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2014: Summer Bowling – Kids Bowl Free

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2014: Summer Bowling – Kids Bowl Free

Photograph Credit: Kids Bowl Free

Keeping children active and engaged takes creativity.

If left to themselves, then my children would watch movies, play video and computer games, and sit most of the day.

Though I don’t mind them playing or watching, they also need to be up, moving, and active.

To reach this goal, I look for FREE or inexpensive activities and then schedule a couple outings each week throughout the summer. If you are gathering options for this summer, then Kids Bowl Free is a FREE national program.

Kids Bowl Free gives every registered child 2 FREE bowling games each day, every day, all summer long. The age limit, promotion dates, and available bowling times are determined by the individual bowling alleys that participate.

Child’s Registration

To get the FREE games, find a participating location (available in the United States and Canada) by clicking your state or province on the map. Once directed to your local alley, register each of your children. You will need to re-register each summer as the program resets, and the information from last year does not transfer.

There is a limit of 6 children and one bowling location per e-mail address. So, if you have 4 children and two available bowling alleys nearby, then you will need two e-mail accounts. Use one to sign up each of your 4 children at one location, and then use the other e-mail account to sign up all 4 children at the second location.

Using two e-mail addresses also works if you have more than 6 children. Just sign up half of them under one e-mail account, and the rest of your children on the second e-mail account for the same bowling location.

Once registered, you will receive a weekly e-mail each Sunday with a coupon for each person for each day. Before you go to the bowling alley, you will need to print your vouchers for your FREE games of bowling. Shoe rental is not included with this offer, so plan to spend around $3 per person for shoe rental.

Adult Registration

If you want to bowl with your children, then consider purchasing the Kids Bowl Free Family Pass. New this year, you can purchase one of four options which allow each named family member to bowl 2 free games each day all summer long. Again, shoe rental is not included, but you can choose the option that best fits your needs:

    • 1-person Family Pass: $19.95
    • 2-person Family Pass: $24.95
    • 3-person Family Pass: $29.95
    • 4-person Family Pass: $34.95

If you purchase the Family Pass, then you will get an e-mail confirmation to use immediately. Then on Sundays, you will get the coupons for each person for each day to print. You can register at anytime for the Family Pass by logging into your account, so wait until you are ready to go to the bowling alley before ordering.

In using time wisely and looking forward to summer plans, register your children for Kids Bowl Free. Though this activity is not FREE due to the shoe rental, bowling is a great way to keep your family cool and active this summer. Happy summer planning!

Question: Did you find a participating Kids Bowl Free alley in your area?

2014: Summer Bowling – AMF Summer Games

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2014: Summer Bowling - AMF Summer Games

Photograph Credit: AMF

Formerly titled Summer Unplugged, AMF Summer Games provides children 3 FREE bowling games each weekday, from open until 6:00 p.m., all summer long.

This program is FREE for children ages 15 and younger and available from Monday, May 26 through Monday, September 1, 2014.

To participate, register one account and sign up each of your children. Once registered, you will receive an e-mail confirmation.

On your first visit to your local AMF, take your printed confirmation to exchange for your children’s Kid Passes.

Though the three games are FREE, shoe rental is not included with this program.

If you want to bowl with your children, then consider purchasing the AMF Family Pass for $39.95, which allows 4 family members ages 16 and older to bowl 3 FREE games each weekday from open until 6:00 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Again, shoe rental is not included.

Though our family did not make it to the bowling alley in 2010, 2011, 2012, or 2013, we did make it in 2014. Our family had a great time, and I have signed up my children for the AMF Summer Games. I will wait to purchase the AMF family pass until we know we will use it.

In using time wisely and looking forward to summer plans, register your children for AMF Summer Games. You have nothing to lose, so sign up in case it becomes too hot or too wet for outside fun. Happy summer planning!

Question: Does your family go bowling?

2014: Regal Cinemas’ Summer Movie Express

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Regal Cinemas Summer Movie Express 2014

Photograph Credit: Regal Cinemas

In gearing up for summer activities, we are continuing to find available options for when our plans change, or we need a new adventure.

With Regal Cinemas’ Summer Movie Express showing select movies for $1 per person, we can schedule an activity and meet up with friends.

Regal Cinemas’ Summer Movie Express is available for 9 weeks this summer at participating Regal Cinemas, United Artists Theatres, and Edwards Theatres locations.

Showing select movies rated G and PG, attendees pay $1 per person at the box office.

A portion of the Summer Movie Express proceeds is donated to the Will Rogers Institute. This non-profit organization supports research in asthma, tuberculosis, and pulmonary disease.

Beginning as early as May 21, the weekly movies will play at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. At our theatre, both movies run on each day. However, some theatres run one movie on Tuesday and another on Wednesday.

Summer Movie Express runs for 9 weeks with each location choosing the starting and ending dates. Check the Summer Movie Express page of Regal Cinemas’ website for available theatres near you.

