Stay Local

Looking to get out of the house this summer? Check out some of these fun and educational ideas in the Princeton-Plainsboro area.

Encourage Kindness and Citizenship

Helping others makes you feel good and makes you feel connected to your community. You can teach your child about the value of kindness by encouraging them to find ways to “fill buckets.” They could help an elderly neighbor, make a card, deliver cookies- anything that would make someone else smile.

Visit the Plainsboro Library

Encourage your child to read this summer by bringing him/her to the library. Aside from great books, they have children’s programs, a summer reading contest, and offer museum passes. If you reserve them, you can visit Grounds for Sculpture, the Guggenheim, or the Academy of Natural Sciences for free. Image result for plainsboro library

Explore nature at the Plainsboro Preserve

Walk around Grounds for Sculpture

Art education meets nature appreciation. There are walking tours available as well as activities/events throughout the summer, including First Friday, when they’re open late and have different activities set up around the park. No automatic alt text available.

Visit Terhune Orchards

Depending on when you go, you can pick your own strawberries, cherries, blueberries, or flowers. They also have educational farm and reading programs for kids. read and pick

Visit different parks like Mercer County Park

Go for a walk, check out the playground, rent a paddle boat or check out one of the many events/activities occurring this summer. They also offer nature camps. Veterans Park in Hamilton has tons of trails, and multiple sets of playground equipment. Sayen Gardens in Hamilton has gorgeous flowers to check out, and a short trail to explore. Need more park ideas? Check out GetOutsideNJ.com for more great ideas!

The New Jersey State Museum in Trenton

Check out this free museum that’s close to home. Learn about the state’s history as you walk through the various exhibits, including one on fossils. For an added cost, you can visit the Planetarium which offers an array of shows. Make sure you check the schedule before you go because summer hours for the public are on specific days.

Take Your Child to Work

If you have the type of job that allows it, take your child to work one day for an interactive learning experience. Watch a Trenton Thunder Game Bring your baseball fans to a Trenton Thunder Game. It's fun for the whole family