School's out: Some activity ideas to keep kids busy in the summer

Summer vacation begins Friday, June 14 for students in the Madison Metro School District, and with free activities offered around the city throughout the season, kids can spend the warm months having fun and learning outside of the house. 

Read on for a rundown of some things for kids to do until school starts again in the fall.

Discovery Summer Science

Participate in hands-on science at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. during the summer starting June 19.

Discovery Summer Science activities are appropriate for kids ages 5 to 13, and children under 18 must have an adult chaperone. Find a list of weekly programs on the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery website [1]. Note: Thursday’s program is a repeat of Wednesday’s program.

Kids can also participate in hands-on Exploration Stations in the first floor of the building between 2 and 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Registration [1] for Discovery Summer Science is requested but not required.

Madison Public Libraries

Kids can cool down on hot days at Madison Public Library this summer. Different branches offer activities for kids of all ages. Here are some highlights:

Meadowridge Library (5740 Raymond Rd.) hosts an evening activity for elementary school-age kids on alternate Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. The next activity will be June 25. Also that day, kids can make arts and crafts as part of a monthly activity called “CR-Afternoons.”

Elementary school-age kids can learn to play chess at Meadowridge Library from 3:30-5 every Wednesday during the summer. Kids who already know the basics of chess can join the Sequoya Kids Chess Club at Sequoya Library (4340 Tokay Blvd.) every other Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m., with the next club coming up June 18.

Different branches offer a weekly story-time activity for preschoolers. Sequoya Library (2845 N. Sherman Ave.) also holds a craft-making activity for preschoolers Friday from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. following its story-time activity that goes from 9:30-10. Register online for Sequoya’s craft activity at the library website [2].

Lakeview Library will offer a teen activity from 2 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday. The activity varies each week, with the first activity, video game club, being held June 18.

Teens will have the opportunity to meet with an educational adviser every Tuesday at the Goodman South Library (2222 S. Park St.). The adviser’s availability varies by week.

For more information about activities at libraries, visit http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/events-and-classes [3] to see a list of summer activities.

Madison Children’s Museum

Throughout the summer, the Madison Children’s Museum offers programs that are free with museum admission.

General admission costs $7.95 per person. Family Access Admission [4], which costs $1 per person, is available to for families receiving certain public assistance.

Weekly program offerings at the museum include:

Creative Writing Wednesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. throughout June.

A Clay Creations Workshop held Friday afternoons. For $5, kids make and decorate their own clay art projects.

Family Yoga class, Sundays starting July 7 from 3:30-4 p.m..

For more information, visit http://www.madisonchildrensmuseum.org/education-programs/classes/ [5].

Boys and Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Club of Dane County runs a weekly day camp throughout the summer.

The camp’s theme changes weekly, with the program kicking off June 24 and running through the week of August 12.

Registering [6] one child costs $20 per week. Registering a family costs $40 per week.

Madison Schools and Community Recreation

MSCR operates summer programs ranging from athletic activities to academic tutoring.

Cost varies depending on the program.

MSCR also offers employment and volunteer opportunities for teens and adults.

To find out more information, visit the MSCR website [7].