KCKidsFun

Happy Sunday! This week is bittersweet for most– the lazy, no-homework, sleep-in-late, stay-up-late days of summer are over. School begins.  Fall sports, back-to-school days and nights, homework and crazy schedules will soon fill our weeks.  I have to send a special “good luck wish” to my darling babysitter– she spent lots of her summer with my kids and headed off this morning for her first year at K-State.  I happened to catch her family as they were backing out of their driveway this morning…mom had tears streaming down her face and it brought back so many memories of my own freshman move-in day. Good luck, Katie!  Have fun.

Sunday, August 14, 2011
• Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO – August 11 thru August 21 – 5 & under FREE every day (kids 6 to 12, just $2); lot of free kids’ entertainment
• Festival of Butterflies, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO – August 5 thru August 7 and August 12 thru August 14 – no carnival but still super cool!

Monday, August 15, 2011

• Hands-On History at the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial (KCMO), Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings all summer. Details:https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=220669554619250




Tuesday, August 16, 2011

• Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO – August 11 thru August 21 – 5 & under FREE every day (kids 6 to 12, just $2); lot of free kids’ entertainment




Wednesday, August 17, 2011

• Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO – August 11 thru August 21 – 5 & under FREE every day (kids 6 to 12, just $2); lot of free kids’ entertainment

• Baby Signs ® with Stormi – Playgroup for kids under 3 yrs using signs to sing fun songs, read books, and play games. Activities will include puppet and parachute play, music, bubbles, and age appropriate toys. This is an opportunity to network with other parents using signs and to learn and use signs in interactive, outdoor play! Aug 17th from 10am-11am and Sept 17th 10am-11am both at Little Monkey Bizness in Shawnee KS.




Thursday, August 18, 2011

• Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO – August 11 thru August 21 – 5 & under FREE every day (kids 6 to 12, just $2); lot of free kids’ entertainment
• Dog Days of Summer at Briarcliff Village – Celebrate the fabulous canine companion of your life at the Briarcliff Village Dog Days of Summer Farmers Market! Bring the family and your friendly leashed dog to join us on Thursday, Aug 18 from 5p-7p.




Friday, August 19, 2011

• Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO – August 11 thru August 21 – 5 & under FREE every day (kids 6 to 12, just $2); lot of free kids’ entertainment
• Parkville Days Riverfest, Parkville, MO – August 19 thru August 21
• Trails West!, St. Joseph, MO – August 19 thru August 21
• Ethnic Enrichment Festival, Kansas City, MO – August 19 thru August 21

It’s here.  The summer heat has set in and it doesn’t seem like that long ago I was complaining about having jackets in May…now, it’s full on summer.  What gives?!?  Summer in Kansas City, to be sure.

Here is our list of outdoor swimming pools in and around KC.  We’ve also included spray parks.  You can typically find everything you need to know (hours of operation, fees, location, etc.) by calling the number provided or going to the city’s aquatic site (click on each city for their sites).  Many locations offer lessons in the mornings prior to opening to the public.

Have fun!  Try and keep cool this week.  Summer is here and in a big way– If you can’t get to a pool, try a big red bucket with a hose!!!



Overland Park, KS and Leawood, KS

• Bluejacket, 101st and Bond, 913.327.5671
• Marty, 74th and Conser, 913.327.5672
• Roe, 104th and Roe, 913.327.5673
• Stonegate, 97th and Antioch, 913.327.5674
• TRAC, 119th and Lowell, 913.327.5675
• Young’s, 77th and Antioch, 913.327.5676
• Leawood Aquatic Center, 10601 Lee Blvd., 913.327.3977

Olathe, KS and Prairie Village, KS

• Cedar Creek Community Pool, 11400 S. Parish St., 913.764.9853
• Black Bob Pool, 14570 W. 151st St., 913.764.9720
• Mill Creek Pool, 320 E. Poplar, 913.829.9811
• Frontier Pool, 15909 W. 127th St., 913.829.9730
• Oregon Trail Pool, 1800 W. Dennis, 913.829.9815
• City of Prairie Village Pool, 7711 Delmar, 913.642.6010

Lee’s Summit, MO

• Legacy Park Community Center, 901 NE Bluestem Drive, 816.969.1550
• Summit Waves, NE corner of Hwys 50 and 291 South, 816.969.1515

