When I think of summer, it’s all about water for me.
I have always been drawn to the water — pools, lakes, rivers, big water — and sometimes it feels almost like my gills are drying out if I have been away too long. One of my favorite ways to be in the water, explore the water, is floating. Try these ways of floating through summer!
Float Reads
Before diving in to floating, inspire your summer with some great books:
Float by Daniel Miyares is a sweet story about building paper boats and floating in puddles on a rainy day. It even includes instructions on folding your own paper boat for a rainy summer day!
Blue Floats Away by Travis Jonker is a whole different take on floating — an iceberg finding its way out into the world. It would be fun to float ice from your freezer and see how long it lasts before melting away.
The Raft by Jim LaMarche is set in Wisconsin and a gorgeous tale of the fun and freedom of the summer. Every time I read this book, I am dying to build a raft and float away for a while!
Will it Float?
Kids of all ages will love to experiment with water and floating. Work together to gather small items from around your home and neighborhood: Try a bouncy ball, a rock, flower petals, a small toy, a coin and anything else you can find. Set up a small tub, tank or pool and fill it with water; it is most fun with a transparent tub or tank so you can watch from the side! Before putting anything in the water, make a guess — or hypothesis — about each item and if it will float or sink. Then it’s time to experiment and find out if your guesses were correct. Once you get going, the kids will find more and more items to try.
As you experiment, sing this to the tune of Here We Go ’Round the Mulberry Bush:
Do you think it will float or sink? Float or sink? Float or sink?
Do you think it will float or sink? Let’s find out right now!
Build a Float
I love a good stream or creek for wading, wandering and of course floating! Building a small boat or raft can add such fun to the meandering. Collect up recyclables, like yogurt containers, peanut butter jars, milk jug pieces, egg cartons or cardboard, and duct tape for building. Or try nature items like bark pieces, sticks banded together, or thick grasses and reeds for weaving. You can also try things like half a pie pumpkin, an orange peel or a watermelon rind. Work to build something that can stay afloat. For an extra challenge, add a passenger to your raft like a small figure or toy. Before sending your float out into the world, be sure to add a long string leash so you don’t lose your creation downstream! Then it’s time to test out your creation: Does it stay afloat? Does it need any modifications? How far can it float?
Go Float!
After lots of water play and watching other items float, I am ready to get in myself! Wisconsin has over 15,000 lakes and countless rivers to float in. Some of my favorite places to float are:
The Kickapoo River and Sugar River both offer great floating and unique ways to see the Driftless Area of Wisconsin. Both rivers have several companies that rent tubes and offer shuttles to make your trip easier. We have also had a great time taking our own floats down the river and shuttling ourselves; the Kickapoo especially offers lots of spots to put in and get out.
The Wisconsin River is an awesome place to float in a boat! Canoeing down the river and pulling out for lunch or play on a sandbar is a must-do for Wisconsin summers! Wisconsin Canoe Company based in Spring Green has been great outfitting our family for a canoe trip down the river.
For big water floating, Kohler-Andrae State Park offers great access to Lake Michigan as well as sandy beaches. And Madeline Island’s Big Bay Park Lagoon can’t be beat! The lagoon’s flow and temperature changes along with Lake Superior throughout the day.
– Lee Alliet
Photos by Lee Alliet.
Lee Alliet is a co-founder of Naturing in Madison, a wildschooling mama and an outdoor enthusiast. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two kids and many dogs. You can follow her outdoor adventures at @naturinginmadison and @adventureschoolingalliets.