Looking for some affordable (FREE) fun that your kids will enjoy? Check out your local library! Each month the Cincinnati Public Library offers a ton of free activities for families.   This month we’re sharing with you some of our favorite picks with regards to their Children’s Programs. You can view the complete list of Cincinnati Library Children’s Programs here.

Keep in mind they also offer Storytimes throughout the month, you can view that list here: Cincinnati Library Storytimes.

PS. The Cincinnati Public Library is nice enough to email us their program schedules every month, but the other area library systems offer programming too:

• Kenton County Library Children’s Programs
• Boone County Library Children’s Programs
• Campbell County Library Children’s Programs
• Franklin-Springboro Library Children’s Programs
• Lebanon Public Library Children’s Programs
• Mason Public Library Children’s Programs
• Middletown Public Library Children’s Programs
• West Chester Public Library Children’s Programs

Children’s Programs at Cincinnati Public Library Branches

Mondays, August 2 & 9
Family Storytimes
Main Library Downtown, 800 Vine St., 369-6900
Summer Storytime: Lots of fun stories for everyone! Children’s Learning Center, Mondays 2 & 9, 10:30 a.m., All ages

Tuesday August, 3
Culture & Heritage
West End Branch Library, 805 Ezzard Charles Dr., 369-6026
Go Fly A Kite! Discover the cultural significance kites have throughout the world and create your own peace kite. Tuesday 3, 3:30 p.m., Ages 5-12

Tuesday, August 3
Anime
Bond Hill Branch Library, 1740 Langdon Farm Rd., 369-4445
Tween Anime, Tuesday 3, 5:00-6:00 p.m., Ages 8-12 Sponsored by the Friends of the Public Library.

Tuesday, August 10
Arts & Crafts
Mt. Healthy Branch Library, 7608 Hamilton Ave., 369-4469
Family Craft Night: Back to School Fun: Get ready for school by personalizing your school supplies. Tuesday 10, 6:30p.m., Ages 5-12 Sponsored by the Kersten Fund.

Wednesday, August 11
Bi-Lingual Storytimes
Price Hill Branch Library, 3215 Warsaw Ave., 369-4490
Spanish/English Storytime: Simple vocabulary, stories, songs and crafts. Wednesday 11, 11:00 a.m.-Noon, Ages 3-5.

Tuesday, August 17
Animals & Insects
Mariemont Branch Library, 3810 Pocahontas Ave., 369-4467
Buckeye Search & Rescue Dogs: Learn more about & meet an actual Search & Rescue Dog with Gloria Napier! Buckeye Search & Rescue is an all-volunteer organization of highly trained scenting dogs and their dedicated handlers.  Tuesday 17, 6:30 p.m., All ages

Tuesday, August 17
Cooking & Food
Avondale Branch Library, 3566 Reading Rd., 369-4440
Kid’s Cooking: Come to the library and make a yummy healthy snack. Tuesday 17, 3:00-4:00 p.m., Ages 5-12.

Today’s Groupon is one parents won’t want to miss —> $8 for Three Laser-Tag Games at Lazer Kraze ($18 Value)!  We’ve been to several birthday parties at Lazer Kraze and my boys are constantly asking me if we can go back.  You can bet this is one deal I’ll be adding to my “to-do” list.

Purchase includes choice of two locations – Deerfield Township and Erlanger.

Buy Now!

Calling all baseball fans! Next Wednesday there is a great way for you to enjoy a baseball game and help a good cause in the process.

On Wednesday, July 28, Check Your Genes will be the featured organization at the Florence Freedom baseball game at Champion Window’s Field.  For those of you not familiar, Check Your Genes is an organization that raises awareness of hereditary cancers caused by the BRCA gene mutation.  The event is being held to raise awareness and funds that support of the Check Your Genes mission: to educate the public and physicians about the need for genetic testing if an individual has a significant family history of breast or ovarian cancer.  The work that Check Your Genes is doing is important because breast and ovarian cancers are know to be hereditary and caused by an identifiable mutation in the BRCA gene, which can be discovered through a simple blood test.

A portion of the proceeds from all tickets sold by/through Check Your Genes will support the organization.  The event will include raffles and giveaways, a special selection of hand-made jewelry (made especially for Check Your Genes) and of course, a Florence Freedom baseball game.

