Family Fun – Free Summer Activities in the Houston Area Children’s Museum of Houston – The Children’s Museum is filled with interactive bilingual exhibits for kids aged birth to 12 years. Free Family Nights are offered every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. The museum is located at 1500 Binz Street, Houston, TX 77004. More information can be found at http://www.cmhouston.org/ or by calling 713-522-1138. Health Museum – This museum is very modern and fun to visit. They have interactive health and science educational experiences to promote an understanding of the human body. The Health Museum offers free admission on Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m. It is located at 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004. More information can be found at http://www.mhms.org/ or by calling 713-521-1515. Holocaust Museum Houston – This museum teaches students and the public about the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy in society. The Holocaust Museum is open 7 days a week and general admission is free. It is located at 5401 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004. More information can be found at http://www.hmh.org/ or by calling 713-942-8000 Houston Museum of Natural Science Museum – features the Wortham IMAX theatre, Burke Baker Planetarium, Cockrell Butterfly Center, permanent exhibit halls and traveling exhibitions. The museum is free on Thursdays from 2 – 5 p.m. The museum is located at 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030. More information can be found at http://www.hmns.org/ or by calling 713-639-4629. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – The MFAH's collection numbers more than 56,000 works and embraces the art of antiquity to the present. Admission is free all day on Thursdays. The museum is located at 1001 Bissonnet, Houston, Texas 77005. More information can be found at http://www.mfah.org/ or by calling 713-639-7300. The Menil Collection – One of the greatest private art collections in the U.S. features many famous pieces of art in a simply-designed environment. Admission is free. The museum is located at 1533 Sul Ross Street, Houston, TX 77006. More information can be found at http://menil.org/index.php/ or by calling 713-525-9400. The Art Car Museum – The Art Car Museum is a private institution dedicated to contemporary art. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11am – 6pm and admission is always free. The museum will be closed June 3 – 10 and June 21 – 28, 2013. The museum is located at 140 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77007. More information can be found at http://www.artcarmuseum.com/ or by calling 713- 861-5526. Funded by the 21st CCLC, Program Administered by the US Department of Education Contemporary Arts Museum – This museum features fine contemporary art by regional and international artists. It is open Tuesday – Sunday on the following schedule: Tues., Wed. & Fri. 10am – 7pm, Thur. 10am – 9pm, Sat. 10am – 6pm & Sun. noon – 6pm. Admission is always free. The museum is located at 5216 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006. More information can be found at http://www.camh.org/ or by calling 713-284-8250. John C. Freeman Weather Museum– This museum provides the community the opportunity to learn about weather through outreach, education and research which inspires interest in math and science. The museum is open Monday – Saturday 10:00a.m. – 4p.m. Admission is free on Thursday, noon to 4:00p.m. The museum is located at 5104 Caroline Street, Houston, TX 77004. More information can be found at http://www.wxresearch.org or by calling 713-529-3076 Miller Outdoor Theatre – 6000 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, Texas 77030 – This is Houston’s outdoor theatre for the performing arts. Free performances are offered March through October. Visit their website at http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/ for more information and note the schedule of children’s performances below: June Free Children’s Performances Swing, Jive & Pop into Dance – June 5, 2013 – 11:00am Disney’s High School Musical Jr. – June 12, 13 and 14, 2013 – 11:00am Sounds Like Fun – June 17. 2013 – 11:00am Hear Ye! Hear Ye! – June 24, 2013 – 11:00am July Free Children’s Performances Hear Ye! Hear Ye! – July 2, 2013 – 11:00am Children’s Hilltop Festival – Dream of Doors – July 23, 2013 – 11:00am Children’s Hilltop Festival – Three Billy Goats Gruff – July 24, 2013 – 11:00am Children’s Hilltop Festival – Legends of Wind and Fire– July 25, 2013 – 11:00am Children’s Hilltop Festival – The Ransom of Red Chief – July 26, 2013 – 11:00am August Free Children’s Performances Journey Through China III – August 14, 2013 – 11:00am Journey Through China III – August 15, 2013 – 11:00am The Waugh Bat Colony – About 250,000 of Houston’s bats live within the crevices of Waugh Drive Bridge. These Mexican free-tailed bats emerge nightly to stretch their wings and feed