Tag Archives: Things-to-do-with-kids

The Ultimate Summer Camp Guide 2016

shutterstock_80850376_Girl in FloatyThe school year is a distant memory for most of our kids and now summer is staring us in the face… asking “what are we going to do today?”  We’re here to help inspire your search for summer camps of all shapes and sizes for kids of all ages and interests!  And our friends a Lubbock in the Loop have even put together a fun list for a quick getaway while the kids are occupied!  So browse through our camps, schedule some summertime fun for the kids, and then sneak away for a little grown-up R&R… hey, everyone deserves to be a happy camper over the summer!

Day trips & Stay-cations

Click here for Lubbock in the Loop top day trip picks for big kids!

For an even greater collection of camps, be sure to checkout our jam-packed, up-to-the-moment camp guide.  Over 300 summer camps are currently listed in our guide … and growing everyday!  It’s the only place you’ll find a complete list of area camps and all things kidful, in a searchable, sortable format by age, interest, timeframe and more!  Click here to Search

Whether you’ve already completed your plans for the summer or don’t even plan to think about it till after school is out, we’ve got you covered!  Here are a few suggestions and tips to help save you time.  Our first tip:  Many places are still offering discounts for registrations made before the end of the month… so it’s not too late!

Best-kept Camp Secrets on The Cheap.  And because they are…. better call now to ensure a spot!

Lubbock Parks & Recreation Day Camps.
Our local Community Centers offer some of the best camps in town… creative and fun for extremely reasonable prices!  And that includes a Tennis Camp at Burgess-Rushing and even a great camp at Safety City!  Many camps are almost full, so better call them quickly!  Here’s a handy link to the full Parks & Rec Activity Guide… it’s gi-normous!

Gardening Camps at The Arboretum.
The Summer Gardening Camp for Kids @ The Arboretum is a great opportunity for the kids to learn from Master Gardeners!  Also ask about their new Gardening Club for kids… lots of ways to get kiddos blooming!

The City Museums:  Silent Wings & Buddy Holly Center.
It’s easy to forget that these rich local landmarks also offer some of the most unique and memorable camps for kids…. for a song!

Texas Tech Museum Camps.
The Museum of Texas Tech offers camps with creative themes including Wizard Camp with a Harry Potter theme, and the Lubbock Lake Landmark has several camps … free!

Boys & Girls Clubs and the YWCA.
Don’t overlook these wonderful local resources. There are several Boys & Girls Club locations around town that keep the kids super-busy, and the YWCA offers fun daily camps too.  Reminder: Sun ‘n Fun is under renovation so if you typically use the Y for your summer childcare, better check with them fast to ensure a spot at one of the other locations!

Sports-based Camps

Fitness-based Childcare at local gyms.
These businesses are great options for an active choice for full-time childcare or part-time too!  Most of these also offer swimming lessons/camps.

Texas Tech Rec Center Youth Sports Camp.
Two full weeks full of fun, athletic activities designed for all skill levels, ages 7-14.  Three sessions to choose from.  Texas Tech Rec Center.

LCU Rec Center Youth Day Camp.
Weekly morning day camps from 8am – noon Monday-Friday.  For kids entering Kinder through 6th grades.  LCU Rec Center signups.

High School Youth Sports Camps.
From Football and Soccer clinics to Basketball and Golf, some of the best camps are provided by local High Schools and at a bargain price!  Check your neighborhood High School and register asap… most of these are early in June.

Texas Tech Sport Camps.
Texas Tech also offers top-tier sports camps that offer our kids a rare glimpse into the next level of performance and also the collegiant experience.  Tech provides a convenient Multi-Sport Youth Camp Website ( texastechsportscamps.com )  where you can find info and register for athletic camps that are open to area youth including Baseball, Football, Soccer, and Girls Golf.

The camps for Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, Cross Country and Speed & Agility (Strength & Conditioning Camps for ages 7-18) can all be accessed through the Texas Tech Athletics page where you can register online.

LCU Sport Camps.
Our kids are so fortunate to have several Universities who share their resources and skills to train our kids!  Lubbock Christina University also offers high-caliber sport youth camps and a convenient multi-sport youth camp website for easy signups ( lcusportscamps.com ).

