Camping can be an expensive venture by the time you add up travel costs, equipment and park fees. But if you’re a fan of the great outdoors, why not spend a fun-filled weekend with the kids camping in your own backyard? Play outdoor games, enjoy a healthy burger or two and top it off with some toasted marshmallows before you sleep under the stars—without spending a penny on gas.

Go for a swim

No, you don’t have to splurge on a pool for your backyard to stay cool in the summer months. Instead, check out the listings for community pools in your area. Most city-operated pools will offer leisure swimming hours either free of charge or for a nominal fee.

Swimming isn’t just a refreshing way to beat the heat—it’s also a great workout. It gets your heart pumping and helps to build your lung capacity, while also providing a low-impact workout that’s easy on your joints.

Plan a scavenger hunt

Whether you’re trying to entertain restless kids or looking for a cheap way to have fun with a group of friends, planning an outdoor scavenger hunt is the way to go. Head to a nearby park and hide clues or compile a list of specific items that your participants have to find. Not only is this an excellent social activity, you can sneak in some exercise by offering a reward to the team who finds everything in the shortest amount of time (that’ll get them running!) Then finish off the day with a healthy potluck picnic.

Grow your own food

Gardening is an effective way to relieve stress and burn calories, but it can also help you eat healthy and save money, too. With a little hard work, you can enjoy fresh lettuce, peppers, tomatoes and other nutrient-packed foods right from your own backyard. If space is limited, you can also try growing your own herbs with an indoor herb garden—they’ll help punch up the flavour of any healthy meal.

Don’t have enough space to garden at home? Look for a community garden in your area.

Start a group or club

Whether you’re interested in reading, running or cooking, you can start a club for just about anything! Let your friends know that you’d like to get together for a regular book club meeting in the park or sweat session on the trails, and then have them spread the word. It won’t cost you anything, but the benefits—to your mental and physical health, as well as your friendships—will be priceless.

Embrace technology

Looking for some peace and quiet on a summer afternoon? If you’ve got a laptop and an internet connection, you can score plenty of free reading material from the Chapters website and kick back with a good e-book. Or if a little zen is what you need, you can find a free meditation podcast for your mp3 player online. And from yoga moves to healthy recipes, there is no shortage of health and fitness apps out there for your trusty smartphone.

Host a summer potluck party

Summer and barbecues go hand in hand, but hosting a backyard shindig can get expensive depending the number of guests you invite. For a less costly option, try organizing a backyard potluck party with your friends and neighbours. Not only will you save money on groceries, but you’ll have a chance to enjoy each other’s cooking and swap healthy recipes. Need a little inspiration? Try our healthy summer meal plan and healthy summer cocktail recipes.

Give yourself a massage

After a long day at the office, it’s nice to relax and unwind with a soothing massage. Rather than spending $100 on a visit to the massage therapist, keep your muscles loose with a self-massage. Learn the techniques with A Practical Guide to Self-Massage. The 10 basic techniques described in this handy guide are designed to have a beneficial effect not only on the area being massaged, but on the mind and body as a whole, leaving you feeling refreshed and ready to go.