With schools letting out and weather warming up, parents are looking for fun and frugal ways to fill up the calendar. Spend quality time with your kids without worrying about the bill with some of these free kid-friendly activities:

1. Visit the library. Have fun all season long with ongoing public programs, children’s clubs, and endless media selections. Most public libraries host free, family-friendly events like story time, craft demonstrations, and puppet shows. All you need is your library card and some imagination.

2. Take a guided tour. Community gardens, historical centers, and cultural societies are great places to find free fun events for the whole family. Go on a guided tour of your hometown, or visit a town nearby for a change of pace. If you want to find interesting walks or even recommend your walks to other people, this family activities app is just for you.

3. Find free music. Festival season brings bands outdoors for live entertainment, so check your local paper or online for free events around town. Churches and community gathering centers are good places to see a wide variety of musicians, usually with free admission. Some orchestras offer free concert series for family-friendly crowds, encouraging young talents and listeners to explore classical music.

4. Get artistic. Art fairs and festivals are frequent once school lets out, so take advantage of warm weather and local flair with the whole family. Take real or imaginary pictures of your favorite pieces and installations to recognize local artistic talent and the eye for it.

5. Go outside and explore. Become horticulturists, scientists, pharmacists and explorers in your own backyard or nearby park. Grab a notebook, camera, binoculars or magnifying glasses to make the trek official. Try to identify edible and medicinal plants, animal tracks, and bird songs along the way. Make sure to bring a picnic lunch for your hungry explorers.

10 Free Fun Childrens Activities

6. Play around. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to have fun with your children is just by playing around with them. Start up an afternoon game of wiffle ball, kick ball, or break out the slip n’ slide in your own backyard or neighborhood park to get in some physical activity and quality bonding time.

7. Have an indoor treasure or scavenger hunt. If the weather doesn’t suit an outdoor adventure, bring the fun inside with family treasure and scavenger hunts. Have the kids find and solve clues together, leading them to a treasure box filled with their favorite treats.

8. Look at the nighttime sky. Study the stars in your own backyard with a constellation guide, or have each member of the family make up their own constellation. Lunar events and meteor showers are always exciting to track and share with friends and family. You could even check out some observatories in your area to see the planets up close with professional telescopes and seasoned experts for free.

9. Break out the recipe book. Spend some family time in the kitchen by planning out and cooking meal together. Or dig up an old favorite from the family recipe book and teach everyone how to make grandma’s famous dish. Assign each child to a manageable task, like rinsing veggies or stirring sauce, and reap the rewards of a well-earned meal as a team.

10. Volunteer. Have a family meeting to decide what skills and abilities you can share by volunteering in your community. There are countless ways to get involved, such as participating in environmental cleanups, dog walks, food banks and clothing drives, or just visiting with the elderly at a local retirement home. Visit idealist.org for a line-up of the family-oriented volunteer opportunities in your area.

Have a blast and try something new with your kids this summer with some of these activities, and let us know how you save on family fun.

Disclaimer:  This is a partnered post.  Erin McAndrew is a freelance writer and community advocate for environmental issues and sustainable solutions. She lives aboard a houseboat on the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, writes for Save1.com and enjoys practicing a frugal and self-sufficient lifestyle.