DFWChild June/July 2022 by DFWChild

PRIVATE, PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOL LISTS J U N E / J U LY 2022

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

summer fun

350+ PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO

FUN LOCAL FACTS

A place where you can grow! Grow friendships. Grow community. Grow in your relationship with God.

There’s a place for your whole family at Gateway Church! Your kids will have a blast in our kids and students ministries while they learn about Jesus’ love for them. You’ll also have a chance to connect with other parents and be encouraged in our groups and classes.

Join us this weekend at one of our campuses! gatewaypeople.com

pages / J U N E / J U L Y

2022

FEATURE PLACES TO GO 8 Artsy Experiences

Where to see masterpieces and create your own

9 Beat Brain Drain

Keep your kids’ minds engaged with these smart spots

14 Foodstuffs

Delicious eats at farms, farmers markets, sweet shops and more

16 Game Stops

summer fun ➽ ABOVE // Hook’s Lagoon at SIX FLAGS HURRICANE HARBOR

Bowling and mini golf to escape rooms and rides

20 Good Sports

Don’t let the kids sit on the couch; sports and other active fun await

24 Happy Trails

Go trekking through time and distance via trains, downtown squares and more

28 Natural Wonders

Explore a world with less cement and more scenic views

32 Playtime

It’s what a child does best—so let the play begin at these varied locales

34 Water Babies

SPECIAL SECTIONS DFW COUNTIES + SCHOOLS 45 Collin County / What to Know 46 Collin County Private Schools 49 Dallas County / What to Know 50 Dallas County Private Schools 53 Denton County / What to Know 54 Denton County Private Schools 55 Tarrant County / What to Know 56 Tarrant County Private Schools PHOTOS COURTESY OF HURRICANE HARBOR; ISTOCK

60 Dallas-Fort Worth School Districts 61 Charter Schools in DFW

ON THE COVER

Summer plans are no sweat when you chill at one of these aquatic destinations

38 Wild Things

Indulge your kids’ innate love for the animal kingdom

DEPARTMENT PLAYBOOK 65 Things to Do 30 events for more family fun in June and July

COLUMN 65 Hello / Memories in the Making When the final bell rings, the fun begins words Alexis Patterson

Genevieve, 5 1/2, Southlake Photography: Cindy James/Alyssa Pizer Management Clothes: Lilly Pulitzer store, Dallas Hair/makeup: Gary Parson/Kim Dawson Agency DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

hello / E D I T O R ’ S

NOTE

memories in the making

Believing in the Limitless Potential of Girls

Learn why an all-girls school inspires confidence WWW.HOCKADAY.ORG The Hockaday School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin.

ABOVE // Alexis Patterson and her family celebrate a victory at The Escape Game’s Playground room at Grapevine Mills.

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HE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL brings about a pretty magical feeling in a kid. All the stress of homework, grades and early bedtimes instantly melts away with that final bell. For parents, though, the last day of school can be the start of stress. How are we going to keep our children busy, entertained and engaged for 83 whole days (in my district, anyway), while trying to keep up with all our grown-up responsibilities and chores? Here at DFWChild, we may not be able to adjust your work schedule or make the laundry disappear, but we can help with your family’s activity agenda. In fact, that’s one of our specialties. Our team has assembled a guide to hundreds of destinations across Dallas-Fort Worth—and more for a quick road trip—so you can give your child a mind-stretching, heart-pumping, funinducing summer. Whatever your kid’s personality and age, there’s something here they’ll love. My son loves escape rooms, and I was excited to find new spots where he can solve puzzles and crack codes. There’s also plenty of things listed here that he has never tried, and I now have plenty of ideas to help him develop new hobbies and interests. Many of the activities we found will appeal to moms and dads, too, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to bond. In addition to our 2022 summer fun list, this issue includes other resources for parents: our comprehensive private school listings, a map of public districts across the area, and a compilation of charter school options—because while kids are focused on the carefree days ahead, we parents know that the upcoming school year is really just around the corner. I hope you’re able to use the information in these pages to create many happy memories. While work and laundry can feel urgent, seeing our kids explore and play is what really matters.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXIS PATTERSON

Cheers!

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

PUBLISHER/ A D V E R T I S I N G D I R E C TO R Joylyn Niebes A S S O C I AT E P U B L I S H E R / E D I TO R I N C H I E F Lauren Niebes E D I TO R I A L Managing Editor Alexis Patterson Contributing Writers Ashley Hays-Weaver Emily McDaniel D I G I TA L Digital Manager/ Publishing Coordinator Susan Horn Web + Calendar Editor Elizabeth Smith ART Art Director Reneé Higgins ADVERTISING Account Executives Alison Davis Nancy McDaniel Advertising Coordinator Isabel Pisani A D M I N I S T R AT I O N Business Manager Leah Wagner Office Manager/Bookkeeper Ann Mathai

TEXAS TWO-STEP

WATER 2X A WEEK OR LESS It’s up to all of us to keep the water towers full. The best thing you can do is use your sprinklers twice a week or less. Watering twice a week,

HOW TO CONTACT US: Address: P.O. Box 2269 Addison, Texas 75001 Phone: 800/638-4461 or 972/447-9188 Fax: 972/447-0633 or 972/447-0425 Online: dfwchild.com DFWChild is published bimonthly by Lauren Publications, Inc. DFWChild is distributed free of charge, one copy per reader. Only authorized distributors may deliver or pick up the magazines. Additional or back copies are available for $2 per copy at the offices of Lauren Publications, Inc. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. We cannot be responsible for the return of any unsolicited material. DFWChild is ©2022 by Lauren Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission prohibited.

even in the summer, will keep your lawn healthy and save thousands of gallons. And if it rains, turn your sprinklers off. Find more water saving tips at WaterIsAwesome.com and let’s keep those towers full.

WATERISAWESOME.COM DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

OUR CHILDREN’S DELIGHT WAS PALPABLE ON THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL. Sun, fun and possibility stretched before them—and DFWChild’s Summer Issue is here to keep that excitement going. You can banish any trace of boredom in your household with our collection of places to go in Dallas-Fort Worth (and beyond). From artmaking and animal encounters to planetariums and presidential history, these destinations offer something for every kind of kid. Peruse these pages and start planning your best summer ever.

= PROGRAMS OR ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

Art museums, art studios and outdoor art destinations

Art Museums The AMON CARTER MUSEUM OF ART lends a hand in focusing your kid’s attention by offering activity tote bags to use during your visit (available at the information desk) and activities at the Family Pop-up Space on the second floor. Be sure to register in advance for the monthly programs for every age group, from babies on up. Admission is always free, so come see the three new exhibitions debuting this June. Fort Worth, 817/738-1933; cartermuseum.org Art appreciation begins with hands-on art creation, and the DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART is a great place to 8

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

start. Register for the many classes and workshops held in the museum’s Center for Creative Connections (C3), a dedicated studio space with art-making programs tailored to each age group—babies, toddlers, children, teens and adults. And that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Plus, general admission to the museum is free. Dallas, 214/922-1200; dma.org The KIMBELL ART MUSEUM is a must-visit. Now approaching its 50th anniversary, the Kimbell is renowned as much for its art collections as its architecture, with buildings designed by Louis Kahn and Renzo Piano. To help your kids connect with the art on view, pick up a family guide (each themed around animals, landscape, portraits or sculpture) from the Piano Pavilion education studios. Fort Worth, 817/332-8451; kimbellart.org In the heart of the Fort Worth Cultural District stands the MODERN

ART MUSEUM OF FORT

WORTH, an elegant building of concrete, steel and glass and a clear-as-glass reflecting pool. Come discover works on view, all circa the 1940s to the present, by joining a kids’ drawing program or dropping in on weekend for a docent-led tour. Fort Worth, 817/7389215; themodern.org

Show kids that art extends beyond the canvas at

NASHER SCULPTURE CENTER. Its indoor galler-

ies and garden showcase stone, bronze and metal sculptures by Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin and Joan Miró (her Moonbird is a kid-favorite) as well as celebrated contemporary artists. See them all in person during Free First Saturdays, when educators lead kid-focused art activities that exercise and inspire your kids’ creativity. Dallas, 214/242-5100; nashersculpturecenter.org

Art Studios Think outside the crayon box at CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE, where kids

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT LAPRELLE, KIMBELL ART MUSEUM; JENNIFER SHERTZER; JUNE PARKER

ARTSY EXPERIENCES

can create and play with melted wax, Model Magic dough, watercolor paints, sidewalk chalk and digital interactives at more than two dozen activity stations. Plano, 469/642-2901; crayolaexperience.com What can you do at OIL AND COTTON? A better question would be what can’t you do. Sign up your kids or teens for the many workshops for drawing, painting, collage, self-portraiture, polymer clay, weaving, cloth dyeing, calligraphy—even instrument and song-writing lessons at the art studio’s new location just west of downtown Dallas. Dallas, 972/373-4528; oilandcotton.com

art

At PAINT MY POTTERY, you can not only paint your pottery but also make it from scratch. Pottery-togo kits with glaze, brushes and paint palettes are also available. Offerings vary by location. The Shops at Willow Bend, Plano, 972/371-8539, and Market Plaza, Plano, 972/800-5977; paintmypottery.net Inside the splatter room at PIPE & PALETTE, now located at a new and larger storefront inside The Shops at Willow Bend, slip on a pair of goggles and go crazy with paint (without getting in trouble). You can also book workshops for fluid art, hand lettering, pottery, even for making spoon jewelry. Mommy & Me or Daddy & Me classes are also available Mondays through Wednesdays. Plano, 972/482-0755; pipeand palette.com

Outdoor Art Have you discovered the new AT&T DISCOVERY DISTRICT? The technology-focused entertainment destination in downtown Dallas boasts a 104-foottall media wall, an LED-lit globe (it’s a 3D version of AT&T’s logo) you can walk through and immersive exhibits inside the “AT&T Experience Store.” Dallas; discoverydistrict.att.com BISHOP ARTS DISTRICT—

emphasis on the Arts—in Oak Cliff is one of the most charming neighborhoods in Dallas, thanks in part to its collection of murals. Check out “Bat Girl” by local Steve Hunter (at 313 N. Bishop Ave.) and several more on the walkable West Seventh Street. Dallas; bishopartsdistrict.com For admirers of the strange and unusual, go see the EYE that looks out from a garden near the posh Joule Hotel in downtown Dallas. The 30-foot-tall fiberglass orb—an exact replica of artist Tony Tasset’s own eyeball—is mesmerizing. Dallas; thejouledallas.com Appropriately named

INSPIRATION ALLEY, this Instagram-worthy alleyway that anchors the Foundry District is another spot that’s the perfect backdrop for snapping family pics. Visit on any day to see colorful, ever-changing murals. Fort Worth; thefoundrydistrictfw.com

Go online to download the map for the PLANO ART WALK for a self-guided tour around the city. You’ll experience sculptures, murals, historic structures and other artworks at about two dozen locations, like the Echowave in downtown. The download includes questions and prompts, too, to help your kids engage with the works. Plano; planoartwalk.com If you’ve ever driven past Fort Worth City Hall and noticed the bright yellow sculpture twisted into a beautiful ball, that’s TABACHÍN RIBBON, created by the late Mexican artist Yvonne Domenge and donated to the city in honor of Fort Worth’s Hispanic heritage. Swing by this summer to take a closer look at the 13-foot-tall circular sculpture whose shape was inspired from the evergreen Tabachín tree that grows in Domenge’s native Mexico and in the Rio Grande Valley. fortworth.com Kids who love their teddy bears will get a kick out of the larger-than-life-size TEDDY BEAR STATUES

carved from stone, located at the serene Lakeside Park in the posh Highland Park neighborhood and overlooking Turtle Creek. Take a stroll across the footbridge at 4601 Lakeside Drive to have a look-see at the 10-foot-tall momma bear and her three bear cubs nearby, each frozen in a state of play. Feel free to crawl (carefully) on the bears. Highland Park; hptx.org More than 150 artworks and contemporary sculptures that make up the

TEXAS SCULPTURE GARDEN

are on view both inside and outside HALL Park, a business development (and the future home

of a widely expanded park and performing arts center). Frisco, 972/3771100; texassculpturegarden.org Commissioned by DART and built by local creatives Brad Oldham and Brandon Oldenburg, THE TRAVELING MAN is a series of three stainless steel, smiling robots in Deep Ellum. You can find them each along Good Latimer Expressway near the Deep Ellum Station: Awakening (the tip of his head emerging from the ground), Waiting on a Train (lounging, strumming a guitar), and Walking Tall (mid-stride at 40 feet tall and a steel bird perched on his arm). Dallas; dart.org

learn about early North Texas aviation history. Fort Worth, 855/733-8627; fortworthaviationmuseum.org Step into a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 at the FRONTIERS OF FLIGHT MUSEUM alongside Love

Field. In all, there are more than 40 air and space vehicles and over 35,000 artifacts, such as Leonardo da Vinci’s parachute model. There’s also a play area your littles will love. Dallas, 214/350-3600; flightmuseum.com Take a trip down the runway as you enter HENRY B. TIPPIE NATIONAL AVIATION EDUCATION CENTER. Kiddos will

BEAT BRAIN DRAIN

Keep all kinds of learning going

Aviation You’ll see original aircraft from World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War at the CAVANAUGH FLIGHT MUSEUM. Military trucks and armor are also on exhibit. Addison, 972/3808800; cavflight.org

learn the meanings of the different markings on the runway, then continue on to hands-on STEM activities in a hangar that also houses WWII aircraft. Dallas, 214/330-1700; flynaec.org If you happen to own an aircraft, you could fly into the VINTAGE FLYING MUSEUM—which is inside a hangar at Meacham International Airport. (Cars also welcome.) There are nearly two dozen rare and historic aircraft, plus memorabilia and artifacts. Fort Worth, 817/624-1935; vintageflying museum.org

learn

Kids will enjoy trying out flight simulators, stepping into a real cockpit and even playing on an evacuation slide at CR SMITH MUSEUM. The museum near DFW Airport also explains the history of American Airlines. Fort Worth, 682/2789085; crsmithmuseum.org Check out the outdoor aircraft “petting zoo” at the FORT WORTH AVIATION MUSEUM. You’ll see all

types of warbirds, jets and helicopters as you

Bookstore Storytimes Encourage your child’s love of reading with twice-weekly storytime at INTERABANG BOOKS. The events begin at 10:30am Wednesdays and Saturdays and include a craft before reading time. Dallas, 214/484-4289; interabangbooks.com

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

FUN 2022

FIREFIGHTERS MUSEUM. You’ll see a steam engine from 1884, engines from the 1920s and more materials and equipment from over the years. The museum also promotes a child-geared fire safety program using an animated, virtual house. Dallas, 214/821-1500; dallasfiremuseum.com

in Fort Worth’s Cultural District with storytime each Tuesday and Friday at 10:30am. Other programs encourage “older” young readers to think about what they’re reading and participate in riveting discussions. Fort Worth, 817/489-5747; monkeyanddogbooks.com

Cowboy Museums & Attractions Mosey on over to the FORT WORTH STOCKYARDS. In addition to the twice daily cattle drive with longhorn and real cowboys, your littles will love the Cowtown Cattlepen Maze, the Stockyards Barnyard Petting Corral and the kid-friendly mechanical bull. Fort Worth, 800/433-5747; fortworthstockyards.org Celebrate women past and present at the NATIONAL COWGIRL MUSEUM & HALL OF FAME. You’ll

SELF-DISCOVERY

Encourage your children to learn about themselves this summer at HOUSE OF SHINE. This interactive center is part experiential lab and part workspace. The goal is to help visitors discover their “SHINE” (strengths, hobbies, interests and irritants, needs and experiences) and how they can contribute to their community and the world. Special events include storytime, journaling and crafts. Grapevine; 817/601-8850; houseofshine.com

tion, a 1933 Cadillac owned by Amon G. Carter, take pictures in the “old-tyme” photo parlor and more. Fort Worth, 817/626-7131; tchof.com

Cultural & Diversity The AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF DALLAS is devoted to preserving and displaying African American art, culture and history. Visitors can experience Facing the Rising Sun, an exhibit telling the story of the area now known as Uptown and once called Freedman’s Town, and see one of the largest African American folk art collections. Dallas, 214/565-9026; aamdallas.org

Adorned with bright, vivid colors, the LATINO CULTURAL CENTER highlights Hispanic and Latino culture and art. Come June 15 for loteria, a bingo-like game with colorful images. Dallas, 214/671-0445; lcc. dallasculture.org

learn get to know the women who, through resilience and determination, helped shape the west and its culture. Sacagawea, Georgia O’Keefe, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Annie Oakley are all featured. Fort Worth, 817/336-4475; cowgirl.net With a visit to the NA-

TIONAL MULTICULTURAL WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, kids can get a full

perspective of the people and activities that shaped the American West. For example, there are exhibits highlighting the Buffalo Soldiers, Tuskegee Airmen, the Vaquero and Native American chiefs. Fort Worth, 817/534-8801; nmwhm.org Do your kids love the rodeo? Check out the TEXAS

COWBOY HALL OF FAME, which has a massive display of rodeo mementos. Along with learning about over 100 pivotal cowboys and cowgirls, you can also see the Sterquell Wagon collec10

The DALLAS HOLOCAUST AND HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM was founded by

local Holocaust survivors. You’ll see haunting artifacts such as concentration camp uniforms and pictures, a railway car used to transport prisoners and propaganda used by the Third Reich. The museum also teaches visitors about the courageous, upstanding individuals who paved the way for significant changes in society. Due to mature themes, the museum encourages visitors to be age 12 and older. Dallas, 214/741-7500; dhhrm.org

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

OPPORTUNITY PARK is

a 20-acre green space with usual park features (such as a playground and trails) and art installations highlighting local African American figures and history. Head to the gray cylindrical structure, where you can read through plaques, and the tall metal poles, where you can listen to voices of notables such as Woodie Culton, Erykah Badu and Judy Lott. Dallas, 214/6704100; dallasparks.org The SOUTH DALLAS

CULTURAL CENTER celebrates Black contributions to world culture. Ongoing programs include dance experiences, a means of self-defense that is rooted in culture, and visual art galleries. Dallas, 214/6710727; sdcc.dallasculture.org

Firefighter Museums Learn about firefighter gear, fire safety and firefighter history at the DALLAS

Go on a journey from the past to the present at the

DENTON FIREFIGHTERS MUSEUM. You’ll see an

authentic hose cart from the 1800s, a 1935 ladder truck, as well as uniforms, helmets, fire extinguishers and other gear from various decades. Denton, 940/3498840; cityofdenton.com

Historical Experiences Happy 176 birthday, Denton County! Experience the area’s rich history at the th

COURTHOUSE-ON-THESQUARE MUSEUM. There’s

a collection of artifacts from the county’s past; kids will especially enjoy the vintage grocery store exhibit. Denton, 940/349-2850; dentoncounty.gov Experience what life was like pre-smartphone at DALLAS HERITAGE VILLAGE. The 20-acre site includes a large collection of 19th-century homes and buildings, moved there from throughout North Central Texas. Dallas, 214/421-5141; dallasheritagevillage. org

Explore 27 acres and 175 years of local history at

FARMERS BRANCH HISTORICAL PARK. Check

out over a dozen structures, such as an old schoolhouse, general store and railroad depot. This summer, enjoy lawn games, sidewalk chalking, kite flying and an exploration of jobs of the past. Farmers Branch, 972/4060184; farmersbranchtx.gov Trace how a fast-growing city came to be what it is today at FRISCO HERITAGE CENTER. Show your kiddos a turn-of-the-century printing press, an early 1900s parlor replica and the Frisco Railroad Depot. Frisco, 972/292-5665; friscoheritage.org See what your kids think of the one-room schoolhouse replica at HERITAGE FARMSTEAD MUSEUM

(yes, they’d have to be in class with their siblings). True to the museum’s name, there’s also the Blackland Prairie Farmstead plus the 19th-century home to explore. Plano, 972/881-0140; heritagefarmstead.org The 22,000-square-foot

IRVING ARCHIVES & MUSEUM documents the rich

history of Irving from its frontier days. The immersive permanent exhibit, The Irving Story, is joined by rotating national exhibits; this summer, you’ll

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOUSE OF SHINE; FIREFIGHTERS MUSEUM, MIKE MEZEUL II

MONKEY AND DOG BOOKS is a cozy shop

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOUSE OF SHINE

places to go / S U M M E R

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During one of life’s biggest moments, we’re here to keep you and your family safe, joyful and in the moment. From ultrasound to delivery, our experienced care team will be with you every moment of the way.

