Are you looking forward to the warm summer weather and wondering what you want to do with your children while they are off from school. Finding a quality summer camp that is affordable is becoming more challenging, and if camp is not an option then making sure you and your family have a relaxed, fun, and memoriable summer may be beginning to occupy your mind?
Following is a list of day trips and activities that we hope will help you have a great summer. We'd love for you to share your suggestions, comments and experiences with us.
Remember your suntan lotion.
Pseudo Camp Ideas
- Sign up for the recreation program at your child's school
- Sign your child up for lessons such as: gymnastics, ice skating, art. Just make sure it is something that interests your child
- Buy an Empire State Passport sticker ($59) to visit any New York State Park for free for 1 full year. Jones Beach is included in this pass!
- Buy a pool membership or beach pass. This will save you a lot of money in the long run
- Buy a membership to L.I. Children's Museum, Bronx Zoo/Aquarium
Day Trips (New York Region)
- Adventureland
- Aquarium - Atlantis in Riverhead, L.I.; Coney Island
- Attend a sporting event - professional or minor league
- Beach
- Bike riding on a path or through your neighborhood
- Central Park - so much to do, so little time
- Coney Island - rides, beach and the aquarium is across the boardwalk
- Empire State Building
- Feed the fish, ducks or birds at a lake
- Fishing- surf casting or on a boat
- Horseback riding and/or lessons
- Ice skating - it's nice to do a "winter sport" in the summer.
- Long Island Game Farm
- Movies - IMAx or just a different theatre
- Museums: L.I. Children's; Children's Science in Liberty Island,N.J.; Cradle of Aviation in Garden City, NY
- Parks: enjoy the playground or go hiking/walking. So many to choose from
- Picinic in a park, at the beach, in your yard
- Roller skating (indoors or outdoors)
- Splish Splash - water fun in Riverhead, Long Island
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- Zoos: Bronx, Prospect, Queens
Summer Fun Activity Ideas For Your Children and You
- Any arts and crafts project
- Basketball
- Bike riding
- Create a neighborhood scavenger hunt of important places, or items/shapes/colors to find as you walk/bike/drive through your neighborhood
- Create a summer fun photo diary. Capture the good times and write a brief description of the who, what, where, when
- Cook together (cookies, pizza etc.)
- Fly a kite
- Go swimming
- Have the kids wash your car!
- Paint
- Perform science experiments. Safety first!
- Plant a garden and help it grow. Pick vegetables for dinner, or flowers for the table
- Play board games
- Play card games
- Play computer learning games
- Play Tennis
- Read a story together and then create a picture.
- Roller skating
- Sidewalk chalk writing/drawing
- Visit your local (or not so local) library
- Walk the Massapequa Park Preserve or other great paths. Use your senses to play a what do you smell, hear, and see game. Or do a nature scavenger hunt
- Water balloon fun
- Write letters/emails to family and friends. Attach digital pictures of you and your children having fun
Remember to share your experiences with us. We'd love to hear about your fun.
Visit Special Needs Awareness.org often. Hope to see you soon.
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