1. Check for Local Freebies: Some libraries offer summer programs with coupons for local museums or even free treat coupons if you read several books for a few minutes.  Going out for free frozen yogurt or even checking out a new-to-you museum is a fun and cool way to enjoy the warmer weather together. Some local museums offer free admission on holidays like Memorial Day or July 4^th.
2. Local parks: Check out local city or state parks for free fun. Check the local website for a list of hikes recommended for different age groups. There may even be a summer events calendar – free water play day, teen park meetup day, or even a free movie in the park. If you are new to the area, ask the local neighborhood group.
3. Eat outside: Speaking of parks, why not have a change of scenery for lunch or dinner and have it outside? Pack up sandwiches or your favorite snacks, and go enjoy them on a blanket outside. Don’t forget the bug spray.
4. Playgrounds: Don’t be afraid to take kids of any age to the park. Let’s face it, being an adult on the swings is an enjoyable experience. Take the time to check out your local park, or even pack everyone up to check out a new one.
5. Fly a kite: If you don’t have one at home, consider making one Mary Poppins style. Maybe even sing Let’s Go Fly A Kite while doing it.
6. Camp Out in the Backyard: Gather up sheets, pillows, and blankets and make it a night under the stars.
7. Stargazing: Not wanting to camp out all night? Check out a stargazing book from the library and search the sky for constellations.
8. Go for a Nature Walk: Download the free app Seek and for a walk. Learn about the local plants and insects that inhabit the area. It may even give ideas for your own garden and inspire.
9. Art Day: After a nature walk, go home and draw some of what you saw. Or what you would like to plant if you had a garden space.
10.  Geocache: This free activity provides a fun way to get everyone involved on a hike or walk nearby. Start by creating a free account here to find discoveries and start to come up with ideas on what to leave behind.
11. Bubble Battle: You don’t have to buy a bubble solution; make it at home! Mix two cups of dish soap, two tablespoons of baking powder, two tablespoons of corn starch and four tablespoons of corn syrup with half a gallon of water. This will make the bubbles thicker. Bubbles are best if the solution sits overnight. Use rope, string, or old bubble wands to blow bubbles. See how far they can go or who can make the largest one. This will provide fun for those of all ages.
12.  Backyard Play: Get everyone involved in developing a family play. Perhaps Shakespeare or a family-written play. Set up a stage with sheets. Make costumes with what you have at home. This could take all day or several days depending on the depth of the play. Learning, reading, writing, and enjoying time together is a fun way. Plus, it’s all free!
13.  Scavenger Hunt: Make your own scavenger hunt in your home or backyard. You can expand it to include the neighbors or community if others are interested. Make up hints and hide items or make it about exploring the community.
14. Birdwatching: Download the free app from the Audubon Society to learn about the local birds. Hang out in a park or watch from your backyard.
15. Free Local Events: Check out your local city page for free outdoor movies, concerts or events. Sometimes local theaters offer free or cheaper performances during the day, specifically geared toward children who may not sit as well through a three-hour performance. Free outdoor movies are popular in local parks, and usually, the city website or library has this list of activities online available for review.
16. Library Day: Make it a date at the library. Sit in the air conditioning and check out new books to read. Maybe get a travel book in your area to do some hometown exploration.
17. Farmers Market: While not free, this is a cheaper outing and supports local farmers and artisans. There may even be free samples. Oftentimes, the markets are accompanied by live entertainment. If you are new to an area, this is a great way to really get out and learn about what an area offers.
18. Walk It Out: Make it a goal as a family to hit a certain number of steps a day or maybe a certain distance. If it is hot and humid where you are, plan for an early morning or an evening walk together. This is totally free and provides a planned time to be together, all while getting some cardiovascular exercise!
19. Family Cooking Challenge: While not free, use what you have at home to come up with meal plans for the week. Take turns who is cooking, ensuring the little ones have help, and make it a cooking challenge that can be the most creative or flavorful. Bonus that it takes the guesswork out of who is making dinner and what is for dinner each night.
20. Family Movie Night: Pick a movie from the streaming services or a DVD you have, and make it a plan to have movie night one night. Plan out snacks, set up comfy chairs, and make it special. Have a projector? Take the movie night outside, weather permitting.
21. Family Game Night: All those board games sitting in the closet? Pick a night a week or so to plan a game night. Don’t have access to your board games? Check to see if the local library has a section to borrow, or maybe a neighbor will loan you games!
22.  Summer Reading Programs: While not for adults, kids can participate in the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program and the Pizza Hut Camp Book It! Program. These programs have age and grade limits, so make sure you know what they are. The Barnes and Noble program allows children to pick out a free book, and the Pizza Hut program gives coupons for personal pan pizzas – just like when we were kids!
23. Sidewalk Chalk Adventures: Everyone in the family gets a piece of chalk or two to make masterpieces. Draw out hopscotch to play together. Draw out the scenery on the driveway. Bonus that the neighbors or passersby will also enjoy the drawings.
24. Virtual Adventures: Look for online virtual adventures. The San Diego Zoo has live cameras on various animals in the zoo, where you can watch and enjoy. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has live cameras too, and some are set to music for pure visual and audio ambiance. Home Depot offers virtual field trips talking about plants, and various ideas, including Backyard Ideas for kids and how to build a birdhouse.
25. Plan Ahead: Make a plan for the fall on things to do. Check out the library for books if you want to travel. If you need to budget for that travel, get the family involved – maybe it is time to sell some outgrown kids’ clothes, and that money can be given to the kids for spending money. Or maybe you want to declutter for the fall and winter, and it’s time to make some larger donations of goods to a local charity. Summer is all about time off, relaxation, and breaks, but it is also a good time to plan ahead for the fall and winter seasons. Don’t forget to look out for tax-free school supply days, state-dependent, when you can purchase school supplies, kids’ clothes, and even electronics without tax to save money for the upcoming season.