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Scan the QR code to plan your moment.

be able to see Women, Aviation and WWII. Kids will also enjoy the on-site, Smithsonian-developed Spark!Lab. This unique space provides materials and resources for invention and creativity. Irving, 972/721-3700; irvingarchivesandmuseum.com LOG CABIN VILLAGE will

learn

take your 21st-century kid back to the days of bonnets and wagons. Meander the site, exploring historic structures and meeting the interpreters, who will perform pioneer life demonstrations and answer questions. Fort Worth, 817/392-5881; logcabinvillage.org Party like it’s 1899 at NASH FARM, the oldest intact farmstead in Tarrant County. The site includes the original farmhouse, historic barn and other structures. And it’s still a working farm. First Fridays events allow your child to learn heritage skills. Grapevine, 817/410-3185; grapevinetexasusa.com/nash-farm

Maker Spaces Located at Arlington Public Library’s Ron Wright Lake Arlington Branch, MAKERSPACE offers something for experienced and aspiring makers. The Tinker Room allows makers to bring their visions to life using a milling machine, plotter printer and other devices and tools. In the Innovate Room, create wearable works of art through sewing, quilting and embroidery tutorials and even a heat press. Arlington, 817/459-6900; arlingtonlibrary.org/makerspace Any maker age 18 and under can use the space and equipment at THE MAKER SPOT (inside the North Richland Hills Library) for free, regardless of residency. (And membership fees aren’t being charged for adults right now, either.) Try out the machines for quilting, 12

FUN 2022

sewing and embroidery; the Cricut machine; 3D printers; audio production and editing equipment; and more. North Richland Hills, 817/427-6800; library.nrhtx. com/themakerspot

Planetariums Start your visit to the

NOBLE PLANETARIUM at the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History with the newly renovated Noble Space Gallery. You’ll find a collection of artifacts—many of which have actually been in space, including a Fort Worth flag that was on the moon—and activities. Gaze upwards for your show: Noble Planetarium Experience, Live at The Noble: Our Solar System and Dream to Fly (a journey through the history of aviation). Fort Worth, 817/255-9300; fwmuseum.org/explore/ noble-planetarium

The University of North Texas is home to SKY THEATER, a 100-seat and 40-foot domed projection theater where astronomy and education come to life. Travel among the stars, experience the thrill of a celestial rollercoaster, or enter an atom and wind through fields of electrons with stunning views that the entire family will enjoy. Denton, 940/369-8213; astronomy.unt.edu/sky-theater You don’t have to worry about the city lights at the UNIVERSITY OF

TEXAS AT ARLINGTON PLANETARIUM—you’ll be

able to see the Texas night sky in all its glory. After your stargazing experience, you can ask the planetarium astronomer questions about the solar system. Then it’s time for your full-dome feature show, such as Astronaut, Unveiling the Invisible Universe and Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon. Arlington, 817/272-1183; uta.edu/planetarium

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

Science Spots From the “Make and Think” station to “How Things Work,” EXPLORIUM DENTON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM is designed to indulge

your child’s curiosity. The activity centers are for kids of all ages and allow them to grow their understanding of math, science, technology and more. Denton, 940/3205444; exploriumdenton.org FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY does great job of includ-

ing younger kiddos, making it a one-stop attraction for all ages. Current Science Studio, Noble Planetarium, DinoLabs, DinoDig and Cattle Raisers Museum provide entertainment and education for the entire family. Fort Worth, 817/2559300; fwmuseum.org The PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE

building is a work of art (how about that dramatic, glass-enclosed escalator), and the awe continues when you pass through the doors. Kids can try their hand at robotics, experience an earthquake, compare a T. rex to the modern chicken and more. Dallas, 214/4285555; perotmuseum.org The gateway to River Legacy Park, RIVER LEGACY LIVING SCIENCE CENTER is a 12,000-foot-nature center. The atrium includes activity tables and terrariums with native wildlife; visit the Discovery Room for interactive exhibits and technology that allow you to experience the park’s woodland environment. Cap off your visit with a walk on surrounding trails. Arlington, 817/8606752; riverlegacy.org Beauty and science come together at the RORY

MEYERS CHILDREN’S ADVENTURE GARDEN AT DALLAS ARBORETUM.

Kids 6 and up become mini-scientists in the Walne Family Discovery

Lab, where they conduct experiments with an arboretum educator. Stroll in the treetops on the Texas Skywalk, then visit the air-conditioned OmniGlobe for solar system learning. STEM Stops, puppet shows and storytime round out Children’s Garden activities. Dallas, 214/515-6615; dallasarboretum.org Get your STEM on with hands-on activities at SCI-

TECH DISCOVERY CENTER. Visit the WOW stage

for daily live demonstrations of science in action; your kids can also build their own magnetic rollercoaster, make massive bubbles and learn about surface tension, or experience how construction meets creativity at the MakerStudio. Frisco, 972/546-3050; mindstretchingfun.org

Presidential History The GEORGE W. BUSH

PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM on SMU

grounds includes a full-scale replica of the Oval Office as well as steel from the World Trade Center. Through the end of the year, you can also visit Liberty & Laughter: The Lighter Side of the White House. Be sure to also stroll through Laura W. Bush Native Texas Park. Dallas, 214/200-4300; bushcenter.org Before President John F. Kennedy headed to Dallas on a fateful day in 1963, he made an impromptu speech in the rain on the front steps of what is now the Hilton Fort Worth. Visit the JOHN F. KENNEDY TRIBUTE in downtown’s General

Worth Square to see how that moment is memorialized. Fort Worth, 817/870-1692; fortworth.com THE SIXTH FLOOR MUSEUM AT DEALEY PLAZA

explores the life and legacy of President Kennedy. Best suited for older children, the museum offers an in-depth study of the tragic day that changed our nation, and city, forever. Dallas, 214/747-6660; jfk.org

Video Game Museum Have a gamer on your hands? The NATIONAL

VIDEOGAME MUSEUM

combines gaming with learning in this immersive, informative experience. The only museum of its kind in the nation, the NVM is dedicated to educating the public on the history of the videogame industry while highlighting the use of STEM values to create entertainment for millions. Frisco, 972/6688400; nvmusa.org

Youth Library The REBY CARY YOUTH LIBRARY is the first of its kind in Fort Worth. With collections targeted towards those 18 and under, this library has one major rule: It’s for kids only! Adults without a child in tow are not permitted. In addition to all the books, there’s a kiddie area that includes a puppet stage, miniature grocery store and vet clinic play area, and a multitude

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER

places to go / S U M M E R

FUN 2022

of crafts and activities. Fort Worth, 817/392-7260; fortworthtexas.gov

and Sundays, and the Market, a food hall and artisan market open daily. Dallas, 214/664-9110; dallasfarmersmarket.org

FOODSTUFFS

With the capacity for nearly 100 vendors at FRISCO FRESH MARKET, you’ll find every kind of freshly harvested food under the sun—all from underneath the shade of the pavilion. The new market is open Saturdays and Sundays all year and located next door to Toyota Stadium. Check their schedule so you don’t miss the petting zoo, live music and seasonal festivals. Frisco, 844/776-2753; friscofreshmarket.com

Farmers markets, sweet shops, kitchens, and you-pick farms

Farmers Markets THE CLEARFORK FARMERS MARKET, adjacent to

the Shops at Clearfork, operates year-round on Saturday mornings. That means you’ll rarely have to go without the locally-grown produce, homemade goods and other essentials like coffee and beignets. Bring your littles with you for the FIT4MOM or free yoga classes. Fort Worth, 817/731-7396; farmersmarket1848.com Shop for farm-grown produce, snacks, fresh flowers, veggies freshly pulled from the ground at COPPELL FARMERS MARKET in Old Town Coppell. Be sure to bring the kids along on your trip to splash in the interactive fountain and enjoy the playground. Coppell; coppellfarmersmarket.org

On Saturday mornings year-round, you’ll find a plethora of delicious offerings as well as kid-friendly entertainment like pony rides, face painting and live bee demonstrations at the MCKINNEY FARMERS MARKET AT CHESTNUT SQUARE. Trolley tours

through the historic district also originate at the farmers market on the second Saturdays April through November. McKinney, 972/5628790; chestnutsquare.org

the fresh berries from the vine, and when you need a break, cool off with a snow cone in the shade and say hi to the farm chickens. Royse City, 214/929-1808; onealberryfarm.com Father-daughter duo Jack and Megan Neubauer grow everything from carrots to blackberries to sunflowers at PURE LAND FARM, and they do so without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Guests must go online and book their visit during available pick times. McKinney; purelandorganic.com Head over to WOW U-PICK FARMS, about 15 miles west of Denton, to pick fruits, veggies and herbs. Guests are welcome firstcome, first-served to pick tomatoes, sweet potatoes, strawberries, lettuce varieties, onions, peppers or cilantro from the greenhouse. Look online for the open days and times. Krum, 940/312-9889; facebook. com/wowupickfarm

food COWTOWN FARMERS MARKET guarantees that its

local vendors are truly local, requiring them all to grow or produce their items within 150 miles, and you can find those seasonal goods on Saturdays year-round and on Wednesdays from May to September. Don’t miss the Kids’ Farm to Table cooking lesson. Fort Worth; cowtownmarket.com DALLAS FARMERS MARKET is a multi-million

dollar, permanent complex of luxury apartments, restaurants and vendors offering a wider array of foods and goodies than you may find at typical markets. You’ll need to carve out a chunk of time to explore the Shed, open Saturdays 14

Pick-Your-Own Farms BLASE FAMILY FARM

specializes in blueberries, generally in season May through July. Fill up your pail with four varieties from their 1,600 bushes, pollinated with the help of the farm’s own bee colonies. Then retreat into the shade for the made-from-scratch popsicles, fudge or lemonblueberry cake. Rockwall, 972/772-3645; blasefamilyfarm.com ONEAL BERRY FARM, about 15 minutes east of Rockwall, opens to the public when the blackberries, raspberries and tomatoes turn ripe for the picking, typically late May through early July. Use provided baskets to pick

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

Themed Restaurants MEDIEVAL TIMES DINNER & TOURNAMENT

is an epic clash of swords and jousting inside a Spanish-style castle. You cheer on the six knights while eating a four-course meal with your hands. Go online to reserve your seats and select add-ons like a pre-show knighting ceremony. Dallas, 469/3425555; medievaltimes.com You’ll encounter a jungle full of animatronic animals at RAINFOREST CAFÉ

inside Grapevine Mills, where gorillas, jaguars

and tree frogs peek out from every corner lush with faux vegetation. Once you’re ready to eat, choose from a dozen options, like Python Pasta, from the kids’ menu. Eating out for a special occasion? Order the volcano dessert served with a sparkler. Grapevine, 972/539-5001; rainforestcafe.com

Ice Cream Shops The ice cream cone flights at BALDO’S ICE CREAM are simply the cutest ever. Split a flight of three or six mini cones with the kids, choosing from about a dozen flavors. Elsewhere on the menu are skillet cookies, floats, ice cream sandwiches and birthday cakes covered in rainbow sprinkles. SMU Dallas and White Rock Lake Dallas, 972/913-4001; baldosdallas.com Clients love COW TIPPING CREAMERY as much for its elevated soft serve as for its amazing toppings piled sky high. Ask for the Stacker of the Week to discover new signature treats, like The Warhol with roasted banana pudding cake crumbles and Nilla Wafer dust. You’ll also be hard-pressed to find their cookie butter hard shell dipped cone anywhere else. Multiple locations; cowtippingcreamery.com The pros at CREAMISTRY use liquid nitrogen to rapidly freeze liquid into ice

cream right in front of you. To get this science experiment going, choose your base (dairy, nut or fruit for sorbets), your flavor (there’s no skipping the matcha green tea) and toppings, and watch as the fog cloud billows from the mixing bowl to reveal your dessert. Multiple locations; 972/685-6512; creamistry.com The traditional flat and crispy waffle cone takes a big step up at THE DOLLY LLAMA, a brand new ice cream shop in Uptown Dallas and the LA-based company’s first foray into Texas. The brand specializes in Belgian waffles and—even more daring— the Hong Kong Bubble Waffle wrapped around a scoop of ice cream. Dallas; thedollyllamala.com HOWDY HOMEMADE has found the right formula with their signature flavor Dr Pepper Chocolate Chip. The shop is prized in the community for their policy of employing people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome and autism. Dallas, 214/4841552; howdyhomemade.com

The only way to improve upon JOY MACARONS’ soft and chewy French cookie (as if perfect needs improvement) is by adding ice cream. Cue their ice cream sandwiches and waffle cones scoops. Stop by one of three locations to experience

PHOTO COURTESY OF MELISSA SHOOK PHOTOGRAPHY

places to go / S U M M E R

You are invited

Explore Ursuline this fall by visiting www.ursulinedallas.org/admissions Won’t you join us?

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS All-Girl, Catholic, College Prep, Grades 9-12 4900 Walnut Hill Lane | Dallas, Texas 75229 www.ursulinedallas.org Ursuline Academy does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin.

Possibilities Await You at Parish Episcopal School.

Visit us online at parish.org or contact our Admission office at 972.852.8737

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

For melt-in-your-mouth scoops, MELT ICE CREAMS serves up everyday favorites like the dark chocolate and peanut butter explosion (both dairy-free and vegan!) and many more flavors on a rotating menu. Spice up your Taco Tuesdays with Melt’s two scoops nestled inside a taco-shaped waffle cone. Multiple locations; melticecreams.com PACIUGO (pronounced

“pah-CHOO-go”) Gelato & Caffè, excels in its authentic Italian gelato and at its newer, more imaginative creations like the sprinkles-covered “Paciunicorn” cones. Their summer menu includes the refreshing cantaloupe sorbet, and you’ll have to see their “gelato spaghetti and meatballs” to believe it. Multiple locations; paciugo.com

Did you know that 100 years ago nearly every drugstore had a soda fountain? That’s why DOUGHERTY’S PHARMACY, one of the oldest independent pharmacies in Texas, also opened up a soda fountain. Stop by to sip on a fizzy soda, milkshake, float, malt or sundae while waiting for your grilled cheese or grilled PB&J. Soda fountain hours are 10am–6pm Monday–Friday and 11am–4pm Saturday. Dallas; 214/3735300, doughertys.com Say howdy to FARM LUCK

SODA FOUNTAIN & DRY GOODS (or “The Farmacy,”

Soda Fountains At its original location on the Denton Square, BETH

MARIE’S OLD-FASHIONED ICE CREAM & SODA FOUNTAIN churns

ice cream from a machine designed in 1927. Climb onto a stool at the antique wooden bar and choose from well over 100 flavors of ice cream, plus sundaes, banana splits, shakes and malts, ice cream sodas— and really old-fashioned options like egg creams and phosphate sodas. Multiple locations; bethmaries.com 16

GAME STOPS

WHAT’S COOKING?

Let your kids learn to cook for themselves (amazing, right?) by signing them up at your nearest YOUNG CHEFS ACADEMY. Four North Texas area locations offer a variety of classes and workshops for kids by age group, typically as young as 4. Each class is crafted to introduce math (measuring), science (chemical reactions), reading and social skills (teamwork and sharing). Multiple locations; youngchefsacademy.com

as the owners originally wanted to call it). This treasure is housed in the late 1800s-era Waxahachie Bank & Trust building. Order up a banana split or banana pudding, brownie fudge sundae, ice cream soda or, for small appetites, the World’s Smallest Sundae. The menu also features more hearty foods. Waxahachie, 214/903-8021; farmlucksodafountain.com

the bottom, McKinney and Wylie, 214/733-2296; facebook.com/scallywagsdfw

Snow Cones

Kids’ Cooking

Nod your head to ’90s hip hop at HIPPOP (get it?) on Main Street in Historic Downtown Grapevine. Choose from slushies, popsicles (fruit and milk-based), or shave ice served in those brightly colored flower cups that you remember from your last Hawaiian vacay and with condensed cream or coconut cream poured over. Their must-try popsicles? Cap’n Crunch Cereal pops and toasted marshmallow. Wow. Grapevine, 817/5274383; hippoptx.com

food Treat yourself to STEEL CITY POPS’ gourmet popsicles (like the tangy buttermilk and savory carrot cake), each dipped, drizzled or dusted according to your specifications. Fort Worth; steelcitypops.com

shops and classes vary by location but are open to teens and kids as young as 7. Multiple locations; surlatable.com

It’s a pirate’s life for everyone at SCALLYWAGS, two 22-foot-tall, custom-built pirate ships, offering 16 flavors of shaved ice from a stand hidden below deck. Upgrade to a cone with ice cream on

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

One of our favorite grocery stores also offers cooking classes for kids, teens and parent-child pairs. Expert instructors at four CENTRAL MARKET COOKING SCHOOLS teach baking

basics and specific dishes in workshops and classes. Multiple locations; centralmarket.com/cooking-school Shop for fine kitchen tools and then learn how to use them by joining culinary classes at SUR LA TABLE. Work-

Where to test your skills and get a thrill

Bowling There’s fun to spare at AMF and BOWLERO, sister bowling alleys with locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. You’ll find dozens of lanes, blacklight bowling, huge video walls, games like billiards and table tennis, an arcade and in-lane dining. Multiple locations; amf.com and bowlero.com This isn’t the bowling alley of your childhood. BOWL & BARREL, located in the Shops at Park Lane, is a more upscale experience. Go on a strike spree in one of 15 lanes, and dine at Bowl & Barrel’s full-service tavern. Save room for the funnel cake or cotton candy. Dallas, 214/363.2695; bowlandbarrel.com Bowl to your heart’s content, and then try out the bocce ball courts at PINSTRIPES. There’s game-side dining with kid-friendly dishes as well as a patio with fire pit; enjoy live music on select summer Fridays at this venue in the Shops at Clearfork. Fort Worth, 682/352-0808; pinstripes.com

Escape Rooms At BREAKOUT GAMES, with two area locations, the clock is ticking. Whether it’s stopping a runaway train, getting off an island before the volcano erupts, or uncovering a mansion mystery, you’ve got a lot of puzzles to solve in 60 minutes. Head online for game descriptions (some may be too intense for kids) and to book. BTW, you’re never actually locked in a room. Arlington, 972/474-0111, and Plano, 972/474-0111; breakoutgames.com/dallas

games

the ever-changing flavors. The Cereal Milk sandwich, made with Fruity Pebbles and a white chocolate shell, is always a hit with the kids. Multiple locations; joymacarons.com

FUN 2022

Enjoy a study in mystery-solving at ESCAPOLOGY. Kids and nostalgic parents will be drawn to the Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure room; there’s also a World War II submarine escape, a hunt for treasure in a lost city, and the search for an antidote to a virus. Multiple locations; escapology.com NORTH TEXAS ESCAPE ROOMS has games de-

signed for kids and for teenagers and adults at its two Collin County locations. The kid-friendly rooms— including Principal’s Office, Aunt Carol’s Closet and Summer Camp—are 45-minute escapes, while the others (recommended for age 14 and up) are an hour long. McKinney and Plano, 469/712-6837; northtexasescaperooms.com

With elaborate sets and clues, THE ESCAPE GAME at Grapevine Mills is a standout escape experience. When kiddos are in tow, we like the Playground room (finish all your school assignments before the dodgeball game!). Grapevine, 214/692-2180; theescapegame. com/dallas Earthquake! Whew, it’s just an earthquake-themed room at ULTIMATE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EVO ENTERTAINMENT GROUP; YOUNG CHEFS ACADEMY

places to go / S U M M E R

Get started at

PediatricsPlus.com

Developmental Preschool and Therapy Services encourage learning and development year-round. 6025 Sports Village Rd | Frisco, TX 75033 214.687.9374

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

ESCAPE GAME. In a separate game, you can piece together clues that will protect a town from nuclear fallout. With your little ones along, you probably want to skip the Dead By Dawn room. (We’re assuming you don’t want them retrieving a “severed hand” from a “haunted cabin.”) Farmers Branch, 972/793-0444; ultimateescapegame.com/dallas

Go-Carts The electric cart motors make the equivalent of 20 horsepower at K1 SPEED, which offers junior and adult carts for indoor racing (yay, air conditioning). On Thursday nights at the Richardson location, the lights go down for Glo Karting. Arlington, 817/406-1487, and Richardson, 469/9570731; k1speed.com

FUN 2022

Mini Golf Enjoy some funky indoor mini golf at ANOTHER ROUND, which features 18 indoor holes and post-round activities like cornhole. Your family can also try out the golf simulator; play a virtual round at almost any course, or go for target shooting, a darts game and even virtual miniature golf. After 8pm, Another Round is 21 and up, but all ages are welcome before then. Dallas, 214/233-6316; anotherrounddallas.com Try to putt your ball through a lighthouse, opening-and-closing barn doors (time your shot just right), a windmill and more when you play at HIDDEN VALLEY MINIATURE GOLF. There’s also some

old-fashioned arcade games. Lakeside, 817/2375463; hiddenvalleyminiaturegolf.com Head a little south of Fort Worth and you’ll find yourself mini-golfing in the age of the dinosaurs. JURASSIC ZONE includes 18 holes guarded by lifesize dinos. What more could a kid ask for? Burleson, 817/295-3783; thejurassiczone.com

Ever dreamed of revving your engine at Texas Motor Speedway? Check out LONE STAR KARTPARK. It may not be Nascar, but the outdoor, 16-turn cart track is located at TMS. Cadet carts are available for racers ages 8–12 (48 inches tall), while 7-yearolds (42 inches tall) can ride alongside Mom, Dad or a track crew member in a two-seater cart. Fort Worth, 940/240-2727; lonestarkartpark.com 18

Mini golf that glows in the dark and doesn’t require us to stand in the heat—we’re in. Admission at LUNAR GOLF in Grapevine Mills includes two rounds and a shot at the special prize hole when you’re done. Grapevine, 817/422-1771; glowminigolf.com

Virtual Reality Take screen time to the next level at DREAMSCAPE, a virtual reality experience at NorthPark Center. “Travelers,” as participants are called, must be at least 10 years old and 48 inches tall. You can

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

break an ancient curse, visit an out-of-this-world zoo, or plunge into the sea to reunite a family of whales. Dallas, 469/324-4960; dreamscapeimmersive.com FIXATION VR bills itself as the largest, most advanced virtual reality arcade in Texas. There’s a wide variety of games you can play once you don the VR headset, and the knowledgeable staff can steer your kiddo to something fun and appropriate. We like Loco Dojo, a quirky game testing silly skills. Hurst, 682/404-6445; fixationvr.com

A flight simulator and virtual reality games are among the offerings at IMAGINATIONS VR, which welcomes players age 8 and up. There are plenty of games that are great for kids, including Loco Dojo, Beat Saber and Walkabout Mini Golf. Allen, 972/3328618; imaginationsvr.com

MutiAttraction Entertainment ADVENTURE LANDING

will keep your family busy, with bumper boats, batting cages (including slow pitch), three mini golf courses, laser tag, an arcade and go-carts. Dallas, 972/248-4653; dallas. adventurelanding.com

THEME PARK

Whether you’re looking for coasters, kiddie rides or something in between, SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS has you covered. This summer, the park is debuting Pirates of Speelunker Cave, featuring a pirate treasure hunt. The brave can soar like a superhero on the Texas SkyScreamer’s limited-time extreme experience. Arlington, 817/640-8900; sixflags.com/overtexas

TI INDOOR KARTING & GAMES. Have a little

driver, age 4–7? They’ll love the Mini Mario go-carts. There’s also an arcade, a two-level laser tag arena, virtual reality and racing-themed bowling lanes. The Colony, 469/527-3278; andrettikarting.com

Dine on pizza and other menu items in your choice of themed rooms, then it’s time to play. At IT’Z, you can bowl (regular or mini lanes), climb the rock wall, dodge beams in laser tag or a maze, try your hand at the arcade, drive bumper cars, and try to tap as many lights as you can in a game called Atomic Rush. Euless, 817-283-3700; itzusa.com Your family can have a full day of fun at MAIN EVENT, which offers—bear with us; this will take a minute— bowling, virtual reality, laser tag, billiards, arcade games, karaoke, glow-inthe-dark mini golf, a ropes course and MultiBall (part virtual, part live action, with math games, memory games and more). Multiple locations; mainevent.com Don’t let the name fool you. MONSTER MINI GOLF

has more than glow-in-thedark miniature golf. Check out the arcade, virtual reality, bowling lanes and the laser maze perfect for little ninjas. Frisco, 469/5980444; monsterminigolf.com Bowling is just part of the entertainment at PINSTACK. There’s laser tag, bumper cars, rock climbing with LED climbing holds, video games, a ropes course suspended 20 feet above the video game floor and giant foosball. The Plano location also boasts a laser maze. Multiple locations, pinstackbowl.com

games Plan a purr-fect day at ALLEY CATS, which offers bowling, mini golf, an arcade, batting cages, rock wall climbing and laser tag. The Hurst location also offers go-carts and outdoor carnival-style rides. Head to the Arlington location on Saturday nights for a family-friendly improv comedy show. Arlington, 817/7842695, and Hurst, 817/5890523; alleycatsbowl.com Race state-of-the art electric go-carts around hairpin turns, up and down ramps, and across long straightaways at ANDRET-

Celebrate summer at

CELEBRATION STATION. You’ll find arcade games, batting cages, bumper boats, a trampoline-bungee attraction, go-carts, laser tag, mini golf, paintball (for age 10 and up) and rides such as a little train. Mesquite, 972/279-7888; celebrationstation.com EVO ENTERTAINMENT

has something for everyone: movies with recliners and in-theater dining, bowling, 200 arcade games, virtual reality, bumper cars, gravity ropes, a climbing wall and more. The Southlake Town Square location opened this spring; a Dallas location is in the works. Southlake, 682/286-6929; evocinemas.com

Explore the weird and wonderful, come face-toface with (wax) celebrities, wind your way through a mirror maze, race through laser beams, and pay a visit to an interactive 7D moving theater—in one location. RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT has it all. Grand Prai-

rie, 972/263-2391; ripleys. com/grandprairie There’s 43,000 square feet of excitement at STRIKZ,

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DREAMSCAPE; SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS

places to go / S U M M E R

Getting you back in the game is our game.

