Free & Cheap Things to Do This Summer

[worm761]

Northwest Florida, in the Panhandle, in a coastal county. I'm sure there probably are some, but I was really aiming more for things to do in the immediate, local area. I don't want to drive an hour to do something. I'm really thinking of things to do just for a few hours in the morning, not day-long events.

I am in Pensacola. If you are not too far from here then I can tell you a bunch of trails to hike, parks to go to, free things to do in our area.

 

[mom0299]

Since summer camps can get expensive I have a couple of ideas along that line. For years my parents held "Cousin Camp" at their house. We live in the same town as they do, but my DBro's family does not. The cousins would come and stay with my parents and each day my kids would go over and my parents had activities planned for them. They had a great time with their cousins and it was very inexpensive.

Also, my DSil gets together with two other families and they plan a week of activities and have their own "camp" with all their kids.

My kids are older now, so they have their own things to do. But I do plan to have them help go through closets and the attic to find anything we can sell in a yard sale. That should occupy us for a few days and I'll have some money at the end of it all.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I am in Pensacola. If you are not too far from here then I can tell you a bunch of trails to hike, parks to go to, free things to do in our area.

I'm a couple of hours from Pensacola. We've done day-trips there to go to the Air Museum, Lighthouse, Fort Barancas. But it's a little far for what I'm aiming for -- primarily, I'm looking for activities that take a few hours, but not all day, that I can get to with at most a 30-minute drive. Leave by 9:00, be home by 1:00 so the kids can spend the afternoon in the pool and I still have time to keep up with housework.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have a growing list.

 

[kkacar]

I'm a couple of hours from Pensacola. We've done day-trips there to go to the Air Museum, Lighthouse, Fort Barancas. But it's a little far for what I'm aiming for -- primarily, I'm looking for activities that take a few hours, but not all day, that I can get to with at most a 30-minute drive. Leave by 9:00, be home by 1:00 so the kids can spend the afternoon in the pool and I still have time to keep up with housework.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have a growing list.

I too am on the gulf coast. Not sure where you are but I know the local TDC's have calendar of events of all the things that are going and many of those things are free. I know in Alys Beach they have sandcastle building lessons that are fun and in Seaside they usually have some free children performances. Also most of the beach neighborhoods have free movies on the lawn.

Kelli

 

[CarolineB]

Look up all the Vacation Bible School classes in your area -- I've found that you don't need to belong to the church to sign your kids up and these are really fun and can be low cost or free. Some are during the day and others are held at night (usually one week during the summer.)

Look at the websites for all of the towns in your immediate area for the free events that they'll be offering this summer (concerts, kids' events, etc.)

http://stayathomemoms.about.com/od/activitiesandfun/a/free-summer-program-for-kids.htm

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

Check out a kid's science book from the library and do some of the experiments; they are usually done with household materials.

 

[AntePrincess]

Look up all the Vacation Bible School classes in your area -- I've found that you don't need to belong to the church to sign your kids up and these are really fun and can be low cost or free. Some are during the day and others are held at night (usually one week during the summer.)

For some reason I read this as "sign your kids up for all the VBS classes!" I was imagining a child going from one week at a Pentecostal church, the next at a Catholic one.

 

[Ephany]

Barnes and Noble's 2012 summer reading program is up on their website; read 8 books and your child can pick a free book of the list.

 

[Twinkle Lights]

I agree with the posters who mentioned the library programs. Where we live, we have access to 2 different towns free summer library programs. Their websites usually have a summer calendar of all the activities, including storytellers, magicians, childrens musicians, etc and when they are performing.

The best thing I've done in the past is print out a June, July and August blank calendar at calendarsthatwork.com and write in all the summer library events that we are planning to do, in pencil. Then you can schedule other things around those days, like playdates at parks, the free bowling, discounted "Summer Movie Clubhouse"...(we have Cinemark theaters and they offer this during the summer...once a week at 10 am, they have a different second run kids movie for $1 or all 10 movies for $5...a great value; even if you don't have Cinemark, your local movie chain may have something similar).

Another fun idea is a treasure hunt, with clues for the kids to decipher in and around your house and ending with a fun surprise.

If you have access to a splash pad, it is a fun alternative to a pool, though getting cool (in any form) on a hot summer day can't be beat!

If you google "staycation ideas for kids", you will get a lot of good links to awesome ideas to do at home!

