Fun (and Free!) Summer Activities for the Kids

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Free Activities:

  • Home Depot Free Kid’s Workshops: Workshops are designed for children ages 5-12 and are offered on the first Saturday of the month between 9 a.m. and noon at all Home Depot stores.
  • Apple Summer Camps: Select Apple Retail stores are holding summer camps where kids can make movies, create photo slideshows, write and record songs, put on a show for everyone, and learn how to do new things on a Mac. Apple Camp occurs at selected Apple Retail Stores, and each free workshop lasts three hours. Recommended for kids ages 8-12.
  • Bank of America Free Museums: If you have a Bank of America Credit, Debit or ATM card, you can get free admission to over 100 participating museums, zoos and science centers the first weekend of every month.
  • Kids Bowl Free Program: Kids can  bowl free this summer! By participating in the “Kids Bowl Free” program, children can bowl two free games per day.
  • Free Bowling at AMF: Your whole family can bowl free by joining the AMF eClub.  Receive a coupon for up to 10 free games (one for each member in your party).  Coupon expires 30 days from signing up.



Reading Rewards Programs:

  • Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Club: Kids in grades 1-6 can receive a free book from Barnes & Noble by reading 8 books over the summer. They will need to fill out a Summer Reading Journal and bring the journal to a B&N location when they are finished.  They will then receive a coupon for a free book.
  • Borders Double Dog Dare You Reading program: Kids 12 and under can join the Borders Double Dog Dare You Reading program.  They will earn a free book when they read 10 books, fill out this form and bring it in to any Borders, Waldenbooks, or Borders express store by Sept. 5, 2011.
  • Half Price Books Feed Your Brain Program: Children 14 and under can earn a free $5 gift card to Half Price Books each week they read (or are read to) for 15 minutes at least five days.  You can easily find books for less than $3 in their clearance section which will result in a free book per child each week!
  • Pottery Barn Kids Book Club: Pottery Barn Kids holds story time every Tuesday from 11:00-11:30. (Check your local store to confirm the time and date).  After attending 5 times, your child will receive a free gift.


Free or Cheap Movie Admission:

  • Regal Free Family Film Festival: Beginning in June, select Regal Theaters will offer free family friendly movies starting at 10 am each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. Tickets are only available the day of the show and first-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. (I've been to a few free Regal movies and it's fun! Just expect a crowded theatre)
  • Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse: Participating Cinemark theaters are offering $1 family-friendly movies on select weekday mornings throughout the summer. You can opt to  purchase an advance pass for all ten movies for just $5 making them only $0.50 each!