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Have you ever heard of WHIRLYBALL? It’s the name of an entertainment center and a unique activity you can do there. It’s like a combination of bumper cars, basketball and hockey. WhirlyBall is open to age 9 and up, minimum 4 feet tall. There are no age or height requirements for Laser Whirld, played in a two-story laser tag arena. Hurst, 682/235-1030, and Plano, 972/398-7900; whirlyballtexas. com

games

swing at D-BAT. The training facilities’ batting cages include slow- and fast-pitch softball as well as baseball. You can rent out a cage in half-hour increments, and the balls are included. Multiple locations; dbat.net Choose a bat, a (virtual) stadium and a skill level when you step into a

HITTRAX BATTING CAGE AT DICK’S SPORTING GOODS stores at Alliance

Town Center and Stonebriar Centre. Your player will get instant feedback on their launch angle, velocity and more. Then just have fun, with games like Home Run Derby. It’s all free. Fort Worth, 817/750-1170, and Frisco, 214/618-0200; dickssportinggoods.com

Climbing Gyms Kids as young as 2 have climbed the walls at CANYONS CLIMBING GYM. You can wear any closed-toe, comfortable shoes to climb, or rent climbing shoes. With a day pass, you can take the kids climbing, leave to explore the downtown Frisco area, and return to finish your climbing adventure. Frisco, 214/872-2992; canyonsclimbinggym.com

GOOD SPORTS

get active—and close to the pros, too

Batting Cages Hey, batter, batter! COVER ALL BASES has batting cages you can rent for the baseball player in your family. Time slots are 30 minutes or an hour, and you can book online. Arlington, 817/565-7690, coverallbases.org If your kiddo wants to use summer to perfect their batting, let them take a 20

There’s more than 16,000 square feet to climb at

DYNO-ROCK INDOOR CLIMBING CENTER, with

options for all skill levels. Rent your equipment (sizes available starting at age 4), go through orientation, and get climbing. Feel free to bring refreshments and snacks to enjoy at a picnic table in the gym. Arlington, 817/461-3966; dynorock.com Climbing starts at age 4 at the HAPIK climbing park, located in Firewheel Town Center. You’ll find more than 100 climbing routes across 40 themed walls. HAPIK also offers two

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

ropes courses. You can buy a one- or two-hour session, and family sessions are available. Garland, 972/6960514; hapik.us MOVEMENT – THE HILL

invites new climbers to try a one-hour session with instructors handling the ropes. You can also buy a day pass for climbing; children’s passes (under age 13) are discounted. Rental gear is available. A second Dallas location is coming to the Design District. Dallas, 214/447-3159; movementgyms.com/the-hill During your first visit to OSO, a team member will give you the lowdown on climbing high. Your family will have access to the full gym with a day pass, plus rental climbing shoes at no additional charge and classes. Grab something at the on-site coffee bar to sip while the kids climb. Dallas, 844/676-4967; climboso.com Reach new heights this summer at SUMMIT

CLIMBING, YOGA AND FITNESS. At the Fort

Worth and Denton gyms, climbers need to be 6; kids as young as toddlers are welcome to climb at the other locations. All first-timers get an orientation, then you’re free to climb at this indoor facility with walls for every skill level. A day pass includes rental gear plus access to most classes (including yoga, with supervision for kids). Multiple locations; summitgyms.com

Golf TOPGOLF is a whole different kind of driving range, with auto-scored golf games for all skill levels. Gather your family

in a climate-controlled bay, order from the full menu (or dine in the on-site restaurant), and swing away. Clubs for grownups are already in your bay; request clubs for kids and toddlers. Multiple locations; topgolf.com

Gymnastics Gyms Drop your children off for some gymnastics fun on the monthly parents’ nights out at ASI GYMNASTICS. Kids 3–14 can bounce on the trampolines plus play games and do crafts, and pizza is served. Summer events are June 18, July 16 and August 20. Non-member walk-ins are welcome. Multiple locations; asigymnastics.com You can take your child to the weekly open gym session or purchase a single class at TOP KIDS GYM & SPORTS. Gymnastics, tumbling, silks and lyra, and ninja are among the offerings. Single-day (or half-day) drop-ins are also available for Top Kids’ camps, as long as there’s space available. Keller, 817/993-9118; topkidsgymandsports.com

Ice Skating Ice skating in the summer? You bet! Visit ALLEN COMMUNITY ICE RINK at Credit Union of Texas Event Center during open skate hours. Spectator seating is available. Allen, 972/9121097; cityofallen.org CHILDREN’S HEALTH STARCENTER locations

across Dallas-Fort Worth offer public skating sessions. If you’re not an accomplished

skater, consider going for a Friday evening, weekend or themed skating session, when you can grab a stack of buckets to lean on for balance. Multiple locations; nhl.com/stars/starcenters

sports

where your family can bowl, play in the arcade and take aim in laser tag, among other activities. Frisco, 972/668-5263; strikz.com

FUN 2022

Cool off at the GALLERIA

DALLAS ICE SKATING CENTER during daily pub-

lic skating hours. Bonus: While you’re at Galleria, visit the guest reception center and pick up a PALS Passport, which will help your child discover art and activities at the mall. Dallas, 972/392-3361; galleriaiceskatingcenter.com ICE AT THE PARKS is Arlington’s only full-sized rink. Public skating is available every day of the week. After taking a spin on the ice, take a spin on the mall’s carousel. Arlington, 817/419-0095; iceattheparks.net

Ninja Courses

Play, train or just have fun at NINJA NATION’s open gym time. And you’ll never know exactly what your kids will encounter; the coaching team changes, moves and updates the obstacles and challenges every week. Frisco, 214/937-4942, and Murphy, 972/485-5800; ninjanation.com

Your ninjas will build strength, agility and speed at OBSTACLE WARRIOR KIDS, with different zones for different ages and skill levels. They’ll jump, balance and climb the day away. Garland, 972/495-4222; owkgarland.com, and Southlake, 817/749-0270; owksouthlake.com Kids can try the warped wall, trapeze, salmon ladder, the spider wall and other obstacles at

STRONG FITNESS & FUN.

There’s also a special area for toddlers as well

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DICK’S SPORTING GOODS; HAPIK

places to go / S U M M E R

sports

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DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

as indoor fields for dodgeball and other games. Farmers Branch, 972/3734062; strongdallas.com

Roller Skating ARLINGTON SKATIUM

bills itself as the largest roller rink in Texas. It has been around for 25 years and recently underwent major renovations. Skate around under lights in every color of the rainbow

FUN 2022

(and black light too), then snack on a pie from the state-of-the-art pizza ovens. Arlington, 817/7846222; arlingtonskatium.com Bask in the glow of the disco ball as you make your way around DAD’S

BROADWAY SKATELAND.

On Sundays, parents skate free with a child’s admission. Mesquite, 972/2790421; dadsbroadway.com

Roll on into FORUM ROLLER WORLD to skate on the solid maple rink and enjoy recent updates including new sound and light systems and an enhanced snack bar. Take the kiddos to open skate hours and rent your choice of quad, speed or inline skates. Grand Prairie, 972/6410661; forumrollerworld.com

PRO STADIUMS AND EXPERIENCES Does your kiddo dream of throwing the ball on the field at AT&T STADIUM just like their favorite Dallas Cowboys player? It’s possible with a stadium tour. Children are welcome on the self-guided tour, VIP guided tour or art tour. Bonus: This summer, the stadium also hosts special events such as the Nerf-focused Jared’s Epic Blaster Battle and the Cowboys youth academies for football and dance. Arlington, 817/892-8687; attstadium.com/tours Take in a Texas Rangers game this summer, or just tour GLOBE LIFE FIELD. Regular, premium and pregame tours are available. Great news for moms: The ballpark partnered with Hello Bello to introduce eight fan-accessible Mothers’ Rooms, clean and relaxing spaces with diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer, hand soap and bathrooms. Arlington, 817/5331972; mlb.com/rangers/ballpark It may be minor-league baseball, but there’s professional-level fun to be had at RIDERS FIELD—home of the Frisco RoughRiders. Hot out there? Watch the game from the onsite lazy river. There are two playgrounds, one for toddlers and one for older kids. You can also take a stadium tour. Frisco, 972/731-9200; milb.com/frisco Gooooal! See the pros with FC Dallas soccer club score this summer at TOYOTA STADIUM. Your midfielder, forward, defender or goalie will also enjoy a visit to the stadium’s NATIONAL SOCCER HALL OF FAME EXPERIENCE. Make your way through interactive exhibits and view iconic memorabilia. You can also take a virtual tour. Frisco, 469/3650043; nationalsoccerhof.com Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters is at THE STAR IN FRISCO. In June, the team is introducing an experience that includes a VIP guided tour of practice fields and other areas, a letter from Jerry Jones, a Cowboys pin, and promotions for dining and shopping in The Star District; other tour packages are available. Frisco, 972/497-4800; thestarinfrisco.com/tours

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

shaded seating. McKinney, 972/547-7480; mckinneytexas.org

The City of Fort Worth designed CHISHOLM TRAIL SKATEPARK based on input from local skaters. This park features areas of plaza terrain, with a main plaza line perfect for multiple tricks, and a pool. It’s not the swimming kind, but if you do need to cool down, take refuge in the pavilion’s shade. Fort Worth, 817/3925700; fortworthtexas.gov

The 33,000-square-foot

sports

Skate sizes start in a toddler 7 at INTERSKATE ROLLER RINK. Kids under age 11 can rent a trainer, kind of like a walker with wheels, to help maintain their balance. Lewisville, 972/221-4666; interskate.net SOUTHERN SKATES ROLLER RINK is a city-

THE STAR IN FRISCO

electric and nitro RC cars. Grand Prairie, 972/262-4479; actionparkgp.com

owned facility that has been serving southern Dallas for more than a decade. There are three days of open skate per week, with the other days reserved for a teen skate and an adult skate (just in case you’re looking for date night ideas). Dallas, 214/670-1190; southernskates.com Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are for open skating at THUNDERBIRD ROLLER RINK, which has been a local institution for nearly 50 years. Go for a spin around the rink, then play games and eat pizza. Trainers are available for littles. Plano, 972-422-4447; thunderbirdrink.com WESTLAKE SKATE CENTER has been family-owned

for over 40 years. Skate under the lights as the DJ keeps the hits rolling. Rent a trainer to keep your kiddo upright. Garland, 972/2720921; garlandwestlake.com

Skate Parks Shred it this summer at ACTION PARK GP, which features ramps and rails for skateboarders; you can rent a helmet if your child doesn’t have one. There’s also a park for BMX and mountain bikes as well as a track for

CODY ROCAMONTES MEMORIAL SKATEPARK

has a grind rail, dragon tail and manual pad in its 5,500 square feet of skateboarding surface. If you’re up for a later skateboarding session (it’s open until midnight), the park is lighted. Arlington, 817/459-5474; arlingtontx.gov Take on ramps, rails and quarterpipes at LAKELAND HILLS SKATE PARK. The course is built with a durable, sound-dampened textured steel roller surface. Dallas, 214/670-4100; dallasparks.org There’s 20,000 square feet of elements at LIVELY POINTE SKATE PARK (also open to BMX bikes). Your kiddo will shred the stairs, railings, pyramids, radical edges, grind edges, quarter pipes, hubba ledges, an in-ground bowl and more. Irving, 972/721-2501; cityofirving.org Pool, mini and plaza elements will keep your boarder busy this summer at ROANOKE SKATE PARK. It covers 20,000 square feet across from Hawaiian Falls Waterpark. Roanoke, 817/837-9930; roanoketexas.com The SKATEPARK AT

GABE NESBITT PARK has

elements for all skill levels. You’ll find bowls and street elements across 30,000 square feet of concrete, plus

SKATE PARK AT RAILROAD PARK was designed

by a world-renowned firm with input from local skaters. Deep-bowl skating, plaza skating (handrails, fun box, vertical ramps, pyramids and more) and above-ground features mean there’s something for all ages and skill levels. Lewisville, 972/219-5077; playlewisville.com There’s 7,500 square feet to skate at VANDERGRIFF SKATEPARK, including a rail with steps, pool-bowl and orange peel. The park has lights in case you go later in the evening. Arlington, 817/459-5474; arlingtontx.gov

Drop in at the WEBB COMMUNITY SKATEPARK for a gnarly time. The park includes 4,000 square feet of skateboarding space, with two plaza lanes separated by a sidewalk with benches. (Yes, you can sit there to watch your kiddo, but the skaters might be doing tricks there.) Quarter pipe, rail-and-bank combo, mini ramp—you get the picture. Arlington, 817/459-5474; arlingtontx.gov Your kid can get their skateboarding or BMX tricks on at WHEEL ZONE BIKE & SKATE PARK. The custom-designed concrete space features ramps, rails and other elements recommended by local riders. The Colony, 972/625-1106; thecolonytx.gov

Special Needs Sports & Fitness Join others in the special needs community for a monthly sports gathering through the SEMONES

FAMILY YMCA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. Volleyball

PHOTO COURTESY OF DALLAS COWBOYS FOOTBALL CLUB

places to go / S U M M E R

Call today to schedule a tour!

Affordable, trustworthy childcare The first five years of a child’s development are the most important. Let us be a part of the journey. Infants | Toddlers & Twos | Preschoolers | Pre-Kindergarten | After Schoolers

Small Miracles Academy East Plano: 972-515-2248 West Plano: 972-515-2236 Allen: 214-504-3841 North Garland: 972-515-2221

Richardson: 972-591-0892 Mesquite: 972-591-0301 Sachse: 469-417-6568 SmallMiraclesAcademy.org

FUN 2022

SPECIAL STRONG allows drop-ins in its summer classes—adaptive and inclusive fitness programs for children (beginning at age 6), adolescents and adults. Current classes are at locations in Collin County. Allen and Frisco, 972/8368463; specialstrong.com

You don’t need to be a resident of Southlake to take part in the city’s SPORTS SATURDAYS programs. Summer activities are set for June 25 and July 23; age 14 and up welcome. Southlake, 817/748-8019; experiencesouthlaketexas.com Nothing is off limits for those with special needs through RISE ADAPTIVE SPORTS. All activities are free and include boating, parasailing, waterskiing, wheelchair skate, rugby and handcycling, among others. The schedule is online. Grapevine (most activities), 469/762-5075; riseadaptivesports.org

Bounce Parks Kids can jump to their heart’s content, use the trampolines to dunk on a basketball hoop or play a bouncy game of dodgeball at ALTITUDE TRAMPOLINE PARK. You can get a pass for as little as an hour of trampoline time. Multiple locations; altitudetrampolinepark.com

iFLY

MORE WAYS TO GET OFF THE GROUND

Indoor Skydiving

Skip the whole jumping out of a plane and try indoor skydiving instead. At iFLY, you float on a column of air in a vertical wind tunnel. Flyers can be as young as 3 years. First-timers will go through a training session before taking off. Frisco, 214/6184359, and Hurst, 817/818-4359; iflyworld.com

Ferris Wheels

Do you ride the Texas Star at the State Fair every year? You’ll get an equally amazing view from atop the 200-foot GRANDSCAPE WHEEL. The ride takes around 15 minutes, and you can even enjoy a drink while you cruise in your fully enclosed gondola. You’ll ride only with your group—up to 8 people per gondola. The Colony, 972/668-2222; grandscapewheel.com Looking for a little less height? Head to the Scheels store (also in Grandscape) to ride the 65-foot indoor Ferris wheel. Riders must be 48 inches to ride alone and 36 inches to ride with an adult. When you’re done, grab a treat at the on-site coffee shop and watch the kids play arcade games. The Colony, 469/8547500; scheels.com

Drop-ins are welcome this summer with YOGEES YOGA 4 KIDS. The Summer Studio is a program in partnership with Swimmers by Jessica, and your child can come for lessons in the pool or just to move their body through yoga. They’ll also sing, dance and learn. Dallas, 972/559-9455; yogeesyoga4kids.com YOGI KIDS offers preschool play on Mondays and Fridays during the summer. In addition to yoga, your child will enjoy games, crafts, stories and other activities. Sign up for one session or for all; register 24 hours in advance. Flower Mound, 214/3252547; myyogikids.com

Zip Line Adventures

GO APE provides adventures in the canopy at Oak Point Park for age 10 and up. The original Treetop Adventure includes 28-foot-high tree crossings, super long zip lines (one is 423 feet) and Tarzan-style swings. The Treetop Discovery course is a bit lower and a bit shorter. An Arlington location opens at River Legacy Park in the fall. Plano, 800/971-8271; goape.com There’s an aerial course for everyone at TRINITY FOREST ADVENTURE PARK. In addition to zipping through the treetops, you’ll make your way through wobbly bridges, ladders, cargo nets and more elements in courses of varying difficulty. Littles will love the special course for age 4 and up. The minimum age for the main courses is 6. Dallas; 214/391-1000; trinitytreetops.com

Fly into a foam pit, make your way across an unsteady ladder (with a soft landing), take on the ninja warrior course, enjoy the wall-towall trampolines and more at SKY ZONE TRAMPOLINE PARK. There’s a dedicated section for toddlers. Drop in for sensory hours on Thursday mornings. Irving, 469/499-3100; skyzone. com/irving

sports Pump up the fun at PUMP IT UP, where the indoor, inflatable playground will burn off your child’s excess energy. Check with the location near you for open jump times. Multiple locations; pumpitupparty.com

At YOGA ON MAIN, there’s a class for everyone—even littles as young as age 4. You can purchase drop-in passes for Zen Kids Yoga, a class that explores traditional principles through breathing exercises, games, art activities and more. Frisco, 972/294-5936; yogaonmainst.com

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

Typical trampoline play is just the beginning at

URBAN AIR ADVENTURE PARK. There’s also

trampoline dunking, the “drop zone” (bounce on to a huge airbag), a jump area for littles, a tubes playground, climbing walls, battle beam section and a ropes course, among other activities. Multiple locations; urbanair.com

HAPPY TRAILS

Adventures near and far

Around Texas & Beyond Nearly 15,000 years of native history come to life at the CHOCTAW CULTURAL CENTER. You’ll discover a replica of an ancient spiritual mound at the center’s outdoor Living Village, along with traditional dancing and stickball game demonstrations on the field, and an indoor children’s play area with traditional Choctaw houses and a miniature forest. Durant, OK, 833/708-9582; choctawculturalcenter.com Do you have a kid obsessed with trucks and construction equipment? DIG

WORLD is a new family amusement park—the first of its kind—where kids and adults can safely operate heavy construction equipment. Go dig in sand when you control a mini excavator and drive a Caterpillar around on a track. Katy, 346/435-8888; digworldtx.com

trails

Yoga

games will be played June 19; an obstacle course will be set up for July 17; and a yet-to-be named activity will be held August 21. The events are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Dallas, 214/3578431; ymcadallas.org

If you haven’t visited already, head to Glen Rose for a camping trip at DINOSAUR VALLEY STATE PARK. Watch your children’s eyes grow wide in fascination as they hunt for giant dinosaur tracks. The excitement doesn’t end there, as there are different activities scattered around the park. Glen Rose, 254/897-4588; tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/ dinosaur-valley The 284-acre LADY BIRD

JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER, founded in 1982

by its namesake, hosts children’s storytime readings in the garden on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10am. For an evening visit when it’s cooler, come on Thursdays this June for free Nature Nights. Austin, 512/2320100; wildflower.org

Have a kid intrigued by the world of paleontology? Go to MINERAL WELLS FOSSIL PARK for the opportunity to conduct your own fossil dig. You could find a real-life fossil that’s hundreds of millions of years old. Plus, if you find a fossil, you can keep it. Be aware that the park is pretty primitive. Mineral Wells, 940/328-7803; mineralwellsfossilpark.com MORGAN’S WONDERLAND is a theme park

built for people with special needs and disabilities. Visit the Sensory Village , board the Wonderland Express train, engage in pirate make-believe, and create sand sculptures. Don’t forget to take a trip to Morgan’s Inspiration Island for splash

PHOTO COURTESY OF IFLY WORLD

places to go / S U M M E R

trails

Exceptional dental care,

one smile at a time!

