Bring your own or rent bikes at The Biltmore.

What: The Biltmore
Where: 1 Antler Hill Road, Asheville, NC 28803
When: Come back each season for something different
Cost: The Inn on Biltmore Estate rates begin at $199
Estate Admission starts at $44 per person, Children 16 and younger receive FREE admission Memorial Day through Labor Day
Estate Admission includes Biltmore House, Gardens & Conservatory, Antler Hill Village & Winery
Photos: For additional photos visitField Trips with Sue on Facebook

A few years ago I visited Biltmore Estates in Asheville NC. Although I’ve always thought of Biltmore as a romantic getaway, or even a great girls weekend, I was surprised to find a very family friendly Biltmore Estates. With an 8,000-acre backyard, theres a little bit of something for everyone. Here is a post by Melissa Webb on the top eight things to do for families this summer at Biltmore Estates, as well as some travel deals.

Guest post by Melissa Webb
Summer travel deals at The Biltmore Travelers can plan a great summer day or getaway while stretching vacation dollars with deals at Biltmore Estates. Kids 16 and younger receive FREE admission Memorial Day through Labor Day. Dad receives FREE admission on Father’s Day, June 16. Families can also purchase a ‘Summer Family Value Package that includes admission for two adults, two children and a family dining voucher, all for $140. Regular tickets purchased at least seven days in advance receive $15 off the price of admission.

Top eight Things to do at The Biltmore this summer

A destination for rejuvenation since the 1800s, George W. Vanderbilt chose the outdoor playground of Asheville to build his family estate. In the century that has lapsed since family and friends of the Vanderbilts came for long stays at Biltmore, time has seemingly stood still. Travelers today enjoy the slower pace of summer’s backyard season in Biltmore’s 8,000-acre landscape, a space that has been preserved and perfected over time for future generations.

Rafts and kayaks are available for rent at the Outdoor Adventure Center at The Biltmore

Take the family time travelling. Visit the 250-room Biltmore House, George Vanderbilt’s dream home that he lived in more than 100 years ago. Kids stay engaged with a NEW treasure hunt through Biltmore House, as well as the sheer size of Biltmore House, the bowling alley and pool in the basement, and the massive front lawn and backyard for playing.

Have a unique adventure. Try your luck at outdoor sports like fly fishing or sporting clays, or go off-road behind the wheel of a Land Rover (our Land Rover Driving School offers courses for adults AND kids!). Go to an awe-inspiring location: the rooftop of Biltmore House. The guided Architect’s Tour takes families to the massive roof of America’s largest home for a look at architectural details, to count gargoyles, and for expansive mountain views of a spectacular backyard.

Reconnect with nature. Set out on foot on a network of nearly 22 round-trip miles of hiking trails. Or, take in views from a bike, on the back of a horse, while floating down a river, on a Segway, or a carriage ride. Go rock-skipping at the lagoon or play hide and seek among rare and native trees.

Stop to smell the roses. Biltmore’s renowned summer gardens are perfect for leisurely strolls and picnicking spots near tropical palms, roses, giant sunflowers, and colorful lily pads and koi in Italian Garden pools.

Set the kids free at Antler Hill Village. Get lost together in a maze comprised of 500 trees. Kids run and climb in the new Pisgah Playground. At the barn, explore farming life at the turn of the century and antique farm equipment. Ask inquisitive questions to our staff and play with chickens, roosters, goats, horses and sheep in the farmyard. Demos, crafts and period games available select days.

Enjoy local bands on Friday evenings June – August at Antler Village.

Embark on a tasty tour. Taste wines at the most visited winery in America (complimentary grape juice for the kids). Restaurants offer a range of options from barbeque to fine dining. Pick up a family-themed picnic from the Creamery.  And save room for the Creamery’s Winky Bar Sundae, a sweet treat for a summer day based on the Winky Bar produced by the former Biltmore Dairy.

Learn to fly fish at The Biltmore.

Rock out! Dance under the stars select summer nights during the concert series kicking off July 25. The 2013 line-up includes Heart, Sheryl Crow, Christian group Casting Crowns, the Four Tops and Temptations, the Beach Boys and comedian Bill Engvall. Local bands provide FREE entertainment Fridays June through August at the Antler Hill Village Green and Bandstand.

Make Biltmore your home away from home. Extend your visit with an overnight stay at the Inn on Biltmore Estate or with our local accommodations partners and take advantage of packages on select dates this summer.

