Week 2

Summer is in full swing and Central California Parent doesn’t want your kids saying “I’m bored!” We are going to keep you busy with things to do and places to go throughout the month of July. Be sure to check back each Wednesday for a new list of fun ideas. This week we offer 6 more COOL summer fun items with giveaways! (Don’t worry! If you missed Week 1, you can still view it here)

Wizard of Oz

Outdoor Movies

Creative Craft

Splash and Soak

Go Wild!

Tasty Treat

Wizard of Oz

Like so many girls her age, little Dorothy Gale of Kansas dreams of what lies over the rainbow. One day a twister hits her farm and carries her away over the rainbow to another world. Come join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion and Toto as they travel the universe of Dorothy’s imagination. Watch this classic story July 15-24 at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 2425 Fresno Street, Fresno. Tickets run $14-$22. www.cmtworks.org

We gave away a family four-pack of tickets to the Wizard of Oz to a lucky family!

Outdoor Movies

Your whole family will enjoy watching a movie in the park at a variety of locations throughout the valley. Pack a picnic and some lawn chairs. Movies usually start at dusk.

Eaton Plaza and the Watchtower in downtown Fresno: July 8, 15, 22 and 29

Centennial Park, Hanford and Armona Road, Hanford: July 8

Hidden Valley Park, 11th and Cortner, Hanford: July 15

Civic Park, North Douty Street, Hanford: July 22

Lion’s Town & Country Park, 2300 Howard Road in Madera: every Friday night at 8 p.m. in July

Del Lago Park, 1700 N. Laspina Street, Tulare: July 8, 15, 22 and 29

Riverway Sports Park, 3611 N. Dinuba Blvd. in Visalia: July 8, 15 and 22

Sanger Community Center, 730 Recreation, Sanger: July 9 and 16

JFK Park, corner of North and Faller, Sanger: July 23

Cesar Chavez Park, corner of Faller and Florence, Sanger: July 30

Easy Geometric Canvas

Take coloring in the lines to a whole new level with this project! This is a great way to increase motor skills and practice control with a paintbrush. And, as an added bonus, these make great pieces of art to hang in any room!

Cover a work surface with newspaper, then lay out the canvas and the paints. Acrylic paint with some added water works great for this project.
Tape lines across the canvas in any pattern with 1/2 inch blue painters tape. Your kids can complete this step, just make sure the tape is pressed down to create crisp lines.
The canvas can now be broken up into different geometric shapes. Paint the shapes any color of the rainbow. If you have a room in mind to decorate, set out 3-5 colors that will compliment that decor. This project helps kids practice painting in the lines and teaches them how to hold a paintbrush steady.
Let the first coat dry for at least 1 hour, then paint over with a second coat. Let the second coat dry over night, or at least 10 hours.
The next day remove the tape to reveal your cool, geometric canvas! Your guests will surely be impressed you have a mini Picasso in the house!

Splash and Soak

Splash and Soak at Central Unified Aquatics Complex . It’s hot outside and there’s a great place to cool off. Central Unified Aquatics Complex offers open swimming and water slides for cool summer fun. Kids must be 48” tall to ride the slides and tight fitting swim diapers are required for infants and toddlers who are not potty-trained.

An all day pass costs $6/person, kids 2 years and under enter free. The Central Unified Aquatics Complex is located at 3535 N. Cornelia Avenue, Fresno, and is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. until August 6, 2016. 276-6396

We gave away a family four-pack of passes to Central Unified Aquatics Complex!

Go Wild!

Nothing is more exciting to kids than visiting the zoo, and we have a wonderful place to see animals at the Chaffee Zoo in Fresno. During your visit plan for your kids to see the Winged Wonders Bird Show, an incredible free-flight bird show designed to promote awareness of the natural behavior of birds. Shows are scheduled daily at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in July.

Learn more about the animals from the people who take care of them at the Keeper Chats scheduled throughout the zoo during the day. Visit the Fresno Chaffee Zoo Website for specific times and locations throughout the zoo.

Don’t miss getting up close and personal with long-necked creatures at the Giraffe Feeding Station. Feedings are scheduled every day. Cost is $2/person per feeding.

Fresno Chaffee Zoo is located at 894 W. Belmont Avenue in Fresno and is open Sunday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission is $5.50-$10. 559-498-5910

We gave away two family four-packs of tickets to Fresno Chaffee Zoo!

Make-Your-Own Mini Pizzas!

These delicious mini pizzas are a great way to get the kids in the kitchen. Set out the sauce and all the toppings, then let them go to work! They’ll love to customize their own dinner. After a quick bake in the oven, dinner is served!

Prepare any selection of toppings that your family likes, such as pepperoni slices, olives, pineapple chunks, diced bell peppers, sliced onions, sliced mushrooms, sliced tomatoes, and, of course, grated cheese! Meat toppings should be precooked.
At the first station set out your pizza base, such as wheat bread sandwich thins which are perfect for replicating a thin crust pizza. Fill a bowl with the pizza sauce, set out a serving spoon and spatula. At this station kids can scoop and spread the sauce over their own mini pizza.
At the next station place all the toppings in individual bowls. Let the kids choose their own toppings and arrange them on their pizzas. Encourage them to include at least one vegetable!
Mom or Dad assist at the last station. Place the pizzas on an ungreased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 5-7 minutes, or until pizzas are slightly browned. Serve and enjoy!

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5 Weeks of Cool Summer Fun: Week 2