about 15 minutes to allow to firm up.
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Dip cake pops in the remaining melted wafers/ chocolate making sure to coat entire pop as best you can.
Add sprinkles before it dries (optional).
These can be stored in the fridge up to a week. But we're guessing they won't last that long!
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A little homemade fun can go lo long a way! Whether you make new recipes together or gather friends to soak up the sun, we hope you have fun along the way making memories and enjoying the little moments together. Happy Summer!
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For more summer fun ideas, check out these blog posts!
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