 

[mrsklamc]

For some reason I read this as "sign your kids up for all the VBS classes!" I was imagining a child going from one week at a Pentecostal church, the next at a Catholic one.

There are folks who do that.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I've been gathering ideas from here, pinterest and various blogs and this is what I have for my kids so far this summer, I'll try not to repeat the ones that have already been mentioned.

Wash the car, bikes, scooters
YMCA
pick berries
Airborne museum (local museums)
Local historical sites which are often low cost, donation only or free, check out website for your town and towns near you.
Make root beer floats
make homemade ice cream
make paper airplanes, have contests to see which flies farthest
make sock puppets and put on a show
Have a Lego building contest (use only a certain color or shape, which is tallest, etc.)
play a board game
gather and paint pet rocks
have a neighborhood talent show
create a family crest or flat
build things with toothpicks and marshmallows or grapes
See who can jump rope the longest
Draw a picture of the house from the outside
Invent a dance to your favorite song
Learn 10 words in a different language
Write secret messages in lemon juice
Photo scavenger hunter
Make your own sidewalk paint

 

[traces7]

Anybody have any good ideas for young teenagers for the summer. My DD just turned 13 and I'm trying to come up with some things for her for the summer. She'll have to be able to do a lot of them by herself though, because DH and I will be at work. It's a tough age, she's too old for a lot of the things mentioned here and too young to work. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[reginaastralis]

I love these ideas! Thanks so much.

Like many of you, I've been perusing pinterest for ideas ... this summer I have my daughter and FOUR other kids I'm babysitting. I'm going to go crazy.

So, one of the things I am planning on doing is a Disney movie of the week. I plan on finding some crafts/snacks/lunch ideas that fit the theme as well. Since we live in central Fl, we can almost count on a rainstorm everyday around 4pm.

I don't want the kids in my house alllll day.

 

[reginaastralis]

Anybody have any good ideas for young teenagers for the summer. My DD just turned 13 and I'm trying to come up with some things for her for the summer. She'll have to be able to do a lot of them by herself though, because DH and I will be at work. It's a tough age, she's too old for a lot of the things mentioned here and too young to work. Any suggestions? Thanks!

What are some of her hobbies/interests? Is she able to take any online classes for school? (I'm might sound mean, but my sister finished her American history course over the summer last year, and got to take an extra elective for 8th grade. It was her choice.)

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

I just signed up for the "free" bowling, but when I do the math I'm not sure it's really cost effective for my family. I have 3 kids, shoe rental is around $3 each (so $9) and then if I want to bowl I'd have to pay the $25 family pass fee plus $4 for my shoe rental. Still a great deal if you go bowling a lot and that's your thing...but definitely not free bowling. I'm on a really cheap summer entertainment budget but I think we'll try it out once.

Do you have a neighborhood pool? We go there frequently and also to the many spray parks around us (all free). Also we go to all the free library activities---and they have a bunch, like magicians and circus acts and scientists.

 

[traces7]

What are some of her hobbies/interests? Is she able to take any online classes for school? (I'm might sound mean, but my sister finished her American history course over the summer last year, and got to take an extra elective for 8th grade. It was her choice.)

She likes listening to music, playing on her iPod, the normal "teenager" things. She does like art, volleyball and reading. All of these I guess she could do, but I was kind of looking for some other ideas. No, her school doesn't offer online classes, don't think she'd be interested even if they did.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Great thread! I wish I could add something, but the things we do are listed. I'm glad to see so many ideas. Thanks to everyone!

 

[mrsklamc]

Can she babysit?

Is she interested in any new hobbies? Photography? Sewing?

 

[preschoolmom]

Northwest Florida, in the Panhandle, in a coastal county.

Drool, that is my absolute dream location

Let's see - Our list is pretty basic:

Play in the sprinkler and eat popsicles (not mutually exclusive, LOL)
The library reading program (ours has lots of local coupons as prizes)
movies and popcorn (with sleeping bags) for rainy afternoons
My girls are going to earn several Brownie badges this summer (bugs, painting - easy to do at home)
ride bikes, scooters, and roller blades
we'll go to the community pool

I wish we were close to a beach - we're hoping to go to the Indiana Dunes this summer, but we'll see...

 

[traces7]

Can she babysit?

Is she interested in any new hobbies? Photography? Sewing?

She's not interested in babysitting. I'm going to try and get her interested in some new hobbies. Sewing sounds good. Thanks!