Dr. Melissa Rozas Board Certified Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry • Oral Wellness & Prevention

• Restorative Treatment

• Infant Oral Health Program

• Special Needs Dentistry

• Airway Evaluations

• Growth & Development

972-393-9779 632 E. Sandy Lake Rd. Coppell, TX 75019 www.RozasDDS.com ©

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

pads and a sensory-friendly boat ride. Anyone with a special need gets free admission. San Antonio, 210/495-5888; morganswonderland.com The NATIONAL CENTER

FOR CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATED LITERATURE

showcases exhibitions of artwork created by

FUN 2022

rocky surroundings. Wilburton, OK, 918/465-2562; travelok.com For the kiddos that marvel in the wonder and mystery of the universe, they’ll be thrilled to experience the

SPACE CENTER HOUSTON. Entertaining for whole

family, you’ll broaden your perspective as you learn about the many planets and the vastness of deep space. Houston, 281/244-2100; spacecenter.org THINKERY, in Austin, is a

community-based initiative designed to support children’s physical, emotional and cognitive development. This interactive children’s museum strives for inclusiveness and will engage young learners of all ages with playful brain games. Austin, 512/469-6200; thinkeryaustin.org

award-winning children’s book authors. The museum organizes meet and greets with the exhibiting artist, book signings, workshops and fun activities for kids. Abilene, 325/673-4586; nccil.org

Historic Squares & Downtowns

with eclectic boutiques, galleries, restaurants and sweet shops. 940/565-5075; discoverdenton.com Everything you’d want for a Cowtown culture-filled weekend is in and around the famous SUNDANCE SQUARE in the heart of Fort Worth. The 35-squareblock district has major shopping, plenty of dining options, water fountains and colorful murals. Plan ahead to catch a special event in the Sundance Square Plaza or a music or theatrical show at the Bass Performance Hall. 817/3922255; sundancesquare.com One of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. is Frisco, which is evident in part by the burgeoning FRISCO SQUARE. Come visit this summer during the Music in the Square concerts each Friday night in June, for farmers markets on Saturday mornings, and many more special events throughout the year. friscosquare.com

yourself on the town’s founding at the Collin County History Museum. 972/547-2660; mckinneytexas.org Hop off the DART at the Plano Station and explore the revitalized DOWNTOWN PLANO. Stroll along the red brick road and you’ll find buildings with colorful murals, dining and shopping. Make your first stop with the kids to the Interurban Railway Museum and the playground at Haggard Park. 972/941-7000; visitdowntownplano.com Known as the “Cutting Horse Capital of the World,” HISTORIC DOWNTOWN WEATHERFORD

is home to some of the top professional trainers and horse hall-of-famers. The city also holds the Parker County Peach Festival each July. In addition, Weatherford is home to the Vintage Car Museum and Chandor Gardens inspired by ancient Chinese architecture. 817/598-4000; historicdowntownweatherford.com

trails Known as the largest caverns in Texas, NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS is a memorable family attraction in San Antonio. Adventure through the caves and feast your eyes upon the incredible stalactite and stalagmite formations. Choose from the many tours offered down under or walk along the many surface trails on land. San Antonio, 210/651-6101; naturalbridgecaverns.com Venture to the scenic, hilly woodlands of the San Bois Mountains at ROBBERS CAVE STATE PARK in Oklahoma. Follow the nature trail for amazing sights inside the cave and from the 26

At HISTORIC DOWN-

TOWN CARROLLTON, conveniently located near a DART rail station, you’ll find a square of unique shops, eateries (like Twisted Root and Babe’s Chicken) and family-friendly events and festivals around the gazebo during Saturdays on the Square. For history buffs, check out the nearby A.W. Perry Homestead Museum. 972/880-9855; historicdowntowncarrollton.com DENTON’s historic downtown square is centered around the 1896 Denton County Courthouse-onthe-Square Museum, where you can take a peek into exhibits that delve into local history. Walk the square to explore the community-oriented, entertainment hotspot

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

Widely known as the Christmas Capital of Texas, HISTORIC DOWNTOWN GRAPEVINE has many

sights worth visiting, even during the off-seasons. Step back in time and walk along Main Street, see a movie at the historic Palace Arts Center, experience glassblowing demonstrations, eat at Harvest Hall or take a roundtrip ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. 817/410-3189; grapevinetexasusa.com

Dating back all the way to 1848, tradition still holds true here in DOWNTOWN MCKINNEY, where you’ll see many small-town gift and antique shops and restaurants. Stroll along the quaint cobblestone square, explore the Chestnut Square Historic Village, or educate

Trains

You’ll be transported in time as you hop onboard the AUSTIN STEAM TRAIN. If you are spending time in the Hill Country, this is a wonderful adventure for the whole family. Cedar Park, 512/915-2340; austinsteamtrain.org Did you know there’s a train you can ride in Denton? The A-TRAIN, part of the Denton County Transit

Authority, is a 21mile commuter rail that connects Denton and Dallas counties. Denton, 940/243-0077; dcta.net/a-train DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) is the transit system that operates buses, light rail and commuter rail. Fast, comfortable and economical, DART is reliable for your commute, whether it’d be for work or pleasure. Dallas-Fort Worth, 214/7493333; dart.org

Take a short ride on the pint-size locomotive at FOREST PARK MINIATURE RAILROAD.

Built in 1959, this 5-mile journey crosses the Trinity River and proceeds into Trinity Park. Make sure to visit the Facebook page for updates on closures due to maintenance or weather. Fort Worth, 817/336-3328; forestparktrains.com One of the most well-known train rides in Dallas-Fort Worth, the GRAPEVINE VINTAGE RAILROAD will take you from downtown Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyards. Grapevine, 817/410-3185; gvrr.com At the INTERURBAN RAILWAY MUSEUM, you’ll learn about a largely forgotten chapter in the history of transportation: the Texas Electric Railway. See what downtown Plano looked like 100 years ago in the 1920s miniature electric-train model. This free-admission museum has hands-on activities that demonstrate the principles of electricity. Plano, 972/941-2117; interurbanrailwaymuseum.org

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MORGAN’S WONDERLAND INCLUSION FOUNDATION; BRIAN BIRZER

places to go / S U M M E R

MEMBERSHIP IS T H E I R W I N D OW to the WO R L D

COME A

ME MBER

Encounter the wonders of the world with a membership to the Fort Worth Zoo. Discover the world’s most awe-inspiring animals, visit new places and experience the best of wildlife conservation through hands-on, enriching exploration. Plus, members get exclusive savings and benefits that bring you closer to nature all year long. BECOME A MEMBER

Open a window to the world with a Zoo membership. F O R T WO R T H Z O O . O R G / M E M B E R S H I P

FUN 2022

an extra dose of family fun. Rusk and Palestine, 855/6327729; texasstaterailroad.net

Fall 2022

Westwood is very excited to announce that we are expanding our 3 to 5-Year-Old Program in the 2022–23 school year! We are opening a fourth Primary Classroom to better serve our current families and those in the community around us. Join our growing program this Fall and learn how the Montessori experience can help your child develop the skills and knowledge to succeed. Visit westwoodschool.org or call 972-239-8598 for more information! THE WESTWOOD SCHOOL WestwoodSchool.org TODDLER–GRADE 12

SKY HIGH

Take the glass elevator 470 feet up to the REUNION TOWER GEO-DECK to experience panoramic views of the Dallas skyline from the city’s own iconic landmark. You’ll be able to peer over all of downtown and beyond from their indoor and outdoor observation decks. Look online for their latest Summer Heights event series, including craft fun with Crayola Experience. Dallas, 214/712-7040; reuniontower.com

MCKINNEY AVENUE TRANSIT AUTHORITY,

Principal and Private School

SERVING STUDENTS WITH LEARNING CHALLENGES SUCH AS DYSLEXIA, DYSCALCULIA, ANXIETY AND ADD/ADHD

All children are unique and marvelously made by God.

55 Main St., Suite 290 Colleyville InspireAcademyTX.com 817.803.5010 InspireAcademyTX

Principal Dana Judd, M.S. In Special Education

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

Take a day trip and hop aboard TRINITY METRO TEXRAIL to explore more of Tarrant County or to catch a flight at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. This speedy train is a quiet, smooth ride. Fort Worth, 817/215-8600; ridetrinitymetro.org

trails

Open Enrollment Now Available Summer Camp Options

aka MATA, is home of the vintage M-Line Trolley. Each car has a bell, or string that rings a bell, that you can ring to let the driver know you want off. Dallas, 214/8550006; mata.org

Step away from modern technology and take a ride through the piney woods of East Texas on the TEXAS STATE RAILROAD. This 25-mile track stretches from Rusk to Palestine. The Rusk depot has a vintage movie theater and overnight camping accommodations for

TRAINTOPIA is a miniature exhibit inside Frisco Discovery Center and part of the Museum of the American Railroad. Immerse yourself in the history of the locomotives during open hours Wednesdays through Sundays or join a scheduled walking tour of the vintage locomotives out back. Frisco, 214/428-0101; historictrains.org TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS is a convenient,

accessible option for travel from Dallas to Fort Worth, including all the stops in between. Multiple locations, 817/215-8600; trinityrailwayexpress.org

NATURAL WONDERS

Learning to love Mother Nature

Butterfly Houses Explore the beauty of the butterflies at the NATIVE

TEXAS BUTTERFLY HOUSE & GARDEN, on the grounds

of the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. McKinney, 972/5625566; heardmuseum.org Walk into a world of wonder at the Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium at TEXAS DISCOVERY GARDENS at Fair Park. This two-story, glass enclosure transports you into a tropical landscape with exotic plant species and daily butterfly releases. There’s even an emergence chamber for you to observe butterfly chrysalises and moth cocoons. Dallas, 214/428-7476; txdg.org

Fishing Holes For a shot at luring catfish, bass or bluegill, cast your

line in the pond at CARUTH PARK, a destination with many more opportunities for family fun, like soccer and T-ball fields, a double tennis court and two playgrounds. Note that a valid freshwater fishing license is required for all anglers over 16 to fish in public water. University Park, 214/9875488; uptexas.org CEDAR HILL STATE PARK, which sits on the shores of Joe Pool Lake, has its own perch pond for kids, as well as its namesake 7,500-squarefoot lake containing largemouth black bass, catfish and crappie. Cedar Hill, 972/291-3900; tpwd.texas. gov/state-parks/cedar-hill

Cast a line and you might catch a big one at KELLER TOWN HALL POND. Visit in June for a pond stocked with catfish. Keller, 817/743-4000; cityofkeller.com Go get your line wet at RUSSELL CREEK PARK, a community park in Plano that offers solid fishing, especially considering the smaller size of the lake. Plano, 972/9417250; plano.gov The south pond at SOUTH LAKES PARK in Denton is regularly stocked with fish that are fun and fairly easy to catch. Denton, 940/3497275; cityofdenton.com The urban fishing initiative was created by the TARRANT REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT to restore and protect

the natural species and educate the community. Anglers will find an array of fish from the banks or kayaking down the Trinity River. Fort Worth, 817/335-2491; trwd.com Try out the pond and hiking trails at WILLIAM BLAIR JR. PARK, on 900 acres not far from Fair Park. The fishing pond is part of the park’s front section, which also includes a pavilion, fishing pier, and picnic areas. Dallas, 214/670-4100; dallasparks.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAUDIA COKER

places to go / S U M M E R

nature

FIND YOUR

Free Admission on Fridays!

Plan your visit at www.themodern.org.

MODERN ART MUSEUM OF FORT WORTH 3200 Darnell Street • For t Wor th, Texas 76107 • 817.738.9215

GSESDALLAS.ORG

(214) 357-1610

Wangechi Mutu, The Seated III, 2019. Bronze. 82 7/8 × 37 3/4 × 33 3/4 inches. Collection of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, The Friends of Art Endowment Fund and Museum purchase. © Wangechi Mutu

Follow the Modern

Summer CAMPS GRAPEVINE FAITH

JUNE 6 THROUGH JULY 28

DAY CAMPS CREATIVE ARTS CAMPS ATHLETIC CAMPS ACADEMIC CAMPS & MORE!

VISIT

GRAPEVINEFAITH.COM TO REGISTER AND JOIN US FOR A SUMMER OF FAITH, FRIENDS & FUN!

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

Nature Parks & Preserves Beauty abounds at the 200-acre ARBOR HILLS NATURE PRESERVE. Give a boost to your endorphins by hiking or biking the peaceful trails up to the observation tower and, of course, don’t forget about the playground. Plano, 972/941-7250; plano.gov BIODIVERSITY EDUCATION CENTER at Coppell

Nature Park helps build your connection to nature by providing hands-on environmental educational programs for schools and the community. Coppell, 972/304-3581; coppellnaturepark.org

FUN 2022

yoga class for kids on Saturdays and Sundays this summer. Allen, 469/200-4085; connemaraconservancy.org DALLAS ARBORETUM is consistently recognized as one of the top botanical gardens in the nation, in part due to its elaborate seasonal exhibits. In the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, your children can explore even more age-appropriate garden habitats. Dallas, 214/515-6615; dallasarboretum.org

Register online to take advantage of the robust educational programming, including Preschool Discovery Club and hayrides to visit the resident bison herd. Fort Worth, 817/392-7410; fwnaturecenter.org Unwind from the day by taking a peaceful stroll through the GRAPEVINE BOTANICAL GARDENS at Heritage Park. The garden includes a koi pond. Grapevine, 817/410-3122; gograpevine.com

paved or soft surface trails along Rowlett Creek, fish or use the pond for kayaking, canoeing or stand-up paddle boarding. Plano, 972/9417250; plano.gov RIVER LEGACY PARK

runs along the curves of the Trinity River and is a great spot for riding bikes or taking a stroll. There is also a forest-themed playground, along with picnic areas, a canoe launch station and scenic overlooks. Arlington, 817/860-6752; riverlegacy.org

nature Immerse yourself in the Cross Timbers ecosystem at BOB JONES NATURE CENTER & PRESERVE. The center of this massive preserve is nestled in more than 700 acres of natural habitat, with 20 miles of hiking trails. Southlake, 817/748-8019; experiencesouthlaketexas.com Resembling the Hill Country, CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE is a 600-acre natural habitat of native trees, grasses, wildflowers and wildlife. Jog, bike or stroll along the 9 miles of shaded hiking trails and enjoy the scenery. Dallas, 972/7097784; audubondallas.org Stretch your legs and take a hike in the tranquil COLLEYVILLE NATURE CENTER PARK. This 46-

acre natural refuge is home to nine ponds, a fishing pier and winding paved and dirt trails for a walk. Colleyville, 817/503-1180; colleyville.com CONNEMARA MEADOW NATURE PRESERVE is a

72-acre of natural habitat of diverse flora and fauna. Take a family nature walk or unwind with a yoga class. There’s even an aerial 30

You can reach some of the highest points in Dallas County on the trails of DOGWOOD CANYON AUDUBON CENTER.

Where Texas Hill Country meets Dallas County, Audubon preserves natural habitat of over 200 acres. There are over 2 miles of hiking trails allowing visitors a view of Joe Pool Late and the AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Cedar Hill, 469/526-1980; dogwood. audubon.org At ELMER W. OLIVER NATURE PARK, climb into the forest canopy via the treehouse, gaze out from the Rocky Ford overlook, fish the ponds, gaze at the blooming wildflower meadow and hike along the crushed granite trail. Download the GooseChase app for a scavenger hunt hike. Mansfield, 817/4731943; mansfieldtexas.gov In the FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN, you’ll find the most breathtaking views from the Rose Garden and Japanese Garden, interactive fun on the Native Texas Boardwalk, and more natural beauty. Fort Worth, 817/463-4160; fwbg.org The FORT WORTH NA-

TURE CENTER & REFUGE

is a historical representation of how north central Texas looked like before highways, buildings and houses were constructed.

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Visit the butterfly garden, go down the zip line on select days, and explore the trails on guided or self-guided hikes through the HEARD NATURAL SCIENCE MUSEUM & WILDLIFE SANCTUARY.

There’s plenty to see and do indoors as well, including digging for fossils and interacting with the 4-foot Magic Planet. McKinney, 972/5625566; heardmuseum.org You can enjoy a plethora of outdoor activities—fishing, camping, birding, canoeing and kayaking—at the LEWISVILLE LAKE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING AREA (LLELA). You’re

welcome to hike through the trails or enjoy one of the many guided nature walks, like the A Chance to Hike program for those with special needs. Lewisville, 972/219-3550; llela.org Take your littles to OAK CLIFF NATURE PRESERVE to spot birds

and enjoy the wooded vista. For a touch of oddity, look for the artsy area, with a bicycle cemetery among the pecan trees, a spider sculpture and other random pieces. Dallas, 972/696-9810; texaslandconservancy.org OAK CREEK PARK & NATURE PRESERVE

is Plano’s largest park at 800 acres. Take a family walk on

The SHERI CAPEHART NATURE PRESERVE (formerly known as the Southwest Nature Preserve) has hike and bike trails and three ponds, including one with a fishing pier and terraced outdoor seating. A high bluff gives you an outstanding look at as far out as downtown Fort Worth. Arlington, 817/4595474; arlingtontx.gov Feel as though you stepped out of the city as you head into the forest at SPRING CREEK FOREST PRESERVE, where you

can wander the paved or natural surface trails. In addition to the wooded areas, there is also prairie acreage and a flowing creek. Garland, 972/205-2750; springcreekforest.org The land surrounding

SPRING CREEK NATURE AREA is highly developed,

but the park itself is as nature intended: uninterrupted and peaceful. Richardson, 972/744-4310; cor.net

TANDY HILLS NATURAL AREA encompasses

continuous parkland that nears 160 acres. Come relish in the nearly 1,500 species of prairie wildflowers, animals, and insects. Fort Worth, 817/731-2787; tandyhills.org TRINITY RIVER AUDUBON CENTER is consid-

ered the gateway to the Great Trinity Forest. The center includes diverse habitats, hiking trails and stellar birdwatching. Dallas, 214/309-5801; trinityriver. audubon.org

Trails The 4-mile COTTON BELT TRAIL is a favorite among avid cyclists and long-distance runners due to its clear signage and long stretches of paved pathways. Never overly crowded, this regional trail intersects with different trails and is situated in the cities of Colleyville, Grapevine and North Richland Hills. 817/427-6620; nrhtx.com CRAPE MYRTLE TRAILS OF MCKINNEY is an

appealing park showcasing all varieties of Crape Myrtles. Catch sight of these blooming beauties on your walk here in the park. McKinney, 972/547-7330; crapemyrtletrails.org KATY TRAIL is a 7.7-mile urban trail built on an old freight-rail line near the Turtle Creek and Oak Lawn area of Dallas. The landscaped paths provide

PHOTO COURTESY OF CMANSFIELD PARKS & RECREATION

places to go / S U M M E R

GET READY TO MAKE

memories that last a lifetime

Check out our official website, PensacolaBeach.com. The best spot to find everything you need to know about Pensacola Beach all in one place. • • • • • •

Guaranteed Lowest Rates on Hotels Beach, Surf and Weather Reports Trip Itineraries from Locals Best Restaurants and Bars Book Tours and Activities Event Calendar

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a great trail for walking, jogging or biking. Benches, fountains, clear signage and restaurants (on the trail or close by) make this an easy choice for your day out. Dallas, 214/303-1180; katytraildallas.org Wind your way through NORTH SHORE TRAIL, which skims Grapevine Lake starting at Rockledge Park and ending at Twin Coves Park. Grapevine, 817/410-3450, and Flower Mound, 972/8746300; lake-grapevine.com What began as a pandemic project to spread joy and hope during quarantine has expanded to a Guinness World Record for largest display of painted pebbles— nearly 25,000. Play I-Spy with your children at PARR PARK ROCK ART TRAIL,

located between the trailhead of Wall-Farrar Nature Trail and the trail connection along Big Bear Creek. Grapevine, 817/410-3450; gograpevine.com

nature

Great for those who prefer shorter routes, PIEDMONT RIDGE TRAIL (1.3 miles) is a bit off the beaten path but offers a scenic overlook of southeast Dallas. Dallas; alltrails.com TRINITY SKYLINE TRAIL

brings visitors close to the Trinity River and Dallas Floodway. This 5-mile concrete trail is perfect for city biking or hiking with views of Dallas’ skyline. Dallas, 214/670-4100; trinityrivercorridor.com Go for a hike on one of the many urban treks TRINITY TRAILS, comprised of more than 100 miles of scenic trails alongside the Trinity River and crisscrossing 31 neighborhoods and 21 parks. For extra fun for the little ones, take on the Trinity Trails Geocaching Adventure. Fort Worth, 817/926-0006; trinitytrailsfw.com

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

FUN 2022

The nearly 10-mile-long

Dine-In Movies

for outdoor lovers. The Garland Road side of the water is popular for the serious walkers, runners and cyclists, whereas the West Lawther Drive side of the lake is more family-friendly. Dallas, 214/660-1100; whiterocklake.org

ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE’s “Kids Camp” program offers kid-approved movies at a discount price ($5 for all ages, grown-ups included). Most Kids Camp screenings are for age 3 and up, but some locations welcome all ages. There’s also a full menu that includes pizza, chicken tenders and other faves. Have a baby or a child with special needs? Attend an Alamo for All screening Multiple locations; drafthouse.com/dfw

WHITE ROCK LAKE PARK LOOP TRAIL is an oasis

PLAYTIME

Where to engage all their senses in fun, fun, fun

Children’s Museums Come visit the new-andimproved CHILDREN’S

MUSEUM AT FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY.