These are twenty-five free or cheap things to do this summer. Which ones will you do?

PCS season means that about one-third of military service members and their families will crisscross the nation and travel around the world to their new duty stations this year. Most of these moves happen in the summer, and if you are moving in May or June this year, then you will be spending July 4^th in a new town and city. Take this opportunity to get out and embrace your new home on July 4^th.

Jump In!

Once arriving at your new duty station, ask around for what there is to do on July 4^th.  Ask the hotel manager if you are staying a hotel while waiting for housing or ask your new neighbor if you were lucky enough to do a door to door. Check out local neighborhood social media pages or check a neighborhood community board. Find out about local happenings for the month of July – there might even be a neighborhood potluck. While you may not have all your household goods to fully participate in the potluck, consider grabbing some precut fruit or veggies to bring so you can meet the neighbors. Chances are those neighbors can give you the inside scoop on the house you just moved into, and into the area. This is your chance to learn from people who may have been residents for years – who are the best dentists, medical providers, daycares, and babysitters are.

Get Local

Beyond your neighborhood, check to see if there are local happenings at your local library. Perhaps there is a kid’s craft event, or a special book sale for the 4^th of July. Maybe there is a big end of the summer reading program kickoff coming up, and you will want to check it out to familiarize yourself and your family with what library programming is offered.

Local museums sometimes due special admission tickets for the July 4^th weekend – check them out as a way to learn what is offered in your area to make the best “duty station bucket list” possible.

Parade!

If your new town is having a parade, make it a priority to go. The parade typically showcases local businesses who actively support the area and is a great example of the community spirit. There may be a boy scout troop walking, so you note that in your phone for later.  There may be amazing bands showcased that you want to check out later, or maybe even a float with a symphony that you didn’t know was around town – but now you do so you can add it to your bucket list! The parade itself is a great way to take a break from unpacking and organizing, spend time together, and learn a little about the area.

Fireworks!

As long as no one has issues with loud sounds, this is a great way to get free entertainment for the family and get out of the chaos that is moving. If you have a family member who does not enjoy the loud sounds, make sure to know when and where it is so you can avoid any of these noises. The last thing anyone in a stressed out, PCS family needs is another reason to be stressed out.

