Summer Activities for Kids in Lincoln – April 2023

Summer Activities for Kids in Lincoln – April 2023

Summer vacation is nearly here! The children are surely excited, but if you are the parent, you may be wondering how you are going to keep your kids busy throughout the summer. Lincoln provides a large variety of different activities, camps, and classes that will keep your kids moving and enjoying their summer break in a fun and even educational environment. Create a summer full of memories for you and your children and check out what some local businesses and organizations are offering for kids this summer!

Educational Fun for Everyone

Bright Lights is gearing up for another action-packed summer. For summer 2023, camps take place June 5-9; June 12-16; June 19-23; June 26-30; and July 10-14. Camp topics include science, technology, math, art, literature, and music with most having a STEAM connection. There is also an international experience for middle school students and a Camp Assistant program for high schoolers.

Roper Elementary is the main site for Bright Lights camps this summer with Before Care and Lunch Care services available at select locations. The program has expanded to middle and high school buildings for some camps, including camps that require specialized labs. Additional community site locations (such as UNL, Pioneers Park and Holmes Lake) have enhanced learning, emphasized career awareness and allowed the program to expand camp offerings.

“We offer five weeks of hands-on summer learning to students in grades K-8 through a variety of half-day and full-day camps. Students can choose a topic and explore a passion, sharing the experience with peers who have a similar interest,” said Executive Director Renee Ford. “They’re having so much fun they forget they are also learning! You can visit www.BrightLights.org to see a full range of our camp topics and our schedule.”

Scholarships are available and can be applied for during registration. Through the generous donations of committed community organizations and individuals, Bright Lights is able to offer need-based scholarships to students to help families cover the program fees associated with Bright Lights camps. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funds are available. Each student is eligible for one scholarship that may be applied to either a half-day or a full-day camp. The scholarship application deadline for summer 2023 is May 1.

“Bright Lights adds to the community by providing enrichment learning opportunities outside of the traditional school day and classroom,” Renee said. “Our focus on hands-on learning is meant to inspire curiosity in students and encourage critical thinking, which are important skills to have for a growing and thriving community.

Bright Lights was founded in 1987 by two moms, Barbara Hoppe and Jan Dutton, wanting summer mental Olympics for their small children as they began to see budget cuts in the public school summer program. The concept grew from a graduate school project for Barbara and Jan, leaped onto the kitchen table, and took flight three months later. Both women equally funded the first year’s operation. They hired teachers with reputations in subject area expertise and with a strong ability to work with students in hands-on learning.

For an educational summer full of fun and inspiration, sign your children up for a camp with Bright Lights!

Gear-ing Up for Summer!

Play It Again Sports is your neighborhood sporting goods store providing great value and exceptional customer service in a clean and fun environment. You’ll find quality used and new sports and fitness equipment that can fit any budget.

Buying brand new sports equipment and gear can be expensive, so visit Play It Again Sports to see what they have to offer and how they can help your kids to stay active all summer long. Plus, it’s a great place to invest in quality gear at an affordable price for a new sport your kids want to try, rather than breaking the bank for something they may decide they don’t enjoy.

“As a store, we focus on providing quality equipment and gear for various sports, including baseball, softball, golf, disc golf and fitness activities. While we don’t offer specific educational activities for children during summer, we strive to assist young athletes and help them achieve their goals by finding the most suitable equipment for their skill level,” explained Owner Kyle McMurray. “Our knowledgeable staff is always ready to guide and recommend products to ensure young athletes have the tools necessary to succeed in their chosen sports.”

Play It Again’s services offer numerous benefits to families and kids in the Lincoln area. They strive to provide exceptional customer service when it comes to sports equipment, ensuring that they have products that cater to everyone’s needs, whether it’s a new hockey stick or a gently used golf set. For fitness equipment, they offer a unique “white glove” delivery service, delivering and setting up treadmills, exercise bikes and other equipment at people’s homes, allowing them to focus on their workouts rather than the hassle of equipment setup.

“As the owner of Play It Again Sports, I consider it both a privilege and a responsibility to continue serving the Lincoln area and its surrounding communities. Our team is committed to maintaining the reputation of being the go-to destination for new and gently used sports equipment,” Kyle said. “We are excited about the future of Play It Again Sports in Lincoln and look forward to providing exceptional service and quality products to our customers. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you!”

Play It Again Sports’ commitment to providing high-quality products and services to Lincoln and the surrounding communities sets us apart and ensures that families and kids have access to the equipment they need to stay active and healthy.

Indoor Games to Beat the Heat

This summer, visit Sun Valley Lanes & Games for your prime one-stop destination for fun for the whole family. If you are looking for a place to cool down during the hottest days of summer, Sun Valley has fun-filled options for anyone to enjoy.

“We have several great activities to offer kids this summer. First and foremost, we have 32 bowling lanes all equipped with the Hyperbowling, which is a fun variation of bowling where the bumpers become an interactive and necessary part of the game,” said Brian Kleinknecht, Operations Manager at Sun Valley Lanes. “Bowlers take aim at LED targets on the bumpers to multiply their score based on which target they hit.  The levels change and become more challenging as you advance through the game. Hyperbowling is a game that kids and adults can compete at on a level playing field.”

In addition to bowling, Sun Valley Lanes boasts mini-golf, laser tag and an arcade.

“Our Lucky Putt indoor mini-golf course introduces modern technology to traditional mini golf, in the form of LEDs, electronic sensors, fun graphics and automatic scoring,” Brian explained.  “Lucky Putt is high-tech mini golf where the higher the score, the better!  Earn bonus points as you navigate through the obstacles in an attempt to score a “Lucky Putt” for a huge bonus!  With automatic scoring, you don’t need to carry around a scorecard as the game track everything on its own. The course is also food and drink friendly, so enjoy your favorite beverage while you play with our convenient drink-holding stations located on each tee box. Our ten-hole course is open and ready for you to play!”

The multi-level Combat Zone Laser Tag arena takes laser tag to the next level.  Not only do the players want to tag their opponents, they can tag interactive targets and base modules to earn even more points for their team.  Laser tag can be played with as few as two people or as many as 24.

The Fun Valley Arcade is a great place for kids to hang out and play an assortment of arcade games.  With over 30 games to choose from, there’s something for everyone.  Players will earn digital tickets, based on their performance in the games, which can then be used to redeem prizes from our redemption center.

Lastly, Sun Valley Lanes is the perfect place to host a summer birthday party! Reunite your child and their classmates before they head into the next school year with a day fun activities and delicious food. Reach out to Sun Valley to learn more about how to schedule your child’s next birthday.

Sun Valley Lanes offers a fun and safe place for families to go out to have a good time. Activities can be enjoyed by individuals of all ages, so don’t worry about anyone in the family getting bored. The air-conditioned facility and cold drinks make it a great place to cool off during the summer months!

This summer is jam-packed with activities for children of all ages and their families. Check out these fun resources to get your calendars full of educational activities, indoor games to beat the heat and gear to get your kids moving all season long!