The month of May calls us to the great outdoors, end-of-school fun and lots of opportunity for activity. The weather is usually stellar in Central Texas during May, so take a bike ride to enjoy the blossoming wildflowers and take outdoor hikes through our many trails and city parks before the summer heat sets in. Get in some play every day!
I Am the Eggman: May is National Egg Month! Give it a twist by learning about dinosaur eggs, shark eggs and lizard eggs. Make crafts with egg cartons or scramble up a few eggs with fresh herbs and veggies.
A Splash of Confidence: May is also National Drowning Prevention Month! Before any camps or vacations, make sure everyone in your family knows how to swim and understands the importance of following basic water safety guidelines. Swimming instruction and water exercise classes for all ages and abilities are offered through organizations like the YMCA of Austin. Swimming is a skill that saves lives and will last a lifetime!
The Man in the Moon: Connect with your surroundings in a new way by taking a night hike on May 14, under the full moon. The same trail by day offers a completely different experience after sunset. Listen to the calls of nocturnal wildlife, sharpen and engage your senses and identify constellations in the sky. Bring along some wintergreen-flavored Life Savers, chew them with an open mouth and watch as sugars and wintergreen oil combine to create flashes of light! This sparkly phenomenon, known as triboluminescence, can only be seen in the dark.
On the Town: Don’t overlook the opportunities right where you live. Pretend you are a tourist arriving in town for the first time. Contact the Chamber of Commerce or National Historic Society and see all that the Austin area has to offer. Tour historic buildings, discover battles fought where you’re standing, check out monuments, statues, trees (think Treaty Oak) and high peaks (think Mt. Bonnell). Visit a cemetery to search for the oldest tombstones. Discover what makes your community so special!
Fun. Delivered Fresh Daily. 63 years of summer camp experience! YMCA of Austin Summer Camp Registration is now open. Visit AustinYMCA.org for details or call 512-236-9622 to find the locations nearest you.