The updated play space focuses on friendship, community and working together. Your little ones will still be able to play in the grocery store, medical office and other favorite spots. Fort Worth, 817/2559300; fwmuseum.org The MOODY FAMILY

Get your ticket at AMC DINE-IN THEATERS for dinner (or lunch, or a snack) and a movie. There’s a kids menu plus adult entrees, and desserts. The dine-in theaters are part of AMC’s Sensory-Friendly Films program the lights are up, sound is down and guests are welcome to get up, sing, shout, etc. Multiple locations; amctheatres.com

Pla

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM AT THE PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE

is designed for guests age 5 and under. Take an indoor nature hike, shop at a tiny farmers market, splash at the water table, explore the art lab and climb all over a miniature Dallas skyline. Step outside to enjoy a sandy fossil dig. Dallas, 214/4285555; perotmuseum.org Many museums have a “don’t touch” policy. At

KIMBELL ART MUSEUM’S STUDIO A, the policy is

“please touch.” This sensory-friendly, drop-in space helps kids 5 and younger experience art and community. For example, your child can choose a colorful piece of felt to contribute to an art wall. Fort Worth, 817/3328451; kimbellart.org

Kids can feast on mini cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, mac and cheese or cheese pizza while taking in a film at LOOK DINE-IN CINEMAS. (There’s a menu for adults, too.) Go online to find out which showings are sensory-friendly. Multiple locations; lookcinemas.com

Purchase menu items right from your seat at STUDIO MOVIE GRILL while watching your new release of choice. There are also family favorites showing during the summer. Visit the website to find special needs screening options. Multiple locations; studiomoviegrill.com

Drive-In Movies Watch a movie with the Cowtown skyline in the background at COYOTE DRIVE-IN. Buy your concessions at the Coyote Canteen—dine at tables

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMP DALLAS

places to go / S U M M E R

CAMP DALLAS

STORES WITH PLAY EXPERIENCES

Dolls, outfits and books are all available for purchase at American Girl Dallas—and that’s not all to love about the store at Galleria Dallas. Make a salon appointment for your American Girl doll, or participate in special activities such as the School’s Out Ice Cream Social, Doll Hairstyling & Manicure Day, Date with Dad, and After-Hours PJ Party. You can also enjoy teatime and dine at the in-store bistro (special seats for doll friends). Dallas, 877247-5223; americangirl.com/dallas CAMP Dallas sells a wide range of items parents and kids will love to have at home (building toys, fidget items, STEM and learning toys, books and much more), but you can also have fun right inside the store. Sign up for birdhouse making, Slime BootCAMP, tie dye slime art and other activities. Dallas, 214/612-0451; camp.com/locations/dallas

ay under the pavilion, or save your snacks for the movie. Sit in your car, or outside in lawn chairs or on a blanket. Fort Worth, 817/7177767; coyotedrive-in. com/fortworth

The stars will be overhead as you take in a movie at GALAXY DRIVE-IN. Snack on pizza, funnel cake and popcorn while you watch from your car, a lawn chair or a blanket. Ennis, 972/8755505; galaxydrivein theatre.com

Indoor Play Centers Take your little monkeys to CHEEKY MONKEYS for climate-controlled fun. They’ll climb the multi-story play structure (complete with features such as slides, trampolines

and climbing areas). Toddlers will delight in the single-level play structure and ball pit. Multiple locations; cheekymonkeys.us Games, prizes and (of course) pizza are all standard at CHUCK E. CHEESE. Certain locations participate in Sensory Sensitive Sundays—opening two hours early on the first Sunday of the month with reduced lighting and noise. Multiple locations, chuckecheese.com KIDMANIA is a sure way to wear your kiddos out. Set them loose in ManiaMaze, a five-level play structure composed of slides, bungee walls, climbing nets, a cave and tunnels; there’s also a MiniMania for toddlers. Each location also features an arcade,

Unmatched Academic Results! Come tour a campus and see for yourself!

Challenger School offers uniquely fun and academic programs for preschool to eighth grade students. Our students learn to think for themselves and to value independence. Legacy (PS–K) (469) 573-0077 6700 Communications Parkway, Plano Independence (PS–K) (469) 642-2000 10145 Independence Parkway, Plano

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

café and adult area. Fort Worth, 682/703-8440, and Plano, 972/517-7800; kidmania.com KIDS ADVENTURE PLAYHOUSE & PARTIES offers

an extensive climb-andcrawl structure, slides and a separate play area for little ones (with foot-to-floor cars and tiny slides). A soft foam surface will cushion their feet. Fort Worth, 817/697-4899; kidsadventureplayhouse.com The opportunities for make-believe at THE KIDS PLAY CO., include custom-designed playhouses. There’s a little home, a schoolhouse, an old-timey filling station, grocery store, a cabin with miniature rocking chairs, and more. You get to relax in the parent area with complimentary WiFi and coffee. Richardson, 469/778-0300; thekidsplayco.com

FUN 2022

also play areas for little ones with soft swings, a ball pit, mini slides and sensory panels. Grapevine, 817/5080211; luv2play.com Enter a fun-filled, kid-sized town at PEEKNPLAY. Your child can play house, sit in an old-fashioned truck, take a pretend ride on a mini bus, visit the “animal hospital” and make-believe they’re dining in a bistro. We love the treehouse with a twisting slide into a monochromatic ball pit. Grapevine, 214/513-9652; peeknplayarea.com Oinktastic fun is what you’ll get at Grapevine Mills’ PEPPA PIG WORLD OF PLAY. More than a dozen

themed play areas bring this perennial toddler favorite to life. Grapevine, 214/2859110; peppapigworldofplay. com/dallasfw

Outdoor Playgrounds The colorful ALLAN SHIVERS PARK is located at Scottish Rite for Children, but it’s open to the public. The playground is designed to allow access and enjoyment by children at all levels of physical ability. Shade structures keep things cool, and a perimeter gate enhances safety. Dallas, 214/5595000; scottishriteforchildren. org/locations DOVE PARK is home to Casey’s Clubhouse, a big playground accessible to kids of all abilities. Your child can navigate the network of bridges, tunnels, slides and gazebos, or head over to the swings, enormous tube slide, seated zipline or climbing area. There’s an on-site water park and sprayground, too. Grapevine, 817/410-3450; gograpevine.com

Play There’s an entire city built into KIDZANIA, and children are in charge. Your kiddo will try out their choice of more than 100 role-play activities for different professions: pilots will navigate the planes, TV anchors report the news, chefs prepare food, and so on. Frisco, 972/800-8088; usa.kidzania.com Lego fanatics can’t miss

LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER at Grapevine

Mills. Yes, you can build with a plethora of pieces, but there’s so much more— such as a 4D cinema, rides, games and meticulous Lego recreations of Dallas-Fort Worth landmarks. Wear a bathing suit to splash in the water playground called Pirate Beach. Grapevine, 469/444-3050; legolanddiscoverycenter.com/dallas-fw Your child will love to play at LUV2PLAY. A huge play structure features slides, climbing areas, tunnels, ball shooters and more. There’s 34

The locations for PLAY STREET MUSEUM indoor play center and children’s museum focus on a particular theme, such as “the farm,” “town square,” “great outdoors,” and “on the go.” A new location is coming to Mansfield this summer. Multiple locations; playstreetmuseum.com/dallas PLAY STUDIO is a Mon-

tessori-inspired, indoor and outdoor space. Check the “Book Play” calendar online for open play times, “You Work, We Play” sessions (parents can work in a coworking space while kids play), music play and more. Fort Worth, 817/936-2865; playstudiofw.com We ROCK THE SPECTRUM is a gym designed for children and adults with special needs. Open play is available with all gym offerings: swings, crash mats and pillows, zip lines, a trampoline, play structure, sensory toys and an arts and crafts area. Dallas, 214/468-4880; werockthespectrumdallas.com

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

The 57,000-square-foot DREAM PARK offers inclusive adventures. The rubber surface is designed to accommodate wheelchairs and those with mobility challenges, and there are also adaptive swings, a stainless-steel roller slide (which won’t short out hearing devices), a climbing net and slides. Fort Worth, 817/3925700; dreamparkfw.org HOPE PARK AT FRISCO COMMONS is for all

There’s also a façade of a town with a bank, hardware store, café and other buildings. When you’re doing playing, head over to the park’s nature trail. Coppell, 972/462-5100; coppelltx.gov A three-story tower with equally tall slides, aboveground walkways and climbing structures make MARY HEADS CARTER PARK a great choice for

kiddos who don’t fear heights. If your children prefer to stay closer to ground, stick to the ramps and smaller slides. There’s also an all-abilities seesaw, swings and a Little Library for summer reading. Carrollton, 972/466-3080; cityofcarrollton.com PLAYGRAND ADVENTURES all-abilities park

is designed to stimulate, challenge and encourage children’s skills and development while providing social interaction and exercise. Your kiddo will climb, slide, spin and learn at this playground that is part of the EpicCentral development (which includes trails and the Epic Waters water park). Grand Prairie, 972/237-8100; playgrandadventures.com

WATER BABIES

the coolest way to spend summer

Aquatic Centers and Pools

Venture into KID COUN-

with twists and turns (one lets riders freefall into the water), a diving board, interactive spray pad, shallow play pool and more. Arlington, 817-459-5223; arlingtontx.gov

fort-like playground includes turrets, slides, climbing areas, monkey bars, parallel bars and more.

Relax on the lazy river, surf the FlowRider, drop down the body slide or tube slide, and play in the spray features at JACK CARTER POOL. Sensory-friendly days are June 11, July 9 and July 30. Adapted FlowRider classes are available for those with special needs. Plano, 972/208-8081; plano.gov Cool down in the ROSE-

abilities. With sections for different age groups (the “Big Kid Lot” and “Tot Lot”), your child can climb, swing and play in an area just for them. When you get hot, pop over to the spray park. Frisco, 972/292-6500; friscotexas.gov

TRY AT ANDY BROWN PARK EAST. The expansive,

SPLASH!

Pair a day at Fort Worth Zoo with wet and wild fun at Safari Splash, the on-site splash park. This 14,000-square-foot play area has four slides, a water dump tower, a fill wall for water toys, animal-shaped water cannons and a toddler zone. Fort Worth, 817/7597555; fortworthzoo.org/ safari-splash

It may be a mouthful to pronounce, but don’t let that stop you from visiting BAD KÖNIGSHOFEN FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER. There are two slides

MEADE RAINFOREST AQUATIC COMPLEX, with

a bridge, water cannons, bubblers, spray bars, water slides, lazy river and dump bucket. The main pool area includes a shaded toddler pool, activity pool and water slides. Carrollton, 972/4666399; cityofcarrollton.com Swim across the Lone Star State at the TEXAS POOL— a saltwater pool shaped like the place we call home. Your kiddos can have fun on diving boards and small slides, and there’s a wading area for your little swimmers. If your child happens to have a mermaid fin, it’s welcome here. Plano, 972/881-8392; texaspool.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF FORT WORTH ZOO

places to go / S U M M E R

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What is Spark!Lab? This unique space offers children and their families an opportunity to create, innovate and problem solve, empowering kids to develop the skills and confidence they need for success today and in the future.

Open Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Visit irvingarchivesandmuseum.com for more information and reservations.

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Sure, take a dip in the main pool or watch your little one splash in the toddler pool at THE COVE AT FRETZ PARK—but there’s more to do than swim at this aquatic center. You can float the lazy river, play water basketball, and try to make your way across a rope ladder suspended above the water. Dallas, 214/670-6464; dallasaquatics.org

water

Hop into THE FROG POND at Farmers Branch Aquatic Center for family fun. There’s a shallow activity pool with more than 30 water features, smaller slides and a dump bucket, plus a lazy river with provided inner tubes, a lagoon pool and tall slides. Farmers Branch, 972/9198720; fbh2o.com TOM MUEHLENBECK RECREATION CENTER

includes open swimming areas, indoor water slides, diving board, a splash pad, leisure lanes and river feature. Day passes are available for residents and nonresidents. Sensory swim sessions are scheduled for July 3 and 24. Plano, 972/769-4404; plano.gov

Enjoy the WATER WORKS PARK mini slides with your mini, or watch your big kids splash down the Big Kahuna or Hula Loop. There’s also a wave pool, lazy river, play pool, natatorium, sand volleyball and more. Dive-in movies are June 10 (Sing 2) and July 8 (Coco). Denton, 940/349-8800; dentonwaterworks.com

Lakes with Swimming Beaches

Head to BURGER’S LAKE for sand, sun and swimming. The 30-acre park features a 1-acre spring-fed lake, two sandy beaches, diving boards, 36

FUN 2022

slide, trapeze and more. Fort Worth, 817/737-3414; burgerslake.com The sandy LITTLE ELM BEACH offers one of the largest open swim areas in North Texas. You’ll also find beach volleyball courts overlooking Lake Lewisville, on-site dining and nearby rentals for kayaks, paddleboards and bikes. Little Elm; lakefrontlittleelm.com After you take a dip in Joe Pool Lake, lounge on the white-sand beach at LYNN CREEK PARK. The swimming area is adjacent to a grassy section with covered picnic tables, a playground, restrooms, changing rooms and a concession stand. Grand Prairie, 972/2374120; grandfungp.com/ lynn-creek-park

Kayaks, standup paddleboards, bikes and water bikes are all up for grabs at DFW SURF. With locations in Grapevine, Frisco and Little Elm, you can get on the water (or trails) across North Texas. Multiple locations, 972/427-4082; dfwsurf.com Rent a single kayak, double kayak or standup paddleboard from LONESTAR ADVENTURE SPORTS for an outing on Grapevine Lake. Don’t want to get out in the heat of the day? Try a Friday sunset paddle. Grapevine, 214/724-8311; lonestaradventuresports.com The canal awaits! Get on the water at Lake Carolyn with a standup paddleboard or a kayak from SUP NTX. Irving, 972/567-7871; supntx.com

Sloping sandy beaches draw visitors to MEADOWMERE PARK on Grapevine Lake. Cool off with a dip in the roped-off swim zone, or rent a kayak or standup paddleboard from DFWSurf. Grapevine, 817/4103450; gograpevine.com

Keep an eye out for nearby wildlife from your

Paddling

Paddle the Trinity’s Elm Fork with an outing through TRINITY RIVER KAYAK CO. You’ll get a orientation before getting on the water in a kayak or canoe. TRKC recommends its offerings to age 5 and up, with kids ages 5–10 paddling with a parent in a tandem craft. Coppell, 214/513-0649; trinityriverkayak.com

ADVENTURES UNLIMITED PADDLING COMPANY

is based at Lake Arlington’s Bowman Springs Park, but you’ll have access to excursions throughout Dallas-Fort Worth. Rent a kayak, standup paddleboard or canoe for your own adventure, or join a special sunset or moonlight paddle. Arlington, 214/478-7856; adventuresunlimitedpaddling.com You can experience the Trinity River from a standup paddleboard, kayak or canoe with a rental from BACKWOODS PADDLESPORTS at Panther

Island. The tandem kayaks and canoes are great for family outings. Fort Worth, 817/470-2613; backwoodspaddlesports.com

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

TRINITY RIVER EXPEDITIONS canoe or kayak.

You’ll paddle along wooded and open natural areas with native plants and animals. Dallas, 214/9411757; canoedallas.com

The waters of White Rock Lake will lap beneath you as you glide along in a kayak or on a standup paddleboard rented from

WHITE ROCK PADDLE CO. Dallas, 469/888-0620;

whiterockpaddle.com

Sailing Sail away, sail away, sail away—without leaving Grapevine Lake. BLACK

WATCH SAILING CHARTERS will take you

out on the Fourth Watch, said to be the largest classic sailing yacht in North Texas. Grapevine, 817/296-0130; blackwatchsailing.com Book a family outing on THE SPIRIT OF DALLAS

on White Rock Lake. All ages are welcome for afternoon, sunset and night sky sails. Dallas, 214/989-7067; thespiritofdallas.com

Splash Pads The sprayground at BICENTENNIAL PARK is designed to look like a big dragon. Kids splash around by the giant dragon’s head, frolic in the green water fountains that twist up from the ground and duck under small spraying archways. Southlake, 817/748-8019; experiencesouthlaketexas.com

Water Features An oasis in the middle of downtown, the FORT

the Sheila and Jody Grant Children’s Park; look for an additional water feature. Also, the Nancy Best Fountain will soon adorn the Pearl Street entrance. This iconic waterfall fountain will be perfect for play during the day, and at night, it will be the site of dazzling lightand-music shows. Dallas, 214/716-4500; klydewarrenpark.org Kids can cool off in the geysers at the MAIN STREET INTERACTIVE FOUNTAIN

in Old Town Coppell—a charming, walkable area with a town square, restaurants and farmers market. Coppell, 972/462-5100; coppelltx.gov WAYNE FERGUSON PLAZA is an urban park located

in the heart of Old Town Lewisville. A linear flowing water feature runs along the boardwalk, which guides visitors through a garden and ends on the east side of the park in a water feature with geysers for play. Lewisville, 972/219-3400; cityoflewisville.com

WORTH WATER GARDENS is a unique urban

Water Parks

Plan a visit to KLYDE WARREN PARK for later in the summer, when construction is expected to be complete on an addition to

EPIC WATERS is the area’s largest indoor water park,

park featuring hardscape canyons and flowing water. Make your way down the stairs to walk above the water, or enjoy a picnic in an adjacent grassy area. Swimming and wading are not permitted. Fort Worth; fortworthtexas.gov

There’s no passport necessary at BAHAMA BEACH. This city-owned water park includes Coconut Cove, an aquatic playground with geysers, slides, a dumping bucket, rope ladders and more. For something more daring, ride an inner tube down the enclosed, highspeed Riptide Slide. Dallas, 214/671-0820; bahamabeachdallas.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TEXAS POOL

places to go / S U M M E R

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DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

FUN 2022

Climb, jump and balance your way through the floating obstacle course that is WHOAZONE on Grapevine Lake. This season, WhoaZone is debuting the KidsZone obstacle course designed with ages 4–7 in mind. Grapevine, 817/241-4883; whoa.zone/grapevine

WATERFALL

(Swim)suit up and beat the heat at Airfield Falls. Over time, water from a shallow Trinity River tributary has worn away the rock beneath the soil, forming a step-like formation. Fort Worth, 817/335-2491; trinitytrailsfw.com/airfieldfalls

WILD THINGS

animal encounters of every variety and the slides, rides and pools are open all year long. Texas Twist, Prairie Plunge and the Yellowjacket Drop are great for your adventurous kids, while the aquatic fort with geysers and a dumping bucket is perfect for little ones. There’s also a FlowRider surf simulator. Grand Prairie, 972/337-3131; epicwatersgp.com

water

Splash, swim and slide your way through HAWAIIAN FALLS WATERPARKS. The parks include wave pools, lazy rivers, kids areas, thrill slides, private cabanas and more. On June 18 and July 25, Hawaiian Falls hosts Champions Day, with free admission for individuals with special needs. Multiple locations; hfalls.com Your wolfpack will howl with delight when you swim at GREAT WOLF LODGE. Get a day pass or book an overnight trip to access the 84-degree indoor water park—which includes a four-story aquatic treehouse, wave pool, lazy river, a family tube float, water playground for littles, and the signature Howlin’ Tornado thrill ride. Grapevine, 800/693-9653; greatwolf. com/grapevine Take a daycation or a whole staycation at Hilton Anatole, home to 38

JADE WATERS. The park includes a sparkling pool, water slides, lazy river and poolside activities. Book a cabana for extra amenities. Dallas, 214/748-1200; hiltonanatolehotel.com/pools

A 60-foot freefall that turns into a looping slide, an aquatic playground with shade, an inner tube slide that parents and kids can ride together, a pool bordered by a white sand beach and volleyball court: These are a few ways to enjoy NRH2O.North Richland Hills, 817/4276500; nrh2o.com With nearly 50 acres of rides and attractions,

SIX FLAGS HURRICANE HARBOR is the largest

water park in North Texas. Kiddos will love Hook’s Ship, with small slides, water sprayers and shallow water, and Hook’s Lagoon Treehouse. Arlington, 817/640-8900; sixflags. com/hurricaneharbortexas With a retractable roof, you can visit THE COVE AT LAKEFRONT in any weather. Take a faux cliff jump, splash down the slides for every age, surf the FlowRider, play at the spray ground or float the lazy river. When you need a break, there are spots to lounge. Little Elm, 214/618-2047; thecoveatthelakefront.com

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

Aquariums For a free and low-key visit to an aquarium, don’t forget about BASS PRO SHOPS AND CABELA’S, known not only for its enormous selection of sporting goods but also for its elaborate taxidermy displays and live fish tanks. Garland, 469/221-2600, and Grapevine, 972/7242018; basspro.com; Allen, 214/383-0502, and Fort Worth, 817/337-2400; cabelas.com The historic CHILDREN’S AQUARIUM AT FAIR PARK, which originally

opened in 1936, continues to wow young visitors eager to lean over the touch tank and pet the stingrays. Last fall the aquarium reopened under new management that doubled the number of fish it cares for and added more fun features like a virtual ocean habitat. Dallas, 469/554-7340; childrensaquarium.com THE DALLAS WORLD AQUARIUM, located in the

Historic West End District, ventures far beyond typical aquariums by housing critically endangered sea animals and land animals. Here there’s no forgetting the thrill of coming faceto-face with a manatee, walking through the glass tunnel as sharks and sawfish glide by overhead, and

encountering Costa Rican sloths hanging out in the new Cloud Forest Trek exhibit. Dallas, 214/7202224; dwazoo.com

young as 8, to explore the fields and trails surrounding the stark white Ewing Mansion. Parker, 972/4427800; southforkranch.com

You’ll feel a bit like the Little Mermaid touching pink sea stars, anemones and even stingrays at SEA

Want to feel like a real cowboy or cowgirl? Climb up into the saddle on a trusty steed from STOCKYARDS STABLES and follow the Old Chisholm Trail, from the Historic Stockyards District and along the Trinity River. These trail rides are open to kids 8 and up. Stagecoach replica and carriage rides are also available. Fort Worth, 817/247-2510; fortworthstockyardsstables.com

LIFE GRAPEVINE AQUARIUM. Don’t miss the Sea

Turtle Rescue Center, a working hospital that tends to injured turtles that staff hope to release back into the wild. Grapevine, 469/444-3050; visitsealife. com/grapevine

Get up-close and personal with the mesmerizing creatures of SEAQUEST inside Ridgmar Mall. There you can get inside the tank and snorkel with stingrays, feed an otter and pet a sloth, available as part of the aquarium’s enhanced interactions. Fort Worth, 817/731-5357; fortworth. visitseaquest.com