Music & Performing Arts Camps

Moonlight Arts Academy.   A new program that offers a series of summer camps for kids of all ages.  Each camp offers a combination of fine arts classes (that the kids can choose!) of singing, dancing, acting and visual arts.
Hub Performing Arts School.  Camps focus on performing arts with an emphasis on musical production… and fun!
Ballet Lubbock.  Offers a Dance Discoveries Summer Workshop for ages 3 – 9. It’s a great way for young ones to explore dance just for fun, or to help determine whether to enroll in the year-round Ballet Lubbock School.
School of Rock – Lubbock.  Several Boot Camp classes are offered for all musical interests.
Texas Tech Band & Orchestra Camp.  For orchestra, band, jazz, drum major, and twirling, First week of July.

Arts & Crafts Camps

Art & Company Kids.
The Mud Room.
Clay Cafe.
Painting with a Twist.  They’ve added weekly kid-friendly (no vino!) classes especially for summer.
Art Factory Summer Camp at the Garden & Arts Center.

STEM Camps

Texas Tech IDEAL.  The Texas Tech Division of Institutional Diversity, Equity & Community Engagement (IDEAL) offers some of the most exciting camps, many overnight where the kids stay in the Tech dorms!  Some may be filled so check with them asap.  Camps include: Generation TECH, Science is a Girl Thing, Run on the Wind Engineering Camp, Shake Hands With Your Future, and Sports Media!

The Science Spectrum.  Great hands-on camps for kids of all ages!  (plus checkout their snazzy new website!)

Texas Tech Chess Camp.  Our kids have a chance to learn from some of the rockstars of the chess world!

Movie Camps

Well, that might be stretching it a bit… but it wouldn’t be summer without our favorite movie matinees and specials!

Alamo Kids Camps:  Family movies at 10am EVERY day (including weekends!) throughout the summer.  This year they are also introducing a “choose-your-own-ticket price” program ranging from $1 to $3 per person – you choose the amount. It allows parents to not only purchase seats online, in advance with reserved seating – yay! – but also 100% of ticket sales will be donated to the South Plains Food Bank!

Premiere Cinema at the Mall Summer Kids Fest.  $1 movies at 10am and at 11am every Tuesday and Wednesday from 5/31 through 8/3.

Cinemark Tinseltown on 82nd Summer Movie Clubhouse.  $1 movies (or only 50 cents if you purchase the series!) at 9:300am every Wednesday and Thursday from 6/1 – 8/4.

Overnight Camps

If you are looking for some overnight camp experiences for the kids, but not too far from home, most of the Texas Tech camps offer “resident” camps in the dorms (major points on the cool meter for these!).  But the best deals around town for overnight options can be found with the Girl Scouts and Boys Scouts.  Typically for summer camps your child does not need to be a current scout to attend camp and they are very reasonable!  Other places include faith-based camps such as Ceta Canyon in Happy, Texas.  Check with your church for some additional ideas.  Many offer summer camps for individuals rather than just groups.

Did we miss your favorite?  Share it with us here or add it to our listings!  Looking for more?  Check our up-to-the-minute Camp Guide.  Happy Summer!

Summer Camp Slide

 Originally published 5/19/2015.  Updated for 2016.

 

Top 10 Spring Outings & Events for Kids & Families in Lubbock

Spring in West Texas is here and other than the occasional dusting, we truly have the very best weather in the country!  Crisp mornings, warm afternoons and amazing sunsets grace the Lubbock area:  The perfect setting to grab the family and soak in the sunshine at some of the local spring events.  Here are our Top 10 Spring Events… plus a few more…  just to start!  There are way-more than 10, so please see our bustin-at-the-seams calendar for more!  Did we miss a favorite for your family?  Share it with us here!

