What do our kids do in the summers when they aren’t in school? If kids aren’t doing things that challenge their brains and their bodies, they might be way behind when they return to classes in August. This can be especially challenging for families in poverty or for low-income families.
It’s too easy to park kids in front of a television or computer or gaming system. And what a disservice to them if that is their whole summer! Summer is a time for kids to grow physically, intellectually, and socially.
How does your family plan your summer activities? What do you have for resources? How much money can you budget for things like park passes and pool passes? Can you afford any summer camps, or get scholarships to help cover that expense? How much time can you spend with your children – a few hours a day? A week off work? Is there a circle of friends or relatives who would take turns planning activities?
I think back on what we did as kids – pre internet by a long way. I grew up in a small town in northeast Nebraska. Busy working parents meant we entertained ourselves. We read – a lot – heading to the library every couple of days. We went swimming every day. We played in the park with our friends: swings, slides, merry-go-round, softball, croquet, hide-and-seek, climbing trees. My brother biked to a farm pond two miles out of town to go fishing. We were all in 4-H, so that meant hours spent on sewing and cooking projects. We also played lots of cards and board games.
Here in Alliance our children enjoyed many of those things as well: the library’s summer reading program, swimming lessons and pool passes, playing with kids in the neighborhood or at the park. They went to Vacation Bible School every year. Some of their friends went to VBS at several churches during the summer. Our family rode bikes all over town and spent a lot of time at Laing Lake learning to identify all the different kinds of birds and ducks that used to be there. We did arts and crafts and science experiments.
Think about all the skills we build when we cook: following directions, doing math, measuring, discussing nutrition, learning about different cultures and the foods they eat. We loved to cook with our kids and would turn the kitchen over to them as they got older.
Big vacations like trips to Disneyland were out of our price range. But our state park pass was well used! We had an old canvas tent which was later replaced by a dome tent from Cabela’s. It didn’t take long to load up the tent, blankets, sleeping bags, backpacks, and coolers to head to one of the nearby parks.
Chadron State Park was our favorite. We hiked a lot, and there are lots of trails there. Lookout Point let us see Laramie Peak, Harney (now Black Elk) Peak, and bluffs, lakes, and towns in northwest Nebraska. Our kids loved the pool, the trail rides, the crafts at the activity center, archery, paddle boating on the ponds. They learned to identify constellations. They got to saw wood and cook over fires.
Fort Robinson was where we camped when we wanted activities that were more educational or cultural. A ride on the tour train meant learning about the history of the Fort, and the history of our area. Our family saw all the musicals and went to the art show every year. The kids loved the museums, especially the Trailside Museum with the skeletons.
We hit all the parks and recreation areas within an hour or so. Bridgeport SRA, Walgren Lake, Scottsbluff, Chimney Rock, Toadstool, Agate Fossil Beds. Each location offers something different for a family to enjoy. Nebraska Game and Parks and the National Park Service have special programs during the summer, and you can find these online. Rangers give talks and lead hikes. There are youth fishing opportunities, with well-stocked ponds. Most activities are free, but you need a park sticker for your vehicle.
This weekend, June 13-14, Chadron State Park will be celebrating their 104th anniversary. All kinds of activities and exhibits are scheduled on Saturday.
Fort Robinson will host the Western Wildlife Art Show July 2-4, and special programs from Humanities Nebraska will be offered each day as well.
It doesn’t cost a lot to fill a summer with fun activities for our children. Spend time with them. Let them spend time with their friends. Get them outside to enjoy nature. Take advantage of free and low-cost activities in our area. Remember how much fun summer can be!