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1. Skip stones

Head to the beach and pick a thin, flat stone no bigger than your palm. The trick is to throw it with a quick flick of the wrist, which should get it to skim along the surface of the water at a 20-degree angle. World record: 88 skips!
2. Catch fireflies

Fireflies hang out in long grasses and marshy areas near water. Turn off your home?s exterior lights and blink a flashlight to attract them, and then use a net to gently scoop them into a jar. The jar should have air holes and a damp piece of paper towel to keep the air humid. Enjoy for an hour or two and then release again at night. Visit firefly.org for more tips. 
3. Go to the drive-in

Gone are the days of window speakers; the audio is broadcast through your vehicle?s FM radio. The iPod Nano (fifth to seventh generation) also has a FM tuner.  4. Binge-read a series

Think Sweet Valley High, The Girls of Canby Hall, Encyclopedia Brown, Macdonald Hall, The Baby-Sitters Club and Choose Your Own Adventure. 
5. Play a marathon card game

Uno, War, Cribbage and Crazy Eights are classics. If your child has trouble holding cards, make this easy holder: Take two medium container lids (yogurt ones work well) and place the smooth sides together. Make a small hole in the middle and join them with a brad fastener. Slip the cards between the lids. 
6. See a falling star

Your best bet is the Perseids meteor shower, which peaks on August 12 and 13. 
7. Build a fort

Good basics: clothespins, stu...