Maybe it's because I'm in Education . Maybe it's because I'm a parent. Either way, I'm ready for the summer. I have my own bucket list of things to do  and I'm so excited that we are taking our first family trip to Disney World. Ill post in June about how I was able to make this an affordable getaway for me and my little one. Remember that May 13th is Mother's Day, so send the mom/mother figure in your life a special treat to show her how much you love her-- and if you are a mom... go ahead and start dropping hints!

Meanwhile here are some fun events for the month of May that are free or low cost, and a few camps with scholarships for you late planners.



If you're looking for something fun to do with kids for Cinco de Mayo, check out Blessington Farms. They have a great orchard stocked with blueberries for you to pick and eat!

Chick Fil A's around the city sponsor a Family Night each month that usually includes gift card giveaways and face painting. This month most events are centered around Mother's Day, so bring your kids along and force them to celebrate you-- because that's the best way to do it, right?







One of my favorite places in Houston is Discovery Green. They have so many great festivals for you to bring the family to. Here's my son at their Arts Festival a few weekends ago.

 This Saturday they are hosting a Young Writer's Workshop. Interested, I know you are-- click here and bring a pen and journal-- Oh and your kids! Kids will learn to express their thoughts in a healthy way and you might pick up some skills as well!


Want to bring a little culture to your family's life? Bring them to the Miller Outdoor Theater for a free Opera Concert. I'm going to be at this event with my little one in support of a great new Michigan Alumni Volunteering organization-- so stop by and join us! http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/events/1065/

Where: Miller Outdoor Theater

When: May 18^th  at 8 pm

What to Bring:  A blanket to sit on, and food and drinks to enjoy.

How much: Free 99!

On May 19th the Houston YMCAs are promoting water safety by offering a free Water Safety Clinic for kids. Here's the link to sign up!  www.ymcahouston.org

I know Houstonians are hyped about our Rockets and 'Stros, but don't forget about other local teams that offer a professional game at a discounted price. The Sugarland Skeeters and the Houston Dynamo have tickets that are more family friendly and their games are super interactive so check them out and thank me later!  The Skeeters stadium even has a pool and lawn seats-- go here for their schedule and information on purchasing tickets. 

The Star Wars Enthusiasts of Houston host a family friendly May the 4th Be With You Party filled with cosplay, games and volunteering at the Houston Food Bank. Participants will volunteer for one hour and then get a chance to participate in games  and snacks until 9 pm.

On Saturday May 5th and Sunday May 6th celebrate Cinco de Mayo the whole weekend at Trader's Village. There will be 3 stages with live music, shopping and amusement park rides. Parking is $4 and the event runs from noon to 6pm each day. 

Art Interpretation at the HPL Library

I decided to have a separate section just for Library Events, because there are so many fun things happening at the Houston Public Libraries this month:

• 9th Annual Books Alive Children's Book Celebration is happening at the Central Library Location. You can get a chance to meet the author of YA series Hazardous Tales. There will be Laser Tag, Spy Science, a Photo Booth and Face Painting!
• Make music like a pro at the Techlink Event at  Scenic Woods Regional Library on May 19th at 10 am. 
• If Snap Chat and Instastory, don't mean anything to you, then you might want to check out the libraries Social Media classes being held on Friday afternoons-- don't tell your kids I sent you this :)
• Every Saturday at 2 pm there are Family Crafts, and this month they are featuring a Video Games Session every day at 3 pm. So if you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on games or consoles, you can bring your tweens and teens here to play for free!

Lastly, the Summer Reading Club starts in June! Enter ( adults and kids) for a chance to win a kindle-- one prize is given out every week until August! May the odds ever be in your favor!

Summer Camps Click on the links for more info and Ill keep adding to this post as I find new information about camps that are still open for registration. 

Club Sci Kids- This STEM focused camp for kids PreK and up still has a few available scholarships left for the summer. Apply here, but remember  you will need a letter of recommendation for your student.

Main Street Theater offers a summer camp at a discounted rate, as well as scholarships for students in need. If your kids are future actors and actresses, this one might be for you.


Library Camp- Camp Stream is a free camp for kids in Kinder to 8th grade that is housed at a different library each week. Find the one closest to you and don't forget to register on May 7th-- spots fill up fast!

Remember that most school districts offer optional summer school for students based on teacher recommendation. This camps are great because you know that they are run by professionals and in some cases also give your child credit for the upcoming school year. Contact your child's teacher our district website for more information.

If you are in the Fort Bend Area, Alley Theater is offering a camp at Clements High School for Elementary Students. Although this camp doesn't have any scholarship info posted, it's likely going to be affordable because it is linked to a public school.

Another resource in the same area is the Wharton County Junior College's Kids College, check out their camp if you want to give your kids the fun college experience while they are learning something cool and age appropriate!

YMCA- This is a great resource for families because they offer full day camps and often adjust your payments based on your income. This is a great option for parents with multiple kids in the house, because they also give a sibling discount.