Kansas City, MO

• Brush Creek community center, 3801 Emmanuel Cleaver II Blvd., 816.784.4000
• Line Creek community center, 5940 NW Waukomis Dr., 816.513.0760
• Budd Park, Budd Park Espl. & Denver Ave., 816.784.2600
• Grove Park, 3031 E. Truman, 816.231.9568
• Swope Park, Swope Park- 67th and Lewis, 816.513.8915
• Arbor Villa, 66th Terrace and Main St.
• Ashland, 23rd and Elmwood streets
• Gillham, 41st and Gillham streets
• West Terrace, 16th and Jarboe streets
• KCMO “Spraygrounds” – Douglas Park, 2632 Jarboe St. – Harmony Park, 10th Street and Agnes – Longview Park, 7101 Longview Road  – Loose Park, 52nd Terrace and Summit – Parade Park, The Paseo and Truman Road - Sunnyside Park, 8255 Summit  – Golden Oaks, 46th St. and North Antioch – Garrison Square, 4th Street and Forest (Columbus Park area)

Shawnee, KS

• Splash Cove at Jim Allen Aquatic Center, 5800 King, 913.631.7177
• Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center, 13805 Johnson Drive, 913.631.0054

Lenexa, KS

• Ad Astra Pool, 83rd and Maurer, 913.492.SWIM
• Flat Rock Creek Pool, 103rd and Hauser, 913.888.3202
• Indian Trails Aquatic Center, 87th and Greenway Lane, 913.888.4659

Independence, MO and Blue Springs, MO

• Adventure Oasis Water Park, 23rd Street just west of 291 Hwy., 816.325.7843
• Water playgrounds to cool off: 24 Hwy/N. Delaware and 24th & Hardy streets
• Blue Springs Centennial Pool Plex, 2401 W. Ashton Drive, 816.228.0188

Grain Valley, MO

• Grain Valley Community Center, 713 Main St

Liberty, MO

• Liberty Community Center, 1600 S. Withers Rd.
• Spraygrounds at: Ruth Moore Park, 401 N. Morse and City Park, 970 S. Highway 291

Gladstone, MO

• Municipal Pool, Central Park, 69th & North Holmes, 816.436.2200

KCI Area/Platte County, MO

• Park Hill Aquatic Center, 8152 N. Congress Ave., 816.741.7963
• Springs Aquatic Center at Tiffany Hills Park, 9700 N. Congress, 816.880.0733
• Riverside Municipal Pool, 4498 NW High Drive, 816.741.3993
• Dagg Park (North Kansas City, MO) – Great wading pool and playground, picnic shelters

KC, KS

• Parkwood Pool, 950 Quindaro Blvd, 913.551.0402
• Spray Parks to cool off: Eisenhower Park, 2901 N. 72nd St., Heathwood Park, 10th & Parallel Pkwy, and Pierson Park, 1800 S. 55th St.

Fairway, KS

• Fairway Swimming Pool, 62nd & Mission

Roeland Park, KS

• Roeland Park Aquatic Center, 4843 Rosewood Dr.

Bonner Springs, KS

• Bonner Springs Aquatic Park, 1200 South 134th St.

Grandview, MO

• Meadowmere Pool, 13610 Byars Rd.
• John Anderson Pool, 4701 E. 135th St.

DeSoto, KS

• DeSoto Aquatic Center and   Gardner, KS :Gardner Aquatic Center, Cornerstone Park, 215 N. Center

Vacation Bible School (VBS) is something that many families look forward to each summer.  Typically kids go for several hours a day for one week, kids enjoy being with their friends, playing games and even learning a thing or two–all in a safe environment.  Most VBS camps are very reasonable, at $20-$40 for the week.  Many churches even offer assistance or scholarships.

This is also a great opportunity for you to check out our extensive Preschool Directory! It’s not too late to get a spot in a fall preschool and we have links to many programs.  And, since we’re on the topic of Directories…now that it’s May…are you ready for summer?  There’s still time to get your kid(s) enrolled in a summer camp or class.  We have added lots of camps to the list since we published theSummer Camp Directory 2011 in March, so even if you’ve looked it over, it wouldn’t hurt to give it another go!  If your church or place of worship conducts a summer camp or bible school–let us know!  We’ll gladly include it if we’ve missed it!