Both Amy and I attended a fundraiser for Check Your Genes a few months ago and were extremely touched by this organization. The thought that one simple blood test could save a life… I encourage you to take 30 seconds to watch this video and learn more about Check Your Genes and the work they are doing.

Important Details:

When: Next Wednesday, July 28; game time is 7 p.m.

Where: Champion Window Field (home of the Florence Freedom)

7950 Freedom Way
Florence, KY 41042
(859) 594-HITS

Cost: $10 per single ticket* (purchased tickets can be taken to any Meijer store for a voucher for a hot dog, chips and a drink at the ballpark, for kids 12 and under)

Info: Individuals can purchase tickets online at www.checkyourgenes.org or by calling Jennifer at513-641-9756.

(* Note: game tickets are good for any Sunday-Wednesday regular season Florence Freedom home game, not just on July 28)

Here’s a fun way to help a child have a pretty cool experience –>

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Cincinnati is calling for people to vote now through July 29 on the t-shirt design for this year’s Race for the Cure. Why are we writing about this here on FFC you ask? Because three Cincinnati children have made it to the finals and one will have his or her t-shirt design used as the official Komen Greater Cincinnati Kids for the Cure 2010 t-shirt. How cool would that be!?!?

The three finalists are Caroline Ritzie (age from Hamilton,  Blake Reichart (age 11) from Hamilton and Taylor Dodge (age 11) from Cincinnati.

Online voting is open now through July 29 over on the Enquirer’s parenting site, Cincinnati Moms Like Me and winners will be announced next Friday,  July 30th. As a thank you for helping decide this year’s t-shirt, all voters will be provided a child discount for the Susan G. Komen Greater Cincinnati Race for the Cure on September 25.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s vote!

Another weekend is upon us and once again we’ve gone out searching for fun activities for greater Cincinnati families. As always, if you’ve got a fun event you’d like to share, please feel free to leave it in the comments — the more the merrier.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Does your teen enjoy cooking? If so, this Saturday from 10am-1pm the Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State is offering a class that will teach them how to prepare a 4-course dinner! Some cooking & knife skills required. Open to ages 11& up. Cost is $65; reservations required. For more information or to register call (513) 569-1643 or visit http://www.midwestculinary.com

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Saturday the Amazing Race comes to Lebanon and we’re all invited! Kicking off at the Lebanon Sports Complex, participants will take part in fun team building activities from 9am – 12pm. Organizers are asking participants to bring non-perishable food items or monetary donation with proceeds going to Lebanon Food Pantries. Open to high schoolers and older; Event registration is required. Email ahyrne5@gmail.com or call (513)702-4041 for more information.

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It’s Race time! Friday and Saturday the Crazy Cardboard Regatta takes over VOA Park in West Chester. This is sure to be a fun event. Check out post from earlier this week for complete details.

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Calling all golf fans! The Chiquita Classic comes to TPC River’s Bend in Maineville this weekend. Cost to attend is $30 for an all-event pass or just $10 per day. Event runs Friday (7:20am), Saturday (8am – 4pm), Sunday (8am – 4pm). For more information call (513)721-4653 or visit http://www.chiquitaclassic.com.

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Choo Choo! This Saturday head down to Covington and check out the Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati. Visitors can climb aboard train as well as view their amazing collection. Cost is $4 adults, $2 for children 10 & under; open from 10am – 4pm. For complete details visit www.cincirailmuseum.org or call (513) 574-7672.

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Taft Museum of Art — Sundays are Free at the Taft Museum of Art! In addition to great self-guided tours just for children & families, the Taft offers children’s labels in the permanent collection with kid-friendly descriptions of many of the artworks. Visit www.taftmuseum.org for details.

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Perhaps your child is a budding artist? Saturday from 9:30am-4:30pm Funke Fired Arts is hosting “Cartoons & Characters” pottery painting class. Registration required and is available online at www.funkefiredarts.com or by calling (513) 871-2529. Open to children ages 7-16; Cost is $85.

