So many groups are hosting free or low cost family-friendly events and programs this summer! Below we’ve listed just a few of our favorites – – library reading programs – Nevada Museum of Art’s free Barrio Block Party – free art and science lessons in Silver City – family movie nights in Mark Twain- children’s Shakespeare on the beach at Sand Harbor- a 5K Run in Dayton – and lots more.
Libraries offer fun summer reading programs for all ages. Pictured here, the Volunteer Library in Silver City hosted an animal-themed summer reading program in 2006.
Travel Nevada‘s list of things “to discover and do” is a good place to start: http://travelnevada.com/search/discover-and-do/%252A
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“Reno Fam on the Go” is also a good website to check for events in the northwestern NV region: http://www.renofamonthego.com/events/
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Grease is the Word” 5K Walk-Run in Dayton, Sat June 6th at 7:30am: You’ve heard of people having “sing-a-longs” with the movie Grease? Well, Healthy Communities’ Dayton Stand Tall is putting a new twist on the idea and having a community “run-a-long” where you can run in Grease-inspired costumes if you like! Stand Tall’s annual 5K events benefit Stand Tall Scholarships for local students. The 5K begins at 7:30 am at Como Park at 250 Old Dayton Valley Road, Dayton Nevada 89403. You can register the day of the event. Call Jocelyn at 246-7550 for more info.
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Art Reception in Virginia City: St. Mary’s Art Center in Virginia City will have a free reception with food treats by Canvas Cafe and music by Steven Ryan Christie on June 27th between 1pm and 4PM to celebrate the exhibition openings with artwork by:
EMILY SILVER – PAINTER FROM CALIFORNIA (sponsored by CCAI)
JULIE MEYER – PHOTOGRAPHER FROM STRASBOURG, FRANCE
CATHRYNE TRACHOK – ILLUSTRATOR AND PAINTER FROM CALIFORNIA
MARTI BEIN – PAINTER FROM TUSCARORA, NEVADA
See their website for a list of exhibitions, classes and other events: http://stmarysartcenter.org/
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Art Exhibition in Silver City: Silver City Arts group has organized a unique fine art exhibition highlighting some of the artwork by others that Silver City residents own and treasure. The exhibit is a tribute to the love of art that thrives in the community, but also a rare opportunity to see artwork from diverse private collections. Silver City residents have collected pieces by Francisco de Goya, Walter McNamara, Mick Sheldon, Joan Arrizabalaga, Dick Peitz, Edw Martinez, Gus Bundy, Luck Nieder, Mike Hess, Jim McCormick, Mimi Patrick, Richard Bodner, Margery Hall Marshall, Brian Schorn, and many, many others. Join us on July 18th from 10am-3pm at the Silver City School House/Community Center at 385 High Street to see this unusual grouping. Visiting artist Brian Schorn is the preparator and designer for the exhibit.
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Teen Leadership Camp at Lake Tahoe Aug 10-12, 2015: Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey is offering a great opportunity for youths ages 12-17 who are interested in leadership and advocacy in their communities and schools! This FREE leadership camp will be at beautiful Lake Tahoe. Email Healthy Communities Coalition resource coordinator Tammy Sutton at tsutton@lyoncsd.org or call 301-8543 or 246-7550 for more info and registration forms.