KCMO VBS programs

• Calvary Lutheran Church, 12411 Wornall Rd. KCMO
• Colonial Presbyterian Church, 95th and Wornall Rd. KCMO
• Country Club Christian Church, 6101 Ward Parkway, KCMO
• One Spirit United Methodist Church, 7900 Blue Ridge Blvd., KCMO
• St. John’s United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Parkway, KCMO
• St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 9420 James A Reed Rd., KCMO

Johnson County, KS programs

• Old Missions UMC, 5519 State Park Rd., Fairway
• King of Kings Lutheran, 306 E Madison, Gardner
• Church of the Resurrection (COR), 13720 Roe, Leawood
• Lord of Life Lutheran, 3105 W. 135th St., Leawood
• Lenexa UMC, 9138 Caenan Lake Rd., Lenexa
• Salem Lutheran Church, 9143 Haskins, Lenexa
• St. Paul’s UMC, 7740 Lackman, Lenexa
• Westside Family Church, 8500 Woodsonia, Lenexa
• Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal, 6630 Nall, Mission
• Advent Lutheran, 11800 W. 151st, Olathe
• Aldersgate UMC, 151st and Black Bob, Olathe
• Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 13145 S. Black Bob, Olathe
• First Baptist Church of Olathe, 22024 E. 151st St., Olathe
• Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 16000 W. 143rd, Olathe
• Redeemer Lutheran, 920 Alta Lane, Olathe
• Bethany Lutheran, 9101 Lamar, Overland Park
• Colonial Presbyterian, 12501 W. 137th St. Overland Park
• First Family Church, 7700 W. 143rd., Overland Park
• Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park
• Grace Covenant Presbyterian, 11100 College Blvd, Overland Park
• Heritage UMC, 12850 Quivira, Overland Park
• Knox Presbyterian, 9595 W. 95th St., Overland Park
• Legacy Christian Church, 10150 Antioch, Overland Park
• Rolling Hills Presbyterian, 9300 Nall , Overland Park
• Grace Fellowship Church, 10201 W. 127th St., Overland Park
• Presbyterian Church of Stanley, 148th and Antioch, Overland Park
• Valley View UMC, 8412 W. 95th St., Overland Park
• Overland Park Church of Christ, 119th and Pflumm, Overland Park
• Nall Avenue Baptist Church, 6701 Nall, Overland Park
• Asbury UMC, Prairie Village
• Hope Lutheran Church, 6308 Quivira, Shawnee
• Shawnee Presbyterian Church, 6837 Nieman, Shawnee
• Shawnee United Methodist Church, 10700 Johnson Drive, Shawnee
• Trinity Lutheran Church, 7740 Hedge Lane, Shawnee

Northland programs

• Barry Christian Church, 1500 NW Barry Rd., KCMO
• Highlands Community of Christ, N. Platte Purchase Drive, off Barry Road, KCMO
• Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church, 7600 NW Barry Rd., KCMO
• St. Therese Parish, 7207 NW Hwy 9, KCMO
• Chandler Baptist Church, 11401 Hwy 33, Liberty, MO
• Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 1600 N 291 Hwy, Liberty, MO
• Platte Woods Church, 7310 NW Prairie View, Platte Woods, MO
• Liberty United Methodist Church, 1001 Sunset, Liberty, MO
• Harvest Church International Outreach, 4300 N. Corrington Ave., Kansas City, MO

Cass County, MO programs

• Crossroads United Methodist Church, 700 Quik Trip Way, Belton, MO
• First Baptist Church, 810 S. Cedar, Belton, MO
• Peculiar United Methodist Church, 20521 S. School Rd.

Kansas City, KS and Leavenworth programs

• Holy Name Catholic Church, 16 South Iowa, KCK
• Living Water United Methodist Church, 3001 N. 115th St, KCK
• Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, 4153 Rainbow Blvd, KCK
• Wallula Christian Church, 23785 139th Street, Leavenworth

Eastern Jackson County, MO programs

• Timothy Lutheran Church, 425 NW RD Mize Rd., Blue Springs
• St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 4746 S. Lee’s Summit Rd., Independence
• The Stone Church, 1012 W. Lexington, Independence
• Sycamore Hills Baptist Church, 15200 E. 39th Street, Independence
• Grace UMC, 2400 SE 50 Hwy, Lee’s Summit
• Lee’s Summit Baptist Temple, 2614 NW Chipman Rd., Lee’s Summit
• Lee’s Summit UMC, 114 SE Douglas, Lee’s Summit
• Summit Woods Baptist Church, 2501 SE Shenandoah Dr., Lee’s Summit
• Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church, 130 NW Murray Rd., Lee’s Summit
• St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 700 NE Chipman, Lee’s Summit
• New Summit Church, 1800 NE Independence Ave, Lee’s Summit

*image courtesy of gospelgifs.com