FACE Center: Check Out These Free Summer Activities
Some say there's no such thing as a free lunch. That may be true — but there are free museums, movies, theater performance, concerts, crafts and even free sushi. Check out some of the free summer activities recommended by the Shaker Heights Schools Family and Community Engagement Center:
Free Summer Activities:
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Free Mondays at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
- Films at the Lakewood Public Library, 216-226-8275
- Free sushi Fridays at Touch Supper Club, 216- 631-5200
- Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Museum
- Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, 216-664-3103
- Cleveland Metroparks Adventure Club
- Take a Hike Tours
- Cleveland Shakespeare Festival
- Spend a day at the beach!
- Wade Oval Wednesdays, 6 to 9 p.m..
- International Women's Air and Space Museum, Burke Lakefront Airport, 216-623-1111
- Preston's H.O.P.E., at the Mandel Jewish Community Center
- Stearns Homestead, 440-845-9770: Explore more than 48 acres at this working farm, right in the middle of busy Parma. Animals include horses, cows, goats, pigs, chickens and turkeys.
- Cleveland Police Museum, 216-623-5055: See the death masks of the victims in the infamous Torso Murders and artifacts from Eliot Ness
- Cuyahoga County Public Library programs
- Cleveland Public Library programs
- Tremont Art Walk: Every second Friday.
- "Star-Spangled Spectacular": Cleveland Orchestra plays its annual free July 4th show with music and fireworks. On Mall B. 9 p.m.
- CMA Ohio City Stages concerts: The Cleveland Museum of Art is bringing the world to Ohio City on Wednesdays in July. The free concert series of acclaimed global musicians takes place on the block surrounding Transformer Station on West 29th Street. The concerts start at 7:30 p.m.
- NASA Glenn Research Center tours, 216-433-9653: The tours are open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents with a government-issued photo identification or a permanent resident card. Individuals without proper ID will not be admitted. Reservations required.
- Lakeshore Learning free crafts for kids,216-378-9488: From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday, this educational superstore offers free crafts (and innovative ideas) for kids.
- Rocky River Nature Center, 440-734-6660
- Birthday clubs: Many local retail chains, such as Bob Evans, Bob's Big Boy, Baskin Robbins, Sephora and Red Lobster, offer birthday freebies when you sign-up online. Some locals do, too, including East Coast Custard and Johnny Mango World Cafe and Bar.
- Donation-based yoga, Yoga Walden – Om Studio, 330-995-9772: Take your yoga practice to a deeper level with Yoga Walden's donation-based ongoing classes that include Yoga Alliance Certified 200-hour Teacher Training Program.
- Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, 440-871-2900
- Edgewater LIVE concert series: Every Thursday night happy hour series on the waterfront. The concerts take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. In addition to the weekly bands, the evening series will include food trucks, yoga, stand-up paddleboarding, cornhole and family activities.
- Free movies in Coventry Village, Cleveland Heights: The Coventry Village neighborhood in Cleveland Heights is celebrating summer with a series of free events that include a selection of kids' movies and cult movies in Coventry P.E.A.C.E Park. The kids' movies screen Thursdays and Cult movies screen Fridays starting July 25. Movies begin at dark.
- Legacy Village Summer Concerts: Live music every Friday and Saturday, from pop, rock & Motown to Blues, Swing and everything in between!
- The $1 Family Films Series at Cleveland Cinemas: OK, it's not FREE, but $1 for movies is a great deal!
- Summer reading program, Shaker Heights Public Library, The library offers free programs for kids all year.
- Nature Center at Shaker Lakes: Family hikes and bird watching.
- Kids Bowl Free: Kids receive two free games of bowling every day all summer long.
Check Out More Summer Activities (with a possible cost):
- Northeast Ohio Family Fun
- Tri-C Youth Summer Camps
- 2016 Summer Movie Express: Family fun movies playing on Tuesdays & Wednesdays for the summertime!
- Cinemark Summer Movie Club: Fun films for kids for $1 or $5
- Shaker Heights Youth Center Summer Leadership Camp For Girls - Open to girls entering sixth, seventh or eighth grade and includes field trips, college tours, basic self defense, fun with fitness & nutrition, service learning. $35 registration fee, Contact: Carolyn Dolan, 216-752-9292 or visit SHYC - 17300 Van Aken Blvd.
- The Shaker Historical Society Archaeological Dig II
- Case Western Reserve University Summer Tech Camps
- Case Western Reserve University Shipwreck Camp: Includes an itroduction to SCUBA diving, build remotely operated vehicles for underwater exploration.
- The Music Settlement
- Macaroni Kid
- Playhouse Square programming
- Great Lakes Science Center
- The Academic Fun & Fitness Camp: Serves the unique needs of children with learning differences. This camp will give your child a new perspective on learning, while developing the self-esteem and social skills needed to be successful. It is held at Lakeland Community College from June 15 through July 25 (half-day or full-day options). 440-914-0200
- Nature Center at Shaker Lakes: Outdoor Adventure Camp
- Case Western Reserve University Youth Community Outreach programs
- Lake Metroparks
- Cleveland Museum of Nature History Summer Camps
- Greater Cleveland Aquarium Summer Camps
- Ursuline Summer Art & Fashion Camps
- Karamu House Theatre
- Tech Corps Techie Camp, for rising 8th graders. Using Alice, a 3D programming environment, students will learn the basic concepts of coding through the creation of video games and interactive stories. The camp is located at Case Western Reserve University
- Effective Leadership Academy (ELA), in partnership with Shaker Heights High School, offers Transitions. The program is designed to help students entering grade 9 transition effectively to the High School. Topics include leadership skills, problem solving, goal setting, time management, effective communication, and more. Register online or call (216) 292-8775. Space is limited; need-based scholarships available.
Photo courtesy of University Circle Inc. / Downie Photography
Posted: Tuesday, June 14, 2016