Information on Biltmore’s summer offerings can be found at Biltmore.com. View suggested itineraries for more family travel ideas. All photos provided by The Biltmore.

I just love this photo. My head fills in the top with this cute little boy looking out to sea.

St. Simon’s Island is one of four barrier islands along the Georgia coast that make up the Golden Isles and one of my favorite beach towns. Other Islands include Jekyll Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simon’s Island and Brunswick, Ga.

St. Simon’s is a family friendly beach town, with a year round populations of about 13,000, so most businesses are open all year, rather than just seasonal, so no matter when you go, you’ll have a lot to keep you busy.

Southern schools generally get out for the summer in late May and go back in early August, so for those who don’t go back to school until after Labor Day, you may find some good deals toward the end of August.  When you go, here are five of my families’ favorite things to do on the Island.

1. Visit the Beach. Of course, who comes to a beach town without going to the beach. Erosion has taken a lot of the sand and deposited it on the East Beach area of the island, so no matter what the tide, you’ll find beach here. This mostly residential area has several public beach accesses, but you’ll be hard pressed to find parking. The Coast Guard Station on First Street has a good deal of parking, as well as public bathrooms, a small maritime museum and in season, a snack bar. If you want to visit the museum, tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids and include the St. Simon’s Historic Lighthouse downtown.
   

   The beach at St. Simon’s is hard packed sand. Perfect for riding bikes, or a good game of bocce.

2. Ride Bikes. St. Simon’s island has 30 miles of bike paths. Sidewalks are generally large, so you don’t feel like you’re riding over people. If you don’t bring your own, you can rent them at MonkeyWrenches for $15.
3. 

   Our little friend here was scouting for some left over fish on the pier.

   Go Crabbing. Purchase some cheap crab nets from the Walmart on your way onto the Island, grab some chicken necks from the local Winn Dixie and head to the St. Simon’s Island pier for an afternoon of inexpensive fun.  Crabbing not your style? A visit the pier is still worthwhile to see what the fisherman pull in or say hello to the pelican’s that wait for left over fish.

4. Visit the St. Simon’s Island Bait Shop. While there, say hello to the resident parrot. If you’re lucky, he may sit on your shoulder. You can also get a fishing license here or purchase a crab net if you missed the Walmart.
5. Play at the Neptune Park Fun Zone. At the base of the St. Simon’s Island Pier, there is a small playground. Walk less than 100 yards toward the Lighthouse and you’ll find an even bigger playground, just outside the gates to the public pool that has a splash structure for little kids and a mini-golf course. Here is more information on Neptune Park Fun Zone. The playgrounds are free. Swimming and mini-golf is $7 per person.

Get a parrot for ye shoulder at the St. Simon’s Bait Shop.

This post was updated in May 2013.

It’s summertime, which means there are lots of FREE Outdoor Movies in Atlanta. Here’s a round up of some of the places offering family friendly free outdoor movies.  Grab your low back chair, blanket and cooler of refreshing treats and head to a free outdoor movie near you! Films begin at dusk, with some locations having pre-movie activities. Know other free outdoor movie series? Send me a list sue (at) fieldtripswithsue.com.

Looking for more free things to do in Atlanta, purchase a copy of 100+ Free Things to do in Atlanta at www.fieldtripswithsue.com/100free.

Georgia Movies in the Park (Sponsored by Northside Hospital)
All Georgia Movies in the Park programs begin with a pre-movie festival one hour before the movie starts with children’s activities.

• June 7: Dawsonville (on the Beach of Lake Lanier) War Hill Park - Escape from Planet Earth
• Aug. 16: Dawsonville: Veterans Memorial Park – The Croods
• Aug. 10 – Canton @ Browns Park in Downtown Canton – The Croods
• Sept. 7 – Canton @ Browns Park in Downtown Canton – Movie TBD
• Oct. 12 – Canton @ Browns Park in Downtown Canton – Movie TBD
• Dates and movies to be announced for Alpharetta/Johns Creek at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Cumming/Forsyth and Woodstock

Made In Georgia Outdoor Movie Tour (presented by Southern Outdoor Cinema)
Free outdoor screenings of movies “made in Georgia” shown in places where they were filmed.

