Free Money for Summer Activities and Kid Fun

Summer! So exciting, right? If you have kids like me, summertime likely represents freedom, a break from routine, and endless possibilities. However, it can also mean that you feel stressed about money. Summer also means pool fees, camp fees, and swim lessons, which all COST MONEY! It often requires money to help our kids spread their wings, try new experiences, and just do cool, normal kid stuff.

Summer here officially starts in less than two weeks, so my mom brain is in high gear already. I do lots of pool time with my kids at our local community pools but also like to join our local recreational center each summer so that we have a temperature-controlled place indoors where we can all get some exercise and play sports. Summer camp has factored into the equation quite a few times. In years past, I’ve signed my kids up for acting camp, dance camp, and basketball camp, depending on their ages and interests at the time.

I learned a few years back that my city offers family scholarships each summer. I was able to take advantage of this a few times. While it wasn’t a ton of money, it did help me out a lot at the time. It meant that I was able to get free pool passes for my entire family for the summer to all of our community pools. I was also able to get free swim lessons for free for my kids and free passes for our local rec center. If I’d chosen to, I could have spent that money differently on summer camp or kid activities at the rec center.  At the time, it made a really big difference to our family.

I suggest you check to see if this is an option for you.  If you have a Parks and Recreation department, that may be a great place to start. Otherwise, just reach out to your city or county office and ask if there is any financial assistance available for families. These things are often posted on websites, so definitely check there first!

If you are looking for other ideas, your local YMCA or the Boys and Girls Clubs of America are solid options as well.  These organizations have been around for many years and offer many amazing programs for kids. They have made a difference in the lives of many!

Happy Summer!!!