Special Events through WF Rec

All of these classes are at the WF Recreation Center - 10th and Indiana, Room 203 -- upstairs from the WF Library

Home Alone - For ages 6-13. $2 per family (pre registration required). May 26 6-8pm

Babysitting Class - For ages 12 and up. $5 per person. June 10 10am-2pm

Day Camps

The City of Wichita Falls Park & Rec has Day Camps all summer long. Their listing of camps is on their website at http://www.cwftx.net/index.asp?NID=250. You can also pick up a pamphlet in front of the library (upstairs from the library is where you register for classes). My daughter did the Princess Camp last summer and really enjoyed it!

Camps offered:
Camp Lotsafun!
Discovery Camp
Camp Fit'n Fun
Princess Camp

Southside Youth Senter - Open to boys & girls 5-15 Camp runs Mon-Fri 7:15am-6:15pm Call 940-767-7071 $45 per week - military and multiple child discounts available.

Library Closed for New Carpets

The Wichita Falls library will close at 6pm on Wed, May 13 and reopen at 9am, Fri, May 22. Fines will not accrue, Holds wont' be affective. Book drop will still be open.

Military Discounts

I've realized that it's best to ask everywhere, this is by no means a complete list, so please let me know if any of these change or if there are more to add!

RESTAURANTS

• Pasqual's Restaurant: 10% off for military, police, and firemen
• IHOP – 10%
• Johnny Carino’s – 10% on Mondays, $5 off in Whirlwind Magazine
• Mazzio’s Pizza – 10%
• McAllisters – 10%
• Orange Leaf Yogurt
• Popeye’s on Southwest Pkwy - 10%
• Taco Mayo – 10%
• Taco Casa - 10%
• Wendy’s inside the truck stop off the highway – 10%

RETAIL STORES

• Aerospostale – 10%
• AT&T – 18%
• Backdoor Theatre - $2 off reg admission
• Big 5 – 10%
  
• Buckle – 10%
  
• Card and Party factory (next to Albertson's on SW Pkwy): – 10%
  
• Champs – 20%
• Deb – 20%
• Extreme Technology (Seymour Hwy) – 10%
• Finish Line – 30%
• Foot Locker – 20%
• GiGi V. Boutique – 10% (excluding sale items)
• Holder’s Jewelers – 10-30% off, some exclusions
• Hot Topic at the mall – 10%
• JCPenney Portrait Studio – No sitting fee, free 8x10, $3.99 sheets. Ask for Manager’s Special.
• New York & Company – 15%
• Old Navy: 1st Day of Every Month is 10% off your purchase with valid US Military ID
• Regis (hair salon in mall) – 10%
• Sally’s Beauty Supply – 10%
• Shoe Carnival – 10% Wed
• Sprint – 15%
• Texas State Optical (4210 Kell Blvd Ste 108) – 20%
• Trade Secrets – 10%
• Value Village Thrift Shop (6th and Indiana downtown) – 10%
• Verizon Wireless – 15%

Summer Movies

We went to see a couple of the movies at Cinemark last year and it was fun! Remember to get there early because a lot of the day care centers go, so it fills up fast! They show on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10am. $1 per show or 10 shows for $5. At the Cinemark Movie Theater in Parker Square (off Kell and Kemp).

http://www.cinemark.com/summermovieclubhouse/354.html

Weekly Sports Classes

• Gymnastics Sports Center - 696-3547 - Gymnastics and Gymkata http://696flip.com/gymnasticsgymkata.htm
• YMCA - Youth Programs (Soccer, Baseball, Martial Arts, Weight Lifting, Dance and Gymnastics http://www.ymcawf.org/
• City of Wichita Falls also offers classes for kids - http://www.cwftx.net/index.asp?NID=184

Vacation Bible School

Grace Church - http://gracechurch.com/location/ June 8-12, 2009. (for children 4 years through 4th grade)

First Baptist - http://www.fbcwf.org/children/ps_special.aspx

• Kinder Camp... June 15-19 (Children entering kindergarten or 1st grade in the fall)
• Day Camp... June 15-19 (Children who have completed grades 1& 2)
• Sports Camp... June 15-19 (Children completing grades 3-6)
• Children's Overnight Camp...June 29-July 2 (children that have completed Grades 3-6)
• Vacation Bible School...July 20-24 (For children entering kindergarten in the fall though grade 6 completed)

Fairway Baptist - http://www.fairwaybaptist.com/ministries/childrenministry.php

• 252Kids Week ...June 22nd-26th, 9am-5pm ...$25/kid, $40/2 kids and $50/3+ kids in family unit. (Cost includes a t-shirt, daily activities, a trip to a pool, an afternoon at Castaway Cove, 4 lunches, and an AMAZING week!)

