Using Time Wisely

Organized to save money, energy, and time

You are here: Home / Archives for Family Activities / Going Out / Summer

Summer Reading: Borders

by

Photograph Credit: Borders

The Double-Dog Dare Challenge by Borders is a summer reading program for students under 12 years old. When you read 10 books, record those titles on the coupon form, and take that coupon form to a Borders, Borders Express, or Waldenbooks, you can trade your form for one of the remaining books available. This program runs from June 1 through September 5 only while supplies last. Here is a link to the available titles. Since these books are in a limited supply, you might want to use your time wisely and act on this program quickly.

Bowling: Brunswick

by

Photograph Credit: Brunswick

Brunswick has not one, but two free bowling opportunities.

The first event is The Bowlopolis Bowling Party on June 4 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and requires registration by Monday, May 31. According to the Brunswick web site:

The Bowlopolis Bowling Party is for kids ages 12 and under and includes FREE bowling, shoe rental, pizza, soft drinks and ice cream. PLUS! We are giving away the latest Bowlopolis DVD and other great Bowlopolis prizes!

Photograph Credit: Brunswick

To find a participating location and registration form, please visit the Brunswick web site.

The second free bowling event occurs all summer long with Students Bowl Free. When parents join the Bonus Zone and add children to their profile, they will receive free bowling for the kids during June, July, and August. To locate a nearby participating location, please click the link here for more information and to join the Bonus Zone.

If you cannot find a participating Brunswick, then check out the other free bowling programs through Kids Bowl Free and AMF. Hopefully, one of these programs will be available in your area.

Movies: Cinemark Theaters and Regal Cinemas

by

Wow . . . summer is around the corner. If you are near a participating Cinemark Theaters or Regal Cinemas, then you can purchase tickets to select shows for $.50 to $1 each. What a great inexpensive family outing! To help you take advantage of these summer movie programs, here are the details:

Photograph Credit: Cinemark

Cinemark Theaters

This chain of theaters includes Cinemark, Century Theatres, CineArts, and Tinseltown. From June to August, Cinemark will be offering select movies for as low as $.50 to $1 per ticket. To get the tickets for $.50, you must purchase a punch card now. According to the Cinemark website:

For 10 weeks this summer, participating Cinemark Theaters will be showing fun films for kids. A different movie will be shown each week during specified weekday mornings, and the price is the same for children and parents.

  • All 10 movies can be purchased in advance for $5.00, or can be purchased separately at the box office for $1.00 per show.
  • $5 Series punch cards are limited and are now available only at the theatre box office while supplies last. Admission with a series punch card is limited to one person per card per movie, and valid only at the theatre where purchased.
  • All films that have been selected are rated either G or PG

To find a participating location and the movie selection schedule, please click here to visit the Cinemark website.

Photograph Credit: Regal

Regal Cinemas

From June through August, participating Regal Cinemas will also be offering children-appropriate movies for $1 per ticket for select movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Here is the information from Regal’s website:

Welcome to Regal’s Summer Movie Express 2011. Moviegoers of all ages can climb aboard to enjoy a great selection of films. During this 9-week festival, select Regal Cinemas, United Artists and Edwards Theatres will offer selected G or PG rated movies for only a dollar on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00am.

To find a participating location near you, please visit Regal Cinemas’ website by clicking on this link.

My kids will be so excited to head to the theater to watch some of their favorite movies. I just hope the baby will make it through the experience. She may do fine for the first 30 minutes, but then she will be ready to get down to play. Have any of you attended a theater showing during one of these summer events? If so, were there toddlers at the presentation? I’d love to go as my older children would enjoy the movie, but I’m not sure about taking my 15-month- old daughter. If you have any tips, suggestions, or opinions, please leave me a comment.

Bowling: Two Free Games Each Day

by

Photograph Credit: Kids Bowl Free

Are you ready for summer? I am! I am ready to have my children home to play and enjoy some fun activities together.

If you enjoy bowling, then here are two great programs that may be in your area.

At participating bowling alleys, your registered children can bowl up to 2 free games each day of the summer. The dates and times vary by location. You can click here to check for a participating location near you.

Photograph Credit: AMF

This second bowling opportunity is offered in our area.

According to AMF’s website: “This summer, your kids can bowl for free at your local AMF Bowling Center. Sounds too good to be true, right? It’s not! All you have to do is register your children, and you’ll get weekly coupons via email for two free games per child per day all summer long. Children love bowling; it’s fun, active, social and local and – best of all – it’s FREE! That’s how AMF does summer!”

I signed my children up last year, and we never got to the bowling alley. To add insult to injury, I even paid for the accompanying Pass.

“For just $27.95, adults with children registered for free bowling can purchase an AMF Summer 17 Plus Pass good for two free games per day for up to four people ages 17 and older.”

Since our family did not bowl, I was not wise with the $28. Having learned from this mistake, I have registered my children, but I will wait to purchase the pass until we schedule a day to go. Having purchased bowling shoes for Paul and me, we will not need shoe rental. Since we do not plan to purchase bowling shoes for the kids, we will pay for their shoe rental which is approximately $3-5 each.

Though the bowling games are free, you will still need to either bring bowling shoes or rent them at the alley. The AMF Free Bowling Program runs from May 30 to September 5, 2011 from opening until 8:00 p.m. every day. Each week you will receive coupons for the free games for each child registered. You will need to bring the coupons with you to redeem the free games.

Let me know if you are able to take advantage of these bowling activities. If our family makes it to the bowling alley this summer, I will be sure to update you on our adventures. Stay organized and keep enjoying your family activities!