A Month of Weekday Fun
Heading into month two of summer, you might have emptied your bag of tricks and fear the impending “I’m boooooored”s to come. Here’s a handy guide with a month worth of activities to help you fill those long empty weekdays with fun. (We suggest pooling resources with another three or four parents and create a schedule to keep the kids occupied without endless running.)
Brain Drain
1. Mad Science Camp in Huntington Beach — Mad Science camps offer a daily combination of in-class discovery and exploration, outdoor games and physical activities, and hands-on applications of the scientific principles presented. Campers create, build and assemble a variety of take-home projects while exploring how science affects the world around us. Children have so much fun that they forget they’re learning! From building your own model rocket to decoding messages through forensic science, all camps are one week and have locations throughout Huntington Beach.
westorangecounty.madscience.org
2. Gaming Design and Programming Camp — ID Tech- The camp’s focus is to deliver the most innovative, STEM-based blended learning experience available to kids and teens. Today, more students enroll at iD Tech than any other tech camp on the planet. Technology is constantly evolving, and they are too. Each iD Tech location boasts hand-selected staff, a unique campus experience, and stimulating course curriculum delivered in small clusters of 8 students per instructor. Their summer STEM camps are loaded with brand new, real-world curriculum and professional software from Adobe, Apple, Microsoft, and other industry leaders.
3. Kidseum at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana — Kidseum is a high-tech and interactive childrens museum with a focus on it’s mission, “Igniting imagination through exploration,” stressing the excitement of art, archaeology and world cultures. Check out the “Glow Cave” with its fun art making activities, ride the magical Wells Fargo stagecoach through time in the “Green Screen Time Machine,” and explore archaeology like never before in our Archaeology Lab. New smart tables, smart boards, and computers offer visual stimulation and engagement. “Igniting Imagination Through Exploration” Free for Santa Ana residents every Sunday.
www.bowers.org/index.php/visit/kidseum/visit-kidseum
4. Summer Reading Club at Fullerton Library — Most local libraries pack their summers with fun. “Read for the Win” is the sports-themed Children’s Summer Reading Club at Fullerton Library. Children through 8th grade can sign up! You’ll keep track of your time spent reading and earn prizes. “Geek the Library” is the teen and adult Summer Reading Club. The library offers a host of fun and exciting children’s programs including Lego Days every 3rd Saturday of the month from 10:30am-1:00pm in the Osborne Auditorium.
5. Discovery Cube — At Discovery Cube, their exhibits, field trips and assembly programs allow kids to think and learn using their hands. Their science education programs align with the Next Generation Science Standards and their professional development for educators provide cutting-edge methods for instruction, high quality lesson plans, and hands-on activities to integrate in the classroom. This summer you can enjoy the “Extreme Dinosaurs” exhibit with real life-size animatronic dinosaurs and the “Hands-On Harley Davidson” exhibit. Dream it! Build it and Ride it!
Creative Genius
1. Pretend City in Irvine — This museum is a child-size interconnected city where kids can pretend to be in real world roles. The museum has 17 interactive exhibits and activities for children to learn math, reading, science all while using their curiosity, creativity, problem solving and teamwork. There is an adventure everyday at Pretend City. Create in the art studio, shop in the grocery store and rescue people in emergency services! Suit up, gear up and put your powers to the test with there newest exhibit “Super Powers” Opening June 21st.
2. Medieval Times — Seek a quest to join with the whole family. Medieval Times adventure is one of the most popular attractions in Orange County, with live theater, food and fun for the whole family. Would-be knights of all ages take part in an epic and interactive dinner show cheering on their champion and seeing amazing feats of agility by beautifully cared for horses. Behold amazing swordplay, equestrian feats and a royally good time while enjoying a hands-only feast or cup of mead.
3. Color Me Mine in Brea — Single Day Art Adventures Just For Kids offers classes which meet for ninety minutes, with a different adventure and project each day. A Color Me Mine Staff member will be teaching your child step-by-step techniques to help him or her create a masterpiece! Classes are recommended for children of ages 5 and up. Classes will be held on Mondays through Thursdays from 10:30am-12:00pm from June 20-August 18.
4. The Ceramic Studio in San Juan Capistrano — The Ceramics Studio is a very cool-looking space to make art with friends and family for all ages! Their rustic industrial barn décor, music system and “Coyote Movie Den” for the little kids make it an awesome place to paint pottery, hand build, sculpt, or throw a bowl on the potters wheel! In fact, it’s the only place of its kind – where you can participate in the creation of all types of ceramic arts under one roof. They offer ceramic art classes for kids or you can just drop in for the day to paint. Fun and creative activity for kids and adults!
theceramicsstudio.com/photo-gallery/kids-ceramic-classes
5. Laser Quest in Fullerton — Laser Quest is a family entertainment venue combining the classic games of hide-and-seek and tag with a high tech twist. Their multi-level arenas have specialty lighting, swirling fog and energetic music to add to the excitement for up to 32 or more players in each game. The Quest for Knowledge is an educational program focused on lasers and mazes or light and optics.
