Planning our Summer Fun

I set to work a few months ago compiling a list of fun things for us to do over the summer.  I wanted our list to include a good mix of camps, places to go (both outdoors and indoors to escape rain and heat), and activities for us to do at home.  I thought I would share what I came up with in case any of you would like some ideas.  I've also including links to websites for easy access to information for you.

Camps:

-Gymnastics Camp @ River City (http://www.rivercitygymnastics.com/Summer_Camps.php)

-Dance Camp @ Joy McDaniel (http://joymcdanieldance.net/)

-Art Camp (this is with the art teacher that I worked with at Arlington Elementary--let me know if you would like her contact info--she also does private art lessons!)

-Zoo Camp (http://memphiszoo.org/camps)

-Vacation Bible School (Ava went to Bartlett Baptist but there are several other churches that will be having one--http://eastmemphismoms.blogspot.com/2012/03/2012-vacation-bible-school.html)

Quick Day Trips:

-Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, TN (http://www.tennesseesafaripark.com/index.htm).  Such a fun little getaway.  Check out one of my blog posts from our last visit:  http://thedanielsarealright.blogspot.com/2011/07/tennessee-safari-park.html

-Wild River Country Water Park in Little Rock, AR (http://www.wildrivercountry.com/)

Places to Go:

Indoors (in the event of rain or extreme heat):

-Children's Museum of Memphis (http://cmom.com/)

-Cordova Roller Skating Rink (sign up at this link for FREE skating for your child this summer:  http://kidsskatefree.com/cordovaskate)

-Wolfchase Mall (Ava does the Spider Jump bungee, we ride the carousel, and then grab a cookie from the Great American Cookie)

-Library (our local library has storytime and days when your child can read to a therapy dog!--http://memphislibrary.org/mplic-home)

-Pink Palace Museum (next spring/early summer look for registration for FREE summer memberships--http://www.memphismuseums.org/)

-Fire Museum of Memphis (http://www.firemuseum.com/)

-Pump It Up (pop-in playtime offered Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from 2:00-3:30--http://www.pumpitupparty.com/tn/bartlett/home-p1q52.htm)

-Bowling Alley (sign up for FREE bowling here:  http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/)

-Paint-A-Piece (http://www.paintapiece.com/)

-Swimming (our gym, Bartlett Recreation Center, has an indoor pool--http://cityofbartlett.org/index.aspx?NID=152)

-Movies (Malco Kids Summer Film Fest:  http://www.malco.com/subpage.php?page_id=121 & there are a few family movies playing at the Orpheum's Summer Movie Series:  http://www.orpheum-memphis.com/events/2012-summer-movie-series)

Outdoors:

-Memphis Zoo (http://memphiszoo.org/)

-Golf & Games (miniature golf, go-karts, bumper bumps, arcade, laser tag, etc.--http://www.golfandgamesmemphis.com/)

-My Big Backyard @ Memphis Botanic Gardens (http://www.memphisbotanicgarden.com/mybigbackyard.  Check out one of my blog posts from a visit:  http://thedanielsarealright.blogspot.com/2011/06/girls-weekend.html)

-Sprinkler Park (W.C. Johnson Park in Collierville--http://www.colliervilleparks.org/parks/facilities-and-rental-information/wc-johnson-park)

-Shelby Farms (Woodland Discovery Playground, horseback riding, paddle boats, fishing, bike trails, picnicking, etc.--http://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/)

-Jerry's Sno Cones (a summer tradition if you live in Memphis--yum!--http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/50/1453363/restaurant/East-Memphis/Jerrys-Sno-Cone-Memphis)

-Fruit picking at Jones Orchard (It's peach season and I'm so excited to go out and pick some yummy peaches!--http://www.jonesorchard.com/)

-Downtown Field Trip (ride the trolley, watch the Peabody Ducks walk, Mud Island River Park, eat at a great local restaurant--http://www.peabodymemphis.com/peabody-ducks/, http://mudisland.com/default.aspx)

Activities to do at Home:

-Set up water slides, sprinklers, etc. outside for water play

-Get a butterfly kit and learn about the life cycle of a butterfly (This is the one we have:  http://www.amazon.com/Insect-Lore-Live-Butterfly-Garden/dp/B00000ISC5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339624418&sr=8-1)

-Go on a nature walk (wrap a piece of duct tape sticky-side out around your wrists and collect items like rocks, leaves, etc. as you walk to make a nature bracelet)

-Go on an alphabet walk (take a camera and as you walk search for items that begin with each letter of the alphabet and take pics to make a scrapbook)

-Make a homemade bird feeder

-Spend in a rainy day in PJ's eating snacks and watching movies

-Have a water balloon fight

-Dye pasta/rice and make jewelry or pictures

-Fill an ice cube tray with water and food color or liquid watercolors, freeze, and then "ice cube paint" outside on the sidewalk

-Have a Family Game Night

-Go on a treasure hunt

-Craft Day (Check Pinterest for tons of fun ideas)

-Celebrate a crazy holiday (get ideas from http://familycrafts.about.com/od/holidays/tp/specialdays.htm)

-Create a scavenger hunt to use at the zoo, park, etc.--this can also be used to make the grocery store much more fun!

-Pull a mattress off one of your beds and place it in the middle of the living room one night.  We build a "fort", eat s'mores or fondue, watch movies, then snuggle up together and sleep in our fort.

I hope this helped give you some ideas!  Feel free to share any of your ideas as well!