33 Cheap or Free Summer Activities for Teens

High Tech Cheap or Free Summer Activities for Teens

According to US News, the median income for computer programmers in 2016 was $79,840… and some of those developers have nothing more than a high school diploma! Help your teen take on tech with some of these cheep and free summer activities for kids!

7. Join Apple for their Hour of Code and other learning events.
Apple offers a host of totally free summer programs for kids, teens, and the whole family. For tweens and teens they they offer the “hour of code,” which includes courses like How To: Program Robots with Swift Playgrounds, and for younger audiences (8-12) they offer Apple Camp and Apple’s Kids Hour.

8. Learn to program from home with Code School.
Okay, this isn’t one of the free summer activities for teens as Code School costs $29 a month, but they do offer a 10 day free trial. Code School offers programming tracks in a variety of languages including:

• HTML
• CSS
• Javascript
• Ruby
• PHP
• Python

And much more!

9. Join Microsoft YouthSpark.
These free summer activities for kids are offered to children 6 and up and include lessons on computer programming, 3D movie making, and more.

Creative Cheap or Free Summer Activities for Teens

Encourage your kiddos to explore their artistic side with these creative cheap and free summer activities for teens and kids.

10. Take a class at the community center.
Many community centers offer frugal art classes including sculpting, ceramics, and painting courses.

11. Discover fine art at the local art museum or school.
Thanks to Target Community Events and Bank Of America’s “Museums On Us,” your kids may be able to visit art museums and take part in their free summer programs for kids. However, some museums and schools like the Art Institute of Chicago, offer special free summer activities for teens to really develop their artistic skills. For example, at the Art Institute of Chicago teens can create art with contemporary artists, reimagine art history, and produce live events all for FREE.

12. Put on a play.
Have a budding actor or director on your hands? Have him or her visit the local community center, playhouse, or performing arts center to find out about auditioning or even helping out behind the scenes.

13. Decorate.
Unfortunately, most of the projects that would fall under this heading aren’t free summer activities for teens since you’ll need to purchase materials, but by using found objects or upcycled items you can keep the cost low! Encourage your teen to give their room a makeover (and hopefully a thorough cleaning!) this summer using easy craft projects like these DIY photo luminaries or homemade tin planters, which can also be used to organize office supplies.

14. Learn calligraphy.
Faux calligraphy, which is less formal and can be done with “normal” writing utensils can be a great free summer activity for kids. A quick Internet search will turn up tons of free learning tools and printable templates to help get them started.

15. Tackle a craft project or two.
There are plenty of frugal and useful craft projects your kiddos could tackle this summer, like this DIY Washi notebook and pencil set. Hit up Pinterest for some simply stunning inspiration.

16. Color!
Coloring isn’t just for kids anymore! Nope, this can be one of the free summer activities for teens or even adults. According to an article by the Huffington Post, coloring can stimulate areas of the brain related to motor skills, creativity, and the senses. Other sources report that it can help quiet the mind and relieve stress. Get started with these 20 free adult coloring sheets.

17. Make homemade bath and beauty products.
For teens that are old enough to use the stove or microwave without burning down the house, trying out some homemade bath and beauty recipes can be a great summer activity. They’ll further develop their ability to follow instructions while making good-for-you products without unpronounceable chemicals. If your teen struggles with acne, suggest that he or she tackle this homemade acne treatment recipe first; it’s really the best! 🙂