As the weather warms up and Portlanders come out to play, our program team has put together some great ideas to consider for some summertime mentoring experiences! This time we’ve categorized based on free vs pay experiences.

Want more ideas? Look at last year’s post.

Got something to add? Comment below.

Free Activities-Outdoors

**Enjoy the sun at one of Portland’s many parks!**

Visit Mill Ends Park in Portland - the smallest park in the world
Go to Hidden Creek Park West where you can play all over the gentle forest giant
Find some nerf guns with lots of extra nerf bullets and battle it out at the park!
Play pickleball, tennis, badminton, basketball, or other sports
Have a picnic
Bring materials to make slime

**Splash pads!**

June 15th is the magical day when splash pads in the Portland area will be ready for business! Check this city link or this one from PDX Parent.

**Bike around Portland** **from one joyful spot to the next.**

And while we’re thinking of bikes, be sure to visit Braking Cycles (3354 SE Powell). They are a great non-profit that will provide a bike to a child who doesn’t have one. They also offer free drinks to all of our matches. Please contact Chon or Cia if you have any questions.

**Pick berries!**

You could go to a farm, or do it for free by picking wild blackberries

**Visit** **Echo Ranch**

Be sure to schedule a time with Doreen! Located in Damascus.

**Garden together!**

Plant seeds and later pick vegetables together. Look into seed libraries if you would like.

**Oaks Park!**

August 17th is our big day to spend at Portland’s local amusement park! Check our calendar of events for more details. Here’s a look at last year’s event.

**Street fairs!**

So many options depending on where you live. Here are a few: Latino Cultural Festival in (Hillsboro on June 30th), Jade International Night Market (August 10th), India Festival (Beaverton on August 11th)

**City Hikes.**

We recommend **Hoyt Arboretum** and the **4t Hike**. But lots of options from Powell Butte to Mt Tabor, Rocky Butte, Tryon Creek, Forest Park, Tualatin Hills, Cooper Mountain and *so many more…*

more ideas…

Visit the newest giant troll sculpture
Swim off the heat. A number of the Portland Parks and Rec pools have times that are free for all
Anyone’s mentee interested in Jazz? If so, go to the free annual jazz festival at Cathedral Park
Keep an eye on the Washington Park Summer Festival to see if you and your mentee would enjoy anything there. Details coming soon.
Day Trip to the beach, Multnomah Falls, Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens
Portland Parks offers free lunches in the parks, free movies and free concerts throughout the city.
Portland Parks offers free summer cultural events. Some really cool events on these pages. Free lunch, movies at the park, rock climbing. Links: cultural events, Travel Portland.
Visit Fir Point Farms. They have animals, badminton, and a fun ‘shed’ filled knee deep with acorns that kids can play in. They also have a place to buy lunch or snacks.
Twin Pines Mini Golf in Montavilla

Free Activities-Indoors

**OMSI**

Did you know you can enjoy OMSI for free with your mentor ID?

**Bake or make something yummy!**

Food spans generations and by its very nature creates community and long-lasting memories. (Not to mention a useful skill that can and will be used for a lifetime!)

more ideas…

Local Libraries. Read together and get prizes along the way. Summer Reading programs at your local libraries (Multnomah, Tualatin, Beaverton)
My People’s Market (June 8-9—free entry, but lots of tempting goodies)
Portland Art Museum. Tip: the first Thursday of every month is free from 10am to 8pm!
Powells Books. Go to kids storytime on Saturdays at Powells. You can see what books they will be doing on their website.
Chick-fil-A. July 9, Beaverton, open to mentors and mentees.

Paid Activities-Outdoors

**Two words: I-C-E C-R-E-A-M**

Tip: watch out for brain freeze. Here’s how to prevent it.
(This mentee had a unique perch watching traffic from the foot overpass next to the Dairy Queen on SE Division and 136th.)

**Summer Baseball**

Portland Pickles (Lents Park) or Hillsboro Hops

**Kayaks and SUPs**

Find a local spot to rent kayaks or stand up paddle boards and take a trip to a river or lake. Or maybe borrow from a friend.

more ideas…

Portland Water Lantern Festival on June 15th
Oregon Rail Heritage Center rides
Go to the Oregon Zoo
Fishing. Try Horning’s Hideout (North Plains) for only $5 per person (which includes boat, poles, and they will clean your fish.) Blue Lake, Gresham: you will need your own supplies. Commonwealth Park, Beaverton: you will need your own equipment. Rainbow Trout Farm (east of Sandy)
Festival of Balloons in Tigard - June 21st-23rd
Take your mentee Mini Golfing. Tualatin Island Greens Miniature Golf ($6 a person to play) or Eagle Landing