Keep Em Moving
1. Newport Surf Camp — Whether or not your child has ever surfed, Newport Surf camp will provide hands-on instruction for all levels. Their main focus is to have fun in a safe environment, while covering all aspects of surfing from the history of the sport to water safety, riptides and sun protection. Newport Surf Camp paddles out at 28th street. Parking for the camp is located in the lot just north of the pier. Soft surfboards, wetsuits and leashes will be provided. A fun, safe and professional atmosphere for your children to learn how to surf.
2. Newport Sea Base Sailing Lessons — From the first day in this beginning sailing class, students will be on the water, learning to rig the boat, steer, tack, and jibe. Entering the awesome world of sailing, they will improve their self-confidence, teamwork, judgment, and responsibility. The Newport Sea Base provides beginning-to-advanced sailing classes to youth, ages 7 to 18. With thirty-five sailboats, ranging from 9’ to 38’, students learn in age appropriate, as well as skill-appropriate, boats. Each set of boats also have two sizes of sails in order to sail in a wide range of conditions, enabling your child to experience as much time on the water as possible. Be sure to check for age groups and session times.
3. Big Air Trampoline Park in Buena Park — Big Air in Buena Park and Laguna Hills offer high-flying fun for the whole family where the kids can literally bounce off the walls. The 17,000 square feet of jumping surfaces include trampoline dodgeball courts, slam dunk courts, foam pits, launch pads, a rock climbing wall, battle beam and massive freestyle court. With so much to do, Big Air is the ideal venue for your next birthday, team party, and/or group event. Thursdays are “Family Nights” (4) One hour jump passes, large pizza and pitcher of soda for only $40.
www.bigairusa.com/buena-park/attractions
4. Yorba Linda Ice Hockey Classes — A guaranteed “cool” time, sessons are the fastest and safest way to learn and enjoy any sport or recreational activity. This is a great source of exercise, building self-confidence and sportsmanship. They offer classes for tots all the way through adults. Sign up today for an 8 week series which includes one 1/2 hour lesson per week, skate rental, five public session admissions and certificate of completion for only $120.
5. Crystal Cove State Beach in Laguna — A great way to have family time this summer is simply going to the beach. Pack a lunch and check out Crystal Cove State Beach. This beach is a hidden gem between Corona Del Mar and Laguna Beach. There is so much nature to take in; hike the back trails, bird watch, explore the tide pools and sandy coves, stroll the length of the beach and best of all just relax on gorgeous beach and admire the sunsets.
Places to Chill
1. The Buccaneer Cove in Irvine — Buccaneer Cove is a super-sized water play area that’s five levels high with slippery slides, wet tunnels, spray loops and a huge splash bucket. Make the fun happen with spray cannons and the interactive Aqua Dome. This water play park includes over 1000 feet of water slides. And if you just want to watch the action, kick back in a comfy lounge chair and just chill. The park has water slides geared toward the toddlers all the way up to the adults. Cabanas are available to rent for the day and plenty of options for lunch. The park is now open through Sept 5th.
2. Regal Summer Movie Express — Summer Movie Express 2016 – Family fun movies playing on Tuesdays & Wednesdays throughout the summertime! Admission to the Summer Movie Express is only $1. Tickets available for purchase at the box office and all movies start at 10:00 am. Each week both movies play on both days. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Will Rogers Institute. Grab the family and beat the heat and relax watching your favorite family movie.
www.regmovies.com/movies/summer-movie-express
3. Flight Deck — Flight Simulation Center in Anaheim- Experience the thrill of aerial maneuvers at 600 knots and air-to-air combat in an authentic military flight simulator. Feel what it’s like to take the controls of a commercial airliner in a Boeing 737 flight simulator. Guests who are not flying can relax in their Officers Club and watch all the aerial action on large LCD screens. No experience required. Classroom training and in-flight instruction are provided to ensure an unforgettable challenging aviation-themed adventure.
4. The Ride 7D — Dragging along your older kids and teens and looking for a way to round out a day of popping in and out of the air-conditioned shops of Irvine Spectrum? The Ride7D lets riders battle robot cowboys, aliens, the newest Ride filled with monster vehicles (and if it’s just mom and dad sneaking out for Date Night) the seriously spooky walking dead. Hats, boas and various other costume props add to the fun. Heads up, this is a blasting game so use your judgment.
5. Beachfront Cinema in Huntington Beach — Beachfront Cinema is the premier outdoor movie experience in Huntington Beach. This one of a kind event consists of a reserved, premium area on the California State Beach, featuring one of the largest inflatable, outdoor movie screens in California. With top end production elements including theater quality projection and sound, Beach Front Cinema also features plush, jumbo-sized beanbags, food vendors, live bands, beach bar, contests, games and some of the most amazing sunsets on the West Coast. All movies start at dusk.
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