• May 18: Lee Street Park, Jonesboro – Smokey and the Bandit
• July 19: Dawson County Middle School – Trouble with the Curve
• Like the Made in Georgia Outdoor Movie Tour facebook page for additional announcements

Movies in the Park in Central Park, Atlantic Station 

• May Adventures and Romance - 
  • May 2, Iron Man 2
  • May 9, 50 First Dates
  • May 16, Star Trek (2009)
  • May 23, My Big Fat Greek Wedding
  • May 30, Something Borrowed
• June Action!
  • June 6, Sherlock Holmes – Game of Shadows
  • June 13, Skyfall
  • June 20, Hunger Games
  • June 27, Man on a Ledge
• July Family and a Classic - 
  • July 4, *no movie tonight – happy Independence Day!
  • July 11, Despicable Me
  •  July 18, Breakfast at Tiffany’s
  • July 25, Ratatouille
• August Laughs - 
  • August 1, Uncle Buck
  • August 8, Ghostbusters
  • August 15, The Goonies

Georgia Tech Flicks on 5th
Flicks on 5^th begins at 7 pm. FREE Popcorn while supplies last.

• June 5: Identity Thief
• June 12: Snitch
• June 19: Silver Linings Playbook
• June 26: Warm Bodies

B98.5’s B at the Movies (sponsored by Arrow Exterminators) Arrive early for fun games and prizes!

• May 18: Brook Run Park – Brave
• May 25: Drake Field – Wreck It Ralph
• June 1: Riverside Park – Wreck It Ralph
• June 8: Laurel Park – Escape from Planet Earth
• June 15: Rhodes Jordan Park – Rise of the Guardians
• June 22: Taylor Farm Park – Escape from Planet Earth
• July 27: Lillian Webb Park – The Croods
• Aug. 3: White Oak Park – The Croods
• Aug. 10: Riverside Park – The Croods
• Aug. 17: Briscoe Park – TBA
• Aug. 24: Friendship Community Park – Sandlot

Movies in the Park, Newton Park, John’s Creek GA
Come early for pre-show activities, entertainment and prizes. Movie begins at dusk and pre-show activities begin two hours before.

• June 8: Movie in the Park—Newtown Park – movie TBD
• July 13: Movie In The Park—Newtown Park- movie TBD
• Aug. 24: Movie In The Park – Newtown park – movie TBD

Movie in the Park, Norcross, Ga. 

• June 29: Lillian Webb Park – Movie in the Park – Aladdain
• July 27: Lillian Webb Park – Movie in the Park – The Croods
• Aug. 24: Lillian Webb Park – Movie in the Park – The Avengers

Movies by Moonlight, Sandy Springs, Ga. 

• Aug. 23: Sandy Springs – Movies by Moonlight – movie TBD
• Sept. 6: Sandy Springs – Movies by Moonlight – movie TBD
• Sept. 27: Sandy Springs – Movies by Moonlight – movie TBD

Popcorn in the Park, Snellville, Ga. 

• June 15: Briscoe Park- Popcorn in the Park – movie TBD
• July 13: Briscoe Park- Popcorn in the Park – movie TBD
• Aug. 17: Briscoe Park- Popcorn in the Park – movie TBD
• Sept. 21: Briscoe Park- Popcorn in the Park – movie TBD

Flicks on the Bricks, Duluth, Ga. 
Flicks on the Bricks begins with pre-show activities at 7 pm.

• May 17: Brave

Friday Night Flicks, East Point, Ga.
Friday Night Flicks begins with free kids activities around 7 pm.

• Summer 2013 Dates and Movies to be announced soon.

Movies on Main, Stone Mountain, Ga. 

• June 22: Movies on Main – Hotel for Dogs
• July 20: Movies on Main – Akeelah and the Bee
• Aug. 17: Movies on Main – movie TBD

Screen on the Green, Candler Park, Ga.
Movies begin around 7 pm or whenever it gets dark enough around the pool house.

• May 18: The Princess Bride
• May 25: Brave
• Aug. 10: Lorax
• Aug. 24: Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure
• Sept. 7: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
• Sept. 21: Field of Dreams

Special thank you to Southern Outdoor Cinema for assisting with this post.

The 25-foot tall Earth Goddess is my favorite sculpture. According to my son, her name is Gia – which he learned reading the Percy Jackson series.

