Summer is slowly coming to an end and you can feel the fall chill creeping into the air. But cooler temperatures and shorter days don’t mean that you have to stop enjoying the outdoors!

So, how can you make the most of the last warm days of summer as the new school year kicks off? Keep reading to find out!

Study in peace

Scattered worksheets and piles of homework start to blend into your home’s décor at the start of the new school year. Don’t get overwhelmed! A great way to motivate your child to learn while still allowing them to get some fresh air is to create a small study space in your backyard.
    
An effective way to settle restless minds and encourage your children to study is to create a calm, sun-filled learning space!
 
The whole family can enjoy the peaceful new nook. You could dress it up with some outdoor cushions and mood lighting. It is, after all, your own personal productivity bubble.

Go ahead and add a small patio table or a folding desk and some comfortable chairs so that you can get down to work on your laptop or go old-school with a pen and paper. Turn it into your own outdoor office oasis!

Enjoy a meal outdoors surrounded by good company

The arrival of September doesn’t mean that winter hibernation is around the corner, there are still plenty of beautiful nights to look forward to!

Once all the homework is packed away and the weekend finally arrives, good meals surrounded by even better company are on the agenda! You don’t have to give up on spending quality time outdoors around a BBQ with those you love (close family, of course).

Don’t throw in the towel just yet—September still has so much to offer. Just because school has started back up, doesn’t mean that having fun has to end!

Take a drive around the neighbourhood

Summer activities shouldn’t be thrown to the wayside just because school is back in session! 

If your summer was all about taking long road trips to explore the beautiful nature in your province, then now is the time to start taking shorter day trips that will quench your thirst for the outdoors. Why not have a picnic in your neighbourhood park on a warm Saturday afternoon?

You could even hop in the car and take a short drive to a nearby town. Beautiful parks and vibrant urban neighbourhoods are just begging to be explored!

If you never got around to visiting a national or provincial park this summer, it’s not too late! Simply make sure that your destination is welcoming visitors and then go ahead and plan a grand adventure!

Heading out to the cabin, going camping or booking a spot in a trailer park are great ways to relax and unwind during your first few weeks back to the grind. Plan a few family trips to refresh your body and mind and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life!

Take care of your vehicle as the season’s change

Has your vehicle been working overtime these past few weeks?

Post-summer maintenance is just as important as post-winter maintenance! Here are a few things you should look for to make sure that your vehicle stays in tip-top shape: 

• The extra kilometres you put on these past few months may mean that you are due for an oil change!
• Your brake pads may have gone through the wringer this past summer—you may want to make sure that you can still stop on a dime!
• Getting stuck behind a semi-trailer full of construction materials during a long road trip this summer could have damaged your windshield. Tiny rocks, gravel and flying debris may have left behind some chips and cracks. Give your windshield the once-over and make sure that it didn’t get too beat up!

If your vehicle is already in prime condition, lucky you! As an extra precaution, you should check that your interior air conditioning system is clean and free of any dust and debris that may have accumulated over the summer.

Once the inside of your vehicle is sparkling clean, take a quick trip to your nearest Ultralave car wash to polish up the exterior and make it look brand new!