Grow Roots

If you jump into the festivities once arriving, this helps your family plug in and put down roots early. The military can move military service members at any time, and while the family can opt to stay put, if you move as a family unit each time it is important to plug in as soon as possible. The July 4^th holiday is a great time to jump in as there are typically many different types or events to choose from, and you can take your pick at what suits you and your family’s needs.

If you are moving this summer, or perhaps it is your first summer at your new duty station, it is time to jump in and find those fun July 4^th events! Building connections with your community is a great way to get plugged in, and quickly.

Did you get a pay change in January of 2023? Then you may have qualified for the basic needs allowance (BNA). January 2023 is when the basic needs allowance was implemented for service members with dependents who completed initial training and whose gross household income falls below 130% of federal poverty guidelines.

It is no shock that with rising inflation and rising home and rental prices across the nation, it is not surprising that the military is looking for ways to provide basics to their service members. Many of these families are military service members.  The Basic Needs Allowance is a supplemental monthly payment for service members with at least one dependent who is registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS. In order to qualify, the service members’ gross household income in the previous year and the current year’s annualized gross income falls below 130% of federal poverty guidelines. The poverty level is not one specific number but is calculated by the number of people in the family. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 130 percent of the poverty line for a family of three is $2495 a month, or about $29,940 a year. More people in the family means that the annual income could be higher overall, but they still meet the poverty level guideline.

Each military service branch reviews each service member to determine if there is eligibility. Each service branch also has applications for Basic Needs Allowance. If you or someone you know is looking to apply for Basic Needs Allowance, ask your administrative shop or unit leaders for the application process.

The amount of allowance is to cover the difference between wages to the poverty guideline. For example, if a service member’s income is $300 below 130% of the federal poverty guideline, they would receive $300. This income is considered taxable. Because it is taxable income, it may affect eligibility for other programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Before applying for BNA, service members are encouraged to talk to base groups like New Parent Support, who may be able to help determine its effects.

This allowance will be approved annually, so to continue to receive it year after year, service members must reapply. If the family size changes, a PCS occurs, or a raise occurs, the eligibility will be re-evaluated.

It is noted on the DFAS page that BNA is optional. Service members can not apply or also decline the allowance.

Specific service contact information:

• Navy – https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/References/Pay-Benefits/NC/
• Marine Corps – https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/webcenter/portal/MPO/pages_compensation
• Air Force – Contact the Total Force Service Center, email: afpc.dp1ssb.specialpays@us.af.mil
• Coast Guard: email: Compensation@USCG.mil
• Army: no current contact information available

Show Appreciation

There are many ways to show appreciation for those who lost their lives in military service on Memorial Day. Check-in with Veterans of Foreign Wars and local cemeteries to see if there are local cemeteries in your area that could use help with wreath and flag laying. Arlington National Cemetery is home to the Tomb of the Unknown, which is guarded every day with a wreath laid in front of it.

Donate to Memorial Day Flowers, supporting flowers being laid on Memorial Day.

The Veteran Affairs Organization National Cemetery Administration typically hosts public Memorial Day ceremonies in national cemeteries on Memorial Day. Volunteers can place flags in front of Veteran headstones in the days prior to Memorial Day. There are more than 120 national cemeteries across the nation. Check for events near you here.

Plan ahead and support Wreaths Across America. Wreaths are laid every December through this organization. You can donate year-round with funds and offer to volunteer to lay wreaths at the cemeteries across the country in the month of December as part of National Wreaths Across America Day.

Learn

Plan a trip to a local history museum to learn about the history of your area and America. Learning about what has happened and what lead to those activities shapes understanding.

Check out a National Park near you to learn and experience the history of the park.

Wear a Poppy

The red poppy came to symbolize the blood shed during wartime battle described in the poem In Flanders Fields by LT Colonel John McCrae. Wearing the poppy is a symbol of remembering those who lost their lives in military service. If you don’t have a poppy to wear, fashion one out of paper to wear in honor.