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Like creepy-crawly things? Then you’ll love Hamilton County Park District’s PEST FEST, this weekend at Highfield Discovery Garden (Glenwood Gardens). Free to attend, participants will learn about the role “pests and the guests” of the insect world play in our lives. Hours are Friday 10:45 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., Saturday 10:45 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m., 4 p.m. For more information call (513) 521-7275 or visit www.greatparks.org.

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Want to “go on a picnic” that’s free from ants? We’ve got two opportunities for you:

1. Newport Branch Library hosts, Picnic Time Saturday from 11am to 1pm. Event includes light lunch, snow cones and a free book. Visit http://www.cc-pl.org or call (859) 572-5035.

2.  Barnes and Noble hosts Perfect Picnic Story Time Saturday at its Montgomery Road location at 11am.  For more information visit  http://www.bn.com or call (513) 794-9440.

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Stop by Downtown Olde Montgomery Saturday from 12pm-11pm for the city’s Bastille Day celebration. Attendees will enjoy food from area restaurants, drinks a children’s game area, clowns, face painting and pony rides. Entertainment includes music by Sycamore Community Band, the Mystics, the Rusty Griswolds, Kevin Fox, Ridge Runner and Waiting on Ben. For more information call (513) 891-3263 or visit http://www.montgomeryohio.org.

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Here Ye, Here Ye! A Knight’s Tourney is coming to Loveland Castle on Saturday from 11am – 5pm! Fun includes sword fighting with the Pickled Brothers and a marketplace featuring handmade crafts by local artisans. Cost is $3; More information is available at (513) 683-4686 or visit www.lovelandcastle.com.

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Do your children enjoy doing crafts? Saturday from 1-3pm Scrap-Ink on Bridgetown Road is hosting Kids Club Krafts. Open to children ages 4-14 will learn basic elements of art, design and style.  Cost is $10; registration is required. Visit http://www.scrap-ink.com or call (513) 389-0826.

Nestled in downtown Cincinnati is the Taft Museum, a local arts gem.  Built in 1920, the Taft is not only a national historical landmark, but home to an art collection that includes the works of artists such as Goya, Ingres and Rembrandt.

What you may not realize though, is that in addition to it’s collection of art, the Taft also offers a wonderful selection of free and low cost children’s arts programs!

First will start with the Taft’s award winning Families Create! programs. These low cost programs (just $8 members, $12 non-members) invite children ages 5-12 and their parents to explore the world of art together. Participants enjoy fun arts activities tied to the Taft’s permanent collection as well as it’s special exhibits.   Families Create! programs are held on Saturdays and reservations are required.  Here’s a quick look at a few of the upcoming classes:

Saturday, July 17
Family Crests and Coats of Arms
Tell your family’s story in a coat of arms that you design and apply to a special fabric!

Saturday, July 31
From Idea to Creation
Artist Elaine Lynch will help you discover what goes on inside an artist’s head and how you can transform creative impulses into works of art.

Saturday, August 14
Architecture Good Enough to Eat!
Learn basic architectural terms and identify different materials and elements on nearby buildings. Use pretzels, graham crackers, licorice, and other goodies to construct a delectable structure.

Moving on to Sunday, a day where admission is FREE, the Taft also offers 3rd Sunday Fundays. The FREE  programs are held on the 3rd Sunday of each month (hence the name), and expose children to the arts in a fun and imaginative way.  3rd Sunday Funday offerings for the next two months:

Sunday, July 18 – Kid Detectives (1-4 p.m.)  Explore art to find clues about the lives of kids long ago, hear stories about kids from the past, make an old-fashioned craft, and play summertime games your great-grandparents played when they were children. Learn more about detective work from a Youth Services Officer of the Cincinnati Police department. Activities include self-guided tours, face-painting, art-making, storytelling, and game. Stop in when you have time and stay as long as you like.

Sunday, August 15 – The Dog Days of Summer (1—4 p.m.) The Taft Museum of Art becomes the Taft Museum of Bark! Find dogs in art, hear a story about dogs in a museum, make and decorate a pop-up puppy, and meet some real canines from the Queen City Dog Training Club. Join us for story time with Marsie Newbold, of Marsie’s Menagerie, and a visit from Rufus the Reading Dog from the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Finally, outside of its weekend programs the Taft  also offers free self-guided family tours any day of the week with themes like American history, people & places and many others.  All of the self-guided tours can be found on the Taft’s website and are available for download prior to visiting.  Here’s a quick look at two of the tours:

Art & Animals
Did you know that there are cats, dogs, sheep, cows, and goats inside the Museum? See how many you can find!

