Monday, June 28, 2010

Pop-Tarts Summertime Activity for Kids


This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts.

This contest is now closed. Thanks to all who participated.

As school was winding down for the year, my two boys began to plan their activity wish list for the summer. Swimming, camping, hiking, and fishing were all at the top of the list, and my husband and I were excited to be invited along for the ride. However, we were also faced with the reality that we would not be able to fill each and every day with a novel activity. We suggested to the boys that they think of a project that they could do over the summer, preferably something that would help an individual or the community.

Over the past several months, the boys watched several news stories and videos about global warming, how the melting polar caps are effecting the polar bears, and what we can do to help. From this, they decided that they would like to do an environmentally-minded project. One of the concerns that we have with our city's recycling program is that they do not accept glass products. Instead, we have to collect the glass containers and drive them to a recycling bin that is about 25 minutes from our home. Not only does this negate the purpose of helping the environment (think: gas consumption), but most people will not bother to make the drive and, instead, throw the glass into the garbage.

Clipboard and fliers in hand, the boys approached a number of families in our neighborhood to sign them up for their own brand of recycling. Within 45 minutes, a dozen names were added to the list. These willing neighbors pledged to save their glass and put it on their front porch for pick-up each Monday morning. This Monday, the boys walked to each house, pulling their Radio Flyer wagon behind them and loaded up the glass to take down to the recycling bin.


After collecting 50 glass containers, the boys were bursting with pride and could not stop smiling at their accomplishment.


After a morning of hard work, they had earned some time to burn off energy at the park and a chance to sit down for a tasty treat. My younger son excitedly opened his box of Chocolate Banana Split Pop-Tarts...


while my older son couldn't wait to sink his teeth into his Cinnamon Roll Pop-Tarts.


And, of course, there was some sharing.



They would be happy to make a Pop-Tarts snack a weekly event following their recycling efforts.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card from BlogHer, please answer the following question in the comment section:

"What was your favorite summertime activity when you were a kid?"

Please, no duplicate comments.
You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Head to the BlogHer.com special offers page for 9 other chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

StumbleUpon

66 comments:

Mami2jcn said...

When I was a kid I loved swimming in the pool. As an adult, I'm not too fond of parading around in a bathing suit.

mami2jcn at gmail dot com

Kristin said...

Both back then and now, I adore pool and beach time.

Unknown said...

i used to love climbing on the trees and swimming in a river
ann.altima at gmail dot com

Linda Stewart said...

I was the crazy kid back in the day. Instead of wanting to hit the pool or river I wanted to work in the garden then harvest the veggies when they were ready.

Unknown said...

My favorite thing to do as a kid was head out to the beach and boogie board through the waves followed by my mom's potato salad chilling in the cooler on shore.

Elaine said...

I loved just running around and playing outside. I have scars all over my knees to prove it!

elainehearn@live.com

clothed much, a modest fashion blog

slehan said...

Swimming, fishing & camping. Now I just do the swimming. Thanks for the contest.

slehan said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/slehan/status/17279316208

slehan said...

blogged: http://slehan.blogspot.com/2010/06/happy-4th-of-july-win-100.html

Unknown said...

I loved the beach and a BBQ after!

sweet8684girl at yahoo dot com

Lucy said...

Me and my brothers and sisters would always look forward to our summer vacation trip to Disneyland and the beach!!

Emily said...

Swimming was my favorite.

Keith and Natalie Owens said...

My fav summer activity would have to be swimming up a storm in the south alabama heat!

pestkaj said...

i loved to go to the lake...

Robin M. said...

The slip n' slide was always fun and a great way to keep cool.

JoeyfromSC said...

When I was a kid, I loved going to Lake Waccamaw in North Carolina! It was so much fun!


I also enjoyed summer camp too!(I did win "most friendly camper" haha

Thanks for the chance to win!

ajoebloe(at)gmail(dot)com

Andrea Hatfield said...

Playing basketball with my cousins was my favorite summertime activity!

sadietalk said...

My favorite activity was going to my grandparents house in the summer. I always had the best time and loved them so much and miss them so much now. They would take me swimming and let me watch Love Boat.

Leigh said...

playing kickball or tag with my friends on the street where we lived.

breezysmom123(at)gmail(dot)com

Nikki said...

That's easy - going to TX every summer to visit my grandparents. They had a pool and I was able to work in their Wester Sizzlin' Steakhouse - I thought I was big stuff working behind that counter!

Nikki said...

Just re-tweeted and hoping for another chance at $100!

http://twitter.com/Tex710

Kristen said...

When I was young, I used to love playing on the tire swing behind our house that hung over a creek on the hot summer days! My friends and I would pretend we were explorers and travel the creek looking for "treasures."

Kathi A said...

My favorite summer activity when I was a kid was running through the sprinkler!