Try out the trail rides at WINDMILL STABLES in Richardson’s SpringPark neighborhood, and horseback riding could become your kids’ favorite new hobby. Richardson, 972/238-9820; windmillstables.com

anima

Horseback Riding BENBROOK STABLES offers trail rides around Lake Benbrook for age 8 and up; younger kiddos can get a ride on the property with a lead line. Fort Worth, 817/249-1001; benbrookstables.com

Take a trail ride through

MARSHALL CREEK RANCH’s 12,000 acres of

wooded terrain with horse trails backing up to Lake Grapevine. Trail rides are open to kids as young as 7. Southlake, 817/490-8796; marshallcreekranch.com Southfork Ranch is perhaps the most famous ranch in the world, thanks to hit television series Dallas, but did you know it’s also a great spot for horseback riding and trail rides? Sign up online for SOUTHFORK RANCH TRAIL RIDES, available

daily for adults and kids as

At YMCA CAMP CARTER EQUESTRIAN CENTER, kids 10 and older can take an on-property trail ride through the camp’s terrain and up to one of the highest points in Fort Worth. Not yet 10? There’s always a wrangler-led ride around the arena. Fort Worth, horses@ymcafw. org; ymcacampcarter.org/ equestrian

Petting Zoos If old MacDonald had a farm in Irving, it would look a lot like ANIMAL

CONNECTIONS EXPERIENCE. This petting farm at

Fritz Park, open Wednesday–Sunday through July 30, features goats, lemurs and a porcupine, as well as pony rides, a duck pond, and a children’s activity tent. Irving, 972/721-2640; cityofirving.org Don’t even try to contain your “awws” when visiting the frolicking mini horses, wooly alpacas and exotic

PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTIN JAMES

places to go / S U M M E R

creatures at CATHY’S CRITTERS. This petting farm open on weekends at its permanent home about 10 miles east of McKinney also offers pony rides and, on Saturday, trail rides on horseback for ages 8 and older. 972/5620583; cathyscritters.com About 20 miles north of Frisco you’ll find the PRESTON TRAIL FARMS, with a petting farm, café and general store open year-round. About 50 goats, sheep, cows and longhorn cattle reside under a covered barn that’s open on all sides (so you can enjoy the shade and the breeze). Gunter, 972/382-4995; prestontrailfarms.com

Cat lovers, prepare for IN-SYNC EXOTICS WILDLIFE RESCUE & EDUCATIONAL CENTER to blow your

mind. The sanctuary houses dozens of tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, bobcats, lynxes, servals and an ocelot. Wylie, 972/442-6888; insyncexotics.org The name SHARK-

AROSA WILDLIFE RANCH is wild and so

are the creatures who live at this exotic wildlife ranch near Lake Ray Roberts. You’ll see a zorse hybrid and the vulnerable binturong; don’t miss the animal encounters with a lemur, skunk or sloth. Pilot Point, 940/6864600; sharkarosa.com

als Pet and feed the goats, kids, sheep and lambs, a Zebu calf and a llama this summer at the STOCKYARD STABLES PETTING ZOO

inside—you guessed it—the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. Fort Worth, 817/2472510; fortworthstockyardsstables.com

Wildlife Experiences Keep the air conditioning blasting in your vehicle as you explore FOSSIL RIM WILDLIFE CENTER, a drive-thru safari park with rhinos, giraffes, wildebeest and zebras along the 9.5-mile scenic route. Or leave the driving to the zookeepers by booking a private guided tour. Glen Rose, 254/8972960; fossilrim.org

Zoos

DALLAS ZOO, the oldest and largest zoo in Texas, is home to more than 2,000 exotic and endangered animals. Enhance your family’s visit by booking a zookeeper-led Backstage Safari, or join the Dino Safari tram tour of 30 life-size animatronic dinosaurs, open through Labor Day. Dallas, 469/554-7500; dallaszoo.com

Often ranked among the top zoos in the nation, FORT WORTH ZOO most recently completed Elephant Springs, an award-winning habitat for a three-generation Asian elephant herd. Come visit baby Brazos and the zoo’s 541 other species. Fort Worth, 817/759-7555; fortworthzoo.org

FIND MORE IDEAS AND D E S T I N AT I O N S F O R S U M M E R F U N AT D F W C H I L D .CO M

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DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

SUMMER OF FUN / SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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MAPPING YOUR FAMILY’S

SUMMER

MESQUITE

FUN

A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SEC TION

For an interactive map of these attractions, visit

dfwchild.com/summerfun

45 175 N

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

SUMMER OF FUN / SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

MAPPING YOUR FAMILY’S

SUMMER OF FUN Sweet summertime is finally here! This directory features some of the area’s top destinations that are perfect for keeping the whole family entertained all summer long. The best part? We’re giving away at two-night stay at the Gaylord Texan through our Summer of Fun Photo Contest. Learn more on the next page about how you can participate by sharing your Insta-worthy shots.

Amon Carter Musuem of American Art. Fort Worth; cartermuseum.org; 817/738-1933. Join us this summer for Art Tales. Every Wednesday in July, hear stories, play gallery games, and more.

Casa del Mar Beachfront Suites. Galveston; casadelmartx.com; 409/4020925. Across from Seawall Beach, this allsuite hotel is 2 miles from Schlitterbahn Water Park, and 3 miles from Moody Gardens and Galveston’s Historic Pleasure Pier.

City of Highland Village Parks and Recreation. Multiple locations; hvparks. com; 972/317-7430. Come to Highland Village for summer camp at Doubletree Ranch Park, play at Kids Kastle at Unity Park, or Pilot Knoll Park for lake fun.

City of Irving. Irving; cityofirving.org; 972/721-2600. Celebrate summer in Irving by visiting the many attractions. From an animal experience to live music and cultural opportunities, there’s something for everyone! Crockett Row at West 7th. Fort Worth; crockettrow.com. Crockett Row is your destination for karaoke, virtual reality, movies, dining, and more! Stop by Crockett Row at West 7th today for a great experience! Denton County Museums. Multiple locations; dentoncounty.gov/chos; 940/349-2850. Learn more about Denton County’s past at the Courthouse-onthe-Square Museum. At the Historical Park, check out Farm Heritage Day on Saturday, June 11. Free admission!

11. Irving Archives and Museum. Irving; irvingarchivesandmuseum.com; 972/721-3700. At Spark!Lab, everyone is inventive. Spark!Lab offers kids opportunities to create, innovate and problem solve, and empowers them to develop skills they need for success.

Fort Worth Zoo. Fort Worth; fortworthzoo.org; 817/759-7555. With baby elephant Brazos in the Fort Worth Zoo’s newest habitat, Elephant Springs, nearly 7,000 animals and keeper chats, there’s always more to explore!

14. LOOK Dine-In Cinemas. Multiple locations; lookcinemas.com. Kids Summer Series: Bring the kiddos to the first matinee of the day starting May 30. $2 per show. See website for showtimes and tickets.

Gaylord Texan Resort. Grapevine; gaylordtexan.com; 817/778-1000. It’s a

15. Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Fort Worth; themodern.org; 817/738-9215.

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

SummerFest of More at Gaylord Texan, now though Sept. 5. Splash into fun at the 10-acre water park and enjoy Pirates & Princesses-themed activities! 9. Grapevine Vintage Railroad. Grapevine; gvrr.com; 817/410-3185. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad—located in the heart of Historic Downtown Grapevine—offers families a unique experience on vintage trains. 10. Harvest Hall. Grapevine; harvesthall. com; 817/251-3050. Harvest Hall’s innovative food hall concept features seven local chef-driven restaurant partners serving global scratch-made cuisines, private meeting venues, and indoor/ outdoor community event spaces.

12. Kimbell Art Museum. Fort Worth; kimbellart.org; 817/332-8451. Celebrate art and community with live performances, complimentary ice cream, and free exhibition admission at the Kimbell’s Family Festival on Sunday, July 17, noon–5 pm! 13. The Lakefront at Little Elm. Little Elm; lakefrontlittleelm.com; 214/618-2927. The Lakefront at Little Elm™ is the beach and entertainment destination for North Texas!

Visit the Modern this summer! Discover amazing modern and contemporary artwork displayed in a serene concrete and glass building surrounded by a magnificent reflecting pond. 16. Museum of the American Railroad. Frisco; historictrains.org; 214/428-0101. Come see big trains and little trains at the Museum of the American Railroad. Featuring life-sized trains and our huge indoor model train exhibit, TrainTopia! 17. Paint My Pottery. Multiple locations; paintmypottery.net; 972/371-8539. Walkin art fun for all ages. Willowbend studio choose pottery painting, mosaics or clay projects. Market Plaza studio choose pottery painting or ToGO kits. 18. PensacolaBeach.com. Pensacola Beach, FL; pensacolabeach.com; 850/934-3609. PensacolaBeach.com is the official website for Pensacola Beach, Florida. Plan your trip, find activities, events, articles, beach reports, itineraries and much more. Visit today. 19. Reby Cary Youth Library. Fort Worth; fwpl.info/3G6hxAr; 817/392-7323. Visit all seventeen Fort Worth Public Libraries this summer including the Reby Cary Youth Library. Join the Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge for free family fun! 20. Reunion Tower. Dallas; reuniontower. com; 214/296-9950. Day or night, the iconic Reunion Tower is the top spot in Dallas! Enjoy fun events with 360-degree views all summer. 21. The Shops at Legacy North. Plano; shopsatlegacy.com. The Shops at Legacy North has family-fun for everyone! Stop by Farm+Feed (gaming restaurant), The Plano House of Comedy, and more this summer! See locations on an interactive map:

dfwchild.com/summerfun

SUMMER OF FUN / SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

DFWCHILD’S

SUMMER OF

FUN

PHOTO CONTEST

Win a family getaway! Join in on the Summer Fun Photo Contest and play with DFWChild on Instagram. With every shared photo, you will be automatically entered to win our prize:

A two-night stay for four at the Gaylord Texan!

Here’s how to enter:

Follow @dfwchildmag on Instagram

Visit any Summer Fun Map locations

Snap a picture and post it to Instagram

Use hashtag #DFWChildSummerFun and be sure to tag us @DFWChildMag

Contest closes July 31 at 11:59 pm. Winner will be announced on August 3. Winner is selected at random. Must be 21 years or older to enter.

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

YMCA OF METROPOLITAN DALLAS Serving children of all ages across 8 counties in North Texas At the Y, kids are our specialty! For over 135 years, the Y’s goal has been to get families active and involved, regardless of their income, and we pride ourselves on having something for everyone! The Y is often called “America’s Swim Teacher”, basketball was invented at a YMCA facility, and the first Father’s Day celebration happened at the Y. Our history is rich, but our mission doesn’t live in the past. We celebrate our ability to adapt to what our communities need. When our doors closed in March of 2020 due to the pandemic, we offered free childcare to essential workers, hosted food and household item distributions, blood drives, baby

depots, and meal giveaways. That work, a program we call the Catalyst Initiative, continues today to serve our communities, with over 100,000 people served in food distributions, almost 4,000 units of blood donated, and over 100,000 pounds of clothing collected since the program’s inception. We are focused on eliminating drowning in North Texas, creating safe environments to build strong, confident youth, and ensuring the Y and our programs are welcoming and safe for all. Through our 16 YMCA facilities, 2 camps, and hundreds of program sites, the Y’s work is felt throughout the community daily. Our mission: To put Christian values into practice

through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. We feel strongly about the for all part of our mission as we believe that everyone should have access to community, regardless of income. Therefore, financial assistance is available for almost every one of our programs. This work is possible thanks to the donors and volunteers who give their time and financial support so generously. We invite you and your family to come be a part of the community we serve; it’s 200,000 people strong each year and spans Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hopkins, Palo Pinto, and Rockwall counties. Learn more about the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas at ymcadallas.org.

ymcadallas.org

collin county WORDS ALEXIS PATTERSON

WORK IT OUT

HISTORY 101

COLLIN COUNTY AND ITS COUNTY SEAT OF MCKINNEY ARE NAMED FOR ONE OF THE AREA’S FIRST SETTLERS—COLLIN MCKINNEY (1766-1861), WHO HELPED DRAFT THE TEXAS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

MORE THAN HALF (53.2%) OF COLLIN COUNTY ADULTS HOLD A BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHER. THAT SIGNIFICANTLY OUTPACES STATE AND NATIONAL FIGURES, WHICH ARE BETWEEN 31 AND 33 PERCENT.

SOME OF COLLIN COUNTY’S TOP EMPLOYERS PHOTOS COURTESY OF COLLIN COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION; I CLAUDIA COKER; STOCK

INCLUDE: • STATE FARM • PLANO ISD • CAPITAL ONE FINANCE • AT&T • JP MORGAN CHASE

ABOVE // THE PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL HAS BEEN A TRADITION IN COLLIN COUNTY FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES—AND AFTER A PANDEMIC BREAK, THE EVENT IS BACK IN 2022. DOZENS OF HOT AIR BALLOONS WILL FILL THE SKY WITH COLOR IN SEPTEMBER.

3 SAFETY FIRST THREE COLLIN

F YOU LIVE IN COLLIN COUNTY, you’re welcoming a lot of new neighbors. The county ranked second in the nation for most residents added between 2020 and 2021. The population now stands at more than 1.1 million, with infrastructure and amenities continually expanding and improving to meet the demand.

COUNTY LOCALES RANK IN THE TOP 10 SAFEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. FRISCO MCKINNEY PLANO

DALLAS, BUT IN COLLIN COUNTY THE RANCH MADE FAMOUS BY THE EWING FAMILY OF THE TV SHOW DALLAS STILL LOOMS LARGE IN THE COLLIN COUNTY CITY OF PARKER. VISIT SOUTHFORK RANCH FOR A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES. TOUR THE MANSION, STROLL THE GROUNDS OR TAKE A TRAIL RIDE. DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

collin county

PRIVATE SCHOOLS ALLEN GUTHRIE SCHOOL, THE guthrieschool.com Grades: Preschool–5 Total enrollment: 130

•

INSPIRED LEARNING ACADEMY inspiredlearningacademy.org Grades: 5–12 Total enrollment: 25

CARROLLTON PRINCE OF PEACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL & EARLY LEARNING CENTER popcs.org Religious affiliation: Lutheran, Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 620

DALLAS

••

SHELTON SCHOOL shelton.org Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 1,050 See ad on Page 39

FAIRVIEW NORTH TEXAS PERFORM ING ARTS (NTPA) ACADEMY - FAIRVIEW CAMPUS ntpa.org/academy Grades: 6–12 Total enrollment: 80 See ad on Page 37

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FRISCO FRISCO MONTESSORI ACADEMY friscomontessori.com Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 183

LUCAS

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LUCAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY lucaschristianacademy.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 400

MCKINNEY

Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 615

PLANO BETHANY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL planochristianschool.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 66

•

CORAM DEO ACADEMY COLLIN COUNTY coramdeoacademy.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 520 EINSTEIN SCHOOL, THE theeinsteinschool.com Grades: 5–12 Total enrollment: 185

FAITH LUTHERAN SCHOOL flsplano.org Religious affiliation: Lutheran Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 145

••

FUSION ACADEMY PLANO fusionacademy.com/campuses/ plano Grades: 6–12 Total enrollment: 90 GREAT LAKES ACADEMY greatlakesacademy.com Grades: 4–12 Total enrollment: 120

NEW HOPE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY explorenewhope.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 150 NORTH TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS (NTPA) ACADEMY PLANO CAMPUS ntpa.org/academy Grades: 6–12 Total enrollment: 80

MCKINNEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY mckinneychristian.org

PEBBLECREEK MONTESSORI pebblecreekmontessori.org

•

JOHN PAUL II HIGH SCHOOL johnpauliihs.org Religious affiliation: Catholic, Society of Jesus Grades: 9–12 Total enrollment: 700

CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY ccawarriors.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 370

•

= LEARNING DIFFERENCES

•

PRESTONWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY PLANO plano.prestonwoodchristian.org Religious affiliation: Baptist Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 1,530 PRINCE OF PEACE CATHOLIC SCHOOL popschool.net Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 788 SPRING CREEK ACADEMY springcreekacademy.com Grades: 1–12 Total enrollment: 130

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ST. MARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL stmcs.net Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 500

•••*

ST. TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY staplano.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 24

PROSPER PRESTONWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY NORTH north.prestonwoodchristian.org Religious affiliation: Baptist Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 390

••

ST. MARTIN DE PORRES CATHOLIC SCHOOL smdpcatholic.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 212

RICHARDSON NORTH DALLAS ADVENTIST ACADEMY ndaacademy.org Religious affiliation: Adventist Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 225

WYLIE WYLIE PREPARATORY ACADEMY wylieprep.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 315

•

= SPECIAL NEEDS

= NONTRADITIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 75

•

= GIFTED

= INFORMATION FROM 2021 LIST

Campuses listed here offer at least four primary grades or three secondary grades. The listing details are provided by the schools and reflect the most current information available.

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

Comprehensive Speech and Occupational Therapy • Personalized evaluations and treatment plans • Family-centered approach • Master’s degree level clinicians • All ages welcome • Serving families from all over Dallas-Ft.Worth

Come celebrate your progress with us! 4500 Hillcrest Rd, Ste 140, Frisco, TX 75035 McKinney, Spring of 2022 469/331-9933 5X winner

Ads with © are © of Lauren Publications, Inc. 2022.

summitspeechtx.com

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

dallas county WORDS ALEXIS PATTERSON

WHAT’S IN A NAME

HOWDY, FOLKS

THE ORIGIN OF DALLAS’ NAME IS UNCLEAR. POSSIBILITIES INCLUDE: • U.S. VICE PRESIDENT GEORGE DALLAS • NAVY COMMODORE ALEXANDER DALLAS • LOCAL SETTLER JOSEPH DALLAS

BEFORE BIG TEX BECAME THE FACE AND VOICE OF THE STATE FAIR, HE WAS A SMALL TOWN’S SANTA CLAUS TO PROMOTE HOLIDAY SHOPPING. THE FIGURE WAS SOLD TO THE FAIR IN 1951

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITY OF ADDISON; PETER A. CALVIN; DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY, DALLAS HISTORY & ARCHIVES; STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

FOR $750.

ABOVE // ADDISON PACKS NEARLY 200 RESTAURANTS INTO ITS 4.4 SQUARE MILES. AND WITH A POPULATION OF 15,800, THE TOWN HAS MORE RESTAURANTS PER CAPITA THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTY—LEADING TO THE NICKNAME “THE RESTAURANT CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES.”

TRANSFORMED INTO A COWBOY, HE STOOD OVER THE FAIR UNTIL BURNING IN 2012. A YEAR LATER, A REIMAGINED BIG TEX WAS BACK. (SEE HIM SEPT. 30—OCT. 23 AT FAIR PARK.)

IG D is indeed big. Dallas is the third most populous city in Texas and ninth in the nation. But while Dallas gets a lot of attention, 31 cities and towns (in part or in full) make up the county. And the county is no slouch in population either. Dallas County has the most residents—2.6 million—of the four major metro counties.

WELL-TO-DO THE NEIGHBORING TOWNS OF HIGHLAND PARK AND UNIVERSITY PARK (TOGETHER KNOWN AS THE PARK CITIES) ARE AMONG THE MOST AFFLUENT AREAS OF TEXAS. THE MEDIAN LIST PRICE FOR A HOME IN APRIL 2022 WAS $2 MILLION.

THE WRITTEN WORDS THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY PERMANENTLY DISPLAYS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL COPIES OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, PRINTED ON JULY 4, 1776, AND THE 1623 FIRST FOLIO OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S COMEDIES, HISTORIES & TRAGEDIES. DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

dallas county

•

EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF DALLAS, THE esdallas.org Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 1,174

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FAIRHILL SCHOOL fairhill.org Grades: 1–12 Total enrollment: 130 See ad on Page 37

••

FUSION ACADEMY DALLAS fusionacademy.com/campuses/ dallas Grades: 6–12 Total enrollment: 90

GREENHILL SCHOOL greenhill.org Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 1,339 TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY trinitychristian.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 1,370

CARROLLTON

••

ST. ANTHONY SCHOOL, THE thestanthonyschool.com Grades: 1–12 Total enrollment: 85

COPPELL RIVERCHASE MONTESSORI riverchasemontessori.com Grades: Preschool–3 Total enrollment: 150

DALLAS

•

ACTON ACADEMY LAKEWOOD actonlakewood.org Grades: Preschool–5 Total enrollment: 30 AKIBA YAVNEH ACADEMY akibayavneh.org Religious affiliation: Jewish Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 450 ALCUIN SCHOOL alcuinschool.org Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 580 ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL allsaintsdallas.org/school 50

Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 311 ALPHA SCHOOL alpha.school Grades: K–8 Total enrollment: N/A ANN & NATE LEVINE ACADEMY levineacademy.org Religious affiliation: Jewish Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 425 See ad on Page 21

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BISHOP DUNNE CATHOLIC SCHOOL bdcs.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: 6–12 Total enrollment: 400 BISHOP LYNCH HIGH SCHOOL bishoplynch.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: 9–12 Total enrollment: 1,003 CALVARY LUTHERAN SCHOOL calvarydallas.org/school Religious affiliation: Lutheran Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 91 CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL OF DALLAS, THE cambridgedallas.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: 5–12 Total enrollment: 100

•

CAMPBELL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY campbellchristianacademy.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 70

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

CHOICES LEADERSHIP ACADEMY choicesleadership.org Grades: K–5 Total enrollment: 100 CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC SCHOOL cks.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 476

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CORAM DEO ACADEMY DALLAS coramdeoacademy.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–11 Total enrollment: 297 COVENANT SCHOOL, THE covenantdallas.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 681 DALLAS ACADEMY dallas-academy.com Grades: 1–12 Total enrollment: 165

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DALLAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY dallaschristianacademy.org Religious affiliation: Adventist Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 100

DALLAS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL dallasinternationalschool.org Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 540 DALLAS LUTHERAN SCHOOL dallaslutheranschool.com Religious affiliation: Lutheran Grades: 7–12 Total enrollment: 161

KESSLER SCHOOL, THE thekesslerschool.com Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 115 KINGDOM COLLEGIATE ACADEMIES - DALLAS kcacademies.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 500

FIRST BAPTIST ACADEMY fbacademy.com Religious affiliation: Baptist Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 310

ADDISON

Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: 9–12 Total enrollment: 1,150

GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DALLAS german-isd.com Grades: Preschool–4 Total enrollment: 113

•

GOOD SHEPHERD EPISCOPAL SCHOOL gsesdallas.org Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 550 See ad on Page 29 GRACE ACADEMY OF DALLAS graceacademy.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 220 See ad on Page 15 HIGHLANDER SCHOOL highlanderschool.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 125

•

HILLIER SCHOOL hillierschool.org Religious affiliation: Presbyterian Grades: 1–8 Total enrollment: 37 HOCKADAY SCHOOL, THE hockaday.org Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 1,115 See ad on Page 6 HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL htcsdallas.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 135 JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL OF DALLAS jesuitdallas.org

LAKEHILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL discover.lakehillprep.org Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 375 LAMPLIGHTER SCHOOL, THE thelamplighterschool.org Grades: Pre-K–4 Total enrollment: 470 MOUNT ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL msmcatholic.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 123 NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY newlifechristianacademy.net Religious affiliation: Baptist Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 33

••

NOTRE DAME SCHOOL OF DALLAS notredameschool.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 150

•••

OAK HILL ACADEMY

oakhillacademy.org Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 135 OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CATHOLIC SCHOOL olphschooldallas.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 165

OUR REDEEMER LUTHERAN SCHOOL ordallas.org Religious affiliation: Lutheran Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 225 PARISH EPISCOPAL SCHOOL parish.org Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 1,150 See ad on Page 15 PRESTON HOLLOW PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL phps.org

•

ISTOCK

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

•

= LEARNING DIFFERENCES

•

= SPECIAL NEEDS

= NONTRADITIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

•

= GIFTED

= INFORMATION FROM 2021 LIST

Campuses listed here offer at least four primary grades or three secondary grades. The listing details are provided by the schools and reflect the most current information available.