What: Atlanta Botanical Gardens Imaginary Worlds Exhibit
Where: 1345 Piedmont Ave NE  Atlanta, GA 30309 | 404-876-5859
When: May – October 2013
Cost: Adults $18.95, Children 3-12 $12.95
Parking: $2 for 60 min., $1 each additional 30 min. Max of $15
Photos: For additional photos visit Field Trips with Sue on Facebook

This summer, let your children battle giant cobras, converse with elegant unicorns and travel through the treetops to seek advice from the beautiful earth goddess. It’s all part of the Altanta Botanical Gardens Imaginary Worlds exhibit on display through October.

The Atlanta Botanical Gardens Imaginary Worlds exhibit features 19 giant topiary-like sculptures of mosaiculture, a centuries-old horticultural art of covering steel forms in living plants. This exhibit was created by artisans of International Mosaiculture of Montreal and is the first time its been presented in the United States.

What Kids Like about the Atlanta Botanical Gardens Imaginary Worlds
My boys love fantasy novels. We started out following Jack and Annie on their treehouse adventures. Then we became wizards with Harry Potter, demi-gods with Percy Jackson and now, Ranger’s Apprentices. Visiting the Atlanta Botanical Gardens Imaginary Worlds exhibit is like landing in one of those fantasy novels. My favorite is the 25-foot tall Earth Goddess. With water running out of her hands, she looks as if at any moment she will slowly open her eyes and question what you seek from her. The unicorn’s mane is even more interesting than his horn and the ogre is more of a friendly giant than a scary beast. My son began jumping around fighting off the two enormous cobras, warning me not to get too close. In all there are 19 monumental living sculptures throughout the garden.

Fighting off two giant cobras can make you hungry. Good thing there is a cafe around the corner.

How do they create the sculptures for the Atlanta Botanical Gardens Imaginary Worlds exhibit?
Each sculpture is a living, sophisticated evolution of the traditional “stuffed topiary” technique. Thousands of meticulously groomed annuals are planted into soil-and-sphagnum moss filled netting covering the steel forms – hidden works of artisanship themselves – to carpet the skeletons in colorful patterns. Complex irrigation systems beneath the surface of the sculptures allow the plants to grow – and the creatures to flourish – in Atlanta’s summer heat. As the summer progresses, it will be interesting to watch the sculptures fill in and change.

About Atlanta Botanical Gardens
The Atlanta Botanical Gardens is one of my favorite attractions in Atlanta. I’ve learned more about art here, than at any museum. As with past exhibitions, Imaginary Worlds is sure to educate and please all visitors, even children. While you are there, don’t miss the Atlanta Botanical Gardens Children’s Garden. In summer, bring a bathing suit and towel to splash in the “flower shower”. Let the kids put on a show at the tree stage or just hang out in the tree fort. I have such fond memories of my boys using sticks to close all the venus fly trap plants. On my last visit, we bought a plant to bring home. It makes me smile every time I see it.

This ogre really isn’t scary. He’s more of a friendly giant, you just have to get inside his head. Which is easy, since there is a tunnel through it!

I love the unicorns mane even more than the horn.

Bring your camera. You’re going to take lots of pictures!

In addition to play equipment, each week there is a new performer at Tot Spot. Storytellers, Bubbles, or arts and crafts.

Guest post by Sylvia Bass

What: Tot Spot Atlantic Station
Where: Central Park, 1380 Atlantic Drive, Suite 14250, Atlanta, GA 30363
When: Every Tuesday April – September | 10 am -12 pm
Cost: Free! However, you will have to pay to park. All parking meters accept cash or credit cards.

Tot Spot is a toddler playtime event located in Central Park, a quaint area in the midst of Atlantic Station. It offers a little grassy area with toy houses for your toddler to run around and enjoy. There are also entertainers who show up for storybook time, bubbles, and more! Each week it’s different. The area is fenced in with someone supervising the entrance to the play area, so moms and caretakers can just relax on one of the benches and watch the children play. It is also very stroller friendly, however there are no public bathrooms, you’ll need to use one of the many restaurants located around Central Park. Tot Spot is outside, so it is contingent upon favorable weather conditions.

Parking at Tot Spot Atlantic Station
Atlantic Station is an outdoor shopping mall in Midtown Atlanta. There is limited street level parking, with a large, well lit parking deck underneath. To reach Tot Spot, park in the underground parking deck by stairwell 6 and take the elevator up to the street level, or park on the street by the California Pizza Kitchen. It was a bit difficult to juggle babies, strollers, diaper bags and keep track of my parking ticket. Atlantic Station encourages you to pay for parking at a stand alone kiosk, which is difficult with wandering toddlers. However, you can pay for parking on your way out as you exit the parking deck.