Floral Heights United Methodist - http://floralheightsumc.wordpress.com/vacation-bible-school/

• VBS - Sunday, July 26 – Thursday, July 30 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Ages 4 – 6th grade Light Meal served at 5:30 for all VBS participants.

Trinity Baptist Church (located at 4016 Jacksboro Hwy right across from the car wash)

• WILDWOOD FOREST VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL July 13-17, 2009 6:00-8:45 PM
  There will be great fun and adventure as we look at God’s word and discover the Untamed Nature of God. Friday Night will be family night as we will let the kids show their parents what they have learned throughout the week and then have snow cones afterwards.
  For more information, please contact Kathy Dillon at 851-7048

Soccer

Upward Soccer - First Baptist Church - http://www.upwardleaguesite.org/pdf/BRC23783.pdf $55, after Aug 4 $60. Grades 4K-6th Grade. Practice begins Sept 1, 2009. Awards banquet Nov 10, 2009.

Greater Wichita Falls Soccer Association - http://www.gwfsa.org/

Bible Studies and Moms Groups

Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) - Wednesdays 9:10-11:00am - First Presbyterian Church on Taft (break during the summer). http://www.bsfinternational.org/. Children's Programs (free) available for ages 2-5.  Starting in the Fall of 2010, they will be studying Isaiah and there will be children's programs for INFANTs through the age of 5!


MOMs at Grace - Thursdays 10-11:30am at Grace Church (break during the summer). http://www.gracechurch.com/. Childcare (free) is available.


MOMS Connected - Wednesdays 9:30-11:30 at First Baptist. First Meeting for the Fall Semester will be Wed, Sept 9, 2009. Studying The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary & Ross Chapman. Preschool Childcare is available for $2 per child.  http://www.fbcwf.org/


Wichita Falls Moms Club - http://www.wichitafallsmomsclub.webs.com/

Wichita Falls Moms - To join the group, go to their yahoo group website and introduce yourself - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WichitaFallsMoms/.  They have weekly playdates and activities.

Gyms

Gold's Gym (940) 696-0831 - 4105 Maplewood Ave.

North Texas Rehab Center - Aquatics and Wellness Center http://www.ntrehab.org/programs.php?subid=6 (940) 322-0771 - 1005 Midwestern Pkwy (military discounts offered) (childcare included)


Powerhouse Gym (940) 689-8100 - 3127 Lawrence Rd (childcare offered for an extra fee)

YMCA (940) 761-1000 http://www.ymcawf.org/ (childcare offered)

Swimming Pools and Waterpark

Lucy Park Pool - http://www.cwftx.net/index.asp?NID=247
When: 7 days a week
Dates: May 30 – August 16
Time: 12:00 noon – 6:00 p.m.
Cost: General Admission $1.25
(under age 6 FREE with Swimming adult age 18 or over)
Swim Tag $20 (age 18 and under – swim all summer)
Swim Card $20 (20 swims, all ages, great for parties, schools, etc)

Splash Day!!!
Swim FREE on Opening Day!
Great time to buy swim tags or cards for the summer swimming season!
When: Saturday, May 30
Time: Noon – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Lucy park Swimming Pool
Cost: FREE!!! FREE!!!

Castaway Cove Waterpark - http://www.castawaycovewaterpark.com/
Season passes $60-$100.
General Admission $22
Under 42" $18
Over 55 years $19
Military $19
** On Mondays, Moms are $6 + tax!

Camp Fire USA Swimming Pool
Opens May 23, 2009
Open to Everyone for $2 per person
http://www.campfirentx.org/
940-322-5209 - Call first for hours open

Jump for Joy

Jump for Joy - always a fun place to go with the kids - 692-4444 . $7 per child.  Adults play for free while accompanying a child.

