School’s Out! Things to Do with Kids in Boulder this Summer

Open Gym is a great opportunity for families to try ABC Kids Climbing for their first time.  Kids are welcome to explore our facility, with parent supervision, to find the area in which they will have the most fun.  ABC has top ropes, auto-belays, ziplines, slides, and bouldering for kids of all ages to enjoy! No climbing experience?  No need to worry!  ABC’s expert staff will give all new families a tour complete with rules and basic climbing guidelines to get you started in the right direction. ABC also offers summer day camps for kids – details here.

ABC Kids Climbing is located at 1960 32nd Street, Boulder, Colorado 80301. Open Gym Hours: All Ages Sunday 12PM  – 6PM. Young Kids only (6 & Under) Saturdays 2PM – 5PM. Admission:  Individuals $12, Family (4 or more) $40

The Great Outdoors Waterpark

Photo Courtesy The Great Outdoors Waterpark

The brand new The Great Outdoors Waterpark in Lafayette is now open! Plunge down the thrilling 21-foot high double flume slides. Guests 48” tall and brave enough to conquer the twists and turns galore are invited to venture down. Perching high atop the fully accessible, zero-depth entry leisure pool, The Grand Eagle Dump Bucket spills water every few minutes near play structures perfect for smaller children.

The Great Outdoors Waterpark is located at 500 E South Boulder Rd, Lafayette, CO 80026. Hours: 10AM – 6PM daily. Admission: Kids 2-17 $7.50, Adults 18-54 $10, Seniors $7.50, Kids under 2 are FREE.

CU Museum of Natural History

Photo Courtesy CU Museum of Natural History

The University of Colorado’s Museum of Natural History is fun, educational, interactive AND parent-friendly! The museum offers kid-inspired exhibits (right now — Curious Connections in Nature) and a cute gift shop on the main level. In the lower level, kids will have a great time in the interactive play and learning area. Right outside the play area parents can enjoy a nice, FREE cup of coffee or tea in the museum’s BioLounge with comfortable seats and inviting atmosphere. Family-friendly bathrooms are located upstairs. While there are beautiful staircases in this beautiful, old building, there is also a centrally-located elevator making the museum handicapped and stroller-friendly. Admission is free, donations are accepted. The gift shop offers a fun array of science-inspired items. Paid parking is located South of the museum. Note: The Gift Shop is closed for renovation from May 29 – June 15).

The CU Museum of Natural History is located at Henderson Building, 15th and Broadway, Boulder, CO 80309. Open Monday – Friday 9-5, Saturday 9-4 and Sunday 10-4. Admission is FREE.

Hike & Learn at NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research)

Photo Courtesy of UCAR

NCAR’s beautiful outdoor spaces and Visitor Center are perfect for a summer outing with the kids! Take a hike at the base of Boulder’s amazing flatirons with gorgeous views. At the Visitor’s Center, kids can learn about weather and climate with interactive displays. Kids can play with clouds and even create their own tornado! Other exhibits include Sun-Earth Connections, Layers of the Atmosphere, Climate Discovery and more. Guided tours are available from 12-1 on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, or you can opt to move through the exhibits on your own. NCAR offers a cafeteria that is open weekdays (except holidays) for breakfast, 8:00 am – 9:30 am and lunch, 11:30 – 1:30 pm (Cafeteria accepts only cash). Admission is always FREE to the public! Parking is also free.

NCAR is located at 1850 Table Mesa Dr, Boulder, CO 80305. Visitors Center is open Monday – Friday 8-5, Weekends 9-4. Admission is FREE.

Summer Reading Program at Boulder Public Library

Photo Courtesy Boulder Public Library Facebook Page

Boulder offers five public libraries in different areas around town, all of which are offering the summer reading program.You can sign up in person or sign up online and pick up your reading log or teen card deck the next time you’re at your local library. The main library is awesome for families with its children’s area as well as the Seeds Library Cafe, a full-service coffee shop right inside the library! The Children’s area is glass-enclosed, allowing kids to make some noise without disturbing other patrons and offers a vast collection of books as well as  hands-on activities, a story time meeting area, and kid-sized computer desks and seating. The area has its own private bathrooms for kids & caregivers. Parents will enjoy the Seeds Library Cafe, located on the bridge overlooking Boulder Creek between the main library and the arts & media area. The cafe is operated by the Boulder County Farmers’ Markets and offers not only coffee and espresso drinks but breakfast and lunch as well. The cafe is open Monday-Thursday from 9-5, Friday & Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 12-5.

