[do] Summer Family Fun in Wichita
When the bell rang on the last day of school, my third-grader announced, “Let the 3-month Wii marathon begin!” If he had his way, this is exactly how the summer would be spent: endless hours playing video games in his underwear with short breaks to eat Cheetos and nap between levels. As a parent, I know my job is to break up the monotony of summer, so I’ll give him a few days to hang out in his PJs, but then it’s time to wipe the Cheeto dust from his chin and get him out of the house for some culture… or at the very least, a picnic in the park.
Fellow verb [ICT] mama Andrea Anglin and I have compiled a list of popular Wichita attractions and the specific programs/activities they’re offering up for summer family fun.
Sedgwick County Zoo – There’s more than just gawking at the giraffes this summer with the Kids Club. Kids ages 3-11 can sign up for free to win prizes and participate in special zoo programs and events. A favorite at our house is Wet-n-Wild Days, every Friday from June 11 to Aug. 6. Kids can wear their swimsuits and play in the water and mud like, well, animals! Regular zoo admission applies, but members get in free with their ID.
Tanganyika Wildlife Park – Wednesdays get pretty wild at Tanganyika. From June to August, the park will be open until dusk with a live band playing in the pavilion from 6-8 p.m. Best of all, every paid adult admission gets you a free child admission.
Wichita Art Museum – Kids’ Workshops take children and their parents on a scavenger hunt through the museum and then settle back in for a special art project. This is a great way to expose your children to the museum in a fun and creative way. Times and dates vary; check the website for signup information.
Starlite Drive-In – As one of the last drive-in theaters in the nation, the Starlite is a must-have summer experience for any family. Cheaply priced at $8 per adult, $2 for kids 5-11 and free for kids under age 5, it’s a fun, nostalgic memory your family will cherish. And the pickles are good too. Check their website for showtimes and a Starlite Drive-In jingle ringtone.
Wichita Department of Parks and Recreation – Though Leslie Knope is nowhere to be found, the Parks and Rec department in ICT put together an interesting schedule of classes for people of all ages, especially kiddos:
- g2g Outside Play in the Park events: Simply show up at one of the listed parks at the designated time and g2g staff will have organized games to play in addition to the traditional swingsets and teeter-totters.
- Another interesting offering is the “Hook a Kid on Golf” program, held Aug. 9-13 for kids ages 8-15 who have never played golf before.
- Other classes include Hip Hop Dance, Spanish for Youth, Cheerleading and various Pee-Wee sports.
Wichita Public Libraries – We all know the library is a great place to check out books and keep the kiddos reading this summer, but did you know libraries across the city are offering up hundreds of other fun things to do? The best part, it’s absolutely FREE! Parents like free, we really do! From puppet shows to Wimpy Kid trivia contests, craft projects, magic, storytellers, science theatre, dance parties, tea parties and yo-yo tricks, there over 50 options for kids to choose from at a variety of locations. Grab your calendar, head over to the library’s website and see how much fun FREE can be.
All Star Sports – Fore! Work on your putting skills this summer with Tee-Off Tuesday. For $12 per person, you can enjoy unlimited mini golf and then retreat to the air-conditioned building for arcade fun with 30 game tokens, also included. This offer is good at both East and West All Star Sports locations.
Wichita Children’s Theatre – Once again WCT, is offering up its Summer Picnic series with The Three Little Pigs, Peter Rabbit and Cinderella. Come to the Cookie Show at 10 a.m. or the Pizza Hut pizza/Cookie matinee at 11:30 a.m.. Don’t worry about the Kansas heat or rainy days, because picnics and performances are held inside the air-conditioned theatre at 201 S. Lulu. The first show begins June 10.
Crown Uptown Theatre – In addition to the adult comedies, the historic Crown Uptown Theatre is offering up a children’s series. This summer, kids can enjoy the classic tale of Jack And The Beanstalk. Included in the price is a buffet stocked with kid-friendly choices like hot dogs, French fries and even a cookie for dessert.
Christian Youth Theatre – If your budding thespian wants to be the star of the show, check out the CYT Summer Camp for kids and teens of all ages. The camp will be located at four different churches across the city, but enrollment is open to the public. Plays include Godspell, Hats Off To Dr. Seuss and Peter Pan. During the one-week camp, students will learn lines, songs and choreography for the play they’re working on. In addition, they’ll participate in group activities and games. Camp is starting soon and there is limited enrollment, so act fast on this one. For information about age groups, dates, and enrollment fees, call 619-9690 or visit the CYT website to download an enrollment form.
The summer scrapbook will look much better with pictures of your kids feeding a lemur at Tanganyika or posing with Cinderella rather than watching “SpongeBob Square Pants,” so pull the plug on the video games and television, grab this list and get inspired.
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[...] It’s almost July and summer is in full swing. If your kids are like mine, they’re in full-on frenzy mode. Luckily Wichita has a ton of things to do to keep those little bodies busy. Recently, [verb]ICT ran a story about Summer Family Fun In Wichita. [...]
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