Summer vacation (and my three-hour- a-week work schedule) is finally here and I couldn’t be happier. When the kids were younger I tried signing them up for different camps (there are a million in our area), but it cost a fortune and still wasn’t the experience I wanted. What I desired most was for my kids to enjoy summer the way I did as a child. Without having to get up early and without a care in the world. Just endless hours of playing outside, reading, going on day trips, catching fireflies, making art and generally falling into a more relaxed rhythm with the universe.
That being said, I know there are plenty of parents who, for a variety of reasons, do not share my enthusiasm. I do not judge those who sign their kids up for camps, or who have their children booked for every second of the season. They’re doing what works best for them as a family, just like I am.
But for those who are home, and wondering what on earth to do with these little people (or not so little) for the next nine weeks, I have some inexpensive suggestions….
The Basics:
1. School work. Go to Five Below and stock up on some academic workbooks and flash cards. The kids love them and you might be able to retain some of what they learned this year.
2. Build a travelling art bag. All you need is a quality sketch book , colored pencils, crayons, scissors and tape. Keep it in the car and use to document the summer, or use for scheduled “art time” in the afternoons.
3. Reading/writing: Sign up for the reading program at the library. Fun, free, and great for hot days. Visit libraries in neighboring counties for a pretty drive and change of venue. Encourage your kids to write postcards or letters. Grandmothers and school principals love to get them!
4. Cooking lessons. This is just as much for me as it is for my kids – once a week cook something from scratch that you’ve never made before.
5. Grow your own food. Outside of the usual tomatoes, zucchinis, cucumbers and strawberries, we always try to plant something we’ve never grown before every summer. This year it’s pumpkins.
6. Teach your kids a new skill. Could be anything- sewing, mosaics, bird watching, bug collecting, fishing, memorizing a favorite poem – whatever floats your boat.
And for those who are in the Baltimore area…
Free (or almost) Field Trips:
7. Boordy Vineyard Good Life Thursdays Farmers Market: June 5-Sept 4, 4pm-8pm. Ice cream, fresh produce, wine, music and the kids can run around. (free)
8. River Valley Ranch– June 28th Enjoy a free rodeo, concert and fireworks. Food and other activities available for purchase. (free)
9. Baugher’s Farm: A great petting zoo, then head over to the restaurant for some homemade ice cream. (free)
10. Maryland Science Center Stargazing Fridays:Where can you find an open-air, free rooftop observatory in the middle of the city? Every Friday from 7-10:30pm you can stargaze like an astronomer with the help of the center’s 10-foot telescope. (free)
11. Smithsonian Institution – bit of a haul, but still a great deal (free)
12. Baltimore Museum of Art – A nice air conditioned spot on a hot day and has a cool sculpture garden. (free)
13. Sunday morning Farmer’s Market on Saratoga Street under 83. Yes, there are markets every day of the week, but this one rules for variety and quantity of products. My deal with the kids: if they make me buy a vegetable (because of an interesting shape or color), then they have to try it! (free)
14. Cylburn Arboretum – 207 acres of beautiful gardens and some free/close to free family activities. Closed on Mondays. (free)
15. Jerusalem Mill Village: one of the oldest, most intact mill villages in Maryland on the north bank of the Little Gunpowder Falls. In addition to the working blacksmith and general store shops to visit, there is a covered bridge and fantastic hiking along the river. Bring a picnic and water shoes for the kids as there are plenty of shallow spots for the kids to wade! (free)
16. Target Family Fun Night at Port Discovery: General Admission is just $2 per person from 4 pm – 8 pm on every third Friday of the month. A great deal for a fun visit, then finish off with a healthy dinner at Panera (on the corner), and cross the street to experience Pierce’s Park – a wonderful city park with giant chimes and sculptures kids can play on while you relax!
17. Oregon Ridge Nature Center – nature center, hiking and an organic playground down near the chickens and picnic tables. (free)
18. State parks: There are some awesome parks in Maryland – great hiking, waterfalls, beaches, and really cool playgrounds (the one in Ellicott City has one made from old tires and it’s HUGE).
19. Fort McHenry– free for the park, but there’s a fee for the historic bldgs. Pack a picnic and a soccer ball. Watch the boats, and bring a kite – there’s always a great breeze!
20. Berry Picking: Shaw’s Orchard is my favorite, but there are a lot to choose from.
21. Otter Point Creek Estuary Center – nature center and park in Harford County
22. Biking on the nearby NCR Trail or on Loch Raven Boulevard- flat and no traffic, perfect for kids.
23. Loch Raven Reservoir– seems obvious, but so many people aren’t aware of the beauty in our backyard! Great for hiking or letting the kids wade into one of the many mini waterfalls along the trails. See if you can find the many new mini bridges that have been installed this past winter!
24. Letterboxing: A treasure hunt style navigational quest for hidden boxes across North America. Visit the website for clues, find the box, and stamp your logbook.
25. Geocaching: Similar to letterboxing, but clues are delivered via a smart phone or GPS.
26. Regal Summer Movies: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10am, $1 movies for kids. They offer two to choose from, and it changes each week.
27. Beltway Movies: This Bel Air theatre offers a full range of adults and kids movies for only $2. Great deal to see the movie you missed this past spring!
28. Build a fairy garden. Find a corner of your yard or a large metal bucket and let your kids design a world for the fairies made of all objects found in nature.
29. Start a bug collection. Every time you find a dead bug, pick it up and pin it to a foam board. Spend time looking online to identify it, then label each specimen.
30. DIY Slip’n Slide. Take a large heavy duty tarp and stake it into your lawn, preferably on a hill. Set up the hose or sprinkler, and let the games begin!
So there you have it. I didn’t even include the obvious – sprinklers, painting seashells, going for a walk, finding free concerts and fairs, etc. There are simply no excuses not to have the most fantastic summer ever!