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- Note: Be sure to confirm details ahead of your visit in case hours or opening and closing dates have changed since this blog post was created.
1. Swim and Play at Soupy Island: Soupy Island is a unique outdoor playground with a carousel, covered slide, and the best part... swimming pools! This recreation area is designed for kids 12 and under only and includes a kiddie pool (1-2 ft) and larger pool. They even serve free snack and lunch at noon (soup, crackers, and milk)!
- Open Tuesdays from 9:30am-3pm for children 8 and under, and Wednesday & Thursday from 9:30am-4pm for children 12 and under
- Opening day for 2024: Tuesday, July 9 & Closing day: Thursday, August 15
- Location: 1718 Front St, West Deptford, NJ 08086
2. Join the Farm Friends Playgroup at McCann’s Farm: Held every Tuesday at 10am, this free playgroup gives you a chance to learn about farm life and meet some cute animals! Learn how to plant seeds, check out the crops growing in the fields, play with chickens, goats, bunnies, and more!
- Held Tuesdays at 10am and the 2nd Sunday of every month from 2-4pm through the end of summer.
- 1065 Aura Rd, Elk, NJ 08343
3. Enjoy an Outdoor Family Fun Variety Show! Various South Jersey counties offer outdoor family fun shows for kids all summer long. All shows are meant to be family-friendly and range from magic to kids music to puppet shows and more!
- Gloucester County has 5 shows from now through the end of August ranging from a Dino Puppet Show, Magic Cooking show, and more! Click here for the full list of times and locations.
- You’ll also find shows on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9am at Berlin Park through the end of July. Click here to see the line-up of upcoming shows being held at Berlin Park North Park Dr. and West Broad Ave, Berlin, NJ.
4. Visit the Butterfly Garden at Red Bank Battlefield Park. Open in the summer only, enjoy this seasonal garden full of butterflies. Wander the grounds around the greenhouse for beautiful flowers and a butterfly mural. When you're done, enjoy a stroll along the river or go down to the river bank and throw rocks in the river as you watch planes take off just across the water. Finish your visit at the large nautical-themed playground.
- The butterfly house is open from Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 12:30pm.
- Location:100 Hessian Avenue National Park, NJ 08076
5. Sign up for the Kids Bowl Free Program all summer long at Laurel Lanes in Maple Shade, NJ. Sign up and get 2 FREE Games of bowling each day to kids during the Summer. This program is designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this summer.
- The program is offered from 12pm-5pm M-F from June 3-Sept 14 2024
- Location: 2825 Route 73 South, Maple Shade, NJ, 08052
6. Swim and paddle at Mirror Lake Beach: This beautiful South Jersey lake is one of the very few free lakes in South Jersey... it's free to enter, swim, and explore! In addition to free kayak, paddle board, and paddle boat rentals, you'll find a playground, basketball court, and concession stand! They also host free monthly movie nights too!
- Open Wed-Sun from 11am-5pm from June 26-Sept 2 2024
- Location: 134 Clubhouse Road, Browns Mill, NJ 08015
7. Feed the animals at the Mount Laurel Animal Hospital: Pack your carrots, lettuce, or apple slices and come on out to visit and feed cows, goats, sheep, pigs and more at this 16-acre farm attached to an animal hospital!
- The Animal Hospital is open 24/7 and the Farm is too! Probably best to visit before dark, but it's theoretically open all the time.
- Location: 220 Mt Laurel Rd, Mt Laurel Township, NJ 08054
8. Explore and play at the Rancocas Nature Center: Inside you'll find several rooms with frogs, turtles, and other creatures to visit as well as a kids play area, reading nook, and craft space with toys and more. Outside, you'll find a nature music wall, climbing stumps, walking trails, and more!
- Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12-4pm
- Location: 794 Rancocas Rd., Westampton, NJ 08060
9. Meet the animals of the Cohanzick Zoo: New Jersey’s FIRST zoo AND one of the very few FREE zoos left in the nation has so much to offer! There are over 100 animals at the zoo— our favorite were the little Fennec Foxes, named Nipper and Tripper. We also loved how relaxed and quiet our experience was— the opposite of a hectic, overcrowded zoo visit we’ve had elsewhere!
- While the zoo is FREE, make sure you leave a little donation to help support their efforts! Open 7 days a week from 9am-4pm
- Location: 45 Mayor Aitken Dr, Bridgeton, NJ 08302
10. Participate in the Little Explorers Summer Youth Program: These child-caregiver classes incorporate nature walks, demonstrations, or crafts to develop an awareness and appreciation for the environment. Each session, a different nature or science topic is covered.
- Held on Tuesdays from 10am-12pm for 3-6 year olds, and Fridays from 10am-12pm for 7-10 year olds.
- Location: All classes will be held at the Camden County Environmental Center (1301 Park Blvd, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002). Classes meet inside to introduce the theme and then head outside behind the Environmental Center to enjoy the gardens, trails, and park.
