Summer activities that are easy on the wallet

Kids look forward to summer, but it does not take long to hear “I’m bored.” And unfortunately, if you go out, it doesn’t take long to feel the pain of how expensive activities are! Thankfully, there are many resources in Central Arkansas to keep your kids entertained without completely draining your
bank account.

My kids have always enjoyed crafts. There are several great resources for free kids crafts in Conway! Lowe’s in Conway is doing a free workshop where kids can build a treasure chest on July 16th. You can see more information about the event and register here: https://www.lowes.com/events/register/arrr-treasure-chest-kit-workshop. They are also offering a workshop to build a muscle car that kids can take home and play with. Registration for that opens July 11 th and the event is August 20 th . You can register here: https://www.lowes.com/events/register/build-a-muscle-car-with-your-mini-mechanic. These classes are usually offered throughout the year, so don’t worry if you aren’t able to make them all! They also offer many free adult classes – so check out their other events on their website!

Like Lowe’s, Home Depot also offers free workshops. They have dozens of videos and activities online that are free to you! Check out https://www.homedepot.com/c/alp/activities-for-kids-kids-crafts/qz47-42j4 to see which activities and workshops appeal to your family. Home Depot also hosts a kids workshop the first Saturday of each month from 9am-noon. You can preorder the kits to use in store or at home for less than $5! Check out the workshop schedule here: https://www.homedepot.com/c/kids?cm_sp=vanity-_-Kids-_-JUL20.

Speaking of arts and crafts, the Michael’s store in Conway offers several free in-person or online classes! We have had a birthday party at Michael’s, and it was a fun afternoon with lots of crafts for the kids. This link takes you to view the schedule of the in-person classes at the Conway Michaels https://www.michaels.com/instoreevents. In person classes not your style? They also offer hundreds of free online classes and videos! These are for kids of all ages and adults. Of course, we recommend adult supervision with kids on the internet. Check out all the several types of classes and videos here: https://www.michaels.com/classes.

Do your kids have a sweet tooth? Check out Julie’s Sweet Shoppe every Wednesday where they have cookie kits for kids to decorate for FREE! Let your kids enjoy decorating a cookie and devouring it before you leave or take it home to decorate later. No purchase required, but when you smell the
heavenly goodness that is inside Julie’s, you may be tempted to grab another sweet treat for the road.

Central Arkansas has so many activities going on in local libraries – for FREE! Kids can get their very own library card to check out books or listen to them on the library’s free Libby app (must have active library card). The libraries also host a variety of events, movie days, story times, special guests,
and more. Check out this link to show all the activities going on at different Faulkner County libraries. https://fcl.libnet.info/events.

The heat may make it a challenge at times, but we have so many great hiking trails and state parks nearby that are free to visit. Wooly Hollow, Petit Jean, Cadron Settlement, Pinnacle, Mt. Nebo, and so many more areas in central Arkansas are beautiful to explore. Wooly Hollow also offers paddle
boats for a small charge - $8/hr for a 2-seater boat and $10/hr for a 4-seater boat. They also have a beach area and a snack bar you can visit to make a day out of the park. Beaverfork lake is another local wet spot to cool you and your kids off during the summer. Another option to cool your kids off on a sweltering day is to visit one of the splash pads in Conway or Greenbrier! These are free to enjoy. The splash pads in Conway are at Laurel Park at 2310 Robinson Avenue and the 5 th Avenue Park at 573 5 th Avenue. The Matthews Park in Greenbrier is a fantastic park with special needs accessible equipment, a skate park, walking trails, a pond, and a splash pad! Go check it out behind the Fat Burger in Greenbrier at 25 Ivy Street.

Conway Family Bowl also offers their “Kids bowl free” program during the summer. This starts at noon and goes until the evening. Kids can play up to two free bowling games every day! They offer discounted programs if adults want to play also. The only cost is shoe rental if you need it. Bowling is a
fun indoor (yet out of the house) activity to enjoy with family and friends. Check it out and register for free at https://www.kidsbowlfree.com/center.php?alley_id=5809.

Love going to the movies but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg? The Cinemark movie theater in Conway offers their Summer Movie Clubhouse. Each Wednesday they play a different family-friendly movie and tickets are only $1.50! You can also get discounts on snacks if you decide to grab
some at the theater. This runs until August 3 rd .

Conway has been called the “City of Colleges” and those colleges offer some amazing programs for our community. One of those programs is the UCA Planetarium. This is an amazing place to learn about astronomy from people who want to share their knowledge. They offer free shows every Friday and Saturday nights this summer with shows starting at 7. Doors open 15 minutes before the show starts. You will want to be there early to get a seat and no entrance is allowed once the shows begin. You can get more information about the shows and other events and maps at this link:
https://uca.edu/physics/planetarium/.

There are so many options for fun activities in central Arkansas. Of course, there are more than this list includes, but these may be some options you did not know about. I hope you have collected some tips for fun (and inexpensive) things to do to entertain your family this summer! Stay safe and
enjoy making those memories with your kids!

Katelin Whiddon, NP