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Classroom on Wheels (for preschool age children): For more information about the COW Bus stops in Mark Twain, Stagecoach, Dayton, and Fernley, contact the program director, Cindy Boyd at 721-7176. The COW Bus serves children ages 3-5, in groups of 10-13 young people per class. They learn developmentally appropriate social skills, and many skills to help prepare them for the transition to elementary school: names of colors, letters, use of pencils and crayons, reading aloud, practice with writing names, etc. See Community Chest’s website for more info: http://communitychestnevada.net/programs/classroom-on-wheels/
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Nevada State Parks: See this link to find information about State Parks locations, programs and amenities: http://parks.nv.gov/parks/parks-by-location/
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For Boys and Girls Club summer field trips and programs in Dayton, Yerington, and Silver Springs, see the link below to their website. And Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley also offers free, nutritious meals/snacks daily at all of their sites. The food program is open to all ages 0-18, and you DO NOT have to be a BGC member to come eat! Hours vary with the school year, so make sure to check their schedule during summer and school breaks. http://bgcmasonvalley.org/locations.aspx
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For Boys and Girls Clubs programs in Fernley, see this site: http://www.bgctm.org/programs-and-services/locations-map/ For information about the free food program at Fernley BGC sites, follow this link: http://www.bgctm.org/food-program/
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Mark Twain Community Center has a full calendar with library hours, family movie nights, Zumba, games, a food program, a computer lab and lots more. You can find the calendar of events on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/marktwaincc
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Buckland Station and Fort Churchill State Park near Silver Springs make for great family outings. Find out more at:
http://parks.nv.gov/parks/fort-churchill-state-historic-park/
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Free kid’s summer activities at Lahontan State Park! Call Tabitha Coughlin at 775-867-3500 for more information or to reserve a spot. Activities will fun ways to learn about animal tracking, compass and map skills, bats, bees and honey, sundials and more. For more Lake Lahontan news, see their Facebook page.
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Library Summer Programs in Lyon and Storey Communities
The Storey County Library is located in Virginia City at 175 East Carson Street (behind the pool), but it has mobile outreach to Lockwood and Mark Twain too! Follow this link to find hours and locations: http://communitychestnevada.net/storey-county-library/
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Dayton Valley Branch Public Library: https://www.facebook.com/DaytonLibrary
Saturday, June 13-SRP Kick-off Party: All Ages Registration
Tuesday, June 16-Superhero Pom Pom Shooter -Independent Reader Craft 2:30–3:30PM;
Young Adult Craft 3:30-4:30PM
Thursday, June 18-Movie 2:00–4:30PM
Tuesday, June 23-Snakes in the library With Curator of Natural History, George Baumgardner
All Ages: 2:00PM
Thursday, June 25-Movie 2:00–4:30PM
Tuesday, June 30-Sign like a Superhero! With WNCC ASL Teacher, Mary Smith
All Ages: 2:00PM
Thursday, July 2-Movie 2:00–4:30PM
Tuesday, July 7-Superhero Masks- Independent Reader Craft 2:30–3:30PM; Young Adult Craft 3:30– 4:30PM
Thursday, July 9-Movie 2:00–4:30PM
Saturday, July 11-End of SRP Party All Ages: 1:00-2:00PM (Prizes will be picked at 1:45PM)
Pre-Reader crafts–Every Friday: 10:00AM
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Silver City Volunteer Library (within the Silver City School House Community Center at 385 High Street). Activities are listed below
*Art Lessons for Teens and Adults: Beginners’ art lessons for teens and adults will be taught by professional artist Karen Kreyeski on Tuesday June 9th and Tuesday June 16th from 10am until roughly 1pm. Space is limited for these in-demand classes with Ms Kreyeski, who is an award-winning artist and educator. Please reserve your spot by emailing Quest at quest@theodata.com. The first class will be “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: Drawing Objects the Way You See Them.” The second class will be “Painting with the Spirit of Nature: Free Form Techniques Using Water, Sand and Salt.”
* Fun Fair for Parents and Kids Ages 3 to 6: The always popular “Tune into Kids” arts and science fun fair hosted by United Way is back again this summer. The fair is for parents and their children ages 3 to 6, and takes place on Tuesday, June 23rd from 10am to noon. Participants will receive free books through United Way. Space is limited. Please reserve your child’s spot by emailing Quest at quest@theodata.com or calling 847-0742.
*Bike Safety Rodeo for Kids 5 to 12: On Tuesday, June 30th from 10am to noon, parents and their children ages 5-12 are invited to attend a bike safety “rodeo” with Western Safe Routes to Schools where kids will learn road rules and safety, participate in bike maneuvers and exercises, and receive new bike helmets. Parents are asked to sign Safe Routes permission slips for this activity.Please reserve your child’s spot by emailing Quest at quest@theodata.com or calling 847-0742
*Engineering: Some of Nevada’s sharpest engineering minds will lead hands-on activities that encourage innovation and problem solving. Guest teachers from the Society of Women Engineers will teach a class for ages 5 to 12 on Tuesday July 7th from 10am to noon.