The following is a listing of the chosen $1 movies this summer organized by the weekly schedule:

Week Title Rating Start Time
1 Hotel Transylvania PG 10 a.m.
1 The Smurfs 2 PG 10 a.m.
2 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 PG 10 a.m.
2 The Pirates: Band of Misfits PG 10 a.m.
3 Arthur Christmas PG 10 a.m.
3 Despicable Me 2 PG 10 a.m.
4 The Lego Movie PG 10 a.m.
4 Free Birds PG 10 a.m.
5 Adventures of TinTin PG 10 a.m.
5 Rise of the Guardians PG 10 a.m.
6 Kung Fu Panda 2 PG 10 a.m.
6 Madagascar 3 PG 10 a.m.
7 The Croods PG 10 a.m.
7 Epic PG 10 a.m.
8 Turbo PG 10 a.m.
8 Walking with Dinosaurs PG 10 a.m.
9 Mr. Peabody & Sherman PG 10 a.m.
9 Rio 2 G 10 a.m.

With these movies only showing at 10:00 a.m., we had to choose which movie to see. However, we could attend on both Tuesday and Wednesday to see both movies for that week.

Though my older children would sit through a full movie, Miss 4 is still a wiggle worm. She is getting better, and we might venture out to the movie theater again this summer.

If you plan to attend Regal Cinema’s Summer Movie Express, consider becoming a Facebook fan, Twitter follower, newsletter recipient, etc. of your local theater. Loyal customers receive coupons and freebies periodically.

With $1 movies hard to beat, we just need to choose which activities to do while using time wisely. Happy summer planning!

Question: Do you plan to visit a movie theatre for a $1 showing this summer?

2014: Cinemark’s Summer Movie Clubhouse

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2014: Cinemark’s Summer Movie Clubhouse

Photograph Credit: Cinemark

Throughout the summer, Cinemark’s Summer Movie Clubhouse offers a cool, dry place for entertainment while showing movies rated G and PG.

Everyone is invited to participate, and tickets can be purchased on the day of the showing for $1 per person or by using a punch card.

If you plan to attend at least 5 movies, then consider purchasing the ten-week punch card for $5. This option brings the cost of each movie down to 50¢.

Each punch card can only be used at the location where purchased and used only one time per week.

The promotion does not allow for multiple punches on one card for the same movie. If my 3 children and I planned to attend 5 or more movies, then I would purchase 4 punch cards as each of us would need a card. For more details on how the punch card works, visit Cinemark’s website.

Beginning around May 28 and ending around August 8, Cinemark will run at least one movie per week. The series runs for 10 weeks with each location choosing the movie, the viewing days, and the times. Check the Summer Movie Clubhouse website for available theatres near you.

2014: Cinemark’s Summer Movie Clubhouse

Photograph Credit: Cinemark

Some movies that may play this summer include:

  • The Muppets Take Manhattan (G)
  • Night at the Museum (PG)
  • Ice Age: The Meltdown (PG)
  • Epic (PG)
  • The Croods (PG)
  • Turbo (PG)
  • Mr. Peabody and Sherman (PG)
  • Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (PG)
  • Walking with Dinosaurs (PG)
  • The Lego Movie (PG)
  • Rio 2 (G)
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks:  The Squeakquel (PG)
  • The Smurfs 2 (PG)

The Summer Movie Clubhouse is available at participating Cinemark Theatres, Century Theatres, CineArts, and Tinseltown locations. Each theatre will post its schedule. Most of the movies play around 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays through Thursdays, but check the listings before heading out.

In planning your summer activities, Cinemark’s Summer Movie Clubhouse offers another inexpensive entertainment option this summer. Some theatres post coupons for FREE or inexpensive refreshments on their website for the Summer Movie Clubhouse participants.

If your location offers a newsletter, you might snag some additional savings by signing up. Happy summer planning!

Question: Which of the above-listed movies would you care to watch?

2014: Microsoft Summer Camp for Kids, Ages 8-13

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2014: Microsoft Summer Camp for Kids, Ages 8-13

Photograph Credit: Microsoft

Our family is down to single digit days until summer. Yes! With only 4 more classroom days remaining, we are in the homestretch.

Besides trying to stay focused on these last few tests to finish the year, we are planning to have fun this summer.

One avenue of fun is summer camp.

The Microsoft summer camp for kids, ages 8-13, is a FREE camp with registration now open. In these week-long in-store camps, the campers are organized by age group:

  • Jr. Designers  – campers ages 8-10
  • Designers – campers ages 11-13

This summer, Microsoft retail stores will offer these four classes throughout the summer:

  • Smart Game Coding
  • Smart Game Designing
  • Smart Movie Making
  • Smart Photo Taking

Though camp times and classes vary by store, each class is two hours in length. Each camper must submit a participation agreement signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to taking the class.

Most of the classes are scheduled during one of these two blocks of time:

  • 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A parent, guardian, or an authorized adult caregiver must remain at the Microsoft store location throughout the duration of the class. Please note this requirement as you cannot drop off your camper and return later for pickup.

The Microsoft summer camp for kids, ages 8-13, is FREE. Classes run from June 2 through August 29. Space is limited, so register any interested camper before classes fill up.

For more details, please contact your local Microsoft retail store. Happy planning!

Question: If you could take one of these classes, which one would you choose?