Here’s the answer to “MOM! I’m bored!”
Beverly Bryant - May 16, 2017 2:02 pm
School is almost out, and there’s a universal cry that rises once the novelty of summer break wears off: “MOM! I’m bored!”
When the younger residents of your home start whining and looking for something to do, just pull out this handy-dandy list and pick an activity or two. Keep it handy and try something new several times a week during the summer. Most of these are free or relatively low cost activities.
There are both regional parks and neighborhood parks in Ponca City — 28 parks all totaled. There are seven shelter houses and 16 of the parks have playground equipment.
There are three disc golf courses; a skate park; a dog park; nine tennis courts; a swim beach at Lake Ponca; an enclosed fishing dock as well as other fishing areas at the lake.
There’s the moto-cross track; a nature center with trails; and GOOFS Field, for radio controlled planes.
Here are all the parks that are available city wide:
- Academy Park;
- AMBUC Park;
- Attucks Park;
- Big Springs Park;
- Brentwood Park;
- Briar Ridge Park;
- Frazier Park;
- Dan Moran;
- Donner Park;
- Edgewood Park;
- Garfield Park;
- Hobo Park;
- Jaycee Park;
- Johnson Park;
- Liberty Park;
- Lake Ponca Park;
- Lake Ponca Campgrounds;
- Lake Ponca Park;
- McGraw Park;
- Nature Center;
- Pecan Park;
- Pioneer Woman Park;
- Pioneer Park;
- Ranchwood Park;
- Redbud Park;
- Sherwood Park;
- Sunset Park;
- Veterans Plaza;
- War Memorial;
- Willow Springs Park and
- Young Park.
There are six walking/jogging trails and big plans are in place to link the trails at Red Bud Park to the lake in the near future.
There are splash pads at War Memorial Park and Dan Moran, and another one being built in Young Park, as well as a water feature at the Veterans’ Plaza downtown. Another splash pad will be built this year at Attucks Park.
There’s Arts Adventure at NOC which is a week-long camp. The Art Center in Ponca City has children’s summer Art Camp.
There’s Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and the Kay and Noble Counties 4-H Camp.
Check out Camp McFadden at Kaw Lake and stop by Sun ‘n Fun. It is undergoing a HUGE renovation and will be open this summer — some parts already are open.
Try out a dance, gymnastics, or martial arts studio and get moving! Then go see the trails created by the Ponca City Mountain Bike Society at Lake Ponca, off Snake Road near Wentz Camp.
The Pioneer Woman Museum has Pioneer Family Fun Days every Saturday in June and July.
The Ponca City Library has tons of events for families and children. Sign up for murder mysteries, origami, reading programs for kids and adults. Start with Touch A Truck from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 20.
See what the Ponca City Country Club and Wentz Golf Course have to offer during the summer.
Every week in the summer, The Poncan Theatre shows free movies. The first one is Inside Out, on Tuesday, May 30, and the films show at 10 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m. Just bring snack money for the concessions stand! Here’s the whole list of summer movies, for FREE: http://www.poncantheatre.org/docs/SummerShowings2017.pdf.
There’s the Rough and Tumble Rock and Gem Club and the new Exploration Destination children’s museum on North Union.
Want something different? Check with Completely Quilted for their kids camps. Or … how about PICKLE BALL? There’s a free pickleball clinic May 23 and 24 at 6:45 p.m. at Unity Gym. It’s fun for ALL ages in the family.
Go visit the attractions — the Marland Mansion; Marland’s Grand Home; the Conoco Museum; Standing Bear Park and Museum; the YMCA; Wentz Pool; and AMBUC Pool.
Summertime is FULL of fun events in Ponca City. Here’s a list of some of them:
- The Back the Blue benefit barbecue is from noon to midnight Saturday, May 20, at the 101 Rodeo grounds.
- Bonnie and Clyde, the Musical, will be performed May 19-21 and May 26-28 at the Ponca Playhouse. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sundays.
- Cruzin Grand, the Battle of the Burger, and the Herb Festival will have the town jumping the weekend of June 2-3, along with the car/ truck show.
- The Ponca City Aviation Boosters’ Fly-In breakfast is from 7 to 10 a.m. the first Saturday of each month, so start the weekend well fed.
- The 101 Wild West Rodeo and Parade are June 10. The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Grand Avenue. The rodeo begins at 8 p.m. at the 101 Rodeo Grounds.
- Wolfstock is from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 17 at Lake Ponca. There will be live bands, bounce houses, awesome food, tons of fun for families — and dogs are welcome. There are also a car show, poker run and bike show.
Nearly every church in town has Vacation Bible School programs. Check with churches for their activities.
And if you STILL run out of ideas, here are the tried and true standbys:
- Mow the yard
- Plant a garden
- Ride your bike
- Play ball in the yard with your friends
- Read a book
- Think up a service project, like having a neighborhood fundraiser for the Humane Society …
- And if you’re really bored, clean house!
