Swim, splash, learn, laugh: Fun things to do for kids and families in Pueblo this summer

The end of the 2023-24 school year will be here before we know it — classes end May 30 for Pueblo County School District 70 students and June 3 for Pueblo School District 60 students.

Luckily, Pueblo has an abundance to offer when it comes to family-friendly summer activities. From swimming and splash pads to classes in Computer Minecraft Programming, there are family-friendly things to do for Pueblo County kids of all ages.

Below is a list of organizations and venues hosting engaging activities for local tots, pre-teens and teens. While not comprehensive, this list is meant to springboard the 2024 summer itineraries of families in and around the Steel City.

Go for a swim, enjoy the rides, or see a free movie at a park near you

Pools at City Park, Mineral Palace Park, Mitchell Park and Ray Aguilera Park will begin their open swim regular seasons on June 4. The regular season will continue through Aug. 18 at all pools except the Mitchell Park pool, where the season will end Aug. 11.

Starting on May 30, the Rides at City Park will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. with special events like Superhero Night on June 14 and Princess Night on July 19. Visitors also will be able to ride the Lakeshore Line Train for free on July 11, the George R. Williams Memorial Carousel for free on July 25, and the roller coaster for free on Aug. 16.

Free Movies will be screened at City Park on June 15, July 20, Aug. 10, Sept. 14 and Oct. 5. Movies will include "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem," "The Little Mermaid," "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," "Pitch Perfect" and "Haunted Mansion."

A list of other summer and fall activities offered by Pueblo Parks and Recreation can be found in the program guide accessible at pueblo.us/100/Parks-Recreation. Offerings from the Pueblo County Parks and Recreation department can be explored at county.pueblo.org/parks-recreation/parks-and-recreation-home.

Foster a love for reading and adventure at your local library

The National Educational Association encourages summer reading as a means of strengthening family bonds and helping children succeed academically, according to a toolkit posted on the NEA website.

The Pueblo City-County Library District will be kicking off its summer reading program with crafts, food trucks, and games from 3 to 6 p.m. on May 31 at the Rawlings Branch, 100 E. Abriendo Ave. A similar, all-day event will be hosted on June 1 at the district's Greenhorn Valley Library Branch, 4801 Cibola Dr., in Colorado City.

To participate in the summer reading program, families of students ages 0-18 can pick up a "gameboard" at their local library, complete reading challenges and turn gameboards in to win prizes. Prizes include coupons from local organizations like Cold Stone Creamery and grand prizes like a 12-guest ice skating party, among others.

More information about the Pueblo City-County Library District's summer reading program, along with the plethora of summer activities hosted at local library branches, can be found at pueblolibrary.libnet.info/events?t=Summer+Reading.

Attend 'Dollar Day' or camp out with creatures at the Pueblo Zoo

"Behind the scenes" encounters with African penguins at the Pueblo Zoo are among several grand prizes offered through the Pueblo City-County Library District's Summer Reading program.

Through the partnership with the library, the zoo also will host Wednesday reading events this summer where families can listen to books being read by local librarians at 11 a.m. and spend the rest of the day meeting over 125 species living at the Pueblo Zoo.

Registration for the Pueblo Zoo's week-long summer camps for first through sixth graders is now open. Camps begin the week of June 10 and continue through the week of July 29. Camps hosted at the zoo this year include "All About Birds," "Diggin' Dinosaurs" and "Vet Science," among others.

To celebrate Father's Day, all dads and grandpas will be able to enjoy the zoo for free on June 15 and 16. There's also the annual Dollar Day on July 20 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. On Aug. 3, the zoo will host its Summer Overnight Campout. More information can be found at pueblozoo.org/events and pueblozoo.org/camps.

Make learning new things fun for your child with PCC Kids' College

Kids' College at Pueblo Community College, 900 W. Orman Ave., returns this summer with week-long classes in everything from archery to woodworking.

Hosted by PCC's Pueblo Corporate College division, Kids' College includes classes for those entering first through third grade, fourth through seventh grade, and eighth through 12th grade. Classes consist of three-hour days over the course of a five-day week. The first day of Kids' College begins on June 10.

Have a young chef at home? Consider the "Kids in the Kitchen" courses offered at every grade level. What about a teenager with an interest in computer programming and video games? There are classes in Computer Minecraft Programming.

With classes covering 28 different subjects, there is something for every child at Kids' College. More information can be found at pueblocc.edu/KidsCollege.

Encourage creativity and explore different cultures at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center

The Buell Children's Museum inside the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave., is home to the "Live the Day My Way" exhibit through Aug. 10. The exhibit introduces visitors to the experiences of children from Australia, France, Japan, Kenya, Peru and St. Lucia.

"The diversity of their experiences reflects the rich tapestry of our global community, emphasizing the importance of understanding and supporting the unique circumstances of every child as they navigate the journey of growing up," according to exhibition information on the arts center's website.

In addition to the "Live the Day My Way" exhibit, the Buell Children's Museum also is home to a building block area, a karaoke room and upstairs arts and crafts. Youth art classes being offered this summer at the arts center include a fairy house-building class, a songwriting class for teens and a wheel-throwing pottery class.

A calendar of events, exhibits and performances being hosted at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center this summer can be viewed at sdc-arts.org/upcoming-events.

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Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: What family-friendly activities are happening in Pueblo this summer