Kite Flyin

 

Butterflies Alive! at The Science Spectrum:  through June 12th.
There’s no better way to welcome springtime than introducing our kids to hundreds of beautiful butterflies!  The Science Spectrum’s exhibit Butterflies Alive! gives us all a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with these exquisite creatures.  Exhibit only:  $5/child & $6/adult.  To make the experience complete, catch the accompanying movie in the OMNI Theatre: “Flight of the Butterflies.”  Movie only: $6.50/child & $8/adult.  Group & Member discounts available. 

The Lubbock Arts Festival at the Civic Center:  Fri through Sun. April 15th – 17th.
It wouldn’t be springtime in Lubbock without the Lubbock Arts Festival… enriching our community and inspiring our kids for 37 years!  In addition to artists from all areas of the country, the festival features the “Run For the Arts” fun run Saturday morning, children’s area with writing and art competitions specifically to light the creative fires for our youngest Lubbockites!  Also find a presentation by Hank the Cowdog author John R. Erickson this year on Sunday… free with Arts Festival admission!  Event Admission: $2 for Children under 12, $4 for adults.

Kidsfish @ Maxey Park:  Sat. April 15th.
Bring a fishing pole, a chair, and the kids… ready to have fun!  All free!

Quailapalooza! Junior Rough Riders Spring Corral @ the National Ranching Heritage Center. Sat. April 23rd from 1-3pm.  Limited Space Available. Children ages 5-12 are invited to spend an afternoon seeing and studying Northern Bobwhite Quail with scientists from TTU’s Department of Natural Resources, Quail Tech Alliance and Quail Forever.  Only $5 or free for Ranching Heritage Association members.

Quailapalooza

Quailapalooza at the National Ranching Heritage Center. Photo by John Weast.

South Plains Water Conservation Expo.  Sat. April 23rd.
Frenship High School from 11am-3pm.  FREE.  The 3rd Annual Water Expo will be a fun-filled day for everyone in the family.  Kevin Barnes, the nationally reknowned “Green Magician” is this year’s featured guest in addition to a fun kids “Water Conservation Cruise” passport activity that will take them on a journey to various fun crafts, stories and activities for extra prizes.  Adults will enjoy the exhibits & helpful sessions with information on how we can all make a difference to impact our water resources.  Food Trucks, selfies with Walter Drop, Water Wisdom High Jinks with Literacy Lubbock, an appearance by Biscuit the Dog from Barnes & Noble and more…

Duck Derby & Family Fun Fest:  Sat. April 30th.
Destined to be an annual not-to-miss fundraising event (proceeds benefit Lubbock Legal Aid)!  Kids love to see the ducks launch and “race” with lots of activities for the family to enjoy!  Buddy Holly Park from 11am-4pm.

Safety City Birthday Party & Spring Festival:  Sat. April 30th.
Safety City is turning 23 this year with a spring festival to celebrate their birthday.  For all ages. FREE.

Lemonade Day:  Sat. May 14th.
Lubbock Lemonade Day gives our kids the chance to be a part of a community program that they see supported and promoted all over town.  Invaluable experience for them and a fun event… even if they just decide to buy some lemonade from another child’s stand on May 14th!

Sun ‘n Fun Grand Opening Celebration:  Sat. May 28th.
Plan to celebrate the opening of the new YWCA Sun n’ Fun complex over Memorial Day weekend. You know your kids will love the new splashpad… and tons more!  Click here for more info on all the great programs available at the J.T. & Margaret Talkington YWCA at Sun ‘N Fun… most are registering now.

Night Hikes at the Lubbock Lake Landmark:  monthly starting in March.
Enjoy the beauty of our famous West Texas sunsets at twilight!  Take advantage of the free monthly Night Hikes at the LLL.  Take a picnic, your walking shoes (trails are paved so it’s perfect for strollers!), and your water bottle.  2016 dates include:
Sat. 3/19. 7:30pm.
Sat. 4/16: 7:45pm.
Sat. 5/21: 8:15pm.
Sat. 6/18: 8:30pm.
Sat. 7/16: 8:30pm.
Sat. 8/20: 8:00pm.
Sat. 9/17: 7:15pm.

