For many Austin families, summer brings with it a difficult time for those in need of meals and engaging, healthy activities for their kids. Regardless of income, all children deserve a summer that’s full of fun moments, connections with peers and mentors, and enriching programs to foster both the mind and body. Below you’ll find some helpful information regarding FREE camp activities and meal programs for local families.

Camps

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— Austin Sunshine Camps has provided free fun-filled overnight summer camp programs for the children of the greater Austin area since 1928. All summer camp programs are provided free of charge for all campers who meet the free or reduced school meals income eligibility guidelines or campers who are in foster care.  All camp sessions are 10 days, nine nights long, and you can check for eligibility and availability here.

— Austin Parks and Recreation Department. No advance registration is required for Austin Parks and Recreations’s FREE summer programs.  Slots are limited on a daily first come first serve basis, and the programs focus on healthy living, character building, and teamwork through collaborative and active play.  For ages 6-12, check out the Summer Playgrounds Program, and for ages 5-12, check out Boredom Busters Program.

— Creative Action Online Learning Hub is not a camp per se, but you can find projects to help your children stay creative with how-to videos, virtual student interviews, arts and crafts tutorials, sing-a-longs, and movement lessons, all for FREE from this nonprofit organization.

Meal Programs

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— Central Texas Food Bank – The Central Texas Food Bank has Kid’s Cafes that provide food options for children 18 and younger who are enrolled in their after-school programs.  Check out the many locations of the Kid’s Cafes here.

— Austin ISD – Thanks to the Federally funded Texas Dept. of Agriculture meal programs, AISD provides breakfast and lunch to any child in the community under the age of 19.  Beginning June 1, families can find meal sites anywhere in Texas using the following tools:

  • Dial 2-1-1 to talk to a live operator
  • Visit www.summerfood.org for an interactive map to locate your closest site
  • Text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304.

Other local schools that have food programs over the summer: 

For more locations and participating surrounding school districts, please visit summerfood.org for help locating a site near you

Back to School Supplies

Photo by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi

— IMPACT Texas will host their Ninth Annual Backpack to School Bash on Saturday, August 5 at the Pflugerville Public Library.  Please note that registration is now closed, however, if you’d like to join the backpack waitlist, please email Stephanie Harris at [email protected] and include your name, telephone number, the number of children, their gender and the grade they will be going to starting the new school year 2023 – 2024.

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