Free and Low-Cost Summer Activities for Students and Families

Summer 2025 is officially underway and the San Diego County Office of Education has compiled a list of free and low-cost activities to help youth and families thrive.

 

 

Summer Meals

 

With schools on break, if you don't know where your family's next meal is coming from, help is available across the county. Food distributions are held regularly to get food to youth and families in need. There are several ways to find sites in your community that serve meals to kids up to age 18 at no cost. Families can use these tools to find sites outside their community if travelling during the summer.

No Kid Hungry

Find a distribution site and details using the No Kid Hungry text hotline, phone, or their webpage:

• Visit NoKidHungry.org/Help or NoKidHungry.org/Ayuda
• 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) (for English)
• 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) (for Spanish) 
• Text “food," “summer,” or “meals,” to 914-342-7744

Feeding San Diego Food Map

Feeding San Diego has an interactive map for families to locate food distribution sites in their region. As part of the Summer Food Service Program, Feeding San Diego provides breakfast, lunch, and snack as meal options to youth ages 1-18. A range of locations host these meal distributions, including libraries and rec centers.

California Department of Education Meal Sites List

The California Department of Education hosts a list of summer meal service sites in San Diego County that is updated every year.

• Site list can be filtered by school district, city/area, ZIP code, and more 
• Some sites are by enrollment only
• Check with your child's school district for times and locations

San Diego Hunger Coalition Meal Site Finder

The San Diego Hunger Coalition has a webpage of resources in English and Spanish explaining different food assistance programs, such as CalFresh, SUN Bucks, WIC, meals for older adults, etc., including who is eligible and how to apply. The site has been updated with current data around concerns about applying for assistance and impact on immigration status.

California SUN Bucks: Summer-EBT

This program has been renewed for 2025. Families with students who rely on free or reduced-price meals during the school year will receive extra summer grocery money. California SUN Bucks, also called Summer-EBT, begins in June and will provide an additional $40 per month ($120 maximum) in food benefits to eligible children to purchase food during the summer months of June, July, and August.

SUN Bucks work just like CalFresh and can be used to buy eligible foods at most grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and other authorized retailers. SUN Bucks is available to children who already receive free or reduced-price school meals through a school meal application or an Alternative Income Form, or get CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal. Children who are attending Head Start, experiencing homelessness, living in foster care or part of a migrant family will also be automatically enrolled. For most children, there is no need to apply but some may need to sign up. Visit the SUN Bucks page for complete details.

 

Reading Programs

 

Free summer reading programs help your student continue learning and practicing their literacy skills with fun incentives for hitting the books.

San Diego County Library

The county library's summer reading program runs from June 1 to August 31. Prizes will be awarded across various age groups for reading 10 books, completing 10 hours and/or reading or 10 library activities. The program will use an online registration platform that will be available at the San Diego County Library website starting June 1.

San Diego Public Library

The library’s summer reading program for this year, Level Up at Your Library, is open to readers of all ages. Encourage your students to sign up for this program that explores the joy of gaming. Readers can complete a combination of 10 books, hours of reading, or activities to claim prizes. Sign ups begin June 1 and the program runs through Aug. 31. Details and reading log available on the San Diego Public Library webpage, including a list of kick off and finale events at various library branches.

Scholastic Home Base

Kids can participate in Scholastic's Home Base summer reading program through Sept. 12. Home Base is a digital destination that offers stories, characters, games and a reading community. Learn more and register at the Home Base website.

Barnes & Noble

Teachers can download and distribute a summer reading journal in English or Spanish to students in grades 1 to 6. After reading eight books, students bring in their journal to any Barnes & Noble store during July and August to choose a free book from a grade-level list of titles. Visit the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading webpage for reading opportunities for other age groups.

 

Events and Activities

 

Summer Movies in the Park

Summer Movies in the Park is a series of free outdoor movie events at dozens of park facilities across San Diego County. Each event provides opportunities to gather as a community and enjoy summer evenings outdoors. Movies include newer features like Moana 2, Inside Out 2, and The Wild Robot and classics such as The Wizard of Oz and The Goonies. Screenings run through November.

Festival of Books

The inaugural KPBS San Diego Book Festival Aug. 23 on the University of San Diego campus is a free event for book lovers of all ages. Attendees will enjoy panel discussions with award-winning authors, activities, live entertainment, exhibitors including independent booksellers, and more. Check the website for regular updates.

Get Fit and Thrive Challenge

The Kaiser Permanente Get Fit and Thrive Challenge, a program designed to promote healthy family living, is back for its 21st year. 

Kids ages 6 to 14 can find easy activities listed on the performance card, such as completing fun kid-friendly workouts from the YMCA, going on a walk or bike ride, cooking healthy meals as a family, visiting the Kaiser Permanente website for healthy living tips, or checking out books about fitness and sports from the library.

Active participants will be entered to win a pair of tickets to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the grand prize of a family vacation for four at the Sheraton San Diego Resort.

To take part in the challenge, students fill out a challenge card with five easy activities and submit the card via email or regular mail by Aug. 29. Teachers can encourage students and families to take part in the challenge: 

• View a letter to teachers inviting all educators to participate in the program 
• Download a program poster to display in your classroom
• Print and distribute challenge cards to students
• Visit the Get Fit webpage for details 

The Get Fit and Thrive Challenge is presented by the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative, Kaiser Permanente and Star 94.1.

Crafts, Scavenger Hunts, Bingo, and More

The San Diego Natural History Museum offers a variety of activities kids and do at or around their home. From do-it-yourself crafts, to a mineral scavenger hunt, to Nature Bingo, there is something for everyone.

Live Well @ Home

Live Well San Diego offers great tips, resources, and activities from community partners to help residents Live Well @ Home with kids of all ages. The resources are organized into categories, including physical activity, mindfulness and social connection to help you find the right tools to match your needs.

• Toddler and children
• Elementary age
• Middle and high

 

Resources

 

2-1-1 San Diego

211 San Diego is the region’s trusted source for information and connections to community, health, and disaster resources. Help is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in more than 200 languages. 2-1-1 is a database of more than 6,000 services and resources that are updated on a real-time basis and Community Connectors help connect San Diegans to the accurate information they need.

Tools for Schools

Tools for Schools is an online resource from San Diego County's Live Well Schools. This searchable database of nearly 500 free or low-cost local resources covers a wide variety of topics to support students, families, and staff. Several resources are available in multiple languages.