 

Updated 4/14/2016

Easter Week Hunt Guide 2016

Searching for Easter hunts

Looking for all the fun events in the Lubbock area for kids and families to enjoy over the Easter holiday weekend?  So have we! … and we’ve gathered them all in our Ultimate Easter section found on LubbockForKids.com.  Here are our tops picks…  Have we left off your favorite?  Share it with us here, add it to our Calendar, or share it with us on Facebook.  Be sure to check our calendar frequently… we’re receiving more info on more hunts every day!

Community Easter Egg Hunts 

EGGstravaganzas at area churches  

These aren’t your everyday, old fashioned church Easter Egg Hunts!  These are EXTRAVAGANZAs!… all free, and many include a fair-like atmosphere with bounce houses, door prizes, trains, or music.

Be sure to check with your neighborhood church too… even if they are not organizing a big event, many are offering church-wide Easter hunts and programs open to all guests!

Selfies with the Easter Bunny  

Better catch him Saturday… he’s got a really busy schedule Sunday!

Do you know of other area Easter events?  Share them with us here!

 

The Top Santa Sightings in & around Lubbock 2015

“Wish I knew all the places I can take the kids to see Santa this year”

Looking for Santa?  Spread the word... Santa and all the great events & activities for kids during the holidays can be found on LubbockForKids.com!

Looking for Santa? Spread the word… Santa and all the great events & activities for kids during the holidays can be found on LubbockForKids.com!

Done!   One thing you can already mark off your Holiday to-do list:  Find Santa!

It’s a present for all of us – the gift of saving time!  In today’s blog we wanted to share some of the opportunities that our kids have in the Lubbock area to see Santa… so great to be a kid in the Hub!

Santa has many more visits on his schedule, so check our Santa Sightings section for up-to-the minute listings.  You know… we are the official keeper of Santa’s schedule in the Lubbock area… it’s true!

What a wonderful place we live in … our community provides so many opportunities to create family memories and enjoy the fun of the season!

Where oh where can we find Santa on the South Plains?

At Breakfast with Santa events… (reservations required for most)

Fri 11/20 and Sat. 11/21: Holiday Happening @ the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.  Space is limited.

Sat. 12/5: The Village Shopping Center @ Zio’s (82nd & Quaker).  (Sold out).

Sat. 12/5:  Breakfast with Santa at Maxey Community Center.  $10/person.  Space is limited.

Sat. 12/5 starting at 9am @ South Plains Mall Grand Court: Polar Express Weekend Extravaganza Private Breakfast (free!) with Santa & “Mall Express Train’ ($3) to Premiere Cinema to see “The Polar Express” movie. Movie starts at 10:30am.  $3 mall train ride. $6 movie (purchase tickets online – sure to sellout!).  Activities FREE. Candy cane & cookie decorating at Premiere. Part of the Polar Express Weekend Extravaganza benefiting Literacy Lubbock.

At Tree-Lighting Events…

Tues 12/1:  The Carol of Lights ceremony @ Texas Tech.  Join Santa & Raider Red for cookies starting at 5pm at the Frazier Pavilion

Tues 12/1:  SPC Christmas Tree Lighting & Carriage Rides with Santa @ South Plains College in Levelland.

Fri. 12/11 & Sat. 12/12 from 6 to 9pm: Candlelight at the Ranch @ the National Ranching Heritage Center.  Special appearance by Santa till 9pm each night in the NRHC main gallery!

Santa at the National Ranching Heritage Center's Candlelight at the Ranch

Children will have an opportunity to visit with Santa at the National Ranching Heritage Center from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 11-12 during the 37th Annual Candlelight at the Ranch.

At Parades…

Thurs. 12/3:

Levelland Christmas on the Square & Lighted Christmas Parade @ 5:30pm.

Plainview Christmas Parade on Broadway @ 6pm.

Sat. 12/5:

Post City Trade Days & Christmas Parade @ 6pm.

Sat. 12/12:

Miracles Christmas Parade on 34th Street in Lubbock @ 6pm.

With Pets…

Mondays from 6-8pm till Christmas:  Pet Photos with Santa @ South Plains Mall.  A special time for your furry friends to visit Santa!  (Cats and Dogs only, in carriers or on leashes please).