Erica best said...

when i was a kid we use to go fishing all the time.

purple_lover_04 at msn dot com

Erica best said...

i tweeted http://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/17390326858

purple_lover_04 at msn dot com

Susan C. said...

I always loved running through the sprinkler. It was the best way to cool off!

Brooke said...

Summertime always meant two things:
1. Spending days at the local pool.
2. Games of kickball until the lamps came on.
shutterboo at gmail dot com

Melinda said...

swimming! I was a fish.

Unknown said...

i loved goping to the neighborhood play ground where they would have activities for the kids to do

Betty N said...

We traveled to a new small town every week and all worked in our family business..but my fav thing would be when we could walk downtown and explore each new place

Betty N said...

tweet with link back to you
http://twitter.com/Grandma3710/status/17493811246

Betty N said...

I blogged with a link back to you. You can view the post here or on the front page of my blog
http://higrandma.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/win-a-100-visa-gc-17/

Linda said...

we enjoyed making our own popsicles out of fruit juice and paper cups, it was so much fun!

Artisticbaker@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

all of the kids in our neighborhood would come out and play kickball, sardines and other fun games in the summer. It was free for all, and none of the parents worried about us, they knew we were with our friends, and safe!

It's not like this today . . . too much crime around.

bluegirl1423 at gmail dot com

ShoppingChic2 said...

playing kickball or tag with my friends

Anonymous said...

We loved going out for ice cream on summer nights :-D

mjharvey26 [at] yahoo [dot] com

justme said...

anything outside. my neighbor had a fort, so we were in there...a lot

nape said...

Playing "Kick The Can" with the neighborhood kids was my absolute favorite game to play in the summer.

Thanks for a great giveaway!

nape said...

Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/Ida_Sessions/status/17506305162

Carpenters said...

Hours and Hours of swimming and eating watermelon...still my summertime favorites.

Kipi said...

The local swimming pool and my grandmother's homemade peach ice cream made with peaches from Granddad's home-grown peaches. Sweet memories!

Genevieve P said...

Reading. So many books, not enough summer! And eating watermelon.
parknj at verizon dot net

fawn said...

When I was little I loved drawing on the sidewalk with chalk. We would make epic murals. I was reminded of this, because for my 1st wedding anniversary this year, I drew a big love note on the sidewalk for my husband! :)

Anonymous said...

I loved playing in my fort in the woods. scg00387 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

http://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/17540054489 scg00387 at yahoo dot com

sassy2 said...

I used to ride my bike past the local golf course and whistle at the "older" guys playing.

angie lilly said...

Hands down swimming was my fav activity. I was at the wave pool pretty much every day I could be!
Angie
one 4 earth at aol dot com

angie lilly said...

I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/FotoMacro/status/17573355283
Angie
one 4 earth at aol dot com

Anne said...

Swimming was my favorite activity. We belonged to a pool club, and I would walk there everyday with my brother and sister.

ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

Anne said...

I tweeted
http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/17580498399

Rebecca is Fabulous said...

definitely hiding under a tree and
reading...

Adam said...

Making lemonade, cookies, and ice cream with my mom and then opening my own stand at the corner of our culdesac where I sold "my" goods in order to earn up some dinero for a new super soaker!

Scott said...

My family was always big on camping. We camped LOTS during the summer all over the USA and sometimes just in our yard!
Scott
nynekats at aol dot com

Scott said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/RePurrPussed/status/17590925966
Scott
nynekats at aol dot com

Michelle @ Brown Eyed Baker said...

I definitely think my favorite summer activity as a kid was either playing tag or hide and go seek with the neighborhood kids once it was dusk/dark. Or, playing whiffle ball. Lots of great memories of both!

Michelle @ Brown Eyed Baker said...

My tweet: http://twitter.com/browneyedbaker/status/17608647287

Unknown said...

I used to love getting rides around the neighborhood with my grandpa in his big white truck. :)

VickieB said...

I used to love running through the sprinklers

VickieB said...

tweet https://twitter.com/vlbsweeps/status/17649294532

Cynthia C. said...

I LOVE playing my guitar outside and reading the bible duing the summer!!

H-Talbot said...

Running through the sprinklers, jumping on the trampoline, sleepovers, night games, bike rides, etc!!!

Janice said...

lol, I was such a nerd - I loved (and still love) to read! :)

m8usi@yahoo.com

Janice said...

tweeted:
http://twitter.com/cappytweet/status/17699568983

m8usi@yahoo.com

Mari said...

My favorite summertime activity was and is swimming outdoors.

runningmatey at hotmail dot com

Rikki said...

I grew up in Arizona, so my favorite summer activity was finding the coolest spot in the house and lounging around with a book - either Walter Farley or a Little House!

Unknown said...

Running across sprinklers with our Golden Retriever in our back yard was a fave childhood activity!