Feathers & Flowers
This tour, for ages 3 to 5, offers a fun way for even the youngest art lovers to learn about the collections at the Taft Museum of Art. Families will enjoy strolling through the gallery, searching for feathered friends along the way!

So as you can see, there is a lot going on over at the Taft when it comes to children’s programing. We encourage you to visit their website to learn more about the Taft and all it offers.

Taft Musuem
316 Pike Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 241-0343
www.taftmuseum.org

Continuing our effort to highlight local non-profit organizations that serve children and/or families in Cincinnati, we are excited to introduce you to Summerfair Cincinnati.  One of our favorite local arts organizations (Shannan used to work with them!),  Summerfair has been supporting the arts, artists of all ages and small & mid-sized arts organizations in Cincinnati for more than 40 years.   We invited Summerfair Cincinnati’s Executive Director, Sharon Strubbe, to share with us a little about the organization and how it encourages and supports young artists. After checking out this post, we encourage you to head over to their website to learn more. You can also find Summerfair Cincinnati on Facebook, here.

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For more than 43 years Summerfair Cincinnati has been supporting and promoting artists and the arts in Greater Cincinnati. Each year we work to encourage and support artists through programs including: 1) support for individual artists including grants, scholarships and exhibitions; 2) community-based art events; and 3) a nationally recognized annual fine artsfair (which is the organization’s primary fundraiser).

The effectiveness of Summerfair Cincinnati’s activities has earned us regional and national recognition including the Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau Outstanding Service Award, the Southwestern Ohio Art Education Award for Distinguished Organization and the National Association of Independent Artists Artists’ Choice Award.

At Summerfair we are dedicated to supporting and nurturing young artists through a variety of events, scholarships and exhibitions. Some of these initiatives include:

Emerging Artists: Each year local college junior and senior level art majors earn the honor of displaying their artwork in our Emerging Artist Exhibition, currently held at the Anderson Center. The Emerging Artist Exhibition features the work of students who are nominated by their professors and then juried in by Summerfair Cincinnati. These students represent the next generation of artists to emerge in the local arts community.

Scholastic Art Awards: The Regional Scholastic Art Awards ceremony/exhibit is held annually in February.  Each year, five “Best of Show” as well as 75 individual category pieces and 36 portfolios are selected from thousands of regional entries to be sent to New York City for the national competition. We provide sole funding for students’ entry fees into the competition.

Scholastics Entries Exhibit: Our high school scholarships initiative recognizes the hard work and creativity of local young artists. Since 2008, an annual exhibit of Scholastic Art Awards entries from area 11th and 12th grade art students has been displayed in March, most recently at the Anderson Center.  First, second and third place scholarships are awarded to three students and may be used towards purchasing text books, art supplies or towards tuition for freshman level college art courses or to enroll in select area art classes.  In 2010, we became a sponsor of one Visual Arts scholarship through the Overture Awards.

Overture Awards: In 2010, Summerfair Cincinnati became a sponsor of one Visual Arts scholarship in the Overture Awards program.

Summerfair’s Youth Arts Rocks!: Since its development in 1967, Summerfair, our annual arts & crafts fair at Coney Island, has become a nationally recognized event featuring more than 400 visual and performing artists. Among the multitude of activities occurring at the fair, the Youth Arts Rock! area is a special place where youngsters can channel their inner Picasso, Monet, or de Vinci. This area of the fair features hands-on activities for kids including t-shirt design and hand painted flowerpots, as well as jugglers, magicians, face painters and other kid-friendly entertainment.

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Sharon Strubbe is the Executive Director of Summerfair Cincinnati.  She has a passion for the arts, rooted in her arts education background.  She has taught K-12 visual art classes in both Florida and Ohio, as well as on the college level at UC/DAAP. She is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a degree in Fine Art (drawing) and a minor in education. She received her Masters in Art Education from the University of Cincinnati (DAAP).