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MATCH ACTIVITY IDEAS
Year-Round Activities:
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Go to an exhibit at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum
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Attend one of the daily activities hosted at the Children's Museum of the Brazos Valley
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Learn some Texas History at the Star of the Republic Museum (Washington, TX)
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Hit up Adamson Lagoon Pool for waterslides and more
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Catch a movie at the Queen Theatre (all tickets are $5 AND kids 10 & under get a free popcorn)
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Visit the Century Tree on the Texas A&M campus
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Compare Layne's vs. Cane's chicken tenders to see which is best
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Attend one of the regular events hosted by the Bryan's Clara Mounce Library
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Take a hike at Lick Creek Park to see some wildlife
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Learn how to birdwatch by joining the Audubon Society (once a month on a Saturday)
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Admire the art in Downtown Bryan (see if you can find murals, sculptures, and a gallery display)
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Learn something new at the Brazos Valley African American Museum
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Check out some very old bones at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History
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Visit A&M's Game of Thrones memorabilia at Cushing Library
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Try your hand at Pecan picking at Royalty Pecan farms
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Take a walk or have a picnic around Lake Bryan
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Learn how honey is made at Beeweaver Honey Farm (Navasota, TX)
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Participate in a park clean up with Keep Brazos Beautiful
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Attend a free yoga class at Lululemon (Century Square) OR Lake Walk (near the Stella Hotel) early on a Saturday
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Listen to live music and play giant games over at Century Square in the evenings
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Volunteer your skills with BCS Habitat for Humanity
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Walk around First Friday in Downtown Bryan (1st Friday of every month)
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Walk through 7+ acres of Gardens at Texas A&M (free entry and free weekend parking)
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Explore the Bush School Rose Gardens
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Hone your bowling/laser tag/mini-golf/arcade skills at Grand Station Entertainment
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Play old school arcade games at Nerdvana
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Cool down at the Lincoln Rec Center splash pad
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Try your hand at disc golf at Wolf Pen Creek or Southern Oaks Park
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Drop a line at the Stephen C. Beachy Central Park to see if you can catch a trout or catfish
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Head to your favorite local Snow Cone spot and try a new-to-you flavor
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Check out a musical at the Bryan Theater Company! (matinee tickets are $15 and $7 for kids under 12)
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Visit Research park on Texas A&M's campus
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Put on some skates at Spirit Ice Arena
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Grab a couple of rackets and try your hand at tennis at a local court (Sue Haswell Park)
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Learn how to do archery with the Brazos County Archery Club at their monthly "public shoot" meeting
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Small groups (5+) can schedule fire department tours in College Station (if only the two of you, call about drop-in visits)
Seasonal Activities:
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Learn more about Monarch butterflies at the annual Monarch March (early March)
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Check out the bluebonnets and historical buildings at Boonville Heritage Park (April)
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Visit the free Kite Fest in College Station (April) and make/bring a kite to fly
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Go berry picking at the Kingsbury Blueberry Farm (June-July)
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Buy $5 tickets to the Brazos Valley Bombers baseball game (summer months)
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Sit by Lake Atlas and enjoy live music at their summer family-friendly Eats & Beats Concert series (June-August)
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Watch a movie outdoors at the Bush Library and Museum (summer months)
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Listen to live music during the Summer Sunset Concert Series in Downtown Bryan's Palace Theatre (summer months)
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Watch the fireworks at the Bush Library & Museum (July 4)
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Witness the annual “Wish Upon a Butterfly” monarch release at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History and see how many of the Texas state insects you can count (late July)
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Attend the annual “Back to School Rally” at Lincoln Center to pick up some school supplies and play some games (early Aug)
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Watch firefighters at their best at the TEEX Public Firefighting Demonstration Night (late July)
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Pick out and carve a pumpkin for Halloween (Aggie Habitat for Humanity hosts a pumpkin path through October)
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Attend "Night at the Museum for free indoor trick or treating, costume contest, and games at George Bush Library and Museum (late October)
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Volunteer for a few hours on Thanksgiving with Epicures Catering to help pack meals for the community
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Volunteer for a few hours for Bryan Rotary to deliver Thanksgiving baskets to the community before Thanksgiving
