6 Resources for On-Base Fun This Summer
School’s out for summer! The kids here in Hawaii got out of school a few weeks ago, but I am finally noticing that children in the rest of the country are about done with the school year as well! With many military bases offering an array of Morale and Welfare locations and activities, there is plenty for military families to do this summer without having to go far from home!
Beat the boredom, and keep your wallet happy, with some (or all) of these activities found on a military base!
Library
The library is a great place to keep all of that knowledge from the prior school year fresh! Practice reading with the younger children or have the older ones learn new skills! Preschool story time can even get the littlest of readers on the right track!
The library isn’t just for books though! Find the DVD section, for plenty of movies (and sometimes video games) that you can take to enjoy at home!
Hint: Look for a reading challenge at the library! Children and grownups alike can earn prizes throughout the summer by meeting reading goals!
Movie Theater
If you haven’t been to a movie theater on base yet, what are you waiting for?! It was a little bit of a surprise the first time I heard the National Anthem play before a movie, but certainly a unique experience.
On base, you can catch a first run movie and load up on concessions, without breaking the bank!
Hint: Also be on the lookout for outdoor movie nights put on by housing communities or the base itself!
Neighborhood parks
Drive around housing areas enough, and you’re bound to run into at least half a dozen parks. Typically, you don’t have to be a neighborhood resident to take advantage of these parks. Believe me, the parks in the other neighborhoods and communities totally beat out the ones directly near our house! Here are a few more ideas for some outdoor family fun time!
Youth Recreation Center
If your base has a youth center, find the program to see what activities they are offering this summer! You may be surprised by what is available. I know I was! Scrapbooking, cooking class, and crafting are just a few topics I’ve seen, in addition to youth sports!
Pool/Splash Pad
With many pools on base closed for the majority of the year, summer is the perfect opportunity to dive in and go for a swim! Most pools are very family friendly, and either offer a kiddie/shallow pool, or some sort of splash pad for the little ones that can’t swim yet!
Hint: Be sure to find out about swim lessons at the pool, if you or your child aren’t comfortable in the water yet!
Bowling
I have yet to be on a military base that didn’t have a bowling alley! I mean, what better way for service members to unwind after a long day, than by throwing heavy objects at things?! Just kidding.. Kinda! For just a few bucks, you can buy yourself a couple hours of fun and activity indoors!
Hint: Check the schedule for special offers available to kids and families, for even less expensive fun!
Travel Office
If the on-base activities don’t meet your needs, don’t forget to stop by the travel office before heading off base! Yes, the travel office is a fantastic resource for booking flights and vacations, but they also have great deals on local attractions. Many times, you need to get the military fare in advance from base versus just being able to walk up to a ticket office with a military ID.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of MSB New Media & Unilever. The opinions and text are all mine.