Religious affiliation: Presbyterian Grades: K–6 Total enrollment: 125

•

PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL OF TEXAS pcstx.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 450

•

SANTA CLARA OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEMY santaclaraacademy.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 144 SCOFIELD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL scofieldchristianschool.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 235 SOUTHWEST ADVENTIST JUNIOR ACADEMY swaja.org Religious affiliation: Adventist Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 28 ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX CATHOLIC SCHOOL stbernardccs.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 150

ST. CECILIA SCHOOL stceciliacatholic.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 167 ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL saintspride.com Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 200 ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL stjohnsschool.org

Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 500

•

ST. MARK’S SCHOOL OF TEXAS smtexas.org Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grades: 1–12 Total enrollment: 903 ST. MARY OF CARMEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL smcschool.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 148 ST. MONICA CATHOLIC SCHOOL stmonicaschool.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 765 ST. PHILIP & ST. AUGUSTINE CATHOLIC ACADEMY spsacatholic.org Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 311

Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 866 ST. TIMOTHY SCHOOL, THE thesainttimothyschool.org Religious affiliation: Anglican Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 52

••*

FARMERS BRANCH

ISLAMIC SCHOOL OF IRVING islamicschoolofirving.org Religious affiliation: Islamic Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 500

MARY IMMACULATE SCHOOL mischool.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 390

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS ursulinedallas.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: 9–12 Total enrollment: 850 See ad on Page 15

BRIGHTER HORIZONS ACADEMY bhaprep.org Religious affiliation: Islamic Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 800

••

VANGUARD PREPARATORY SCHOOL vanguardprepschool.com Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 115 WESLEY PREP wesleyprep.org Religious affiliation: Methodist Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 448 See ad on Page 67

ST. PIUS X CATHOLIC SCHOOL spxdallasschool.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 173

WESTWOOD SCHOOL, THE westwoodschool.org Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 300 See ad on Page 28

ST. RITA CATHOLIC SCHOOL strita.net Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 765

WHITE ROCK MONTESSORI whiterockmontessori.org Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 150

•

WHITE ROCK NORTH SCHOOL whiterocknorthschool.com Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 325

••

WINSTON SCHOOL, THE

winston-school.org Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 160 ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL zlsdallas.org Religious affiliation: Lutheran Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 254

DESOTO DESOTO PRIVATE SCHOOL desotoprivate.org Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 270

HUMANIST ACADEMY, THE

thehumanistacademy.org Grades: Preschool–10 Total enrollment: 55

TORAH DAY SCHOOL OF DALLAS tdsd.org Religious affiliation: Orthodox Jewish Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 405

ST. PHILIP’S SCHOOL & COMMUNITY CENTER stphilips1600.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–7 Total enrollment: 250

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL staschool.org Religious affiliation: Catholic

KINGDOM COLLEGIATE ACADEMIES - DESOTO kcacademies.org Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 170

GARLAND

FIREWHEEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY firewheelca.org Religious affiliation: Assemblies of God Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 260 GARLAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY garlandchristian.com Religious affiliation: Baptist Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 291

REDEEMER MONTESSORI SCHOOL redeemermontessori.org Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 137 SLOAN SCHOOL, THE thesloanschool.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–5 Total enrollment: 120 STONEGATE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY sgca.net Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 100 See ad on Page 67

•

GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL gscschool.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 220

GRAND PRAIRIE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL school.icgrandprairie.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 132

IRVING

•

ST. FRANCIS MONTESSORI stfrancisirving.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–6 Total enrollment: 145

MESQUITE DALLAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL dallaschristian.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 500

RICHARDSON

•••

BRIDGE BUILDER ACADEMY bridgebuilderacademy.com Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 40

CISTERCIAN PREPARATORY SCHOOL cistercian.org/school Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: 5–12 Total enrollment: 357

IANT QURANIC ACADEMY myiqa.org Religious affiliation: Islamic Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 200

HIGHLANDS SCHOOL, THE thehighlandsschool.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 354

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL stjosephccschool.net Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 258

HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC ACADEMY hfca-irving.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 140

ST. PAUL CATHOLIC CLASSICAL SCHOOL spsdfw.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 120

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

Pediatric Home Health Speech, Occupational & Physical Therapy Terapia de Lenguaje, Ocupacional y Física

Serving Children Ages: 0–21

• Highly Experienced Clinical Team • Specialized Feeding Program • Achieving your child’s greatest potential Our therapists create a fun and nurturing therapy experience for children with special needs.

Serving the greater DFW area 214-295-5374

fax

Se Habla Español

214-245-5217

sagecaretherapy.com

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

denton county WORDS ALEXIS PATTERSON

IT’S A BIG DEAL NEARLY A MILLION PEOPLE RESIDE IN DENTON COUNTY. DENTON WAS IN THE TOP 10 COUNTIES IN THE NATION FOR POPULATION GROWTH LAST YEAR, COMING IN AT NO. 6. THE AREA GAINED 27,747 PEOPLE FROM 2020 TO 2021.

GRAND SLAM THE SPRAWLING, 433-ACRE DEVELOPMENT KNOWN AS GRANDSCAPE WAS NAMED THE

WORLD’S MOST INNOVATIVE RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT PROJECT BY RETAIL AND LEISURE INTERNATIONAL’S GLOBAL RLI AWARDS IN 2021. THE SITE— STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT IN THE COLONY—CURRENTLY FEATURES NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART, MORE THAN PHOTOS COURTESY OF DFW SURF; DENTON CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

TWO DOZEN RESTAURANTS, INDOOR GOCARTING, SCHEELS SPORTING GOODS, MOVIE THEATERS AND A FERRIS WHEEL.

ABOVE // LEWISVILLE LAKE SPANS 29,000 ACRES, WITH 233 MILES OF SHORELINE. THE AVERAGE DEPTH IS 25 FEET, MAKING IT A POPULAR SPOT FOR FISHING, WATER SPORTS AND BOATING. YOU CAN ALSO ENJOY THE LAKE FROM MILES OF SURROUNDING HIKE-AND-BIKE TRAILS.

ENTON COUNTY COMBINES RURAL CHARM WITH MODERN AMENITIES and economic development. The county seat sits at the convergence of Interstate 35E and 35W, and prominent companies such as Acme Brick make their home here. There’s also timbered land, Blackland prairie, the Elm Fork of the Trinity River and other natural beauty.

EDUCATION

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED AS TEXAS NORMAL COLLEGE AND TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTE IN 1890.

THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM DENTON’S FIRST COURTHOUSE BURNED IN 1875. ITS REPLACEMENT, A BRICK COURTHOUSE, WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, THEN CONDEMNED AND DEMOLISHED IN 1894. CONSTRUCTION FOR THE COURTHOUSE-ON-THE-SQUARE MUSEUM, AS WE KNOW IT TODAY, BEGAN IN 1895. DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

denton county

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

ARGYLE

coramdeoacademy.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 772

•

Mommy & Me

LIBERTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL libertychristian.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 1,107

EXPLORATIONS PREPARATORY SCHOOL explorationsprep.org Grades: Pre-K–6 Total enrollment: 64

SELWYN SCHOOL selwynschool.org Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 113

DENTON

Make bath time for your baby just as special as feeding time, with personalized soaps made with your very own breast milk.

LEWISVILLE

TEMPLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY templechristian.com Religious affiliation: Baptist Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 140

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL catholicschooldenton.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 175

LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY legacyca.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 1,109 STARWOOD ACADEMY OF FRISCO starwoodschools.com Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 260

GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY gcapatriots.org Religious affiliation: Baptist Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 92

DENTON CALVARY ACADEMY dentoncalvary.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 224

NATURAL SOAPS

•

FRISCO

LAKELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY lakelandchristian.org Religious affiliation: Baptist Grades: Preschool–9 Total enrollment: 232

•

KOAN SCHOOL koanschool.org Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 68

FLOWER MOUND

•

CORAM DEO ACADEMY FLOWER MOUND

••••• Call Arria @ 682-326-3491 •••••

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

•

= LEARNING DIFFERENCES

•

= GIFTED

= NONTRADITIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Campuses listed here offer at least four primary grades or three secondary grades. The listing details are provided by the schools and reflect the most current information available.

ISTOCK

shopkari.com

tarrant county WORDS ALEXIS PATTERSON

GROWING UP SOME 2.1 MILLION PEOPLE RESIDE IN TARRANT. CLOSE TO HALF (918,915) MAKE THEIR HOME IN FORT WORTH—THE FASTEST GROWING LARGE CITY IN THE U.S. BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020.

A STAR IS BORN ... OR AT LEAST PASSING THROUGH. SOME FAMOUS FOLKS WHO HAVE CALLED TARRANT COUNTY HOME:

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITY OF ADDISON; PETER A. CALVIN; STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

YOUR MERRY WAY

• KELLY CLARKSON, SINGER AND TELEVISION HOST • VAN CLIBURN, CELEBRATED PIANIST • KIRK FRANKLIN, GOSPEL ARTIST • SELENA GOMEZ, SINGER AND ACTRESS • LEIGHTON MEESTER, ACTRESS • GINGER ROGERS, ACTRESS AND DANCER • LADAINIAN TOMLINSON, FORMER PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER

ABOVE // FORT WORTH BENEFITED GREATLY FROM CATTLE DRIVES IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, AS THE CITY WAS THE LAST STOP BEFORE UNSETTLED WILDERNESS. PEEK INTO THE PAST WITH THE FORT WORTH STOCKYARDS’ TWICE-DAILY CATTLE DRIVE. YOU’LL GET A GREAT VIEW FROM STOCKYARDS STATION RESTAURANTS WITH OUTDOOR SEATING OR THE LAWN OF THE LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE BUILDING.

STABLISHED IN 1849, Tarrant County’s western heritage remains strong, with a modern twist. These days, you’ll find both cowboys in hats and Cowboys in helmets. Here are five things to know about the people and places of Tarrant County.

GRAPEVINE WAS DECLARED THE CHRISTMAS CAPITAL OF TEXAS BY A 2009 TEXAS SENATE PROCLAMATION. OVER A 40-DAY SPAN AT THE END OF THE YEAR, GRAPEVINE OFFERS MORE THAN 1,400 EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES.

EVERYTHING’S BIGGER IN TEXAS ARLINGTON’S AT&T STADIUM, HOME OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS, IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST DOMED STRUCTURE. IT’S SO BIG THAT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY COULD STAND INSIDE (WITH A FEW FEET TO SPARE). DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

tarrant county

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

FORT WORTH

ALL SAINTS’ EPISCOPAL SCHOOL aseschool.org Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 1,190 See ad on Page 63 ALLIANCE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY & LITTLE SPROUTS PRESCHOOL acaknights.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 236

BURTON ADVENTIST ACADEMY burtonacademy.org Religious affiliation: Adventist Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 265

CHILDREN’S UNIVERSITY childrensuniversity.com Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 200

•

FLINT ACADEMY flintacademy.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 90

•

GRACE PREPARATORY ACADEMY graceprep.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 506

•

GREEN OAKS SCHOOL greenoaksinc.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 35 MERRYHILL SCHOOL merryhillschool.com/elementary/dallas/arlington Grades: Preschool–7 Total enrollment: 253

•

MONTESSORI ACADEMY OF ARLINGTON, THE tmaonline.org Grades: Pre-K–6 Total enrollment: 178 NORTHSTAR SCHOOL northstarschool.net Grades: 7–12 Total enrollment: 30

•

BURLESON

OAKRIDGE SCHOOL, THE theoakridgeschool.org Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 700

HOLY CROSS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY hccaburleson.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 220

PANTEGO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY pantego.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 575

COLLEYVILLE COVENANT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY covenantchristian.net Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 560

PARK ROW CHRISTIAN ACADEMY parkrowchristian.net Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 240

CROWN OF LIFE LUTHERAN SCHOOL colschool.org Religious affiliation: Lutheran Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 134

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL stjosephtx.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 310

•

INSPIRE ACADEMY inspireacademytx.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 75 See ad on Page 28

ST. MARIA GORETTI CATHOLIC SCHOOL smgschool.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 210

•

WAYPOINT MONTESSORI waypointmontessori.org Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 120

ST. PAUL’S PREPARATORY ACADEMY stpaulsprep.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 235

BEDFORD

NAZARENE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY nazarenechristianacademy.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 230

•

= LEARNING DIFFERENCES

•

= SPECIAL NEEDS

•

= GIFTED

andersonschool.net Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 21 BETHESDA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL bethesdachristianschool.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 537 CALVARY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY cca-tx.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 333

•

CASSATA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL cassatahs.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: 9–12 Total enrollment: 125

•••

CHRISTIAN COTTAGE PREP christiancottageprep.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 35 COVENANT CLASSICAL SCHOOL covenantfw.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 451

CROWLEY

MIDCITIES MONTESSORI midcitiesmontessori.com Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 45

••

•

CROSSROADS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY crossroadsftworth.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: 8–12 Total enrollment: 40

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

FORT WORTH COUNTRY DAY fwcd.org Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 1,097

•

HILL SCHOOL OF FORT WORTH hillschool.org Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 105

•

HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL hfcsfw.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 108

•••

JANE JUSTIN SCHOOL

cookchildrens.org/services/ child-study-center/jane-justinschool Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 74

•

KEY SCHOOL kcld.org Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 85 See ad on Page 39

•

LAKE COUNTRY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL lccs.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 485

•

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF FORT WORTH msftw.org Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 200

•

MOSAIC ACADEMY mosaicacademy.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–7 Total enrollment: 75 NOLAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL nolancatholic.org Religious affiliation: Catholic

•

= NONTRADITIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

= INFORMATION FROM 2021 LIST

Campuses listed here offer at least four primary grades or three secondary grades. The listing details are provided by the schools and reflect the most current information available.

FORT WORTH ADVENTIST JUNIOR ACADEMY fwaja.org Religious affiliation: Seventh Day Adventist Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 52

ISTOCK

ARLINGTON

ANDERSON PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR THE GIFTED, TALENTED AND CREATIVE

FORT WORTH ACADEMY fwacademy.org Grades: K–8 Total enrollment: 190 See ad on Page 35

Your Fast Track To Fun ! d r a o b A l l A

Grapevine’s vintage train offers exciting excursions you won’t soon forget! The Grapevine Vintage Railroad features 1950s vintage locomotives and an 1896 steam engine. You can enjoy the 1920s Victorian-style coaches with exciting excursions on board the Cotton Belt Route to the Historic Stockyards District.

Bring the whole family and enjoy the thrill of special event trains throughout the year, including Day Out With Thomas®, North Pole Express® and much more. Visit the website for more information and a complete listing of special event trains.

GVRR.com | 817.410.3185 | 705 S. Main St., Grapevine

tarrant county

PRIVATE SCHOOLS Grades: 9–12 Total enrollment: 704 SOUTHWEST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL southwestchristian.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 886 See ad on Page 37

TCU Music Preparatory Division Early Childhood Music TCU offers a unique program where children and their parents can interact in a joyful musical environment.

HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL holytcs.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 240

ST. PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL stpauleagles.org Religious affiliation: Lutheran Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 202

www.musicprep.tcu.edu

••

NOVUS ACADEMY, THE

ST. PETER’S CLASSICAL SCHOOL stpetersclassical.org Religious affiliation: Christian Orthodox Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 96

thenovusacademy.org Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 50

••

Reading and math therapy for all students, including those struggling with dyslexia and/or dysgraphia and dsycalculia

Dr. Kary Johnson

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

Ads with © are © of Lauren Publications, Inc. 2022.

817-924-2000 reading-connection.com

MESSIAH LUTHERAN CLASSICAL ACADEMY mlcatexas.org

TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL tvs.org

= LEARNING DIFFERENCES

•

HARVEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY hcasaints.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 240

TRINITY BAPTIST TEMPLE ACADEMY tbta.tbtchurch.org Religious affiliation: Baptist Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 140

•

DFW PERFORMING ARTS CONSERVATORY dfwpac.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: 4–12 Total enrollment: 25

3145 McCart Avenue Fort Worth, TX 76110

KELLER

TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY STARPOINT SCHOOL starpoint.tcu.edu Religious affiliation: Disciples of Christ Grades: 1–6 Total enrollment: 60

•

= GIFTED

•

= INFORMATION FROM 2021 LIST

KENNEDALE FELLOWSHIP ACADEMY fellowship-academy.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 360

MANSFIELD SCHOOL OF LEXIA schooloflexia.org Grades: 1–6 Total enrollment: 26

•

E.A. YOUNG ACADEMY eayoungacademy.com Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 95

LEGACY CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY legacyclassical.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 133

TEMPLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL tcseagles.org Religious affiliation: Baptist Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 367

ONE-ON-ONE INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING SESSIONS

BILINGUAL READING SPECIALIST AND OWNER

HASLET

•

TRINITY PREPARATORY ACADEMY trinityprepkeller.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: K–12 Total enrollment: 310

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS

•

SOUTHLAKE MONTESSORI southlakemontessori.org Grades: Preschool–6 Total enrollment: 37

ST. RITA CATHOLIC SCHOOL saintritaschool.net Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 132

Making Lifelong Learning Connections

ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON CATHOLIC SCHOOL seton.school Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 540 See ad on Page 29

GRAPEVINE

Ed Landreth Hall

GRANBURY

GRAPEVINE FAITH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL grapevinefaith.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 845 See ad on Page 29

ST. GEORGE CATHOLIC SCHOOL stgeorgecatholicschool.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Pre-K–8 Total enrollment: 100

Private Lessons Piano, Voice and Instrumental / 5 years–adult 817-257-7604

Religious affiliation: Lutheran Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 78

GRACE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY graceclassical.com Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–11 Total enrollment: 99

ST. ANDREW CATHOLIC SCHOOL standrewsch.org Religious affiliation: Catholic Grades: Preschool–8 Total enrollment: 580

Music Together ® Babies Class / 0–8 months Music Together ® Mixed Ages / 0–4 years Music Together® Generations 0–4 years Music Together ® Rhythm Kids™ / 4–8 years 817-257-6134

Grades: Pre-K–12 Total enrollment: 1,017

•

FORT WORTH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL fwc.org Religious affiliation: Christian Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 600

NORTH PARK CHRISTIAN ACADEMY northparknow.com Religious affiliation: Baptist Grades: Pre-K–4 Total enrollment: 23

SOUTHLAKE CLARIDEN SCHOOL, THE claridenschool.org Grades: Preschool–12 Total enrollment: 170

••

FUSION ACADEMY SOUTHLAKE fusionacademy.com/campuses/ southlake Grades: 6–12 Total enrollment: 85

= NONTRADITIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

**= INFORMATION FROM 2020 LIST

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

SCHOOL DISTRICTS DALLAS-FORT WORTH SCHOOL DISTRICTS 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

ALEDO

ALLEN

ANNA

ARGYLE

aledoisd.org allenisd.org annaisd.org www.argyleisd.com

DENTON

DESOTO

www.dentonisd.org desotoisd.org

AUBREY

www.aubreyisd.net

AZLE

www.azleisd.net

BIRDVILLE

birdvilleschools.net

BROCK

brockisd.net

BURLESON

burlesonisd.net

CARROLL

HURST-EULESSBEDFORD

40 LOVEJOY

EAGLE MOUNTAINSAGINAW

EVERMAN

FORT WORTH

FRISCO

GARLAND

GRAND PRAIRIE

GRAPEVINE- COLLEYVILLE

eisd.org

fwisd.org

friscoisd.org garlandisd.net gpisd.org

MANSFIELD

MCKINNEY

MELISSA

irvingisd.net www.kellerisd.net kennedaleisd.net

KRUM

15 16 17 18

melissaisd.org

krumisd.net

LAKE DALLAS

ldisd.net

NORTHWEST

PILOT POINT

LAKE WORTH

lwisd.org

pilotpointisd.com

LANCASTER

lancasterisd.org

380

denton

380

42 289

Ponder

www.celinaisd.com

35E

COPPELL

Northlake

highland village

4 114

crowleyisdtx.org

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820

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175

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17 Crowley

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360

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161

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sunnyvaleisd.com

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sangerisd.net

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duncanvilleisd.org

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bu s

CHARTER SCHOOLS IN DFW

LIFE SCHOOL

lifeschool.net 469/850-5433 Multiple Campuses

A+ ACADEMY ELEMENTARY

Aplus-cs.org 972-557-5578

ARLINGTON CLASSICS ACADEMY

acaedu.net 817/273-2008 Multiple Campuses

BASIS CHARTER SCHOOL

basised.com 817/662-7080 See ad on pg. 21

CITYSCAPE SCHOOLS

cityscapeschools.org 214/824-4747 Multiple Campuses

CLASSICAL ACADEMIES

classicaledu.com Multiple Campuses

FORT WORTH ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

artsacademics.org 817/924-1482

FOUNDERS CLASSICAL ACADEMY

HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

harmonytx.org 214/570-1606 Multiple Campuses

IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ideapublicschools.org 817/885-4200 Multiple Campuses

INSPIRED VISION ACADEMY

ivsec.apluscharterschools.org 214/275-1200 Multiple Campuses

INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP OF TEXAS

iltexas.org 972/470-9078 Multiple Campuses

iSCHOOL OF LEWISVILLE

ischoollewisville.com 972-317-2470 Multiple Campuses

KIPP PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS

kipp.org Multiple Campuses

LEADERSHIP PREP SCHOOL

foundersclassical.com 972/330-5844 Multiple Campuses

lpsfrisco.com Multiple Campuses

GREAT HEARTS ACADEMY

LEGACY PREPARATORY CHARTER ACADEMY

greatheartsamerica.org 210/888-9475 Multiple Campuses

legacypreparatory.com 469/249-1099 Multiple Campuses

LUMIN EDUCATION

lumineducation.org 214/824-8950 Multiple Campuses

NEWMAN INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY

newmanacademy.org 682/207-5773 Multiple Campuses

PIONEER TECHNOLOGY

ptaaschool.org 469/405-8967 Multiple Campuses

RESPONSIVE ED

responsiveed.com 972/316-3663 Multiple Campuses

TEXAS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

artsacademics.org 817/732-8372

TREETOPS SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL

treetops.org 817/823-1771

UME PREPARATORY ACADEMY

umeprep.org 214/445-6243 Multiple Campuses

Looking for fun things to do with your family? Check out the calendar on dfwchild.com to see what cool things are happening—festivals, events and family-friendly destinations. Get out and take advantage of all that Dallas–Fort Worth has to offer.

