School may be out for summer but the City of Wichita has a number of low and no-cost services and programs available to keep our younger residents fed and occupied until classes resume.
The City's CHAMPS meal program through the Housing & Community Services Department is offering a free lunch to children under the age of 18 until July 26. The location and times are as follows:
Grace Revolution Church, 812 S. Oliver, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday
Mending Place at South City, 1513 E. Galena, noon – 1 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Windridge Apartments, 2502 W. Wildwood, 11:00 am – noon, Monday through Friday
Wichita Transit
Wichita Transit is offering all residents, regardless of age, the opportunity to ride for free, all day on Saturday, June 8.
Transit is also offering residents the opportunity to ride the Route 11 bus for free this summer through Aug. 10. The route was recently revised to provide new service to the Sedgwick County Zoo and Sedgwick County Park. No ID is required and riders can get on or off the bus at any point on the route.
Transit is also offering free and unlimited bus rides to students who can show an ID. Youth may ride any of Wichita's 18 bus routes for no cost, Monday through Saturday, through Aug. 31. Students without a school ID can obtain a free ID card at the Wichita Transit Center, 214 S. Topeka. Route information can be found at
www.wichitatransit.org.
If a child has never taken the bus before, Wichita Transit is also offering no-cost travel training. Please call (316) 352-4868 and ask to speak to the travel trainer.
Park & Recreation
The City's Park & Recreation Department is offering a number of free pool days for community members of all ages to enjoy on days when day care programs and camps are traditionally are not open. They are:
| Location | Date | Time |
|---|
| Harvest | Sunday, June 2 | 1 pm – 6 pm |
| College Hill | Sunday, June 9 | 1 pm – 6 pm |
| Aley | Sunday, June16 | 1 pm – 6 pm |
| Evergreen | Saturday, July 6 | 1 pm – 6 pm |
| Minisa | Sunday, July 14 | 1 pm – 6 pm |
| Linwood | Saturday, July 20 | 1 pm – 6 pm |
| Orchard | Saturday, July 27 | 1 pm – 6 pm |
Four community recreation centers are providing a free summer youth program for kids 6 – 18 years of age to have fun, play as well as enjoy a free meal. These are the centers and dates of the programs:
-
Lynette Woodard Recreation Center, 2750 E. 18th St., (316) 303-8015
7-9:00 pm on June 12, 19, 26 and July 10 and 17 -
McAdams Recreation Center, 1329 E. 16th St., (316) 337-9222
8 – 10:00 pm on June 7, 14 and 28; July 5, 12, 19, 26; Aug. 2 -
Edgemoor Recreation Center, 5815 E. 9th St., (316) 688-9392
10:00 am to Noon on June 8, 15, 29 and July 13, 20, 27 -
Linwood Recreation Center, 1901 S. Kansas St., (316) 337-9191
10:00 am to Noon on June 8, 22, 29 and July 13, 20, 27
The Park and Recreation Department is also offering a number of free or nominally-priced summer programs. They are:
JUNE:
Dive-In Movies: Moana
Saturday, June 22 | 8 pm | $2 ages 13+; $1 ages 3-12; Ages under 2 are free
Aley Pool
Kick back and float in the pool while you watch a movie on the big screen under the stars! The summer movie series kicks off on June 22 with a screening of Moana (rated PG). Future movie titles to be announced. Space is limited. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Splash Party
Saturday, June 29 | 1 -3:30 pm | Free for all ages
Osage Park
Beat the heat with water events such as an inflatable water slide, duck pond, relays and squirt gun games. Event ends with a big water gun/water balloon battle at 3:00pm. Bring your own water guns for the battle. Water balloons provided.
JULY:
Get Fit Wichita: Yoga in the Park
Saturday, July 29| 8:30-9:30 am | Ages 16+ | Free
Central Riverside Park Gazebo
Experience the joy of yoga outdoors with instructors from Wichita Park & Recreation and Genesis Health Clubs. Bring a mat or towel, but leave the dog at home! Water is provided.
Barry's Recreation Station
Thursday, July 25 | 6:30-8 pm | Free for all ages
Buffalo Park
In addition to the activities from the Recreation Station, be sure to visit the interactive fountain and playground.
Barry's Equipment and Truck Expo
Saturday, July 13| 9-11 am | Free for all ages
OJ Watson Park
Hang out with Barry the Bison and touch big trucks such as a Fire Truck, Ambulance, Knuckle Boom Truck and more!
AUGUST:
Back to School Bash
Saturday, Aug.t 3 | 6:00-8:00 pm | Free for all ages
OJ Watson Park
It's one last blowout event before school starts! Enjoy recreation games, food trucks, a craft project and win PRIZES!
Barry's Recreation Station
Thursday, Aug. 15 | 6:30-8:00 pm | Free for all ages
Central Riverside Park
Everyone loves a fun obstacle course along with games from the Recreation Station. Also, enjoy the interactive fountain and playground.
Dog Day of Summer
Monday, Aug. 19 | 5:30-7:30 pm | $10 suggested donation
College Hill Pool
Wichita Park & Recreation, along with the Kansas Humane Society, invite pooches to wade, paddle or swim and participate in contests.
Tickets to the pool events can be purchased at the pool. For more information on these events, please visit
www.wichita.gov/parkandrec.
City Crew
The City’s three mascots have joined forces to create a fun new kids program called the City Crew. Barry the Bison of Wichita Park & Recreation, Sparky from Wichita Fire Department and Sgt. Justice from Wichita Police are inviting kids 12 and under to join their crew for FREE. Once you are a member, you will be invited to exclusive events held in each district of Wichita, such as a barbeque, pool party and ice skating. Plus, there will be other events that pop-up as an extra bonus! On June 18, all Crew Members are invited to the Starlite Drive-in to watch the Secret Life of Pets 2 & Aladdin. Crew Members never pay for these awesome events! Visit
Wichita.gov/CityCrew to register today.
Wichita Public Golf Courses
Juniors Play Fore FREE at all Wichita Public Golf Courses thanks to The First Tee of Greater Wichita. Kids 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Golf carts and clubs are not provided but available to rent. Visit
golfwichita.com to book your tee time or
download the Golf Wichita app.
Public Library
The Wichita Public Library is offering activities for youth to keep their minds sharp during the summer.
Summer Reading Program: Babies and toddlers can participate in early learning activities with a parent or guardian, and kids and teens can participate in reading programs and earn prizes the more they read. The Summer Reading Program runs through July 19. More information:
www.wichitalibrary.org/summerreading
Summer Activities and Programs: The Library is offering a series of special performances that coincide with the Summer Reading Program, and specialty classes and programs, for kids and teens. Weekly story times for younger children are also available.
Teen Hackathon: Teens ages 14-18 will explore technology design and application development at the Wichita Public Library's Teen Hackathon 10:30 am-5:30 pm on Saturday, July 27 and 1-5 pm on Sunday, July 28 at the Advanced Learning Library. Teens will work in groups alongside mentors and tech experts to use technology to create a plan for an application or other technology-based service that solves a health-related problem teens face today. Registration is required. Visit
www.wichitalibrary.org/teenhackathon or call (316) 261-8500 to enroll.