11. Attend a free playgroup at Elevate Health: Join this weekly group on Mondays to experience hands-on developmentally appropriate play led by a licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) and Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). Our class provides a nurturing environment where moms can connect, share experiences, and form meaningful friendships. Babies and young children can participate in interactive play sessions designed to enhance their motor skills, sensory awareness, and communication abilities.
- Mondays at 9am and 10am, designed for children 6 months-4 years old. Sign up here.
- Location: 204 Ark Road, Suite 103 CMount Laurel Township, NJ, 08054
12. Splash around in the Fasola Park Splash Pad: This splash pad is one of the best spots around to cool off from that summer heat! There is a small ledge around half of the splash pad for seating but that often fills up fast in the summer. So pack some lawn chairs or a picnic blanket to setup camp while your kids splash and play. Enjoy the multiple playgrounds at the park before or after your visit!
- Open Memorial Day-Labor Day from 10am-8pm daily
- Location: 12 Sycamore Ln, Deptford, NJ 08096
13. Meet tons of animals at the Cape May Zoo: With over 85 acres of exhibits, and 550 animals, you’ll have so much to explore and see from camels to giraffes to goats, cows, and more! They also have an incredible playground within the park complex that is toddler-friendly in multiple sections with baby swings too!
- While the Zoo is open 10am-4:30pm daily, the surrounding park and playground is open til dusk! ⏰
- Even though the zoo is free, they rely on donations! 💵 So bring cash to make a little donation upon entering.
- Location: 707 US-9 North, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
14. Take a visit to the Scotland Run Nature Center and Kayak or Canoe for free! The Nature Center features live animals such as snakes, aquatic ecosystems, frogs and more. Walking trails are located behind the Nature Center and also on the lake-side of the park. You'll also find a playground and picnic areas across the street and in the summer months, free kayak and canoe rentals on the weekends.
- Canoes and kayaks will be available at the Scotland Run Park beach area Saturdays and Sundays only, from June 8 through September 1. The boats are available beginning at 9 am and the last boat launch is at 3 pm.
- Location: 980 E Academy St, Williamstown, NJ 08094
15. Get up close and personal with animals at the Funny Farm Animal Rescue: Funny Farm Rescue & Sanctuary has created a home for unwanted farm animals, domesticated animals and animals with special needs to live out their natural lives. Come visit and feed the animals, some in enclosures and some just roaming the property!
- Open Sundays and Tuesdays from 8am-4pm. While free, a donation is encouraged to help support their efforts!
- Location: 6908 Railroad Blvd, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
16. Enjoy a show at the Kid's Mini Theater at the Deptford Mall: With music, dance, and storytelling, the Kid's Mini Theater is the perfect way to entertain and educate children of all ages. Plus, fun giveaways, snacks and an opportunity to snap a photo with the character. All shows are free to the public but registration is required.
- Shows are held on the 4th Thursday of every month, featuring three exciting shows at 10am, 11am, and 12pm.
- Location: 1750 Deptford Center Rd, Deptford, NJ 08096
17. Meet even more animal friends at the Freedom Farm Animal Rescue: Another great animal rescue in South Jersey. This sanctuary is dedicated to rescuing neglected, abused, abandoned or otherwise homeless animals. Come tour their 43 acre sanctuary, meet the residents, listen to their stories, and make a connection.
- They are open EVERY Saturday from 10am-2pm! Admission is always free, donations are appreciated to help us to continue to care for our sanctuary residents!
- Location: 229 Newport Rd, Cedarville NJ 08311
18. Enjoy a movie in the park (or on the beach!): Gather the family and bring your blankets and chairs to catch a free movie throughout various South Jersey counties all summer long.
- The Gloucester County schedule with dates and locations can be found here. All movies start at dusk.
- Several cities throughout South Jersey, including shore towns offer free summer movies. A full list for 2024 can be found here.
19. Take some toys and splash in the creek at Haddon Lake park: Haddon Lake Park is located in Haddon Heights, Audubon and Mount Ephraim. On the Haddon Heights side, you will find a small creek running alongside 2 playground areas. Grab some toys and some water shoes, and sit along the creek as your children splash and play in the water. Visit the playgrounds before or after your visit!
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20. Explore the trails and nature center at Batsto Village: Batsto Village is an historic site in the South Central Pinelands of New Jersey. It is known throughout the country, both for its beauty and its historical significance. Visit the Nature Center with wildlife and plant displays, as well as guided nature trips on the lake. Or visit one of the many historical buildings such as the blacksmith or farm to see how people lived back in the 1700s.
- Location: 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037
21. Splash and play at the John C Bartlett Spray Park: This County Park at Berkeley Island in Bayville, NJ has an awesome FREE spray park! There’s a large spray park area right next to a unique pirate-themed playground! There are indoor restroom facilities, shaded picnic pavilions, and room to spread out with a blanket or chairs! You could spend the day here!
- Open from 10am-6pm daily
- Location: 399 Brennan Concourse, Bayville, NJ 08721