KidsFest 2009

Kids Fest 2009 this Saturday 2 May
0900 - 1600
MPEC
Cost $1 per person
Day of fun, food, games and entertainment

Also, Car Seat Safety Checks from 1000 - 1200

Thanks Tara :)

Tennis Lessons

Hamilton Park Tennis Center - 940-766-2321 -
Little Lobbers and Smashers Class for ages 4 -9 (they also offer Beginner and Adv Beg for ages 5-13)
1st Session - June 15 - July 1 7:30-8:15pm
2nd Session - July 20 - Aug 5 7:30-8:15pm
$35 per student - includes FREE RACQUET and 2 cans of tennis balls
http://www.cwftx.net/index.asp?NID=264

Weeks Park Tennis Center - 940-322-7700 - Summer Tennis - Four Weeks (8 Classes) includes FREE RACQUET - Sign up by May 19
Level 1 Beg (ages 7-12) Starts June 1-2 $65
Level 2 Adv Beg (ages 7-12) Starts June 1-2 $65
Pee Wee - (ages 5-6) Fri 7-7:45pm Starts June 5 $45

Neighborhood Tennis Programs - designed to introduce tennis in neighborhood setting starting at age 6. $15 fee for 10 full hours of instruction. Tennis balls, racquest, and water are provided. And awards given. Just show up at one of the locatiosn below:
Hirschi High School - June 1-12 - Beg 8-9am, Adv 9-10am
City View High School - June 1-June 12 - Beg 6-7pm, Adv 7-8pm
WF High School - June 15-June 26 - Beg 8-9am, Adv 9-10am
McNiel Jr High - June 15-June 26 - Beg 10:30am-11:30am, Adv 11:30am-12:30pm

Swim Lessons

Aquatics and Wellness Center (aka North Texas Rehab) offers indoor swimming lessons throughout the year. Group and private lessons are available as well as Mommy-and-Me and Adult swimming lessons. All instructors are American Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructors. 940-687-4991 $40 per week in the summer.

YMCA - http://www.ymcawf.org/ $60 pp for 2 weeks in the summer.

WF Parks and Rec Dept - at Lucy Pool, registration at the WF Rec Center (10th & Indiana, upstairs from the Library) - $20pp. Mon-Fri for 2 weeks in the summer.

Sheppard AFB - at Bunker Hill Water Park. 5 Years and older. $40-$45pp. Four sessions offered. http://www.sheppardservices.com/outdoorrec.htm

Swim lessons will start 7 June through 6 Aug, 4 sessions at 2 weeks each. Level 1-3, $40 per person and level 4 at $45 per person. Sign up at Outdoor Rec.
Camp Fire USA - Swim Lessons offered $40pp - call 940-322-5209

Wichita Falls Swim Team - If you are interested in having your child (8 years old through high school) swim with the WEST swim team this summer or fall. The WEST team is a USA Swim Team that meets all year long at the Central Boys and Girls Club. During the school year they practice from 5:45 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. and during the summer from 7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. Potential swimmers must complete a tryout and be able to swim for 100 yards and know two strokes.

Library Storytimes

Wichita Falls Public Library - http://wfpl.net/kidspage.htm - Storytime on Tuesday and Wednesdays from 10:30-11:00am

Sheppard AFB Library - http://www.sheppardservices.us/library.htm - Storytime on Thursdays at 10:30am

MSU Sports Camps

Volleyball for ages 10 and older
Basketball for ages 6-17
Football for ages 8 and older
Soccer for ages 5-13 Girls: June 1-5 and June 15-19 Boys: June 15-19

http://msumustangs.com/page.asp?articleID=1164

Riverbend Nature Center Summer Camps

Camp days and times: Monday through Friday; 8:30 am - 12:15 pmCamp River Bend is for children ages 6 through 11 (Kindergarten grads accepted). Camp fees are: $75 for RBNC members, $85 for non-members.

Create a Masterpiece Camp for ages 9 and up

Splash in the Garden for children 4-8 years old.
Wednesdays in June: 1-2 PM
Wednesdays in July: 10-11 AM
Wednesdays in August: 10-11 AM
Fee is $3 per child (mothers/fathers free)
Reservations are not required but helpful as we arrange for adequate staff numbers. This is a fun program for the kids during the summer.

http://www.riverbendnaturecenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=74

Places to Go, Things to Do

Best Hair place for Kids: Kid's Hair Safari http://www.kidshairsafari.com/ (Becky Brewer) Thursdays $10 cuts

Summer (free fun for us) pastimes: Farmer's Market downtown---our kids love to pick out our produce for the week, and it backs up to the Train Museum (another great place to go)---check the news for days and times, it usually goes from Memorial-Labor Day.