Celebrate Together

When military service members serve overseas, they are doing it for their family and their country. They want to protect their family members from harm.  Like Steve Rogers said in Captain America when Dr. Erskine asked him why he continued to try to serve despite being told no many, many times. “I don’t like bullies. I don’t care where they’re from.” Service is not for themselves. When a military member passes, they don’t want their loved ones to stop celebrating. Memorial Day is a day to reflect on the losses of America, but it is also a time to celebrate what we do have. Get together for a meal with your friends. Plan an elaborate barbeque if you want to. Don’t avoid it, do it in the service of remembering them and celebrating their life.

Watch the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS. The 90-minute concert is a combination of tributes and performances. Avid military supporter Gary Sinise will perform along with the US Navy Band Sea Chanters, The US Air Force Singing Sergeants, the US Army Chorus, and the US Army Herald Trumpets.

Spring will quickly turn to summer, which means the height of PCS season will soon arrive. Each year, more than 400,000 service members and their families move from one duty station to the next.  There about 1.2 million military children, and while they are not all moving each year, about one-third of them move in a typical year. If your military family is facing a move with kids, help your children prepare for the military move with these tips.

Tell them early.

This one is key. Telling the children allows for processing in their own time. Just as adults need time to process this news, children do. It helps them decide how to share this information. Some children choose not to share this with their friends to avoid being shunned way before the move, as has happened to them. Some children decide to share the news to plan to stay connected with their friends.

Younger children, those under 5, probably do not know what to do with this information or will do or say anything different. This tip is most important for school-age children.

Give them Ownership

Military children move from their schools and homes at the whim of the military. The frequent moves and changes that are not something they oversee can lead to feelings of frustration and defeat. Help them by giving them something to remain in charge of – packing their suitcase and backpack. Give them something that will be their own that they can oversee. This is age dependent. If your six-year-old only packs underwear, you may want to help guide them, but this will give them power over some of the change.

Involve Them

Another age-dependent activity, but involve them as you can. If your teen can help pack up books, or your middle schooler can sort through clothes with their siblings to determine what can be donated, give them that task. This enables you to remove a task from your to-do list, which will, in turn, give you more downtime together as a family. It also gives them a job as part of the move.

Ask Them

Ask them about their feelings and opinions. Check-in days and weeks after the move to discuss their feelings and concerns. Value their time and their feelings. According the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, moving frequently impacts children’s psychological well-being and social relationships. By talking about these feelings, validating their concerns, the stress of the move can lessen. While nothing can make the stress of moving completely disappear, being open as a family about the feelings and concerns is key to maintaining a solid family relationship.

Create a PCS Binder

This one is a favorite of ours. After talking to the kids about the move, we create a binder together. Plans for the new home, house hunting must-haves, the new school info (if you know it), travel plans. Everyone is involved in what goes in the binder. Check out the tourism website for the new location, as there are sometimes sections of the website specifically for children with coloring sheets or ideas on what to explore when you arrive. This creates excitement about the move, in addition to the sadness and trepidation they may feel.

Plan Ahead

Find similar activities that your kids enjoy at the new location. Find a new studio with similar training or activities if your child does ballet. Find the new soccer or baseball league. Reach out to the organization to check on when their schedules come out for the next year when tryouts or auditions occur. Let your kids know what you found. It provides another thing to look forward to with familiarity with what they have enjoyed in their home.

Plan for Fun

Find something fun you want to do as a family once you arrive. While breaking away from the boxes is difficult, time together exploring a new area is valuable. Find a museum, park, or restaurant to check out a day or two after arrival. Checking the new location will build interest and connection in the new home. 

Create a PCS Bin

Pull out several special books or toys for each child and put them in a bin that will be packed at the last minute. If you are moving across the country or OCONUS, save an item or two to move along with them. If you are moving door to door, have the larger items packed last or stay in the car for the drive. The constancy of their favorite things will be a comfort. 

Keep Routines

Whatever routines you can keep, do. Keep naptime the same for younger children. Keep the bedtime routine as similar as possible for children and adults. While the location may change, the consistency of the same routine will help with the adjustment for the packing, moving, and new home.