on area insects. Visit the City of Houston website for a listing of best viewing locations and bat-viewing etiquette. For more information, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/bats.html Kemah Boardwalk – Overlooking Galveston Bay, the Kemah Boardwalk features themed restaurants, shops and amusements for the whole family which can be quite costly. However, there are free events, such as their Rock the Dock series on Thursday evenings (May through August), where bands offer free live entertainment. There is also a free water spray area. For more information and a schedule of events, visit http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/ Funded by the 21st CCLC, Program Administered by the US Department of Education Discovery Green – Discovery Green is in the heart of downtown Houston. The two-acre lawn is perfect for lounging around, having a picnic and enjoying a great view of the skyline. There are gardens, a playground, a party pavilion, a model boat pond, a one-acre lake, a fenced-in dog park, strolling paths, splash fountains, an amphitheatre and outdoor stage and more. There are free events offered on a weekly schedule, including yoga, arts and crafts, concerts and more. For more information and a schedule of events, visit http://www.discoverygreen.com/ Sam Houston Boat Tour – The Port of Houston Authority offers a free 90-minute round-trip cruise along the Houston Ship Channel. For more information and to make the required reservation, visit http://boattours.poha.com/boattour/ Galveston Island Ferry –The Galveston – Port Bolivar Ferry is the only way motorists can cross the waterway between Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston Island. The 2.7 mile trip takes approximately 18 minutes to cross one of the busiest waterways in the world. The ferry runs 24 hours and is a free service. For more information visit http://www.galveston.com/galvestonferry/ Pasadena Public Library – The Pasadena Public Library will be holding a summer reading program at both of their locations. The Central Location is located at 1201 Jeff Ginn Drive, Pasadena, TX. 77506. The Fairmont Branch is located at 4330 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX. 77504. The summer reading program will take place June 10, 2013 until August 10, 2013. There will also be special programs offered, which are listed below: Central Location Mon. 2:00 p.m. Kids Flick Wed. 2:00 p.m. Special Program/Presentation o June 19th Texas Snake Man o June 26 Claude Sims Comic Juggler o July 3rd Freedom Fest o July 10th Imagination Station o July 17th Jupiter James Mad Scientists o July 24th Party Animals o July 31 American Folk Music o Aug. 7TH Save the Planet Fri. Story Time 10:30 a.m. Fairmont Branch Location Tue. 2:00 p.m. Special Program/Presentation o June 11th Claude Sims Comic Juggler o June 18th Texas Snake Man o June 23rd Party Animals o June 30th American Folk Music Friday Story Time 4:00 p.m. More information can be found at http://ppltx.net or at 713-477-0276 Funded by the 21st CCLC, Program Administered by the US Department of Education Get Outdoors Houston! Pasadena ISD E3 Health Literacy Enrichment Program Neighborhood Parks Pine Park 6100 Pine Pasadena, TX 77503 Three acre park with a playground, walking trail, picnic area, a basketball court, a backstop and off-street parking. Sagemeadow Park 10101 Sageking Dr. Houston, TX 77089 Three acre park with a playground, walking trail, picnic area, pavilion, tennis courts, ballfields and basket courts. Satsuma Park 1001 Satsuma St. Pasadena, TX 77506 Six acre park with a playground, walking trail, picnic area, gazebo, a basketball court, restrooms and off- street parking. Sunset Park 914 W. Hart Ave. Pasadena, TX 77506 Six acre park with a playground, walking trail, benches, picnic area, a splash pad and swimming pool, basketball courts, a recreation center and off-street parking. Freeway Manor Park 2300 Theta St. Houston, TX 77034 Ten acre park with a playground, walking trail, benches, picnic area, barbecue pits, a pavilion, tennis courts, ballfields and off-street parking. Meadow Creek Village Park 5302 Allendale Rd. Houston, TX 77017 Ten acre park with a playground, benches, picnic area, barbecue pits tennis courts, a ballfield, basketball court and a recreation center. Gulf Palms Park 11910 Palmsprings Dr. Houston, TX 77034 Twelve acre park with a playground, walking trail, benches, picnic area, barbecue pits, soccer, basketball courts and off-street parking. Community Parks Wilson Memorial Park 100 Gilpin St. Houston, TX 77034 Thirty acre park with a playground, walking trail, benches, picnic area, pavilion, swimming pool, tennis courts, a soccer field, ballfields, basketball courts, restrooms and off-street parking. Holly Bay Court 7102 Crenshaw Rd. Pasadena, TX 77505 Thirty three acre park with a playground, lighted walking trail (connects to Armand Bayou Walking Trail), picnic area, benches, barbeque pits, exercise equipment, restrooms and off-street parking.