Free Family Friendly Activities

Free (or cheap) family-friendly activities and resources

Audio books - Books Should Be Free

http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/genre/Children/all

Free audio books from the public domain. Download a free audio book in mp3, iPod or iTunes format.

Bowling - AMF Free Bowling

https://freebowling.amf.com/home

At AMF, kids 15 and under can bowl for free all summer. Simply register and your kids can bowl two free games per day all summer! Shoe rental is not included.

Bowling - Kids Bowl Free (Canada and U.S.)

www.kidsbowlfree.com

Two free games of bowling every day. All summer long. Bowling centers, schools, and other organizations work together to launch a super summer activity option for kids and families across the country.

Crafts - Some Free, some inexpensive events (Michaels)

www.michaels.com

Michaels' new program, The Knack lets your kids explore their creativity through a wealth of great ideas, projects and crafts designed just for them. And to enhance kids' creative experience, Michaels offers fun in-store events and activities for kids and their families to enjoy -- from The Knack FreeSM Family Events (free to participate) to The KnackSM Saturdays, during which kids ages 5-12 will create their own fun craft for only $5 per child, including supplies. The KnackSM Saturdays have 30 minute sessions at 10, 10:30, 11 or 11:30 am.

Crafts, wood - Free Kids Workshops (Home Depot)

www.homedepot.com

Kids Workshops are FREE "How-To Clinics" designed for children ages 5-12. The workshops are offered on the first Saturday of each month between 9:00 a.m. and noon at all The Home Depot stores.

Crafts, wood - Free Build and Grow Clinics (Lowes)

www.lowesbuildandgrow.com

FREE Clinics are offered on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Project information and internet sign-up registration available at this link.

Geocaching

www.geocaching.com

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

Letterboxing

www.letterboxing.org

LETTERBOXING is an intriguing pastime combining navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a charming "treasure hunt" style outdoor quest. A wide variety of adventures can be found to suit all ages and experience levels. Click on the desktop items above to explore this fast-growing hobby. A great way to break up a roadtrip with a little treasure-hunt!

Movies - Free Family Film Festival

www.regmovies.com

Moviegoers of all ages can climb aboard the Summer Movie Express to enjoy a great selection of films. During this 9-week festival, participating Regal Cinemas, United Artists and Edwards Theatres will offer selected G or PG rated movies for only a dollar on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10:00. A portion of proceeds from the Summer Movie Express will be donated to the Will Rogers Institute.

Movies - Military installation theaters (not free, but cheap)

Most installations offer movie programs at a low cost ticket or free. Many of the movies offered are current or recent releases. Popcorn, soda, and other snacks are available at prices far below the local commercial theaters. Visit these links for locations and show times:

Army and Air Force:

http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ReelTimeTheatres/reeltime-landing.htm

Marine Corps:

http://www.usmc-mccs.org/fitnessrec/theaters.cfm

Navy:

http://www.mwrtoday.com/

Museums - Free museum entrance for military families

http://www.bluestarfam.org/Programs/Blue_Star_Museums

Blue Star Museums is off and running! Military families now have access to 1,800 art exhibits, science centers, and amazing museums all over the nation.

Blue Star Museums is a program that offers free admission to museums for all active duty, National Guard and Reserve military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

National Parks - Free annual pass for U.S. military

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm

Available to U.S. military members and dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard and also, Reserve and National Guard members. Must be obtained in person at a Federal recreation site by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173).

National Parks Junior Ranger

http://www.nps.gov/learn/juniorranger.cfm

Many National Parks offer visitors the opportunity to join the National Park Service Family as Junior Rangers. Interested students complete a series of activities during their park visit, share their answers with a park ranger, and receive an official Junior Ranger badge or patch and Junior Ranger certificate.

Penny Passport (not free)

www.pennysmasher.com

A great way for a military child to document their travels. Collect elongated pennies from museums and other tourist attractions and store them in the Penny Passport.

Restaurant - Kids Eat Free (Frugal Living TV)

www.frugalliving.tv

On this website you will find a list of over 50 places where kids eat free or for very cheap! While the majority of the listings are places where kids eat free some of the restaurants charge a small amount – in most occasions $.99 so they are not actually “free” but a very good deal nonetheless. You will also find that some of the restaurants where kids eat free have certain restrictions whether it be limited hours on a certain day, the number of kids eating free per purchasing adult or age restrictions.

Restaurant - My Kids Eat Free

www.mykidseatfree.com

Making ends meet while having a family can be a challenge. With the current state of our economy and the cost of gas, we find ourselves having to pinch a little harder. Luckily, more and more restaurants are now offering Kid's Nights with reduced or free meals for the kids. The trick is learning about these mostly unadvertised specials.

MyKidsEatFree.com is dedicated to helping you stretch your dollar as far as possible.With the help of several friends and viewers like you, we continue to collect a list of Kid Friendly and Family Friendly restaurants that offer great value for your family.

Currently serving 6458 restaurant locations that offer Kids Eat Free specials. If you are a restuarant owner/manager let us list your Kids Eat Free specials here - It's FREE! .....

Theatres - Blue Star Theatres

http://www.bluestarfam.org/Programs/Blue_Star_Theatres

Nearly two dozen theaters around the country are offering free and discounted tickets for plays, classes and other services to veterans and military families. This new program will also offer workshops and playwriting classes to veterans, job postings and casting notices on military bases.