Have a “brain-building” summer!
Summer Activities
Art - inside or outside, find things to create with… sticks, rocks, leaves, crayons, markers, scissors, glue, “junk” for sculptures (milk lids, styrofoam, popsicle sticks, etc.)
Paint the sidewalk with water… what happens?
Art Shelf - is a free community art center where creativity, connection and healing come together. 1415 W. 35th St. Suite C Minneapolis artshelf.org
Bowling - Children ages 2 -15 years can sign up for free bowling! KidsBowlFree.com
Build - make a blanket fort, what can a cardboard box be?
Choo Choo Bob’s Train Toy Store & Interactive Play Space: Story time and live music, Union Depot 214 4th St. E Saint Paul, admission to play space $10 kids, $2 adults Check website for days and hours choochoobobstrainstore.com Great rainy day activity!
Connection - have a play date, meet up at a park, go for a picnic together.
Dodge Nature Center - Free walking trails. 365 Marie Ave W West St Paul dodgenaturecenter.org
Garden - plant flowers, herbs, veggies. If you don’t have a yard, plant lettuce in a pot. Children are more excited to eat something they’ve helped to grow.
“I Spy” Neighborhood walks - Take walks often, each time looking for something different: numbers, letters, colors, animals, insects, traffic signs, etc.
Journal - keep a small notebook of things you do this summer. Children can draw pictures and dictate the words to be written down.
Library day - designate one day a week (or every other week) as “library day” Check out the website to see when storytime is at your local library www.hclib.com READ EVERYDAY!
Museums -Children's Museum (EBT cardholders $3), Mill City Museum (kids 4 & under free, EBT cardholders free), Minneapolis Institute of Art (free), Science Museum ($3 for those on assistance), Walker Art Center (kids free, EBT cardholders $2),
Parks - check out different parks/playgrounds in the area. Visit the wading pool or beach. Have a picnic lunch or dinner. www.minneapolisparks.orgwww.ThreeRiversParks.org
Playdate - call a friend to meet at the park or come over to play. WWP will host a few playdates at Whittier Park this summer. Stay tuned for dates.
Relax - lay in the grass… What do you see, hear, feel? Take time to rest!
Sculpture Gardens - Free! www.walkerart.org See the spoon & cherry, blue rooster and so much more! If you’re up for a little road trip, check out Franconia Sculpture Garden 29836 St. Croix Trail Shafer, MN. franconia.org Create your own sculpture at home afterwards.
Toy Lending Library - https://mplstoylibrary.org/ The Minnesota Toy Library is a toy lending program for families with children ages birth to 5 years. Like a book library, you can check-out up to five toys, take them home for 2-4 weeks and exchange them for new ones when you return!$40 - $100 annual membership fee, scholarships available.
VBS - Come to Calvary’s “Super Fruits of the Spirit” Vacation Bible Camp, June 16-18, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, dinner included. 3 years and up. Free. Contact amy@calvarychurchmpls.org for more info or to register. Ms. Ann will be there! Or check out your neighborhood church!
Westwood Nature Center - Free! 8300 W. Franklin Ave. St. Louis Park, MN
Woodlake Nature Center - Free! www.WooklakeNatureCenter.org 6710 Lakeshore Dr. Richfield Walking paths in the woods, wetlands and lake. The nature center is under construction.
Zoo - Como Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul is free!