For a map that includes all of Boulder’s libraries and their hours, click here. Admission and summer reading programs are always FREE.

Warrior Playground in Longmont

Photo Courtesy Warrior Playground

The Warrior Playground is a full scale American Ninja Warrior and Obstacle Course Race training facility for kids & adults to experience the thrill of tackling the obstacles they see on the TV show. The Warrior Playground features many American Ninja Warrior obstacle replicas straight from the show; now even if you can’t get on the show, you can train like a ninja. If you have a little ninja at home, check out Warrior Playground’s open gym hours or sign up for a class! If it is your kid’s first time at the playground, they will need to take an orientation class ($25).

Warrior Playground is located at 2415 Wedgewood Avenue #B, Longmont, CO 80503. Open gym fees are $15. Punch cards and monthly memberships can be purchased for discounted rates. Class prices and open gym schedules vary, click here for details. 

Valmont Bike Park

Photo Courtesy Valmont Bike Park

North America’s most state-of-the-art public bike park, Valmont Bike Park is located in Boulder, Colorado on 40 acres of awesome. Bike Park amenities include family trails, cross country trails, cyclocross courses, a slopestyle terrain park, dirt jumps, a dual slalom race course, 2 pump parks, and kids bike play areas. Progression is the name of the game at this park, with “small” through “extra-large” trails and features that cater to everyone, from the beginning mountain biker to professional rider. Check out the bike park’s trail map here.

Valmont Bike Park is located at 3160 Airport Rd, Boulder, CO 80301. The park is open from dawn to dusk daily. Admission is FREE.

Fiske Planetarium

Photo Courtesy of Fiske Planetarium Facebook Page

Fiske Planetarium is located on the campus of the University of Colorado. The Planetarium hosts a diverse range of shows, star talks, LASER shows, and special live events in it’s 65-foot diameter dome (the largest between Chicago and Los Angeles!). In 2013, Fiske completed a major systems upgrade with an 8K Sky-Skan projection system that allows us to show the most cutting-edge content in a truly immersive environment that fully surrounds audiences with a huge screen, dazzling visuals, and fantastic sound.  The new star machine, which looks like R2-D2, shows 10 million stars and the Milky Way, the most beautiful indoor sky ever. The planetarium hosts special talks and educational events, and often host large crowds during astronomical and NASA-related events. Fiske is open weekdays for select shows and events, and hosts weekend shows and matinées. For the Planetarium’s show schedule, click here.

The Fiske Planetarium is located at 2414 Regent Dr, Boulder, CO 80309. Shows vary daily, see full schedule here. Tickets are generally $7 for kids, seniors & veterans/ $10 for adults

Meadow Music with Jeff and Paige

Photo Courtesy Jeff and Paige

A kid favorite. Join the musical duo Jeff and Paige for evenings of children’s music and nature education. The evening consists of a short hike, followed by 45 minutes of nature music at the foot of the Flatirons. Sponsored by City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks Division Meadow Music is an award-winning environmental education program at Chautauqua Green in Boulder, Colorado! Meet at 5:30 to start a short hike that’s friendly to all ages (we recommend arriving early to find a place to put your picnic blanket before the hike). After the hike, the group will return to Chautauqua Green for a concert full of our original nature and science-based music. The concert starts around 6PM and ends by about 7PM. Bring a blanket to sit on, a picnic and some silliness.

Meadow Music is held at Chautauqua Green, located at Baseline Rd & 9th Street, Boulder, CO 80302 on Mondays throughout the summer, 5:30 – 7PM. Always FREE.

Shredder Urban Ski & Snowboard Park

Photo Courtesy Shredder Ski Facebook Page

Disappointed that ski season is over? Shredder Urban Ski & Snowboard Park has got you covered! Shredder is an amazing indoor ski and snowboarding facility for ages 10 months to adult. Shredder offers ski and snowboard school classes to all ages, including freestyle fundamental classes (starting at age 8), Yeti School (10 months to 3 years), and beginning adult skiers/boarders. Check out Shredder for Birthday Parties, Summer Camps, Parents’ Nights Out, and so much more!

Shredder Urban Ski & Snowboard Park is located at  6655 Arapahoe Rd, Boulder, CO 80303. To view class schedules and prices, click here.