Ruthie Bass craws through the play equipment Tot Spot Atlantic Station

Eating at Tot Spot Atlantic Station
Central Park, where Tot Spot Atlantic Station is a great place for a picnic lunch. If you run out of time or just prefer to grab something on the go, there are numerous restaurants around the park including StarBucks, Moe’s, California Pizza Kitchen or the locally owned Atlantic Grill. Ikea is about a mile down the 17th Street and offers great inexpensive meals for adults and kids.

Tidelands Nature Center on Jekyll Island offers fantastic affordable family fun.

What: Tidelands Nature Center
Where: 100 S. Riverview Dr., Jekyll Island, GA 31527 | 912-635-5032
When:  Monday – Friday 9 am – 4 pm
Cost: $3 Admission to the Center. Program charges vary.
Nature Walks: $5 Adults $3 Kids 8 – 18 ($25 max per family)
Docent Lead Programs: $6 per person
Canoe Rental: $15 per hour
Guided Kayak Tours: $55 per person for a 3 hrs.
*Note: The Nature Center only accepts cash
Photos: For more photos visit the Tidelands Nature Center album

Jekyll Island is located along the coast of Georgia and is part of the Golden Isles that  also includes St. Simon’s Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simon’s Island and Brunswick, Ga. One of my favorite places to visit at Jekyll Island is the 4-H Tidelands Nature Center. They have some of the best kids programs and they’re exceptionally affordable. I recently took the kids to do a docent lead dock study and we learned about the eco-system around the dock and used nets to pull up shrimp, crabs, oysters and other sea life.

This is the second program we’ve done at the Tidelands Nature Center. In 2009, we did a program where we learned the parts of a fish to the tune of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, then created our own fish in play-dough. Four years later, we can still sing that song.

A dock study at the Tidelands Nature Center is hands on.

In addition to the docent lead programs, there is an interpretative center with lots of hands on tanks, as well as sea turtles, land turtles, snakes and all kinds of other sea life. Here’s a video I did of the Tidelands Nature Center. It looks pretty much the same. At the end, you can learn the parts of the fish too!

The Tidelands Nature Center also offers hour and a half nature walks through the beaches, maritime forests and the salt marshes of Jekyll Island. In the salt marsh, see if you can catch fiddler crabs or paint your face with some stinky, but nutrient rich marsh mud. I can’t wait to go back and take out a canoe or perhaps one of the guided kayak tours. A FourSquare tip suggested fishing from the docks around the lake behind the nature center for quiet and secluded fishing. While we were there, we saw lots of fish jumping from the water – I wonder if you tried long enough if you could just catch them in a net as they jumped!

Looking for more things to do on Jekyll Island? See our post on Five Things to do on Jekyll Island, Georgia.

This loggerhead turtle was following my son’s hand.

Before we went fishing during the dock study, we drew the different sea life on a board, acted like barnacles and stuck our head to things, and swam with the tide. The programs here are VERY well done.

Field Trips with Sue is honored to be the Blog of the Month for May!

We’re so excited to be named the Blog of the Month by The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. What a great honor. The Children’s Museum is one of our favorites for young children. The museum itself is so much fun and they always have wonderful special exhibits that engage the kids in fun learning. Don’t forget the “When I am…” cards to let you know what your children are really learning at different stages. And of course, the Target Free Tuesdays are a wonderful way to see the museum for free (and then buy a membership because you had so much fun!).

Summer Camp at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta

This is a sponsored post, however, all opinons are my own.

What: Atlanta Summer Camps at The Children’s Museum of Atlanta
Where: Luckie Marietta District | 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW, Atlanta, GA
When: One week sessions from June 3-28, 2013 | 8:30 am – 2:30 pm
Two week sessions from June 10 – 21 | 8:30 am – 2:30 pm
Cost: $200 member price, $250 non-member (After care available for $10 a day)
Two week session is $350 member, $450 non-member (the difference between member and non-member is about the price of membership)

The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, geared toward children under 12, is probably one of the best places for little learners to explore. This summer they are offering three unique summer camps. My son would love Discovery Science Camp, which is perfect for young scientists. Imaginator Theater Camp is great for young actors, and Adventure Camp is ideal for first-time campers. Fun-filled activities include science experiments, outdoor play, learning to cook, yoga for youngsters, creative play, and of course exploring the museum. Here’s the scoop on all three camps.

