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Summer often means a busy schedule — sports, activities, camps, vacations and more.

While getting out and exploring is a great way for your family to bond and experience new places and things together, you can also have a great time in your own backyard with some DIY yard games.

These activities are also great options for neighborhood gatherings, family reunions, birthday parties, and more.

Photo courtesy of KiwiCo

Head to a local dollar store and stock up on some brightly colored pool noodles.

Create a few rings by taping the ends together, and cut the remaining noodles in half so you can set up the uprights the rings will be tossed on to.

Push sharpened pencils into the grass and fit the pool noodle upright on it. Then start tossing away!

Photo courtesy of Passion for Savings

Tic Tac Toe is a great game for people of all ages, and it’s even more fun when it is played on a giant board in your backyard. Just grab a can of spray paint to create the board and use two different colors or styles of paper plates for the Xs and Os.

If your paper plates aren’t quite distinct enough (or you want your kids to practice their letter writing), go ahead and grab a marker (permanent would be best but washable are always winners when it comes to kids’ activities) and have them label the plates with Xs and Os.

Note: If you’re worried about the wind (because, Midwest), you can also use rocks for the markers to ensure they won’t blow away. The board doesn’t need to be as big, but you can still have your kiddos get creative by painting the rocks and marking them with Xs and Os before the game begins.

Photo courtesy of Landeelu

Grab some bean bags (or make your own from old shirts or jean pockets), a ladder, paper and markers to set up this easy bean bag toss game.

Label the paper with the points (probably 10 to 50) and tape them to the rungs of the ladder. Bean bags must go through the area below the rung to earn points. Grab some paper to see who scores the most points!

Note: You could also create a similar bean bag toss using bowls or plates that have been set in the yard and labeled with point designations. 

Photo courtesy of Crazy Creations

An inexpensive and easy game to set up in your yard is frisbee golf, and all you need are a few tomato cages, plastic baskets and frisbees.

Push the cage into the ground and place the basket in the open end of the cage. Then start flinging the frisbee and hope it lands in the basket!

Photo courtesy of Women Living Well

Have some old-school fun by creating a Twister board in your backyard. You can use regular spray paint you have on hand (you’ll need at least four different colors) or you can buy some contractor marking spray that will wash away. Create a circle template using a pizza box or large piece of cardboard, then spray your dots. Make the board as small or as large as you want it, depending on how many people may be playing.

You’ll need a Twister spinner, so grab one from the game box or make your own using a piece of cardboard marked with the colors, hands or feet designation and a spinner made from a pencil.

This article appeared in the Summer Fun special publication. You can pick up a copy of the publication at Cash Wise Foods and Hornbacher's locations throughout the Fargo-Moorhead metro or check it out online.