Posts Tagged ‘summer activities for kids’
Ways to Keep Your Kids Busy This Summer
In between family vacations, sporting events, picnics, reunions and trips to the pool, how are you going to keep your kids busy this summer? In the Edwardsville and Glen Carbon area, we are fortunate to have many wonderful activities in our community (or just right next door), offering a variety of things for kids and families to enjoy all summer long.
Community Parks. If you live in one of our beautiful Metro-east communities, you know about our wonderful parks. Whether you spend an afternoon at Edwardsville Township Park (also known as “Airplane” Park) or the recently developed Leon Corlew Park and splash pad, you have fun only moments away. Township Park offers visitors a Boundless Playground™, an all-inclusive playground that lets children with and without disabilities play together in an accessible and nurturing environment. Learn more at https://edwardsvilletownship.com/.
The Leon Corlew Park and Splash Pad, located at 333 South Main Street in Edwardsville is another free, cool way to spend a hot afternoon. Offering a splash pad with features from gentle bubblers to a large dumping bucket, the park has pavilions, shady areas and even a dry playground to enjoy. Most of the parks in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon are also connected by area biking and walking trails. Learn more at the Edwardsville Parks and Recreation website by clicking on this link: https://www.cityofedwardsville.com/475/List-of-Parks-in-Edwardsville.
Arts in the Park. Beginning on Thursday, June 7, Arts in the Park is a 10-week summer series of entertainment for the entire family. Band concerts, events and art classes all take place at City Park in Edwardsville by the Public Library. Bands like the Soulard Blues Band and Spanky’s Dueling Pianos will entertain on Friday nights, while the Saturday morning art classes include activities like clay, sculpture and mural creation (grades K-4). To view a complete schedule, visit the website at: https://www.cityofedwardsville.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=28
Indoor options…to cool off in style. Altitude Trampoline Parkwas recently updated to include enhancements for kids wanting to take a break from the hot summer sun. Dodge ball, indoor trampolines, foam pit and more is a perfect place for the entire family or birthday parties. Located at 91 Fountain Drive in Glen Carbon, Altitudeis just one more option when making summer plans.
Edison’s Entertainment Complex, conveniently located across the street from Altitude, also offers a fun way to cool off. Offering food, bowling, game room, laser tag and more, take a break from the heat to visit Edison’s for “genius level fun”.
College for kids.
Southern Illinois University (SIUE) and Lewis and Clark Community Collegeoffers a plethora of classes for all ages, whether it’s in creative writing, art or a class about computer programming, it’s easy to enrich your child’s life this summer with a little education sprinkled with fun. Lewis and Clark classes in photography, horsemanship, theater and golf are offered in Madison, Macoupin and Jersey counties. Visit their website at http://www.lc.edu/c4k/.
The SIUE Summer camps are also amazing, with the Writing Camp celebrating its 36th year. Area youth ages 8 to 18 are able to combine learning with recreational activities like swimming, hiking and bowling. The writing development involves essays, creative forms of writing in drama and fiction, with spelling, grammar, punctuation and other basics taught. Call Adam at SIUE for more information at 618-650-2284.Other camps are available at SIUE, from jazz to science, softball to dance. Visit the SIUE website for a complete list of summer courses your kids are sure to enjoy.
There are a lot of fun, summer things to do and see in our many neighborhoods and this is just a sampling! As a licensed Realtor® it’s my goal to help make your real estate dreams come true, offering tips to not only enhance your home’s beauty but to also share local news and advice about the many Metro-east communities you may call “home”. Looking to sell your home or relocate? Contact me for all of your real estate needs at (618) 978-2384 or contact me here or at Sandie@SandieLaMantia.com.
Summer Planning for Kids Made Easy
Spring is here and it’s time to start thinking about things to do as a family, particularly if you have younger kids spending the entire summer at home. If you are lucky to take some time off from work during the summer break, or if you have a babysitter or nanny helping out while the kids are home, there are numerous local day trip options and summer camp activities that will keep your children busy with things-to-do, education and fun.
There’s no better place for “monkeying around” than the St. Louis Zoo. Recently voted America’s Top Free Attraction, this summer playground offers enough variety for kids of all ages. Open 9am-5pm daily, there are over 15,000 animals being cared for at the zoo. Their website is perfect for planning your visit, making it easy to hit all of your favorite spots. Check it out at https://www.stlzoo.org/.
Another great day trip to St. Louis is the City Museum. But be warned: there are many nooks and crannies at the museum and keeping track of the youngest of children is not an easy task! It’s recommended that you include your cell phone number on their wristbands, and for every six kids sixteen and under, at least one adult is required. There are some age restrictions on activities and slides, so it’s best to “know before you go” and visit their website at http://www.citymuseum.org/visit/policies-and-restrictions/. Whether you love the idea of indoor “Enchanted Caves” or a 10-story Spiral Slide, the City Museum is an amazing venue filled with adventure.
If you like water parks, living in Edwardsville is a perfect place to “stay cool” when it’s hot. There are several options for splashing around, including Raging Rivers in Alton, Illinois. Water slides galore; it’s only a thirty-minute drive for a full day of fun. If you want something a little closer to home, Collinsville, Illinois offers Splash City Water Park with a lazy river, toddler area, pools, slides and more. Of course there’s also the recently built Leon Corlew Park and Splash Pad in Edwardsville, a free activity for splashing around, enjoying a picnic lunch, and soaking in the sunshine.
A local Edwardsville treasure is the Edwardsville Children’s Museum, a wonderful place for younger children to play and learn. With a number of summer programs to enjoy as well, your child will love the wonderful classes available, and you’ll love the affordability! Playgroups, crafts and more will certainly be ideal for combating your little one’s boredom this summer. Visit their website at http://edwardsvillechildrensmuseum.org/ for a complete list of museum activities and programs.
Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville is a wonderful asset for those of us living in the Glen Carbon and Edwardsville community. This university offers a variety of classes for kids during the summer months, making it easy to find something perfect for your child. Their long-running Writing Camp, for kids 8-18, is ideal for children who wish to combine learning with recreation. Children receive practical development in writing skills combined with full and vigorous activities like hiking, swimming and sports. Student to teacher ratio is 1 to 12 and children are grouped by age. Their Art Camps for kids K-12 are ideal for different ages and abilities. Want to learn more? Visit their summer camp link at http://www.siue.edu/summer/camps/index.shtml. Additional art classes are also offered year-round at the Edwardsville Arts Center (EAC) with additional options for summer camps. If you haven’t visited, you are missing out! Pottery-wheel classes, painting, and more can be found at the EAC.
Lewis and Clark Community College also offers College for Kids over the summer, providing yet another option for learning and fun. The Edwardsville N.O. Nelson Campus is host to many of the classes as well. More than 20,000 young people have participated in hands-on learning in math, science, creative arts, technology and languages since the program’s inception in 1989. Their online catalog can be found at http://www.lc.edu/c4k/.
Summertime is the perfect time to take advantage of the wonderful things to do in the Edwardsville and Glen Carbon communities. Downtown St. Louis is only a short drive away, offering so many additional options it will be easy to satisfy the entire family with summer activities. I know the local market and have first hand experience about the many benefits living here has to offer. If you are looking for a new place to call home, it’s time to give me a call at 618-978-2384 or contact me here so I can answer your questions and find you the home of your dreams.