Campers can be dropped off like carpool, so no need to worry about parking.

Atlanta Summer Camps: Adventure Camp
Summer is made for adventure! Perfect for younger children and first time campers, Adventure Camp is designed for children to explore the Museum’s learning zones in-depth while having exciting new experiences.  Decorating camp t-shirts, creating unique crafts, learning yoga, cooking together and conducting science experiments are just some of the adventurous activities campers will experience.  Adventure Campers will also travel through the 50 states in the summer feature exhibit WEEBLES® Coast to Coast and have outdoor play in the Museum’s own backyard at Centennial Olympic Park.

Session I: June 10-14
Session 2: June 17-21
Ages 4-5 years
8:30AM – 2:30PM, Monday – Friday

Atlanta Summer Camps: Discovery Science Camp
Eureka!  Calling all young scientists to experiment, get messy, and learn through hands-on science. Using their imaginations and household items, children will develop their own hypotheses to test while being immersed in science. Creating new ideas will empower them explore the world around them.  Exploration Station – the Museum’s rolling science exhibit – will help children investigate and learn about the inner workings of their bodies including the five senses, how their lungs work and the intricacies of the brain. From making glop to taking things apart, this camp offers a jam packed week of fun for children with big curiosity.

Kids can go fishing during summer camp at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta.

Session 1: June 3-7
Session 2: June 24-28
Ages 5-9 years
8:30AM – 2:30PM, Monday – Friday

Atlanta Summer Camps: Imaginator Theater Camp
To be or not to be…there’s no question! Perfect for the youngest actors, children will join the Imaginators – the Museum’s professional troupe of actors and educators – for this sellout two week theatrical camp. Children will create their own original theatrical production by working together to learn how to create characters, write the script as a team, audition for roles, rehearse, and perform for an audience.   At the end of the second week, campers will give a special performance of their play for parents, friends, and museum guests.

Two-Week Session: June 10-14 and June 17-21
Camper must attend both weeks.
8:30AM – 2:30PM, Monday – Friday
Ages 6-9 years

*All photos courtesy of the Children’s Museum of Atlanta

 This is a sponsored post, however, all opinions are my own.

Until May 10, mention Field Trips w/Sue and campMODA will waive the $100 registration fee for LEGO Design Camp.

What: Summer Camps Atlanta: CampMODA LEGO Robotics Experience
Where: Colony Square, 1197 Peachtree St. NE, Plaza Level | 404-979-6455
When: Week long Sessions Available June 17 – August 2 from 9 am – 4 pm
Cost: Weeklong campMODA sessions cost $495 ($100 registration fee + $395 tuition)
Sign Up by May 10 and waive the $100 registration fee by mentioning Field Trips w/Sue

Like most kids, mine are huge LEGO fans. This winter, we even went to LEGOLAND Florida theme park. One of my son’s favorite activities was the Mindstorm session, where they programmed a LEGO robot. The kids were so into it, that I even posted how I wanted to find something similar closer to Atlanta. Enter campMODA, a LEGO Robotics Experience. Now the boys can program LEGO robots for a whole week and the best part is until May 10, campMODA is offering to waive the $100 registration fee for Field Trips with Sue readers. If you haven’t scheduled camp yet, this is a great deal!

At campMODA, students 6-14 years old learn basic robotic engineering, programming principals, and science, technology, engineering and math concepts while fooling around with one of their favorite toys. Your child’s natural curiosity and ingenuity will help them envision possibilities and develop innovative solutions to difficult technology problems. The following LEGO programs are offered during each session of campMODA:

• 

  Campers can design, build and program their LEGO creations at campMODA either by themselves or with the help of knowledgable counselors.

  LEGO WeDo (for ages 6-8): For children who love to build and then take their models to the next level. Working independently, kids build a model, one of 12 from the same kit, and use a computer to program their model to move and make sounds.

• LEGO NXT (for ages 9-14): Campers use the LEGO NXT Robotics system to design, build and program their robot from scratch. Students participating in NXT are guided through a hands-on experience, where they learn to write their own programs to make their robot perform specific tasks.

My son and I participated in an open house for campMODA and I had to beg him to leave. In addition to programming robots, the kids can build any number of cool LEGO sets, including Star Wars, Harry Potter and Ningago. It’s not all about LEGOs, counselors play foursquare with the kids too!

