There’s no denying that summer camps provide fun experiences and skill-building opportunities for children of all ages – and provide much needed childcare opportunities during the school break. However, with many families across Canada feeling the pinch of inflation, you may be faced with reducing the number of programs you enroll your child in or forgoing them completely.
So, if you’re looking to fight the summertime blahs and camp is out of reach this year, here are some ideas to fill up a week with fun activities. If you get together with another family (or two), the adults can even exchange days of supervision to create a summer camp vibe full of memories.
Explore the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary for free! Whether you explore on your own or join one of their free drop-in programs, this is a great opportunity to get outside and enjoy nature.
Visit a Calgary Public Library branch and join the Summer Reading Club. There are always a host of activities and programs free to enroll in at the library! Or, if programs don’t fit into your schedule, take advantage of the free space, air conditioning, and nearly limitless collection of books and more.
Cool off at a spray park or wading pool. Calgary is so lucky to have many freely accessible wading pools and spray parks around the city. Pack some food, towels, and sunscreen and make a day out of a visit. Just remember that these city run facilities are unguarded, and you’ll need to keep a close eye on the kids.
Take in art experiences at The Esker Foundation where admission is free. This might not be for every family, but you can take in the exhibits or register for a KIDS Studio (seven- to 12-year-olds) or Baby Art Tour (under two years old).
Adventure outdoors and walk the trails at one of Calgary’s many parks like Fish Creek or the trails around Bow Habitat Station.
Or, stay cool by playing at Devonian Gardens in the CORE Shopping Centre.
Attend Family Day at the Calgary Stampede and take part in a Calgary tradition. With some pre-planning, you can experience many of the sights of the Stampede for free if you keep an eye out for announcements of sponsored mornings that provide free access to families.
Find a new favorite playground from calgaryplaygroundreview.com – there are so many interesting and themed playgrounds around Calgary. Make a wish list of favorites, create a scavenger hunt of play structures, and have a fun time outdoors.
Watch our calendar page for information about events and programs throughout the summer (and the whole year). There are often great free and low-cost activities available throughout the city.
Want to do more? If you’re wanting your days to feel more like a traditional summer camp – pick a theme and string together activities that fit in. Anything can be a theme! Be inspired by your children’s interests and go from there.
Trista is a stay-at-home mom and loves to share her discoveries about how to make life in Calgary work for families of all kinds.
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