Did you know that Cabela’s offers free summer camp activities for kids and families at their stores? Whether your family enjoys camping, fishing, archery or other outdoor activities – these are free events that you should add to your calendar. Everything you’ll need to know to plan your trip to Cabela’s Family Summer Camp is detailed below.
2022 Cabela’s Summer Camps and Sumer Family Activities Schedule is TBA.
(more…)Have you heard of Gather GVL? This set of shipping container restaurants, entertainment, and gathering space is located in Downtown Greenville. We think you’ll want to check out this unique spot pronto.
(more…)Have you heard about the Adopt a Cop program in Greenville County? As I was mindlessly perusing Instagram one night I came across a photo of a Greenville County police officer holding a basket of goodies, smiling from ear-to-ear. The post thanked the community for the gifts for the police officer as part of their Adopt-A-Cop program.
There are several police families in my neighborhood so this sparked an interest and I definitely wanted to learn more. I contacted the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO), who told me all about the program and what to do. A day later, I signed on my family to adopt our own cop and I’m thrilled to be able to write about this awesome program.
If you’d like to take a peek into some of the many outdoor activities available in our area, all in one place at one time you need to put Get Out! Greenville on your calendar. Local mom Kristina tells us why this is one event any lover of the outdoors needs to get to. Read on for a rundown of what happens at this event and when and where it happens!
For more outdoor activities check out our list of Things to do Outside.
There are few places I’d rather be on any given day than someplace in the outdoors of the Upstate. Whether it’s hiking the trails, splashing in the waterfalls, kayaking in the lakes, or trying out new things like stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and rock climbing, I’m in. I just want to be outside. And there is an entire festival devoted to this kind of thing! Get Out! Greenville is happening this fall, and it’s totally free.
Here’s what you can expect: rock climbing demos, a chance for the kids to test out kayaks and SUP boards in actual pools, outdoor-themed crafts, trail races (Ultra 50K, 30K, 10K, and 3K), the Greenville CX-Cup race (bike racing), an REI fashion show, frisbee toss, slacklining, and tons of games. Food trucks will also be on-site if you want to grab lunch or coffee.
Get Out! Greenville is a big celebration of the outdoors and it’s an event you really don’t want to miss, especially if you’re interested in learning more about what activities are available for families in the Upstate when it comes to all things nature-related.
I took my kids last year and we had a blast! They absolutely loved the paddling pools. My oldest discovered she has quite the skills with a SUP board. We were there for at least two hours and didn’t even get to everything that was offered.
This year, the event lineup also includes sessions on things like how to pack your backpack for camping or hiking, how to tie figure eight knots, how to identify certain plants, and how to make sure you’ve got an ideal first aid kit in the outdoors.
The exhibitors are pretty amazing, too. Places like the US Whitewater Center in Charlotte, Sunrift Adventures, The Gorge Zip Line, Mountain Goat Indoor Rock Climbing, SC State Parks, and Climb Upstate will all be there.
Kidding Around Greenville will also have a booth so come over and say hi! We love meeting our readers and introducing ourselves to new families.
If you love the outdoors, be sure to mark Get Out! Greenville on your calendar!
Saturday, October 2nd from 9 am – 3 pm
2021 Get Out! Greenville | Pleasant Ridge Camp & Retreat Center @ 4232 SC-11, Marietta, SC
2021 Get Out! Greenville Event Schedule
Park Hop End Of The Summer Celebration
Park Hoppers get to celebrate each year with an end-of-the-summer celebration, where they recieve the earned prizes. If you are unable to join us at Get Out! Greenville and pick up your prizes, please contact Park Hop to arrange an alternate pick-up. Not sure what Park Hop is? We’ve got the Ultimate Guide to Park Hop in Greenville, SC!
More Fall Fun – 20+ Fall Festivals Near Greenville to Check Out This Season
The lazy days of summer are right around the corner. That means lots of time at the neighborhood pool, heading to the beach, or checking out local swimming holes. But as a parent, the fun times around water are a little more stressful because accidents in the water are more common than need to be.
This post is sponsored by YMCA of Greenville.
Every year during warmer months, we hear tragic stories about accidental drownings involving children. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children 1-14, but formal swimming lessons can reduce that risk by 88%. The YMCA of Greenville is committed to reducing the rates of drowning by providing water safety and swimming lessons to as many members of our community as possible.