* Science: Jim Barcellos of 4-H and University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) is back by popular demand with his very enjoyable science experiments for ages 8 to 12 on WEDNESDAY July 15 and WEDNESDAY July 22 from 10am to noon at the Silver City Community Center/School House.
* Resident Artist: In addition, the youth program this year will include lessons on Tues July 14, 21, and 28th with the visiting artist Brian Schorn, a remarkable visual artist, poet and musician who has taught at Brown University, Michigan University, and Interlochen Arts Academy, a boarding school for grades 9-12.
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Silver Stage Branch Public Library in Silver Springs:
Saturday June 6-Kickoff party: 10-11AM Free books, gift bags, and goodies
Saturday July 11- End of SRP party: 10-11AM Free books, gift bags, and goodies
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Smith Valley Branch:
Thursdays, June 4, 11, 18, 25 and July 2 & 9 11:30-12:30 Crafts and stories
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Central Branch Public Library (Yerington): https://www.facebook.com/lyoncountylibraries
Thursdays (each week we will have activities, crafts, and refreshments)
June 4-Kickoff party
June 11-Batman Blast!
June 18-Superman Smash
June 25-Community Heroes
July 2-Captain America
July 9-Mystery Hero
July 16-Superhero training camp
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Fernley Branch Public Library: https://www.facebook.com/FernleyLibrary
Tuesdays June 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 and July 7 & 14 at 9AM and 10AM:Boondoggle Braided Key Chains
Wednesdays June 3 & 17 and July 1 & 15 at 10AM Storytime
Wednesdays June 10 & 24 and July 8 at 10AM Infant/Toddler ASL
Thursdays June 4, 11, 18, & 25 and July 2 & 9 at 11AM craft time
July 11 End of SRP party at 1PM (Comic Con)
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Carson City Events
Industrial Art at the CCAI Courthouse Gallery: Embracing the area’s design and manufacturing community, the Capital City Arts Initiative [CCAI] announces its exhibition, Industrial Art, at the CCAI Courthouse Gallery. CCAI will host a free reception for the show on Friday, June 12th from 5pm-7pm, including a short introduction of the exhibition participants at 5:30pm. The Courthouse is located at 885 E Musser Street, Carson City. The reception and the exhibition are free and the public is cordially invited. If you miss the opening reception, the gallery is open to the public Monday – Friday, 8am-5m, and the Industrial Art show will be there until Sept 17. For more CCAI events, see their website at http://arts-initiative.org/
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Tahoe Events
There are so many music and art festivals and park activities at Lake Tahoe each summer, but the Young Shakespeare program is one of our favorites. Each year the D.G. Menchetti Young Shakespeare Program presents an interactive, one-hour adaptation of a play that is created with the young audience member in mind at Sand Harbor State Park. They also share the production with other venues throughout the Reno/Sparks, Minden and Tahoe/Truckee region. This FREE program (suggested donation $5 per adult; $1 per child) affords an amazing live theater experience for young audience members and their families. For times and dates, see http://laketahoeshakespeare.com/young_shakespeare/
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Reno Area Events
Nevada Museum of Art’s FREE Barrio Block Party, Saturday June 13, 2015 / 10 am – 4 pm: A blowout summer kick-off block party includes a free day at the Museum, live performances, music, and hands-on art projects. Have your face painted, make colorful tissue paper flowers and papel picado and enjoy the sounds of live music! Activities run from 10 am – 4 pm. FREE admission to the Museum continues until 6 pm. See their calendar for more events: http://www.nevadaart.org/calendar/
Reno News and Review lists events in the Reno area during the 12 weekends of summer (some for adults, some for families):
https://www.newsreview.com/reno/summer-guide/content?oid=17373606
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July is Artown in Reno and Northwestern Nevada. Follow this link to find a list of hundreds of family-friendly music, art, and drama events in Reno and surrounding towns in July. Many are free or low cost. http://www.renoisartown.com/events/?t=all