It’s summer and the kids are out of school! Are you at a loss of activities to satisfy the boundless energy and curiosity of your young kids? Are you planning a vacation or simply need some me time and an engaging day program? You’re in the right place! This July, give your young ones the gift of joy, community, and artistic expression with these fun camps, educational activities, and festive events in Keene and Peterborough! Ages baby to teenager included!
WakaDoodles Programs
First up! WakaDoodles is a family-friendly safe space for creative individuals of all ages in Keene! This summer, the studio is holding TWO summer camp sessions. Session 1 is June 27th-July 1st and Session 2 is July 18th-22nd. Drop off your children at 9am for three hours of mixed media fun! Camps are open to kids grades 1-8. Discounts available for siblings and the purchase of both sessions! Find out more details on the WakaDoodles events calendar.
MoCo Arts Programs
Also in Keene, the dance theatre school MoCo Arts will be holding their CupCAKE summer program at Keene State College’s Redfern Arts Center. CupCAKE is also divided into two sessions: June 27-July 1 & August 1-19. Weekdays from 9am-3pm, children ages 4 years to third grade are invited to have a blast in a social safe space! Activities are largely outdoors and include water fun, singing, dancing, acting, and making art. Each week will center around a unique theme, culminating in a special performance with that theme. Sibling discounts and tuition assistance available! Find out more about each week’s engaging theme on the MoCo website.
Peterborough Outdoor Arts Festival
Peterborough Art Walk in the Park happens every year the weekend before the 4th of July from 11am-4pm. For a full day, Peterborough’s downtown and Depot Square – a hub of restaurants and shops – will be filled with vendors and artists! Bring the family for a Saturday of delicious food and fun activities in a festive market atmosphere! Check out Depot Square’s Facebook page as they update the region on this can’t-miss event!
Parents and Tots Hiking Meetups
Do you have a very tiny human? How does a hike sound? The Harris Center for Conservation Education hosts regular hour-long events called Babies in Backpacks and Toddlers in Tow. There are so many hikes you can do while baby-wearing! Often mid morning – from 10am-11am – join a community of fun-loving, outdoorsy parents and babies for an exploration of our local wildlife! A Harris Center naturalist will guide you through discoveries of salamanders, summer birds, wildflowers, and more. Registration is required, so secure your spot on the Harris Center website!
Science: Butterflies!
Have a slightly older mini-human? Are they interested in wildlife? Look no further! The Harris Center is also hosts a recurring event entitled Kids Count for Wildlife: Monarchs and Milkweed Survey. For an exciting hour from 9am-10am on Thursday, July 28th, kids ages 9-18 can help out local naturalists by counting critters! Learn more about monarch butterflies by counting eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies in a milkweed patch in Peterborough. Registration is required and children under 12 must be accompanied! Learn more on the Harris Center website! And if your kiddo just loves butterflies – stop by the Caterpillar lab during their open hours to check out some incredible “baby butterflies!”
If you or your kids try any of these events, let us know how it went for a chance to get your quote featured on a future blog! Do you know of any more fun, artsy, and creative camps or cultural family-friendly events this summer? Share them with the community on the Discover Monadnock Calendar! Otherwise, stay tuned for more upcoming events.