With that commitment in mind, the YMCA of Greenville has partnered with Upstate Pool Management and Clarity Pool Management to offer a week of free water safety classes over spring break to help kids learn to swim and be more comfortable in the water. Water Safety Week, which runs April 13-17, 2020, also teaches parents what to do to prevent drowning accidents and how to keep a careful eye on the little ones around water.
Trained and certified instructors teach participants basic comfort and survival swimming skills while working toward building confidence around water. While lessons focus on safety, they are also a great time for children to have fun and be active.
Classes will be held at:
Morning and afternoon sessions are available, but spaces are limited for the free classes so be sure to register online. You don’t even have to be a member of the YMCA.
Have you ever been to children’s theater? Perhaps you think your child is too young or too active to enjoy a stage production featuring all children. Kidding Around’s Deborah took her four-year old to South Carolina Children’s Theatre’s production of Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, and she is eager to share her experience, and why you need to get to one of these shows this Saturday.
(more…)Are you looking for a festive way to spend a December weekend with your family in Greenville? I had the opportunity to take my daughter to see South Carolina Children’s Theatre’s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever this weekend. After seeing it, I am delighted to share with Kidding Around readers why this play is a must-see this holiday season!
Looking for something to do in Greenville? Have you heard about the Sigal Music Museum? Joining many high quality museums in Greenville’s Heritage Green, the Sigal Music Museum displays the history of music in the Carolinas through historically and culturally significant instruments. We sent KAG Contributor Anna Artz to the museum so she could find out all the details. Read on and you’ll find out just what you can expect to see and hear at the Sigal Music Museum.
Have a homeschooler and need a little time outside, away from all the books and computers? Pick a day and make an educational adventure out of a trip to the Greenville Zoo. They have lots of special events to help your family learn and enjoy the zoo like story time or with the zoo keepers for questions. They even offer special classes just for homeschoolers. KAG Contributor and local mom Maria Bassett is sharing some of the educational opportunities you’ll find at the Greenville Zoo.Â
Be sure to check out our Homeschool Guide for tons of idea, resources and more!
Sure a trip to the zoo is fun any day, and it can be an educational adventure. Sometimes, though, my kids run from exhibit to exhibit and we never really take the time to read the signs, observe and learn. That’s frustrating, and doesn’t feel very educational. Sometimes we bring along some animal classification work (if you’d like some freebie worksheets checkout this homeschool giveaways site for some options.) But sometimes, it’s really just more fun to listen to the great folks at the zoo, than it is to listen to mom! That’s why I am so thankful for the many educational gems that the Greenville Zoo offers.  They have so many educational programs, and many of them are completely free with admission.
The zoo offers a homeschool class once per month for K5- 8th grade students. The classes are broken down into smaller age groups and are on a variety of topics. My two oldest boys love these classes! They get some hands on time with various animals and critters. (After the class that featured a number of invertebrates, I heard a lot about how they got to touch the hissing cockroach. Yuck!) And they really learn lots of neat facts. Each class costs $10 for members and $15 for non-members. The dates vary each month and the class requires registration you can complete online. You can find the registration and dates here.
Free! (with admission) At 10:30 am and 12:30 pm on Tuesdays you will find zoo staff at specific exhibits talking about and answering your questions about the animals they highlight. Tell Me About it Tuesdays is a great opportunity for homeschool students to get answers straight from the source.
Free! (with admission) Want to see some zoo creatures up close? Check out the Learning Safari Thursdays in front of the Buck Mickel Education Building on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 3:30 pm. These are fun, hands on exhibits. What a great chance for homeschoolers to learn from zoo staff, without the added cost!
Free! (with admission) The younger homeschool kiddos might enjoy reading a book with a zoo staff member and a live animal friend at Wild for Reading Wednesdays every Wednesday at 2:30 pm. You’ll find this event near the farm yard exhibit.
Note: All three of the above free programs meet September through May.
Looking for an activity the whole family can enjoy together? The zoo offers Family Workshops on a variety of topics through the year. You need to register in advance for these programs!
Families with older children might enjoy the zoo’s free conservation lecture series. The zoo has partnered with Furman to bring educational lectures about conservation efforts for specific animals. Lectures take place at The Children’s Museum of the Upstate or a Greenville Library and are scheduled in the evening. These lectures are totally free!
150 Cleveland Park Drive, Greenville
864.467.4300
www.greenvillezoo.com
Adults $9.75; kids 3 – 15 $6.50; under 3 free. Members: free
What is your favorite program for your homeschooler? Tell us in the comments!