Five Free Eco-friendly Places to Take Kids During the Summer

When backyard summer fun becomes redundant and your kids are begging you to let them back in to watch TV, play on the computer or play video games, don't let them in. Instead take them on an adventure somewhere else for some inexpensive summer fun. Take a look at the list of eco-friendly places any family can afford to visit.

The Library

It gets hot outside. So, sometimes it's too hot to play outside even in the early morning or late evening. The library is a great escape. Sure, it is still indoors, but it is a much different environment then home and there are no televisions to distract your little ones (you may want to keep them away from the computers though). However, there are hundreds of books to entertain and teach your child new things. Another great thing about the library is their educational workshops for children (and adults). The workshops often involve recycling crafts, science experiments and even live and up-close animal education.

The Park

Kids are balls of energy waiting to be released. A park is the perfect place to let them release all that energy. They can run, jump, slide, climb, chase, crawl, bounce, scream and laugh. They also have opportunities to make friends and enjoy a breath of fresh air. All parks are different and kids love change so to keep them from getting bored of the park take them to a different park every few days. For lunch don't go to fast food but instead prepare a healthy picnic for the park to encourage healthy eating too. Also, when you visit a park try not to go during the hottest time of the day and always check the temperature of the playground equipment. A really hot slide can burn your child's skin.

The Botanical Gardens

Kids love flowers, bugs, and critters. At the botanical gardens kids will find a variety of colorful flowers and plants. They encounter lizards, frogs, dragonflies, ladybugs and butterflies. Let your child bring a camera or a notebook with them on their trip to the botanical gardens so they can draw or write down everything they see. Later you can stop my a local drug store and have the pictures they took developed and then framed in beautiful frames you bought at the resale shop. Hang their art of nature in their room.

The Camping Trip

Teach your kids about the outdoors by taking them camping. A camping trip is a great way to spend time with your kids as well as a great opportunity to teach them about nature and the importance of sustainability. To find a camp site in your local area visit the National Wildlife Federation website.

The Farm

Visit a local and sustainable farm (with permission from the farm) with your children. Visiting a farm can be an amazing experience for a child, especially the first time. If the farm allows children to pick a few fruits or vegetables your kids will enjoy the trip even more.

For more ways to keep your kids outside join the Be Out There group online.

Sources:

Jeffrey Strain, "Summer & Kids - Places To Find Free Activities", SavingAdvice.com
sunstreeks, "30 Free Places To Take Kids.. Or Almost Free", Hubpages.com