Sat. 11/28 & 12/5 from 11am-4pm and Sun. 11/29 & 12/6 from 1-4pm:
Santa Paws Photos @ KK’s Corner Mall.  $10.  Professionally photographed by Robert Cason.
Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of West Texas

Sat. 12/12: Santa Paws @ Hodges Community Center (40th & University) from 9am-1pm.
Photos available for purchase or bring your camera!

On Trains…(reservations suggested)

On the Polar Express!   Departures begin Nov. 21 and end Dec. 26.  Wolfforth depot.

At Carnivals…

Sat. 12/5:  Christmas Carnival @ Mae Simmons Community Center.  2-4pm.

Sat. 12/12:  Holiday Wonderland @ The Science Spectrum.  10am-3pm.

Sun. 12/20:  Pancho Clos @ Maggie Trejo Supercenter (32nd & Amherst).  2-5pm.

Holiday Wonderland at The Science Spectrum

Holiday Wonderland at The Science Spectrum

Through the Season…

South Plains Mall:  11/14 – 12/24.  Photos available for purchase.

Holland Gardens:  Saturdays & Sundays from 1-4pm (free!) now through Christmas.
(50th & Memphis)

Santa’s Land Drive Thru Park in Tahoka (free!):  Open November 26 (Thanksgiving!), 27,28,29 and December 4,5,6,11,12,13,18,19,20,21,22,23,24 and light will be on 25, 26 & 27.

Kingsgate Shopping Center:  Saturdays Thanksgiving – 12/20 (82nd & Quaker).
Also don’t miss their complimentary carriage rides Friday – Sunday evenings through Christmas Eve!
Bring a coat to donate to their Coat Drive!

Santa Land @ Mackenzie Park:  Nightly 12/10 – 12/23 from 6-10pm.
Opening Ceremony:  Tues. 12/10 @ 6pm.  Help welcome Santa & Mrs. Claus from the North Pole & turn on the lights to the tree and winter village!

And you can help Santa…. If you have him scheduled to be at an event open to the public – or if you know of any great event or activity for our kids – just add the listing to LubbockForKids.com or comment here on our blog to help spread the word!

This article was originally published in 2013 and updated for 2015.

 

Top Not-So-Scary but Oh-So-Fun Halloween Happenings around the Hub

shutterstock_26302213_little trickortreaters

We all have different definitions of “fun” when it comes to Halloween.  Some of our kids are more fearless than their parents (or at least this parent!) but many of our kids feel more comfortable if they don’t run into a cast member of The Walking Dead as they search for candy and fall fun!

No worries… lucky us, we live in Lubbock… and have the benefit of so many wonderful organizations and businesses that offer fun events for our kids.  Hair-raisin’ or cake-walkin’… it’s all here!  So we’ve gathered a list of our favorite entertaining yet not-so-scary ideas to celebrate the season.

For a walk on the more haunted side for older kids and brave parents, checkout the Halloween list at Lubbock in the Loop where they include a list of real area “Haunted Houses”…  (shiver, chill!)

OK – it’s time to grab your broom, your wand, or your magic carpet and head out to enjoy our beautiful West Texas autumn weather, meet the neighbors, and make some memories (sans the nightmares) with our goblins!

Updated: 10/29/2015

Community Events.

  • South Plains College Halloween Carnival.  Levelland. Thurs. 10/29 from 6-9pm.  Fun for the entire family and will be held in the Sundown Room on the Levelland Campus. Carnival booths, Trick or Treating, concessions available.  Tickets 5 for a $1.
  • Trunk or Treat on Main Street.  Levelland.  Sat. 10/31 from 6-7:30pm.   Includes annual costume parade followed by a fun filled, family oriented evening full of games, activities and of course TREATS!
  • Halloween Costume Photos by Mark McCall for Meals on Wheels.  Sat. 10/31 from 4-7pm. Mark McCall Studio. Corner of Broadway and Ave. E.  For the 5th year, Master Photographer Mark McCall will be conducting a Halloween Costume Photoshoot benefiting Meals on Wheels.  Fee is only a $10 donation or 10 cans of food for Meals on Wheels.