Best place to fly kites Memorial Stadium and Lake Wichita---the kids also love "the giant mountain" there!

Wichita Falls Museum and Art Center http://www.mwsu.edu/wfma/calendar.asp (offers Art camps throughout the summer)

An inexpensive summer pastime, is always the snowcone shacks (on SW Pkwy near Braums) and Callfield by Dollar General, also Braums, and Maggie Moos (obviously not cheap there though).

Charlie Peach Festival---look for details, probably June/July, they usually tell you at the Farmers Market

Thanks Colleen! :)

Camp Creativity at Kemp Center for the Arts

Summer kicks off with vintage "50's style" fun with visual arts, music and drama for youth ages 6-11. This high energy camp is held twice in June:
Session One: June 8 through June 12 9am-12 noon each day, Mon-Fri
Session Two: June 15 through June 19 9am-12 noon each day, Mon-Fri
Tuition $60 for Kemp Center members, or for ANY reservation made and paid by May 20 for Session One.
Registration for session one closes June 1.
You can register for this class on-line. http://www.kempcenter.org/classesandworkshops.php

Thanks Mandy :)

Kids Eat Free (or for cheap)

• Mon - Logan's Roadhouse $2.99 kids meal
  Double Dave's - buffet, kids free 5-8pm, 11 and under with purchase of adult buffet
  Atlanta Bread Co.-5-9 PM kids 12 and under eat free for each paying adult
• Tues - Luby's - 4:30-8pm kids free 11 and under
  Logan's Roadhouse $2.99 kids meal
  Double Dave's
  Denny's - 4-10pm for each adult entree (up to two free)
• Wed - Applebees $0.99 kids meals all day (dine in only)
• Thurs - El Chico - Kids under 12 eat free all day with adult entree purchase
• Sat - Denny's - 4-10pm for each adult entree (up to two free)
  Luby's - all day kids free 11 and under
• Sunday - Arby's-kids eat free with purchase of combo (dine in only)

McAlister's Deli- 3902 Call Field Road - Cheap food off the kid's menu. PBandJ (among others) with snack  and drink for $2.99!

Let me know if you hear of other ones - or ones with military discounts!

Youngs Orchard

We went last year to go Strawberry Picking and we loved it! Fun activity with your kids. And the strawberries were yummy! Here's the link to Youngs Orchard - http://www.youngsorchard.com/. It's in Charlie, TX, about 2o miles (25 minutes) away. Great morning trip!

Tuesday ~ Friday 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM
Sunday 12:30 PM until 5:00 PM
Closed Monday

Free Ice Cream

Saturday, May 2nd 1pm-6pm. Free Cones for Kids at Braum's (under age 15) when accompanied by parent. Only at the inside counter, not at drive-thru.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Round-up

Registrations starts Monday, May 4, 2009.

For Pre-K: Your child has to be 4 on or before Sept. 1, 2009, has to qualify for pre-k (which every military child is automatically accepted, just as long as you are one of the first 20 to register at each participating elementary school). Not every elementary school has a pre-k program, just 12 in the Wichita Falls area. It is all day, but if you feel that is too much, you can register for half/day.

For Kindergarten: Your child has to be 5 on or before Sept 1, 2009. Register at the school that is in your neighborhood.

Go to http://www.wfisd.net/ for more information.

Parks

The City of Wichita Falls has a listing of their parks (many with playgrounds) on their website: http://www.cwftx.net/index.asp?NID=67. Our favorite playground parks are Kiwanis Park (with the prarie dogs), Lucy Park, and South Weeks Park.

Best place to feed ducks, picnic, and run around with joggers/bikes: Lucy Park and Sikes Lake.  There is also a map on the City's website of all the parks:  http://www.cwftx.net/documents/Departments/Parks%20Maintenance/Wichita%20Falls%20Parks%20Map%202.pdf

Sports Camps

• Gymnastics Sports Center - 696-3547 - their summer schedule is here http://696flip.com/summer_2009_letter.pdf
• YMCA - Volleyball, Football, Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Basketball, Dance, and Judo Camps http://www.ymcawf.org/home22224.

What's There to Do in Wichita Falls?

I get this question a lot...or I get asked, "How'd you find out about that?". So, I thought I'd start this blog to start recording some of the fun things to do with kids. If you have some ideas that you'd want me to post on here, please send them my way! Hope you find it helpful!