J U L Y

Ice hockey and ice skating

Ice hockey and ice skating go on during the summer months at Idaho IceWorld, 7072 S. Eisenman Rd. in Boise. For more information about all the on-ice activities, go to idahoiceworld.com.

Swimming lessons

Summer swimming lessons are available through area Parks and Recreation departments. Check listings in your town and help your youngster learn to be safe around water.

Zoo Boise

Zoo Boise, located at 355 Julia Davis Dr., is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry into the zoo at 5 p.m. Some of the “featured creatures” at the animal menagerie include: a sand cat; an Amur tiger; a sloth bear; Magellanic penguins; a giant anteater; and more. For more information, go to zooboise.org.

Movies Under the Stars

Movies are offered once a month throughout July and August at the Julia Davis Park Bandshell. For movie dates, titles, and tips, go to cityofboise.org/ movies-under-the-stars.

Foothills Family Days

The Foothills Learning Center at 3188 Sunset Peak Rd. in Boise offers free family fun on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be guided hikes, nature tables, crafts, and more. (Entrance to the center may be limited due to capacity.) Go to bee.cityofboise.org for more information.

Foster care informational meetings

Foster parents make a tremendous difference in the lives of children and youth who are in foster care by providing a safe and loving temporary home. A foster care informational meeting is a great opportunity to gain a basic understanding of who the children in foster care are, the roles and responsibilities of foster parents, and the process you will need to go through to become licensed to foster. During the meeting, you will also hear from an experienced foster parent about the rewards and challenges of fostering. Visit https://familyrtc.org/fosteringidaho/events for the calendar of events. Questions? Call Monique Layton at (208) 249-0180 or email mlayton4@ewu.edu.

Kids Bowl Free

Kids 15 and under get two free games of bowling per day with $5 shoe rentals from now through September 30 at Pinz Bowling Center, 1385 S. Blue Marlin Ln. in Meridian. Hours are Monday through Thursday open to close and Friday through Saturday from open to 1 p.m. Register at wahoozfunzone.com.

Fun on the Fourth

Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell will host a Fun on the Fourth event from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4. Go to indiancreekplaza.com for more information.

Fourth of July Parade

The Fourth of July Parade in downtown Boise will be held Tuesday, July 4. The theme for the parade is “Honoring Our Founding Fathers and Mothers.” The schedule includes: 5 to 7 a.m., CBS2 Live News from the Idaho Capitol; 7 a.m., CapEd’s Read to Rise hot air balloon launch from the Capitol; 7 a.m., Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance Breakfast in Cecil D. Andrus Park; 9:17 a.m., reading of the Declaration of Independence in front of the Capitol; 10 a.m., Idaho 4th of July Parade from Boise starts. For more information, go to boise4th.com.

Independence Day Celebration

Meridian will hold a “grand fireworks display” in Storey Park to celebrate Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4. The park will be open to families for picnics, games and fireworks viewing. A variety of food trucks will be onsite beginning at 4 p.m. There will also be live music throughout the evening. The event will continue until the fireworks display is over at roughly 10:30 p.m. For more details, go to meridiancity.org.

Eagle Fun Days

Eagle Fun Days 2023 will take place July 7-8 at Gueber Park; the Eagle Fun Days Fireworks Show will be held at Eagle Island State Park. The event will feature vendors, live music, a car show, parade, corn hole tournament, and a Rocky Mountain oyster feed. Go to cityofeagle.org for more information.

Silver Screen on the Green

Nampa Parks & Recreation offers free family-friendly movie nights on Fridays throughout the summer months at Optimist Park. Bring a blanket or chair; movies begin at dusk. Upcoming movies for July include: “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile,” July 7; “Hotel Transylvania,” July 14; “Sonic 2,” July 21; and “Rumble,” July 28. Go to nampaparksandrecreation.org for more information.

Puptricks

This dog-themed event is both for people who have dogs and like to bring them to events as well as for people who may not have dogs but like them and are looking for something to do in the community. It’s set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at the Nampa Civic Center. There will be vendors. The event is free for attendees.

STEAM Camp at the Botanical Garden

A STEAM Camp for children ages 10-12 (incoming fifth and sixth graders) will take place at the Idaho Botanical Garden July 10-13 on the topic of “The Science Behind Amazing Adaptations.” Participants will learn about insects, flowers, and leaves and participate in hands-on experiments. Cost for the camp is $175 for members and $250 for non-members; there is a 20-child limit on space for this particular camp. Sign up for the program at idahobotanicalgarden.org, navigate to the “Learn” tab at the top of the page, select STEAM Camp, then scroll to the camp you wish to enroll your child in. Other programs are planned throughout the summer, including an early August career camp.

Storytrail Adventure

Offered the second Friday of each month, Storytrail Adventure is for children ages 3-5, in the company of an adult caretaker. The kids are invited to walk a quarter-mile trail at the Foothills Learning Center, 3188 Sunset Peak Rd. in Boise. While walking the trail, children may read a story