1. Summer Enrichment Activities 2016 Presented by: Kellie Hill

2. What You Hear During Summer Vacation There’s nothing to do! Don’t you think you’ve watched enough TV? I’m bored! We never get to do anything fun!

3. Get Back to Nature! Activities that get you outside and make science real.

4. Buffalo BayouBuffalo Bayou – Explore the evolving Buffalo Bayou Park. You can catch a Twilight or Second Saturday boat tour if everyone in your family is over four years old. Boat tours are $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 4 to 12.boat tour Make a bubble under Preston Street Discovery GreenDiscovery Green – There’s always something happening on the Green. Activities like the free Screen on the Green movie night series, various fitness classes, Thursday night concerts, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding on Kinder Lake, or Flea by Night are available throughout the summer.stand up paddle boardingFlea by Night OUTDOOR FUN McGovern Centennial Gardens at Hermann ParkMcGovern Centennial Gardens at Hermann Park – Explore the newest addition to Hermann Park that’s chock full of gardens and water displays perfect for a day at the park. Climb to the top of McGovern Centennial Garden’s 30-foot mound for a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding area. Waugh Bridge Bat ColonyWaugh Bridge Bat Colony – Watch 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats take flight as they emerge from the bridge en mass to search for dinner. The best places for viewing include the bridge’s Observation Deck and sidewalk along with the Buffalo Bayou Park bank on the corner of Memorial and Waugh and the Memorial Fountain on Allen Parkway. Bayou Bend State Park – Pet baby alligators and see adults sunning themselves on the trails.

5. Sims Bayou Nature Center – SBUNC contains “a log cabin, barn, gazebo, gardens, pond with native plants, boat dock and seasonal wetland trails that afford a unique opportunity to experience nature in a dense urban setting.” 3997 River Drive 713.640.2407 Houston Arboretum and Nature Center- “Visitors can explore nature by walking on trails (totaling 5 miles) free of charge. Armand Bayou Nature Center – They’ve got live animal displays, butterfly gardens, and an 1800’s farm site. 8500 Bay Area Blvd $0 to $4 admission depending on age. Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center – 312-acre Harris County Precinct 4 nature preserve, is open daily to visitors, free of charge. The park features a variety of plant and wildlife species, white sand beaches along Spring Creek, swamps and sloughs with century-old cypress trees, and a pristine floodplain hardwood and pine forest. FREE Summer Camps!!!! May 7 th first come first serve! 20634 Kenswick Dr 281.446.8588 Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education Center – The Wetlands Center's 9,000 square foot Robert Craig Exhibit Hall features a variety of exhibits including Gator World!!! 1724 Market Street Baytown, TX 77520 FREE Entry!!!

6. Arts and Entertainment "Studies have shown that arts teaching and learning can increase student's cognitive and social development. The arts can be a critical link for students in developing the crucial thinking skills and motivations they need to achieve at higher levels" (Deasy, & Stevenson, 2002).

7. FREE Outdoor Movies Galveston (On the Strand) - Saegergast Park http://www.galveston.com/saengerfestpark/ http://www.galveston.com/saengerfestpark/ Market Square Park – Downtown Houston Discovery Green – Downtown Houston by the George R. Brown Convention http://www.discoverygreen.com/1198426 May 7th http://www.discoverygreen.com/1198426 Sugarland Town Square – Free movie Under the Moon brought to you by our friends at First Colony Church of Christ! June's movie is Inside Out. La Porte 5 Points – Every Friday Night (Also, Food Truck Fridays!!!) http://tx-laporte.civicplus.com/788/Flicks-at-Five-Points Deer Park – Movies in Dow Park

8. Museums There are several museums in Houston for FREE all the time. There are several others that are FREE Thursdays from 4-7 pm Check out this website for a directory of both http://houmuse.com/free-admission-times/ Museum Activities: Contemporary Arts Museum – Has a free craft the first Saturday of Each Month Menil Collection – Always free. Very eclectic art. Rothko Chapel – World renown art near Rothko Chapel Center for Photography – Free entry. They have a scavenger to complete while visiting. The kids love it! Houston Fire Museum – Housed in an original fire house filled with antique equipment and a fire pole for the kids to slide down. Art Car Museum – Located in the heights. Houses several Art Cars. Houston is considered the Art Car Capitol of the World Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens – Beautiful mansion; free tour

9. Out of the Ordinary There are many activities that are a privilege to participate in due to our amazing city of Houston. Some of these activities will require some driving, but will all be low-cost or free. Sea Center at 302 Medical Drive in Lake Jackson, Texas. This is SCIENCE!! Touch tanks, information about marine biology, make a reservation to tour the fish hatchery, and wetland activity booklets are available to get kids searching for information. Admission is FREE! Sam Houston Boat Tour – Tour the Port of Houston for FREE on a boat. Just go to the website and make a reservation. Reservation fill up fast, so do it today! http://www.portofhouston.com/community-outreach/sam-houston-boat-tour/ Miller Outdoor Theater – There are so many amazing performances here. They are ALL free. Bring a blanket and a picnic basket and enjoy sitting on the hill. The kids will enjoy rolling down and playing while you enjoy the show. Observation Deck of JP Morgan Bank - Ride the elevator to the observation deck of the tower and enjoy the amazing view of the city and beyond…FREE! Farmer's Markets – Go visit the Farmer's markets on Airline drive. FREE! They go on for what seems like miles. Complete a Nature Challenge - http://tfsweb.tamu.edu/websites/NatureChallenge/Partners.aspx

10.  Houstononthecheap.com - This site can be viewed at anytime to give you ideas on free or low-cost activities. You can also sign up for the Newsletter so that you get a weekly email with all of the happenings.  365thingsinhouston.com – Although the activities aren't always free, they often are. Lots of ideas of things to do.  Thrillist.com My Favorite Websites

11.  Collect Data – Go on a Cupcake or Ice Cream Tour. Visit 5-6 cupcake/ice cream establishments. Create record sheets so the data gathered from each stop is the same. Make sure you have some rules like….  We have to get a chocolate cupcake @ each stop  Decide on the areas to be ranked  Collect data and make evaluation statements at the end of the trip.  Take the Train – Park near the train station in the med center. Ride towards downtown. Get off to take a look from the Chase building or have lunch at Frank's Pizza. You can change trains and ride towards Discovery Green on the Green Line. Teach the kids how to plan a trip. Day- Long Plans

12.  Turn off the TV  Avoid video game marathons  Go to the library  Sit on a beach  Ride a bike  Build a fort  Create ANYTHING! Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest! Get Out There and Enjoy Your Summer!!!