spring forward!

6 fun spring break activities in Houston for the whole family

Houston Silver Street rock gym woman climbing

Get a grip at rock climbing classes.

Chris Noble

Spring has sprung, and today marks the first day of Spring Break for many students in the Houston area. (Some schools observe Spring Break next week.) Houston offers a plethora of activities for kids young and old during the break — everything from discounts at museums to fitness and play camps. Here are six artsy and active options.

The roller rink at Discovery Green
Following the perennial success of Disco Green's winter ice rink, the Downtown park launched Houston's first open-air roller rink in March. The Rink is open 11 am to 11 pm during school holidays, and will feature special themed musical nights. Rent skates, or bring your own. Disco Green has other happenings for Spring Break as well, including a snow party, kite-building and slime-making, and other science-y events. See the full schedule here.

HCCC's Craft Social: GIFS
GIFs are having a resurgence lately, and at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, they'll be the subject of the center's monthly Craft Social at 6 pm Thursday, March 15. GIFs helped inspire artist Kate Hush's work in the museum's current neon lighting exhibit, Light Charmer. Aurora Picture Show instructor and animator Dave Merson Hess will discuss the history of moving memes, and visitors will have a change to make their own GIFs following the presentation. In addition to this free event, HCCC will be offering hands-on crafts and other activities throughout the week.

Climbing classes at Momentum
Momentum Indoor Climbing, the massive rock gym new to Houston, is well-known for its children's' programming. At the Katy location, the gym has special climbing walls for kids as young as three years old. Momentum Katy also offers weekly and biweekly classes for kids of all ages and abilities. Kids camps at the Spring Street location will start later this summer. For older kids (and parents), the single-day Learn to Climb class includes your climbing gear rental and a two-week trial membership.

Kids camp at Alamo Drafthouse
Alamo Drafthouse is hosting daily screenings of the Wes Anderson animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox. The film is free with the purchase of a $5 food voucher, and 100 percent of sales will benefit local charities. The movie, based on a book by Roald Dahl, tells the story of a crafty fox whose animal instincts get the best of him.

Amongst the pines at Lake Houston Wilderness Park
The newly-revamped Lake Houston Wilderness Park offers a slice of the wild just 30 minutes outside of downtown Houston. The park features miles of trails, mountain bikes, a nature center, a boat launch, grills and a playground and plenty of shade — basically something for everyone. It's no wonder kids are drawn to the place — the park got its start as Peach Creek Girl Scout Camp. It's also the only City of Houston park that allows overnight camping. Day entry is $3 a person, and the campsites include hike-in and drive-up tent sites, screened shelters, and waterfront cabins.

Spring camp at Urban Movement
Houston's first parkour gym knows that kids naturally like to run, jump, and move. To harness that energy, Urban Movement hosts frequent kids camps. This week's camp takes place from from 9 am to 1 pm and includes movement techniques like running, jumping and tumbling, as well as games. Class is suitable for kids aged 7 to 17, and costs $67 for a single day. UM also offers regular daily kids classes.

The good times roll at Discovery Green.

Courtesy photo

The good times roll at Discovery Green.

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Honoring The Enforcer

Barbara Bush Foundation completes family upgrades at 40 Houston libraries

A young girl reads in a Family Place Library win Houston while caretakers look on.

Photo courtesy of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation

Barbara Bush's legacy of childhood literacy activism lives on through the Family Place Libraries

The late former First Lady Barbara Bush was renowned for her work on improving childhood literacy. Her foundation recently announced that it has completed a $1 million project to transform Houston libraries into more inviting, family-friendly spaces.

“This milestone reflects the very best of what can happen when public libraries, philanthropy, and community partners work together with shared purpose,” said Julie Finck, Ph.D., President & CEO of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. “Our partnerships with Houston Public Library and Harris County Public Library have been extraordinary, and I know Barbara Bush would be absolutely delighted to see families across our region learning and growing together in these welcoming spaces."

Dr. Finck added, “Mrs. Bush believed deeply that parents are a child’s first and most important teachers, and that libraries play a vital role in supporting families. Family Place Libraries bring her vision to life every single day.”

What is a Family Place Library?

The Family Place Library project converted 40 Houston Public Library and Harris County Public Library spaces around the city into centers for family-centered bonding, reading, education, and exploration. These improvements include renovating the spaces to have scaled down furniture for children, open areas for play and activities, greater collections of dual language books, a greater focus on toddler and preschool materials and activities, and bright colors to stimulate young minds. Basically, the goal is to make sure every library is a place where children and their caregivers feel welcome.

While each library space has its own needs, it generally costs between $15,000 and $30,000 per branch to effect the transformation. Some spaces end up being as large as 400 square feet — plenty of room to sit on the floor with energetic toddlers reading a board book and interacting with them.

Completing the Goal

Bush, a teacher before she became First Lady, was fully-dedicated to education and literacy both as First Lady and after her husband's administration, forming the Bush Literacy Foundation in 1989 and being active in it until her death in 2018. Today, the foundation is managed by her son and daughter-in-law, Neil and Maria Bush.

The Family Place Library project was launched shortly after her death. It was funded with donations from Air Liquide, Phillips 66, the PNC Foundation through its Grow Up Great initiative, and the Ladies for Literacy Guild of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. After eight years, every library in Houston now follows the Family Place Library guidelines, just in time for her 100th birthday this June.

“The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation has made an extraordinary investment in our libraries and our communities,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in a statement. “By expanding Family Place Libraries across Houston and Harris County, they are strengthening families, supporting early learning, and reinforcing the vital role libraries play in community life. We are grateful for their vision, partnership, and commitment to Houston’s future.”

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