Summer Camps Atlanta: Carpool at campMODA
campMODA is on the Plaza Level of Colony Square Mall located on Peachtree Street near the Woodruff Arts Center. Counselors greet students in a carpool line, so there is no need to worry about parking or even get out of the car.

Summer Camps Atlanta: What others say about campMODA
When considering if this was the right camp for my son, I asked on Field Trips w/Sue on Facebook and responses from those who had been were overwhelmingly positive. Many said their kids loved it. One mom stated “It is well organized, has amazing counselors/mentors and inspired our son who already loved LEGOS. He has now gone the next step in programming and robotics.”

Campers can take a break from LEGOS and paint on the walls or play foursquare.

There is plenty of room to spread out and play with your creations.

Campers can put together familiar LEGO sets too. During the Open House, consolers made sure all the pieces were available for Star Wars, Ningago, Harry Potter and other well loved kits.

This morning on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta we met Popeye from Noah’s Ark. Noah’s Ark Animal Rehabilitation Center is one of the many free activities featured in Field Trips w/Sue’s book 100+ Free Things to do in Atlanta.

In less than a month, my children, like many in Georgia, will be out of school for the summer. It’s time to begin planning those lazy summer days by the pool and mixing in a few activities to get the kids away from the TV and video games. All you need to know to have a fun, and affordable summer is in the Field Trips with Sue book 100+ Free Things to do in Atlanta (hint: order online here). This morning on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta, I talked about a few of my favorite entries in the book and how you can have fun with the kids this summer for free.

In the first Field Trips with Sue segment we talked about Free Things to do in Atlanta (click the link for the actual segment) that included:

• The Booth Western Museum: located in Cartersville, the Booth is free the first Thursday of the month from 4 – 8 pm. Saddlebags are available for check out at the front desk and make the museum a hands on experience for kids. Each bag includes a booklet with references to pieces throughout the museum. There are three versions to chose from – Cowboy, Indian and Presidents. Be sure to save time for the Sagebrush Ranch indoor play space too. See our post for more information on the Booth Western Art Museum with Kids.
• 

  Discovery Backpacks are free to check out at the High Museum of Art. It’s a great way to make the museum interactive and engaging for kids.

  High Museum of Art: located in Midtown Atlanta, the High Museum of Art is free the first Saturday of every month until 1 pm for Fulton County residents and free for Bank of American and Merrill Lynch cardholders the first full weekend of the month. On Thursdays after 4 pm admission is half price. Similar to the saddlebags, the High has a Discovery Backpack loaded with interactive elements to bring your child’s museum visit to life. The High also has the Green Family Gallery play space where younger children can play.

• Atlanta Track Club’s Allcomer Track and Field Meets: These are held at Emory University on Tuesday evenings during May and June. The event is open to all ages and has different brackets that range from under 6 to adults. Participate in shot put, long jump, high jump and running races. Spectators are free. Participants are $1.

In the second Field Trips with Sue segment on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta (click the link to see the actual segment), we talked about more free things to do including:

• Geocaching at Georgia State Parks: Check out a State Parks Pass from any Georgia library for free admission to the state parks and historic sites. While you are there, participate in the free geocaching program. Geocaching is basically a high tech treasure hunt that uses a GPS to find ‘caches’ hidden within the 57 Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites. Take home a tradable cards. Save them to exchange for cool pathtags. Visit a specific number of caches and get a collectable coin.
  

  Geocaches at Georgia State Parks include tradable cards. Collect all the cards in a series and trade them in for the awesome pathtags.

• Noah’s Ark Animal Rehabilitation Center: This wildlife facility south of Atlanta gets high marks from Field Trips with Sue readers. They provide wildlife rehabilitation and when possible release the animals back into the wild. When that’s not possible, they live at the center. We visited with Popeye, a one eyed python this morning. Although Noah’s Ark is free, it does cost approximately $33,000 per month to feed the animals. This Mother’s Day, consider adopting one of these orphans and becoming their mother. Donation can be made at noahs-ark.org to become an honorary mother for animals like Chelsea the partially blind calf, Little Anne the black bear cub and deserted lemur twins, Art and Truett, among others.
  

  Kids Saddlebags are available for check out at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville.

  

  Use the Field Trips with Sue book 100+ Free Things to do in Atlanta as your fun, affordable guide to summer. Order Today at www.fieldtripswithsue.com/100free