My daughter loves to celebrate so she’s made great use of the National Calendar App on her phone. Just this week we’ve celebrated National Bikini Day, National Sugar Cookie Day, and National Hot Dog Month. Also, with our pre-show dinner on the lawn at Shakespeare in the Park, we were able to commemorate both National Fried Chicken Day and National Picnic Month. I not only feel festive but also really productive.

Here’s another tidbit we discovered while using her app–July is National Park and Recreation Month! It’s a happy accident that this falls in July because summer is the perfect time to get the kids off the screens and outside burning off that excess energy with play, play, play.

Get your play on with these fun, outdoor activities happening this week in the DFW area.

Photo: shutterstock.com

Capture the magic of a Texas summer night this Thursday evening with a Nighttime Owl Prowl Hike at the Trinity River Audubon Center. The event starts with a talk about owl anatomy, how to call owls, and how to attract owls to your yard. Later on, after it gets dark, you’ll head out onto the trails for a group lead owl prowl. The night ends with roasting s’mores over the fire. Don’t forget to bring your flashlight and to wear closed-toed shoes.

Photo: shutterstock.com

It’s been so hot lately you might have found it difficult to get your park time in. Hot slides and little tushies don’t mix. Klyde Warren Park has found the perfect solution for beating the heat with their Water Gun Madness event. That’s right. You and the littles can cool off in a kid-friendly water gun battle at one of the city’s best parks this Friday from 12 to 2 p.m. It’s going to be wet and wild fun, but before you go, here are a couple of things to keep in mind. No water balloons (they hurt!), make sure your water gun doesn’t look like a real weapon, and lastly, make sure you dress appropriately. You’re gonna get wet!

Photo: City of Irving

Gather up the littles and head over to Fritz Park in Irving for their free Petting Farm. The farm is a peaceful setting where kids can get a closeup view of cows, horses, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, rabbits and even peacocks. Best of all, it’s located in a clean, well-shaded area. Keep in mind, this is a SMALL petting farm, but it’s big enough to satisfy young animal lovers and the perfect activity to get in before nap time. The farm is open Tuesday through Sunday until the end of July.

Get a little exercise along a peaceful stretch of the Trinity River where you and the flora and the fauna are the only invited guests. Canoe Fest is a paddling adventure put on by the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge every 3rd Sunday of the month. It’s also the perfect opportunity for you and the little kiddles (ages 5 and up) to become one with nature and to learn the ins and outs of canoeing for just a measly 5 bucks a person. Best of all, canoes and all the gear are provided.

Photo: shutterstock.com

True, ice cream eating isn’t really recreational (though many people count it as one of their very favorite pastimes), but it would be a shame not to partake in National Ice Cream Month. Celebrate the creamy confection at an old-fashioned Ice Cream Social this Saturday evening at Nash Farm in Grapevine. Enjoy homemade ice cream and Victorian games on the lawn while listening to Lone Star String Band. Bring a quilt and picnic dinner and you can celebrate National Picnic Month, too!