    Halloween Costume Photoshoot by Mark McCall

    Halloween Costume Photoshoot by Mark McCall

Texas Tech Halloween Events for the Community.

During this time of year, Texas Tech reaches out to our community and offers many events for our kids that have become traditional favorites.  From candy, to concerts, to soccer, to parades… those Tech students sure know how to make our kids feel like special, true, little Red Raiders!  Some of our favorites include:

Events for Active Goblins!

  • West Texas Endurance Howl-o-Ween Run

    West Texas Endurance Howl-o-Ween Dog Run

    Howl-O-Ween Dog Run/Walk by West Texas Endurance.  Sat. 10/24 starting at 8:30am.  Bring your 4-legged friends and 2-legged goblins and join this fun family-friendly event!  With 2 distance options (2K9 – 1.2 miles with your furry friends or 4 miles without a leash), there is an event for everyone. The “family-friendly” course of 2K9 (1.2 miles) will take you along the beautiful Canyon Lake 6. The more challenging 4 mile course runs through the City of Lubbock Cemetery.

  • Burgess-Rushing Tennis Center – Halloween Scramble.  Sat. 10/31 from 1-5pm.   For Juniors & Adults. $5.  Spooky pairings and lots of rotations & play!  Always a fun, festive time for our tennis-lovin’ kids.

Halloween Festivities at The Science Spectrum.

  • Silly Science Mini-Carnival.  Thurs. 10/29 from 10am-noon.  Especially for Preschoolers, age 5 and under!  This mini-carnival will take place in the museum and is perfect for younger ones who might not want to get out and compete with the older kids at other Halloween events. Fun activities include:  Carnival Games & Prizes, Fall Themed Maze, Mini Bounce House, Halloween & Fall Themed Crafts, Silly Science Demos, Costume Parade, Snacks & Treats.  All Silly Science Carnival activities will be located in the museum and are included with standard museum admission.  Children under 3 are free.
  • Spooky Science Carnival.  Fri. 10/30 from 5-9pm.  This event is great for families and kids up to age 14 looking for a safe Halloween alternative and a fun, educational party all in one.  Enjoy carnival games & prizes, trick-or-treating, the Haunted Science Lab, a live Mystery Scientist Show, children & family costume contest, and many more traditional Halloween “spooky not scary” fun activities for safe family fun!  Free Trick-or-Treating will take place in the lobby.  All Spooky Science Carnival activities will be located in the museum and are included with standard museum admission.  Children under 3 are free.

spooky science carnival

Trick/Trunk-or-Treating, & Festivals at
Churches, Malls, and Businesses.

We’ve compiled the most complete list in the Hub of all the carnivals, festivals, trunk-or-treats, and trick-or-treats that have been scheduled for our kids!  Some happening the weekend before Halloween but the majority scheduled on the 31st taking advantage of the Saturday holiday.  As a parent, it’s humbling to see that over 200 churches, schools, and businesses are providing a safe, fun, Halloween experience just for our children… most at no charge!  Thank you wonderful community of Lubbock!  Check our Halloween Calendar to schedule your quest!  (Tip:  you can view activities in list format or calendar format and print it out for a Halloween hit list.  And Members can even print their favorites for a custom calendar to take along!).

Halloween 4

Silly Science Carnival at The Science Spectrum

Concerts and Productions with Soul.

Fall concerts, shows, and performances are simmering with a family flair this time of year.  We’ve gathered them in our Sounds of the Season section including:

  • Lubbock Symphony Orchestra’s Free Family Concert. Sun. Oct. 25 from 2:30-5:30pm.  Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. The LSO has a spooky good time planned for families, fans, and friends.  Children’s activities start at 5 p.m. in Parrish Hall where they can play real orchestra instruments, make their own musical instrument, learn to conduct, enjoy face painting and a costume contest and much more!  Concert starts at 6:30pm with an interactive concert with Maestro Cho.
  • Octubafest.  Sun. 10/26 from 6-9pm.  Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble Concert.  Free.  A Halloween week tradition!   Presented by the Texas Tech School of Music.  Hemmle Recital Hall.
  • University Symphony Orchestra Halloween “Hauntcert.”  Fri. 10/30 from 6-9pm.  Free Halloween Concert.  Hemmle Recital Hall.  “Instrument Petting Zoo” for children to visit with musicians and play the instruments.  Creative Halloween Costume Contest – win a chance to conduct or play with the orchestra!