Visit our calendar: dfwchild.com/calendar

UPLIFT EDUCATION

uplifteducation.org 469/621-8500 Multiple Campuses See ad on pg. 13

WESTLAKE ACADEMY

westlakeacademy.org 817/490-5757

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DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BEST

Summer EVER

Summer activity planning made easy Childhood summer memories and camp go hand-in-hand. Explore these fun camp options that will make this a summer to remember. Additional camps online at

dfwchild.com/camps Summer Fitness Activities for Kids at Cooper! June 6–August 12 Keep your kids and teens active this summer at Cooper Fitness Center. Our experienced staff and outdoor setting provide the ultimate camp experience. Connect: Socialize in a secure setting Play: Indoor and outdoor physical activity without screen time Enjoy: Interactive activities led by trained professionals • Summer Tennis Camp (Ages 5–16) Explore literature in a fun and creative way! At NTPA, kids transform into their favorite storybook characters as they bring popular stories to life on stage. Popular themes like Descendants, Harry Potter, Little Mermaid, High School Musical and more! Taught by professional directors, actors, and singers who have worked everywhere from Broadway to L.A. Ages 5–18. New students get 50% off! Locations in Plano, Fairview, Frisco and Dallas 972-422-2575 NTPA.org/camps

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

Trinity River Farm & Equestrian Center offers horseback riding camp for kids ages 7–16. Camps available for beginner through advanced students. All are welcome. We teach English riding with an emphasis on safety and horsemanship in a fun-filled farm setting. Serving DFW for 17 years. 8375 Randol Mill Rd. Fort Worth, TX 76120 817-683-5610 trinityriverfarmtx.com

• Swim Lessons (All ages) Register today for Cooper youth programs! cooperyouth.com

Cooper Fitness Center 12100 Preston Road Dallas, TX 75230 972.233.4382 cooperyouth.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Now enrolling for 2022 summer camps! DFW’s leader in youth sports summer camps for over 30 years. Use coupon code: DFW Child to save $15. Basketball camps for ages 6–13. Volleyball camps for ages 8–13. Our campers learn valuable skills and fundamentals, while having lots of FUN! Campers are grouped by age or ability (beginner or advanced) to ensure maximum learning and skill development. We try to maintain a 12:1 ratio of campers to staff. Instruction is provided by outstanding area secondary school coaches and club instructors. Camps held in Addison and Plano. Visit www.allstarcamps.com for more info and to register.

SummerYou is an eight-week summer program facilitated by, and on the campus of, All Saints’ Episcopal School. Our 147-acre campus in west Fort Worth is the perfect habitat for exploration, adventure, and curiosity. With more than 200 camps to choose from, your child won’t be riding the boredom train. From building robots to throwing water balloons, starting a business to playing baseball, SummerYou has it all!

Ballet Basics introduces young dancers, ages 3 to 6, to the fundamentals of ballet in a fun, encouraging environment. The camp experience also includes crafts, story time and choreography correlating with the theme of the week. The Junior Intensive is designed for dancers ages 7–14 and broadens their perspectives with a variety of classes including ballet, modern, jazz and musical theater. Dancers will focus on improving artistry and technique with instruction from supportive faculty. All programs are available at both our Fort Worth and Richardson campuses. For more information, visit our website or contact the campus closest to you at fwschool@texasballet.org or dallasschool@texasballet.org. 300 N. Coit Rd. Suite 231, Richardson, 75080 • 214-377-8576 1540 Mall Circle, Fort Worth 76116 • 817-763-0207 texasballettheater.org/summer-programs

With full-day options and affordable weekly camps for Ages 3–Grade 12 all on one world-class campus, parents can rest easy knowing the logistics, and their kids, are well taken care of. Bee active, Bee silly, Bee YOU! Registration for summer 2022 is open! Explore featured camps and dive into details at summeryou.org/fwcmag.

9700 Saints Circle, Fort Worth, TX 76108 817-560-5700, ext. 416 summeryou.org/fwcmag

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

EN TS

W C H I L D .C

FOR DAILY

playbook M

VI S

WORDS ELIZABETH SMITH

JURASSIC QUEST July 29–31

J U N E & J U LY

➽ THESE SUMMER FUN EVENTS ARE MADE IN THE SHADE SAFARI NIGHTS

Now through July 2

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JURASSIC QUEST

DALL AS ZOO

The zoo extends its hours until 9pm on Saturday nights for this live concert series in the Grove. Guests are welcome to come earlier in the day and stay for the evening entertainment, animal encounters and food truck fare. Free with zoo admission: $21 adults; $16 children; under 3 free. The Dino Safari guided tram tours run late,

too, so you can add the $6 tickets when purchasing your admission online. 469/554-7500; dallaszoo. com/safarinights PSYCHEDELIC ROBOT

Now through August 28 THE SHOPS AT WILLOW BEND, PL ANO

A 1,000-year-old dragon named TNX returns to Earth to tell the story of another creature: Psychedelic Robot. Yeah…get ready for a trippy ride through this vi-

sual storytelling experience, a 40,000-square-foot exhibit made completely immersive thanks to 2D and 3D projection-mapping, augmented reality and narrative audio. Note that all ages are welcome during the daytime, but it’s 21 and up only after 7pm. General admission: $45.60 adults; $31.90 children; under 5 free. VIP: $59 adults; $36 children. 214/494-0489; psychedelicrobot.com

BECOMING JANE

Now through September 5

PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE, DALL AS

Test your “chimp chat” language skills and walk inside a life-size replica of Dr. Jane Goodall’s research tent as part of the Perot Museum’s new exhibition exploring the work of the world-renowned conservationist and ethologist, who has studied chimpanzees in the wild for more than 60 years. $8 adults; $6 children; plus

regular admission: $25 adults; $15 children; under 2 free. 214/428-5555; perotmuseum.org WILD BY NATURE SERIES

June 1–July 27

BIODIVERSIT Y EDUCATION CENTER AT COPPELL NATURE CENTER

Drop in on Wednesdays between 10am and noon (before the sun gets too scorching) to explore a new theme each week: every-

DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

TO DO

Opens June 4

HEARD NATURAL SCIENCE MUSEUM & WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, MCKINNEY

See first-hand what it takes to attract butterflies and other pollinators (and make note of what to try in your own garden) when you visit the Heard’s butterfly house and packed with free-flying native butterflies. Note that the butterfly house is open through October 2 and the butterfly garden is accessible year-round. Free with general admission: $10 adults; $7 children; under 3 free. 972/562-5566; heardmuseum.org/butterflies NEWSIES

June 4–12

CASA MAÑANA, FORT WORTH

The Broadway musical is based on real events that happened at the turn of the 20th century when teenaged newsboys protested for their rights for fair pay. And if you loved the 1992 movie musical, you’ll love the plot twist in this Broadway musical version, now on stage as one of Casa Mañana’s Main Stage productions. Tickets from $29. 817/332-2272; casamanana.org 66

June 10–12

DALL AS MARKET HALL

Sample a variety of eats and drinks from more than 75 restaurants, food trucks and local artisans at the 36th annual foodie fest. Tacos, barbecue, veggies, corn dogs and funnel cakes and beyond will all be there for the tasting. While you’re digesting, check out the family fun zone with photo opportunities with costumed Minions. Free Friday admission; Saturday and Sunday tickets from $15; under 11 free. tasteofdallas.org SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK

June 15–July 23

SAMUELL-GRAND AMPHITHEATER, DALL AS

MYSTERY IN THE PARK

June 17–18

GRAPEVINE BOTANICAL GARDENS AT HERITAGE PARK

Uncover the clues, find the culprit, and solve the crime. It's that simple—or is it? Here’s your chance to play detective and take part in a mystery show created in partnership with Grapevine Escape. Register by June 15 for your choice of either the all-ages Fidget P.I. or Take a Chance, geared toward teens and adults. $10 for Grapevine residents; $15 for non-residents. 817/4103450; gograpevine.com/ event/mysteryinthepark FAN EXPO DALLAS

June 17–19

KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON CONVENTION CENTER, DALL AS

Shakespeare Dallas marks its 50th anniversary season with three plays, starting with two this summer: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (a comedy) and The Tempest (often considered a tragicomedy). Check the schedule to see which shows are playing on which nights, and bring the family to picnic at the park and watch live production out under the stars. $20 adults; under 11 free. Season subscriptions are available, too, if you plan to see Hamlet later in the fall. 214/5592778; shakespearedallas.org

Comic book readers, cosplayers, movie buffs and super fans of all stripes descend upon this pop culture convention for a weekend of shopping, seminars and celebrity sightings. Brendan Fraser, Elijah Wood and Kevin Smith are among the big names available for meet and greets. Fans of all ages are welcome to walk the Cosplay Red Carpet and join K-pop dance battles. Tickets from $27; under 6 free. 972/9559747; fanexpodallas.com

CONCERTS IN THE GARDEN

TEXAS BLACK INVITATIONAL RODEO

June 16–July 4

FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN

The summer concert series returns to the garden with a variety of artists, tribute

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

June 18

FAIR PARK COLISEUM, DALL AS

As a part of the Juneteenth Celebration Weekend, about 300 African Ameri-

Opens July 1

PANTHER ISL AND PAVILION

The creators of Immersive Van Gogh have set their sights on impressionist masters Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt. This latest multimedia exhibition of video mapping pieces together 1.2 million frames of video with moodsetting music. Get your timed tickets to experience this late 19th-century art movement as well as the marine paintings of J.M.W. Turner and the postimpressionist works of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Tickets from $29.99 for adults and from $19.99 for children; under 6 free. immersivemonet.com/dallas

June 18

As part of a month of events celebrating the Juneteenth national holiday, this annual community festival features live music, food vendors and a fireworks show over the Trinity River. Check out the kids zone for more O entertainment: DE RO an introducAL tory flight simulation and music production course from Fly Beats ($10) and a youth soccer clinic ($10). $20 festival admission online and at the door; children free. $100 VIP Freedom Lounge. juneteenthftw.com DSO MOVIE IN CONCERT

June 22–24

MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTER, DALL AS

Remember how much we loved the original Toy Story? Sit back and relax while rewatching the 1995 original film (Pixar’s first) on a big screen at the Meyerson as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra performs the soundtrack live on stage. Tickets from $30. 214/8494376; dallassymphony.org KID’S MOVIE ON THE LAWN

June 26

AT&T DISCOVERY DISTRICT

Perhaps in anticipation of Wonka (the prequel due out next year starring Timothée Chalamet) we agree that it’s high time for rewatching the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Bring

IMMERSIVE MONET & THE IMPRESSIONISTS LIGHTHOUSE ARTSPACE, DALL AS

ADDISON KABOOM TOWN!

July 3

ADDISON CIRCLE PARK

This dynamite fireworks show lights up the skies one day before Independence Day. Admission is free, but capacity is limited and advance tickets are required. Sure, you can watch the show from outside the park, but you’ll want to make your way inside for the new Caliber Auto Care Splash Zone. With a $15 wristband, you’ll have unlimited access to the inflatable water slides, obstacle course and zip line. 972/450-2800; addisonkaboomtown.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC; JESSE HORNBUCKLE

NATIVE TEXAS BUTTERFLY HOUSE & GARDEN

TASTE OF DALLAS

I AM JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL

thing from bugs and bones to soil, plus how to reduce your environmental impact, and how to experience nature through writing, drawing and drama. No registration required. Best for kids 3–14. FREE 972/3043581; coppelltx.gov/bec

your picnic blankets and set up on the lawn at this downtown entertainment district to watch the 1971 film on an unbelievably large, 104-foot-tall screen. Attendees will receive customized chocolate bar and earn a chance to score a golden ticket. FREE discoverydistrict.att.com

TA TI O

➽ BECOMING JANE

can cowboys and cowgirls compete in bronc and bull riding, calf and steer roping, barrel racing and the Pony Express relay race. For maximum fun, don’t miss the grand entry parade and the on-field kids’ activities. Tickets from $10. Proceeds from this 33rd annual rodeo benefit the African American Museum. 214/6708400; fairparkdallas.com

A S B L AC K I N V I

bands, and the Fort Worth Symphony performing on select weekend days. For the young ones, the Star Wars-themed concerts (with laser light shows) are can’t-miss, and the Independence Day concerts feature a glorious fireworks show. Pack a picnic or, for less hassle, order a picnic dinner in advance from Central Market and pick it up when you arrive. Lawn seats are $25 or free with kids 10 and younger. Reserved table seats from $30, depending on the day. 817/665-6000; fwsymphony.org/citg

TEX

playbook / T H I N G S

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SGCA admits students of any race, color, national, and ethic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethic origin in administration of its educational polices, scholarships, and loan programs, athletic and other school administered programs.

LEARN MORE AT

riverlegacy.org 817.860.6752

703 NW Green Oaks Boulevard, Arlington, TX 76006 (@ intersection of Cooper St. & NW Green Oaks Blvd.)

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DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

playbook / T H I N G S

TO DO

bag policy. Tickets from $30. 866/276-4884; broadwaydallas.org JURASSIC QUEST

July 29–31

FAIR PARK CENTENNIAL HALL, DALL AS

FAIR PARK FOURTH

July 4

FAIR PARK, DALL AS

Take in the impressive Independence Day fireworks show from inside the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium as the United States Air Force Band plays patriotic tunes. Be sure to arrive at Fair Park earlier in the day to enjoy the kids’ activities and food trucks, or to stop by the Children’s Aquarium or Texas Discovery Gardens. FREE 214/670-8400; fairparkdallas.com ART TALES

July 6–27

AMON CARTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, FORT WORTH

Each Wednesday in July, bring the kids for this storytime program with games and crafts in the art galleries as well as special performances inspired by artworks in the Carter’s collection. Registration is encouraged and opens June 1, so go online to sign up for the day(s) you’d like to attend. The Carter also encourages kids who are deaf or hard of hearing to attend and will have American Sign Language interpreters there during the programs. FREE 817/7381933; cartermuseum.org MOON DAY

July 16

FRONTIERS OF FLIGHT MUSEUM, DALL AS

Did you know that NASA plans to return to the moon with the new Artemis program? Would your kids like to meet a real-life astronaut from one of the most famous lunar missions? Apollo

13 astronaut Fred Haise (famously portrayed by Bill Paxton) is the star guest for the museum’s annual space exposition, which also features plenty of family-oriented exhibits and activities. Free with regular admission: $10 adults; $7 children; under 3 free. 214/350-3600; flightmuseum.com FAMILY FESTIVAL: SUMMER ART PARTY

July 17

KIMBELL ART MUSEUM, FORT WORTH

The Kimbell’s latest family event falls on a most special day: National Ice Cream Sunday! Treat yourself to a complimentary scoop of ice cream, then come inside to enjoy family-friendly art activities and gallery explorations. And since admission for special exhibitions is waived during Family Festivals, don’t forget to tour The Language of Beauty in African Art, on view through July 31. FREE 817/332-8451; kimbellart.org DISNEY’S FROZEN

July 20–August 7

MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK, DALL AS

Escape the summer heat in more ways than one when Broadway Dallas (formerly Dallas Summer Musicals) presents Frozen live on tour. This stage version expands on the original film with 12 new songs, so prepare for the longer run time of two hours and 15 minutes and note the venue’s updated

ENCANTO SING-ALONG

July 29

DOS EQUIS PAVILION AT FAIR PARK, DALL AS

Why don’t we talk about Bruno, again? Relive the charming family saga at this film-in-concert event presented by Disney Concerts. The full movie plays on the big screen outdoors while a 10-piece band live on stage plays the soundtrack. No worries if you can’t remember all the lyrics. They’ll display on screen to help the entire crowd belt out every tune. Seats start at $29.50; $25 for open seating on the lawn. 214/421-1111; disneyconcerts.com/encanto DUDE PERFECT

July 31

AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, DALL AS

Frisco natives Tyler, Cody, Garrett, and twins Coby and Cory are YouTubers whose dedication to perfecting the trick shot cannot be matched. Don’t miss the chance to see their unbelievable stunts in-person on the last stop of their That’s Happy Summer Tour. Tickets from $35. 214/665-4797; dudeperfect.com

F O R M O R E K I D - F R I E N D LY E N T E R T A I N M E N T E V E R Y D AY O F T H E W E E K , V I S I T O U R O N L I N E C A L E N DA R AT D F W C H I L D.CO M/C A L E N DA R.

june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD

Combine two of your favorite summer pastimes—catching the latest summer blockbuster and lounging in the pool—at these neighborhood waterparks.

JUNE 3–AUGUST 5

FRISCO ATHLETIC CENTER WATER PARK

Pack your swim gear for Friday nights watching kidfriendly movies on the big screen over the outdoor pool. Titles range from the live-action adventure Jungle Cruise and the “character shows” (read: animated movies) Zootopia, Despicable Me and The Lorax. The water park features—the mat slider Preston Plunge, The Fort water playground, and a lazy river—remain on until the movie starts at sunset. $13 adults; $11 children; under 3 free. 972/292-6600; friscofun.org

JULY 1–29

NRH2O, NORTH RICHL AND HILLS

On select Friday nights, grab an inner tube and float in the wave pool while watching these movies, starting with Encanto and ending with Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (the 2018 one voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch). Don’t want to stay that late at night? Check out the water park’s other special events on select Saturdays: a drone show on July 9 and fireworks on July 23. $27.99 for guests taller than 48 inches; $20.99 for under 48 inches; under 3 free. 817/427-6500; nrh2o.com

JULY 8–29

HAWAIIAN FALLS, GARL AND AND THE COLONY

Stay late after closing time on Friday nights to watch movies over the Oahu Bay wave pool. Some days feature additional entertainment, like games and superhero training with costumed characters before a screening of Spider-Man: No Way Home, and a basketball dunk contest before Space Jam: A New Legacy. Online tickets are $29.99 for guests taller than 48 inches; $20.00 for under 48 inches; under 3 free. hfalls.com

JULY 15

ROSEMEADE RAINFOREST AQUATIC COMPLEX, CARROLLTON

The featured film for this annual poolside movie screening is Luca, which is fittingly about a sea monster who’s disguised as a human boy. You’ll enjoy visiting this particular water park, too, now that several of its pool areas and amenities have been newly remodeled. $5 for Carrollton residents; $9 for nonresidents; under 3 free. 972/466-9804; cityofcarrollton.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DISNEY CONCERTS AND LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT; FRONTIERS OF FLIGHT MUSEUM; ISTOCK

➽ MOON DAY

Even if you attended the Jurassic Quest’s previous drive-thru experience, this is a big step up with interactivity. Come meet the herd of realistic dino puppets, see the live shows and hop on dino-themed rides. There’s even a “Triceratots” soft play area for toddlers. Admission is $22; under 2 free. $36 includes entry and all-youcan-ride access to the rides, inflatables and fossil dig for children. 833/486-3466; jurassicquest.com

Providing Lifelong Learning through Community Experiences Serves all people with different abilities from ages three through adulthood. We strive to support all families through connections to resources as well as facilitating lifelong learning and long term successes. We accomplish these goals by teaching the skills that are necessary for all individuals to become contributing members of society.

H.E.R.O.E.S. Academy

H.E.R.O.E.S. Academy is a community-based, year-round day program for adults who have aged out of the school system. H.E.R.O.E.S. Academy provides the muchneeded opportunity for individuals to become active and contributing members of the community. The focus for our young adults is to embed ourselves into the community working on job training opportunities, volunteering, shopping and recreational activities. During their time on campus they will be cooking, and learning life skills such as money management, social skills and more.

Other programs offered: • • • •

www.heroesdfw.org

Fun activities for siblings of brothers and sisters with disabilities

Weekend retreats and sleepovers Parent and family support Continuing Ed courses Seasonal day camps: Summer, Spring Break, Winter

Camp Directory Summer planning starts here

Day Camps Overnight Camps

Family Camps Special Needs Camps

dfwchild.com/camps DFWCHILD | june/july 2022

Summer of Fun Sweet summertime is finally here! Our interactive map has destinations around North Texas that are perfect for keeping your family entertained all summer long.

dfwchild.com/summerfun

Enter our Summer of Fun Photo Contest! You could win a 2-night stay at the Gaylord Texan. Details on page 43.

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DFWChild June/July 2022

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