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summer fun

Fun Summer Things to Do in Tucson With Your Kids

Outside fun summer things to do include splash pads
Outside fun summer things to do include splash pads

For your children, summer can be the best part of their year. But for you, the parent, it can be a stressful time of the year. However, there are so many places to take your family that can be fun and educational. That is to say, Tucson has so many activities from which to choose. Outside fun and indoor museums are just a couple of options for your summer family fun.

Fun Summer Splash Pads

As you all know, Tucson can be extremely hot in the summer. Temperatures regularly reach over 100 degrees. To help combat the extreme heat, Tucson offers multiple free splash pads to cool off the whole family.

    • Brandi Fenton Splash Pad – East River Road
    • Zion City Splash Pad – W. Ruthrauff
    • Crossroads at Silverbell District Park Splash Pad – N. Silverbell Road
    • Morris K Udall Park Splash Pad – E. Tanque Verde Road
    • Warden Family Splash Pad – S. San Joaquin Ave.
    • Catalina Park Splash Pad – N. Fourth Avenue
    • Palo Verde Splash Pad – S. Mann Ave

Museums

Parents don’t always consider museums as a place to take the family. But museums offer different exhibitions that are educational and interactive. Most museums offer air-conditioned buildings. Many are also accessible through public transportation.

Children’s Museum – Interactive exhibits that include learning about gravity, public safety, a music garden, and electricity. All exhibits are both educational and fun.

Pima Air and Space Museum – This museum features approximately 400 aircraft, six hangers, and an indoor exhibit of space innovation.

Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium – This science center features exhibits based on fossils, minerals, sharks, and bugs. A portion of the exhibits is interactive.

Arizona History Museum – This museum features artifact displays and stories of the old west. You can also find exhibits of wooden carriages and Arizona treasures.

Tucson has a variety of canyons and parks to enjoy.
Tucson has a variety of canyons and parks to enjoy.

Outside Activities

For the family that likes outdoor activities, these are places for you. Tucson has a variety of canyons and parks to enjoy.

Tohono Chul Park

Located in a suburb of Tucson, set on 49 acres, Tohono Chul Park dessert offers nature at its finest. The botanical garden offers themed garden spaces and resident hummingbirds. Walk among the art exhibits. Visit the gift shop. Eat at the Bistro. The park offers free activity sheets on its Just For Kids webpage. Their vision is to respect cultures and learn about the Sonoran Desert.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

This desert museum has multiple attractions in one place. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum offers a zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, art gallery, and natural history museum. Visitors may have the opportunity to meet special birds not seen in the local area. There is a stingray touch pool. Also, a reptile hall. The desert museum offers views of mountain lions, river otters, gray foxes, and ground squirrels. The museum is partially outdoors, so please refer to the website for safety recommendations.

Colossal Cave Mountain Park

Though 22 miles from Tucson, this is a full family fun day. You’ll walk through the passageways in the underground landscape. Though an outside activity, the caves stay a cool 70 degrees. Considered a dry cave, the formation will not change. Colossal Cave offers various levels of cave skills, from the beginner to the experienced, physically agile adventurer.

Sabino Canyon

The Sonoran Desert has two rainy seasons. These seasons create a creek that flows over cliffs to feed the vegetation. This canyon offers places to walk, hike, and watch animals. The canyon has an open-air emission-free shuttle that tours the canyon. The canyon is free of charge for specific activities. The Sabino Canyon Recreation Area provides volunteers to help assist visitors.

2 boys playing soccer
Sports camps are always a fun summer option for kids

Indoor Activities

Indoor activities in Tucson are a great option with the summer heat or rainy days. This is a list of indoor activities for children and families on a budget.

    • Skating
    • Bowling
    • Movies
    • Convention Center (children focus events)
    • Rock Climbing
    • Gaming Center
    • Trampoline Park
    • Library events or readings

Summer Camps

Summer Camps are a fantastic way to help children meet a diverse group. The camps offer a 4-day program. These camps offer different themes that will benefit your child’s growth. Please check with the local listing for dates available.

    • Academic Camp
    • Animal Camp
    • Dance Camp
    • Music Camp
    • Performing Arts Camp
    • Sport Camps

In conclusion, fun summer vacations can be full of exciting adventures. To sum it up, it does not matter if you are on a budget. There is always something to do with your children in Tucson.

 

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3 Easy Science Experiments for Kids to Do at Home

Kids having fun with Easy Science Experiments
Kids having fun with easy science experiments

Are you looking for some fun ways to introduce your children to the world of science?  No matter if you’re looking for a fun educational activity for your preschooler or trying to come up with an idea for your child’s first science project, these science experiments are a great way to have fun together and learn something new. Most of the items needed for these science activities are not only inexpensive but probably things you have in your cabinets. And how’s this for a bonus? They are all really fun!

1.Make Ice Cream in a Bag

Everyone loves ice cream, so this is a great experiment for kids of all ages. It will require some adult supervision for younger children, and even with older children, you can help guide the scientific process to help get the “science part” into the fun.

Ingredients you will need:

  • Gallon and quart-size zip-top bag(s)
  • ⅓ cup kosher or rock salt
  • 3 cups ice
  • 1/2 cup half and half
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • Toppings such as sprinkles, chocolate sauce, and fruit

Directions for making the ice cream:

  1. Place the salt and ice in the gallon-sized zip-top bag
  2. Add the half and half, sugar, and vanilla to the quart-size zip-top bag. Seal the bag tightly, and give it a little shake to blend the ingredients.
  3. Place the bag with the ice cream ingredients inside the gallon-sized bag that has the ice and salt in it.
  4. Put on gloves, and shake the bag vigorously until the milk is solid. This should take around 5-10 minutes.
  5. Pour your ice cream into a bowl, add topping and enjoy your experiment.
  • For more science fun: See what happens if you use different types of milk. What happens if you don’t use salt?

2. Pop Rocks Expander

What you will need:

  • a package of Pop Rocks candy
  • a 16 oz soda (plastic bottle preferably)
  • a balloon
  • a small funnel

Directions:

  1. Using a small kitchen funnel, pour the entire contents of the Pop Rocks package into your balloon. Tap the funnel to be sure it is empty.
  2. Place the balloon opening over the open mouth of the soda bottle. Make sure the candy doesn’t spill into the bottle. The balloon will hang to the side.
  3. Grab the balloon at the point farthest from the opening, and dump the Pop Rocks in the soda. Observe what happens in the bottle. Watch the balloon inflate.
  • For more science fun: try it with a different brand of soda and compare the release of carbon dioxide. Does the result change depending on soda temperature?

3. Salt Water Density Experiment

What you will need:

  • Warm water
  •  3 tablespoons of Salt
  • 2 Tall glasses large enough to hold the egg
  • Eggs

Directions:

  1. Fill a glass 2/3 full with warm tap water. Ask the question- What happens if I drop the egg in the water? Add the egg to the water.
  2. Fill a second glass with the same amount of water, and add the salt, stirring until it is completely dissolved. Ask what will happen this time you add the egg. Place the egg in the glass, and watch it float.

For more science fun, try the experiment using other lighter small plastic items, then try heavier items. Learn more by changing the salt ratio.

Encourage Lifelong Learning

Sharing fun science experiments such as these with your children is just one more way you can nurture a love for learning for both today and the future.

Here are a few sites or articles to help with more ideas.

Curiodyssey.org
Little Bins, Little Hands
55 Easy Science Experiments Using Materials You Already Have On Hand

 

 

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