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Attend Holiday Magic in Bryan to get into the holiday spirit - complete with real snow, cookies, hot chocolate, and more (Late November)
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Make matching Christmas ornaments for both of your trees (if applicable)
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Watch the Bryan or College Station Christmas parades (December)
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Volunteer with the Salvation Army to help organize their Angels Program by sorting presents/signing them out
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Volunteer with the Salvation Army as a bell ringer around the winter holidays
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Have breakfast with Santa at Neal Recreation Center (December - ages 12 and under)
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Cheer along runners at the BCS Marathon (December)
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Attend Santa's Wonderland with BBBS
Anytime, Anywhere Activities:
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Have a picnic at one of the parks
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Visit Krispy Kreme and try a freshly cooked donut
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Try your hand at making (or going to taste) sushi
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Bake a cake (or cupcakes) and give them to someone - no reason needed
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Buy some bubbles from the Dollar Store and see who can make the biggest
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Prepare and bake your own pizza
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Rent out a free movie from the Public Library and have a watch party with popcorn
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Volunteer at the Animal Shelter
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Design a crazy pizza at Blaze or Urban Bricks
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Make Valentine’s day cards (or any holiday) for classmates, teachers, family, or friends
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Celebrate your Little’s ½ birthday (6 months) with an ice cream treat
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Use chalk and draw pictures or write friendly notes near a playground
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Visit a few different playgrounds and decide which is most fun
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Go to the library and check out a couple books to read
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Attend a HS or college basketball/football/volleyball game
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Buy a puzzle at the Dollar Store and put it together
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Plant flower or vegetable seeds and watch them grow
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Set up a birdfeeder and see if any new friends come to visit
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Take a dog for a walk in the park
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Search for some “at home” science experiments (or make some slime)
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Buy a basketball or football at Five Below and then get outside
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Celebrate your match anniversary date with something sweet
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Find a crossword, word search, or Sodoku and try and solve one together
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Show your little how to make your favorite meal (or the basics of cooking/baking)
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Go on an adventure and then go to Walgreens and print out a few pictures
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Play a new-to-you board game or a card game
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Try your hand at: fishing, canoeing, biking, jogging
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Visit a coffee shop and play chess, checkers, backgammon, or draw
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Go to the park and play frisbee
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Get into Geocaching
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Stop by a resale store (like Goodwill) and see if you can find any cheap DVDs of your favorite old movies
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Sign up for DuoLingo and try your hand at a new language - there are dozens to choose from
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Buy some hot dog or hamburger fixin’s and have a tasty grill-out
Activities for Teens (14-18):
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Look up how to apply for college scholarships & make a list of those applicable to your Little
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Learn together how to fill out the FAFSA/grant applications
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Search for local summer jobs and find out what age they can start
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Help your little open a bank account and set up a budget
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Help them make a “resume” for job and/or college applications
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Make a book of “easy recipes” after teaching your Little the basics of cooking
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Learn how to change the oil in a car - this can save both of you hundreds of dollars over time
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Set up a personal email address that they can use for years to come (with a professional name)
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Polish up a piece of writing, art, photography, or a video and help them submit it to Teen Ink magazine
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Purchase some scrap wood at Home Depot and try your hand at building something small from scratch (like shelves, a hook for keys, etc)
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Introduce them to people or places that relate to their interests for & after college
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Do a mock/practice interview for a job interview (make sure to give feedback and pointers)
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Write thank you notes to teachers/bosses/interviewers (maintain good relationships for future references)
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Practice a good handshake
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Talk about how to manage a schedule & not overcommit and how to prioritize getting work done
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Get your Little a planner
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