What’s on your bucket list the last week of summer?

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School starts up again on Sept. 1. Yes, already. In less than two weeks, children will be putting on their jeans and strapping on their backpacks, heading back to the halls of scholars.

Families will again have to work around school, homework, sports practice, Boy and Girl Scouts and the like. From the first day of school, life switches from pause to fast forward.

But there are still a few remaining days with which to relax and enjoy some family time before it gets relegated to 30 minutes at the dinner table a few nights a week. And, because we live in a virtual outdoor paradise, there are plenty of ways to spend a leisurely day and squeeze that last drop of fun out of summer while sneaking in some lessons along the way.

• Get the kids excited about learning again with a visit to the Poulsbo Marine Science Center, located downtown on Front Street. It offers a peek at life under the sea and lessons about the water quality in Liberty Bay. The center is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, admission is free; donations accepted.

• Stillwaters Environmental Center in Kingston has trails that lead to viewing platforms of the Appletree Cove estuary and ponds full of marine life. It’s located at 26059 Barber Cutoff Road.

• Speaking of sea critters, no child ever objects to grabbing sand tools, and a picnic lunch and heading out to the beaches of Indianola for the day. Sand crabs, starfish and other creatures will keep their interest, while maybe even inspiring a sand sculpture or two.

No matter what your family chooses, keep it fun.

The rigors of the school year are right around the corner, so enjoy the last little bit of summer.

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