Non-computer/fun Activities When Kid Has Day off but Not Parents

I understand what you're saying, but it's just one day. When I was that age, those random days off when I got to stay home were such a treat! I would sleep in, make my own breakfast, watch whatever I wanted to watch, etc.

At the beginning of each summer, I let the boys just veg out, watch tv, play video games or on their tablets, whatever. For the first 2 or 3 days, they can just chill. It's just a little treat at the beginning of the summer. After the first couple of days, I make them go outside, they start having chores, there are camps and other activities. But I do like giving them just a little time,

It's ok to just veg out once in awhile. It's just one day. I'd let him have it.

Legos!
Our son enjoyed a number of kits - like building catapults.
Way back in the day jig saw puzzles were fun.
And there's always reading - a good book is great to curl up with and just immerse yourself in it.

Additional:
Cleaning is a great idea - like dusting, vacuuming, putting things away.
But something like cleaning a bathroom might need some supervision at least at first.
You'd think that something like that would be fairly idiot proof but I was in my 20's when I cleaned my bathroom, and when the first cleaner didn't work I tried something else and ended up with an interaction between products that made some nasty ammonia gas.
I had the sense to open up windows and run the fans.
It's just better to have an adult around when tweens are doing things involving chemicals.

Cooking - a lot depends on the kid.
Some are responsible with oven/stove while others would forget to turn something off and burn the house down.
If you've been cooking together, then they might have the experience to be fine in the kitchen when no one else is home.

I'm with Gidget. I would hate it if someone gave me "projects" to do on my day off, wouldn't you?
I mean sure, give him a few chores to do but really the kid is in school (and before/after care?) all week, I wouldn't try to micromanage his down time.

Before there were computers (really!), and my oldest kids were home alone, I would set up scavenger hunts throughout the house and yard the night before. They talk very fondly about those and it has been 20 years :)

Just a thought!

Baking bread - science of how bread rises - can be used for his school lunch sandwiches all week.

when my kids have off i give them cleaning projects, mommy directed playtime fun (this could be the scavenger hunt or craft kit or painting project, or puzzle or anything your kid is interested in) i stay at home with my 7 and 5 yr old, so i am here to tell them what to do, but you could put a list of things to do up on a dry erase board, write one and put it on the counter or fridge.

You’ve got some great ideas. How about having him build frog/ toad houses, a bee b&b, bird houses, seed bombs, bat houses, small ponds, a vermiculite compost bin or other small garden improvements.

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bounce houses

Get a fun little speaker that he can blast his favorite music while he has the house to himself. In exchange for keeping the speaker, give him a few household chores.

Put him in charge of Halloween decorating. Give him a yard display challenge (use science skills to create/design effects)

New lego project would be awesome!

Take him to a bookstore before the day off. Buy books he likes.

Oooh - I love the scavenger hunt idea!

I think growing independence means greater responsibility, but instead of seeing responsibility as a burden, it's great when tweens and teens can see it as an opportunity and a rite of passage. They start to take on some new responsibilities, not just to get the job done, but to feel confident and proud.

Maybe choose from the following:
- put dinner in a crockpot (hard to screw up, won't set the house on fire, prep the ingredients the night before but let the kid use the can opener on the chicken broth and so on)
- do his own laundry. You should start moving in this direction anyway, thinking of what kids need to do in college. Start now, now when he's 17. Post a list of instructions above the washer and let him follow them.
- pick one area of the house that bugs the hell out of him, and let him put his own stamp on it. That means you need to let go, though, and be content and completely uncritical with what he does! Maybe it's the linen closet, maybe it's the tool collection in the garage that needs to be put on a pegboard, maybe it's the huge cabinet of plastic ware that has mismatched lids and containers.
- develop 1 or 2 changes in the family menu - research recipes on line (allrecipes.com is a decent one, so is Rachael Ray with her 5-ingredients-or-less ideas).
- Find a charitable project. He's going to need something in high school anyway as a college prep or even job interview idea. What interests him? Food drive for the local food pantry? (Don't do that now, as many organizations do, but get him ready to start in January or February when the "holiday" drives are done and people are still hungry). Does he love animals? What about those adorable and easy dog/cat bed things that are made from old sweaters and flannel shirts, stuffed with polyfil stuffing or old bedding/towels? What about organizing a neighborhood collection for the local human society? A textile recycling drive? Don't reinvent the wheel - just spread awareness among the neighbors for existing projects in your community.
- start to figure out jobs for vacations/after school/summers? My son developed a business, starting with vacation coverage for mail/packages/trash and pet care (walking dogs and cleaning litter boxes), raking leaves (progressing to mowing lawns), helping people clean out garages and get ready for yard sales, and so on. Start small, develop a flyer, distribute to neighbors, and then build with more experience. Lay the groundwork for what he needs to do at 12, 13, 14, 15...before he can get a "real" job. My son used this to build a 7-year in-home business and it looked great on his college applications. It's important to make him communicate with neighbors - don't do it for him. Just help him pick people who would be good starting points. Help him develop a businesslike but fun approach. This is a computer project but with a purpose.