It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie…  and Apples and Corn too!

A-Maizing how they grow!

A-Maizing how they grow!

Searching for that perfect pumpkin with the kids, taking photos to mark their height, and walking in the crisp air are some of the best, most memorable times of the fall.  Add farm animals, storytimes, corn and hay mazes, and other family-friendly attractions, and you’ve got autumn adventures even your teen will enjoy!  We’ve gathered a list of area farms that offer pumpkin patches, apples, corn mazes, pumpkin trains and more…. our favorites include:

Do you have a favorite?  Share it with us here!

And for additional creative and safe ideas for kids from tots to teens, check out the LubbockForKids calendar…. and Happy Haunting!

Halloween in the Hub

 

Photo credits:
West Texas Endurance – Captivated Images.
Mark McCall Photography.
The Science Spectrum.

Experience and Create Art with your Kids

By Jenny Lloyd-Strovas, Ph.D.
Guest Contributor

We are so excited to introduce our newest blog contributor Jenny Lloyd-Strovas, Ph.D.!
We met at the Wolfforth Water Expo where her group was helping educate and introduce families to the “Dearth Project: Communicating Science Through Art.”  We are honored that Jenny will be sharing her insights with our readers!  And we love her first article and the Lesson Plan she shares below. It gives parents the learning tools that make it easy for the family to spend an afternoon outside together, observing nature, learning about playa wetlands, and creating art as a family! For example: Do you know why they are called “Playa” lakes? Checkout her lesson plan to find out!  If you have any questions or ideas for Jenny, just comment below.
Welcome Jenny!

Are you looking for something fun
AND educational to do with your children
before summer ends?

We have an idea for you!

Create and Experience ART about NATURE.

The Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA) recently hosted an art exhibit called  “Dearth: Communicating Science Through Art” celebrating the two primary water sources in the Texas Panhandle: Playa Wetlands and the Ogallala Aquifer.  Dearth is a word of many facets.  As a whole, it means scarcity or lacking, but by breaking it down you find the words “art” and “earth”. The Dearth Project is true to its name in all facets. It is an artistic expression of the water scarcity issues in the Texas Panhandle.

The exhibit included works of art from area children that expressed Dearth.

Dearth gallery

Interested in creating a Dearth experience with your family?  
Click here to find a lesson plan
that will walk you through educational materials and a few different art activities related to playa wetlands. Please feel free to leave your comments concerning the activities – we’d love to hear from you!

Get Outside with your Family and Learn about Nature!

Girl in nature

 

Family Bucket List - 2015 Summer Fun in the Hub!

Summer Bucket 2014


It’s our LubbockForKids.com 2015 Summer Fun Family Bucket List!

All fun, all local, many free, and ALL what summer is all about!
Click each activity for details

  * Cool it a Summer Movie Matinee         * Go to an Amusement Park

 * Explore some Kids Eat Free deals         * Take in a Summer Concert 

 * Sign up for a Summer Camp         * Visit a Farmers’ Market 

 * Enjoy a Vacation Bible School event         * Take a Day Trip 

 * Visit a New Playground        * Explore a Museum

 * Play in the Water        * See Fireworks

For tons more Lubbock-area boredom-buster ideas throughout the summer, visit www.LubbockForKids.com

updated 4/17/2015

shutterstock_185327138_kids in trunk

S’more Brownie Ice Cream Cake - A Zesty Bite for Lubbock Kids!

Just in time for summer, our local foodie contributor Meagan at A Zesty Bite has come up with another recipe that all our kids are going love (we may even need to fight them for a bite!)…. S’more Brownie Ice Cream Cake.

S'more Brownie Ice Cream Cake

You may have heard some buzz over the last few weeks about Tillamook now offering their premium Ice Cream products in the Lubbock area.  Well, they sent Meagan some ice cream samples and she designed something so yummy that she wanted to make sure our readers were in the know.   And the timing couldn’t be better as many local families are going through Blue Bell withdrawl!

