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While Labor Day weekend may unofficially mark the end of summer (and the beginning of great sales), it’s still the ideal time to get outside and make use of the last few weeks of near-perfect weather. Luckily, Jennifer Garner has just the right activity. The actor recently took to TikTok to document her latest DIY project: a dunk tank. Though they are typically reserved for carnivals and school fundraisers, Garner proves that with a bit of determination (and most important, a power drill) you can have next-level, homecoming-fair-type fun from the comfort of your own backyard. 

@jennifergarner

Sometimes…you need a dunk tank. #DIY 😈🤗🌞♥️

♬ original sound – Jen Garner

Instead of the traditional tub of water that a dunkee gets submerged in, Garner opted for an easier and much more practical bucket system with which to douse the unlucky recipient’s head (most likely belonging to one of her kids). Equipped with a plastic bin, a jigsaw, a set of hinges, twine, and 2-by-4s, she constructed her own makeshift dunker in what we’re guessing only took a few hours. The finished product calls for someone to sit on a stool beneath the contraption, while another throws a ball and aims it at a target (Garner’s is spray-painted a hard-to-miss bright red), and that triggers the container to tip.

If crafting your own carnival attraction isn’t on your to-do list this Labor Day, consider something a little more interactive, like a jungle gym. It took furniture designer Eric Trine just 20 hours to whip together his kids’ minimalist play zone. Or take Erin Fetherston’s lead and install a rock wall and monkey bars in your garage. Not only will it allow your little ones to exert any bottled-up energy after school, but with the right floor padding, they’ll also have a safe spot to flip and tumble to their heart’s content. Not up for building anything that involves a trip to the toolshed? Artist Mary Lai showed us how easy it is to turn old cardboard boxes into a mini spaceship, while DIYer and mom Amy Blessing schooled us on the art of the alfresco movie night. What time should we come over?