Make it a Movie Night

There’s something about a beautiful summer evening under the stars with blankets, picnic dinners and POPCORN! That something is an outdoor movie night, and Las Vegas has them all over the valley.

Admission is free, making it the perfect family outing each weekend. So let’s plan to pack up some cozy blankets, maybe put the kids in their pajamas and bring a load of snacks to sit together and watch one of the family friendly movies this weekend.

The Outdoor Picture Show

At The District at Green Valley Ranch, adjacent to Whole Foods Market and The Carousel

Friday, June 11^th at Dusk “Astro Boy” (PG)

Saturday, June 12^th at Dusk “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (PG)

Friday, June 18^th at Dusk “Planet 51” (PG)

Saturday, June 19^th at Dusk “The Blind Side” (PG)

Friday, June 25^th at Dusk “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (PG)

Saturday, June 26^th at Dusk “Imagine That” (PG)

Centennial Hills Park Amphitheatre

7101 N. Buffalo Drive at Deer Springs Way

Friday, June 11^th at 8 PM “Where the Wild Things Are” (PG)

Friday, June 18^th at 8 PM “Cloudy with a Change of Meatballs” (PG)

*You may want to call if the weather is questionable, or for more information 229-3516

Free Movies on the Lake

Lakeside on the Lawn in the Village at Lake Las Vegas

Thursday, June 17^th at 8 PM “Where the Wild Things Are” (PG)

Thursday, June 24^th at 8 PM “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (PG)

Movie Madness

Eldorado Park, 5900 Camino Eldorado Blvd, North Las Vegas

Friday, June 18^th at Dusk “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”

Free Movie in the Park

Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza, Lorenzi Park, 720 Twin Lakes Drive at Washington Ave

Thursday, June 24^th gates open at 7 PM, movie starts at Dusk “Monsters vs. Aliens”

You can't miss out on an opportunity like this! Your kids will love it, and they'll remember these kind of outings for the rest of their lives! So don't let another weekend go by without enjoying time with your family and a movie under the stars!

Jump into This

I found this great reading program for the summer. Not only will this help get your kids excited about reading EVERY day - they can win prizes and participate in other activities at the library during this time! A little friendly competition never hurt anybody, and by the time your child makes it through his reading log, he'll probably be excited to find more books with a gift card to Borders!

Which is why I say now is the perfect time to jump into a book! Las Vegas-Clark County Library District has developed a summer reading program to guide you through a summer full of reading adventures. "Make A Splash - READ" Summer Reading Program is designed to open new reading possibilites to children from infants to grade 5.

Walk into any branch of the library district and pick up a reading log - or print it from the website. Children make a list of all the books they want to read either themselves or have a parent read to them. The goal is to read for 30 minutes every day and they get a participation prize every time they come into the library to report their reading time! For every two hours they read, they will earn an entry into the Grand Prize drawing. When they finish the entire reading log, they win a gold medal!

This competition ends at the end of July so make sure you start soon and log those minutes! Also, check out all of reading events taking place in libraries all over the valley during this program! It's a great way to explore new things and stay out of the heat!

Summer Fun!

Summer is just around the corner, and it’s time to start making those summer plans. It can be challenging in economic times such as these, but I did some research for you to make your summer carefree.

I still remember counting down to the last day of school and the sweet anticipation of summer break. In this valley, with so many schools going year-round, the summer break mentality may be lost. But it’s time to switch up some of our regular study routines and look for new ways to take a break as we head into those sunny days! First, we all need to find ways to cool off.

Nothing quenches thirst like a tall, cool glass of water. Likewise, nothing can cool you off like diving into or drenching yourself in some fresh H20. To find your own swimming oasis in the desert, an affordable option would be any one of the City of Las Vegas Pools. I've put together a chart of all of these pools for easy viewing. (Go ahead - click on it!)

What you need to bring: Swimming suit, Towel, and a lock if you want to use one of their lockers. Can’t swim? Ask about their swimming lessons! It’s only $25 per session, more information at the desk.

You have the option of buying an All Summer Pool Pass. It can be purchased at the Municipal Pool before Memorial Day. It costs $40 for Adults; $30 for seniors; or buy a $60 Family Pass which can be used for up to 8 immediate family members. The pool pass can be used at all of the City of Las Vegas pools and is valid from Memorial Day (May 31st) to Labor Day (Sept 6th).

If you're in Henderson, it's easy to scope out their pools online. I made a list of the special pools and activity pools open in the summer. Most of these open Memorial Day weekend, some of them will close after Memorial Day until the second week of June. It's easy to contact them, so give them a call if you're interested. Otherwise, I've called to make sure the hours I've listed coincide with the pools.

Another option is to visit your nearest YMCA. They have a Sizzlin Summer package and some awesome slides to go along with it! I've made another chart for each of their locations.

Remember to bring a towel and your arm floaties if you need them! Children should always be accompanied by an adult, especially at a pool. Wear sunscreen and keep hydrated! I hope this helps you pick the perfect pool for you this summer! I'll keep sending you some great activities for your kids to enjoy over the next summer months.