We really love this recipe because it’s perfect to make with the kids (only 5 ingredients!) and also the perfect project to kickoff summer and celebrate another great school year!

For the entire recipe, just jump over to Meagan’s S’more Brownie Ice Cream Cake recipe on A Zesty Bite.

And do lookout for the new Tillamook Ice Cream (it’s now at some area United stores and you can confirm locations using the Tillamook location finder)… we love the fact that it has no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or high-fructose corn syrup.  The company has been in existence since 1909 and was founded as a farmer-owned co-op.  Lots of awards on all their dairy products so they are tried and true… which explains why it tastes like a little spoonful of summer!

Thanks for sharing Meagan!

S'more Brownie Ice Cream Cake

 

FIFA Lubbock! 2014 World Cup for Kids

shutterstock_198596642_Cheering soccer

Like the rest of the world, kids in Lubbock are enjoying the excitement of the FIFA World Cup, especially with the great showing from our Team USA!  What a perfect chance for our kids to join in… learn the game (if they are soccer novices), learn about other countries, and enjoy being a part of something that is celebrated around the world!

Have a FIFA Party!

Get together with a few families, cheer on the teams, and enjoy!  The kids can printout the flags of the competing countries or have some fun with the games & printables that you can download from Activity Village - a great education website.  Have munchies with an international flair and you’ve got your own little slice of Brazil!

Cheer with Teams!

Find a family-friendly sports pub, like Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, to meet friends and cheer on the teams!  Can’t beat the excitement with a group (plus they are having a great Kid’s Coloring promo… freebies and prizes!).   Alamo Draft House is also showing the USA game on their big screen, which would be the next best thing to being there! (remember: no kids under 6).   And a friendly reminder to those of us just getting into the swing of the World Cup thing…. people are passionate about their teams… if your child is uncomfortable with loud places or an occasional “excited” word, may want to go for Option 1 :-)

shutterstock_198324455_world cup flags

Join in!

If the kids are getting into the spirit of the game and want more, there are several leagues and teams still forming.  Be sure to check our Soccer sports section on LubbockForKids.com for upcoming registrations… which include Upward at Southcrest Baptist, LCAA, and Lubbock Soccer Association (LSA).

Camp it!

There are still several soccer camps this summer offered through Texas Tech and Lubbock Parks & Rec. – great way to have some fun and receive top-tier instruction while continuing the excitement!

Lubbock may not have been know as a traditional, soccer-oriented town in the past, but thanks to all the great soccer leagues and resources now calling Lubbock home, we’re feeling the need to sing “Ole….Ola, Ole, Ola (We Are One)”  with the rest of the world and show our kids a positive, team-oriented world view!

Do you have a favorite way to enjoy the World Cup with the kids?  Know of another local, family-friendly World Cup event?  Great!  Share it with us here!

 

Looking for things to do in Lubbock for kids? It's all here!

Welcome!  We’re so excited to launch the LubbockForKids website Blog!

LubbockForKids.com-Blog

We’ve been working like crazy loading the website with all the wonderful things that Lubbock and the South Plains area offers our kids and have been having a blast sharing some of our top Kid Picks for events and activities through our Facebook page.  And you know what we discovered?…  there’s a brilliant amount of stuff for kids in Lubbock!  So much that we need a Blog to dig deeper into some great local opportunities for our kids to soak up!

You’ll notice our theme… it’s local & it’s kids!

From time-to-time we’ll share posts and info from national contributors or resources, but our intent is to uncover local events & activities for kids and share insight from local experts.

Here on our blog, you’ll find special top picks for activities and events, guest posts from contributors (our local experts!) on helpful topics, tips on how to save even more time when using the site, and probably some special thoughts from us as well!

Thanks for joining us as we embrace and celebrate everything kidful in Lubbock and beyond!  What an amazing trip we’re on together – parenting our precious kids through the magical time of childhood here on the South Plains!

Are there things to do in Lubbock for kids?… Oh Yeah!