2015 Family Summer Guide
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62 Medical Brigade June 2015
Vacation Deals for our Military Families The best place to start looking for discounts would be at your local Leisure & Travel Services, Tel: 253-967-3085. You will get the best deals from LTS on tickets to Disney Parks, Wild Waves Theme Parks, Ticketmaster, Seattle Sounders, Seattle Mariners games, etc. www.JBLMmwr.com/leisure_travel Seaworld Parks – permits any AD military, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guards to one complimentary admission per year as many as three direct dependents through their Waves of Honor program. Must have military ID to take advantage of this offer. For more info. go to: http://wavesofhonor.com/ National Parks FREE Annual Pass – Active Duty Military and Families get FREE entry to the National Parks. The pass (normally cost $80) will allow the owner and passengers in a single vehicle access to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public sites that charges entrance fee. For more info, go to: http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm Discover Pass - For access to any of the Washington State Parks that charges a fee, you will need a Discover Pass (different from Annual Pass). This cost $30 (annual) or $10$15 (day). For more info. go to: http://www.parks.wa.gov
Discover Pass FREE days Aug 25 – National Park Service Birthday Sept 26 – National Public Lands Day Nov 11 – Veterans Day Jan - Martin Luther King Jr. Day Mar – State Park’s Birthday Apr – Saturday Spring Day & Earth Day May - Sunday Spring Day June National Get Outdoor Day WA State Parks are free on these dates. For 2016 days just go to their website at http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov
FREE admission to the World of Coca-Cola for Active Duty, Reservist and Retired members only. This complimentary admission through their Armed Forces Appreciation program, does not apply to family members. If you happen to be at the vicinity of Atlanta, Georgia, go to this link to get your special offer: http://www.worldofcocacola.com/purchase-tickets/special-ticket-offers/ Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC) –offers military and DoD affiliated personnel the opportunity to enjoy vacations at popular destinations around the world. Use the installation code: 212 when you book online at www.afvclub.com or go to Leisure and Travel office to book your vacation. Yellowstone National Park— The Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho has trailers for rent near Yellowstone National Parks for AD and Retired Military Personnel, DoD civilians, Reserved, Guard and their Families for more info on rates, contact the outdoor recreation director at (208) 828-6333. To download their brochure, go to: http://www.mhafbfun.com/odr/documents/rentals/Yellowston e_Trailers.pdf For more info on their activity and summer events, visit their website at: http://www.mhafbfun.com/odr/index.html USAA Cruise Price Match + Rewards Points —If you’re planning to take a cruise this summer, check the prices online and call USAA. They will price match it for you, plus you earn rewards points towards more discounts for your future cruises/travels. Call 1-800-531-8722 and ask to speak to the cruise and travel section. Military Family Camp – if you and your family crave for adventure this summer, spend them at the beautiful Malibu Club! Approximately 30 active duty Service Members and their Families from JBLM can enjoy one week of high adventure in the Canadian Royal Fjords. Passports are required. Single-Parent families and families with a deployed spouse are encouraged to attend as well. Very cheap, spots are filling fast, so apply now. Application deadline, June 25. http://www.younglife.org/Events/Pages/Military/FamilyCamp AtMalibu1.aspx.
Pacific Beach If you want to head out to the beach this summer, try the MWR Pacific Beach Resort and Recreation Center for an affordable, family-oriented weekend getaway. Book your accommodations at http://pacbeach.navylifepnw.com/acco mmodations June 27 (1-4pm) – Kids’ Carnival at Pacific Beach. Admission FREE. Stay for the weekend and enjoy a carnival for kids of all ages! There will be games, prizes, face painting, music and more. $1 hotdogs & $1 nachos available for purchase. To make your reservation or for more info. call (360) 276-4414 / 877-NAVY-BED or www.navygetaways.com (this is a Navy facility, but open to all types of military service) Sept 12 – Annual Up Your Wind Kite Festival. Kite contests & choreographed kite flying. Event is FREE. Call 360-2768377 to confirm event before taking the trip.
Military Family Day at Island Lake November 11 - Military Families are invited to join enjoy a FREE day at Island Lake, enjoy a picnic meal (lunch served 11:30-2pm) and camp activities, including boating, paintball, dirt bikes, bounce houses, ropes course, skate park, disc golf, field games, and more! Adventure activities require closed toe shoes and long pants to participate. This is FREE for those with Military ID but requires a Family Waiver. 2015 Operation Extreme Fall Weekend Camp (TBD) at Island Lake includes dirt bikes and paintball activities. Usually starts on a Friday (6pm) until Sunday (11am). For 6-8 graders. Cost: $25/child. For more info go to: www.cristacamps.com and choose Military Programs. 2
Strawberry Picking! Strawberry time is here, and thanks to an early spring they’re ripening faster than usual. They’re already appearing at Farmer’s Market and of course at your local grocery stores. Visiting U-Pick Farm is fun-and costeffective – way to enjoy this luscious local produce. Your picking guide: - Morning is an ideal time to pick. The weather’s cooler, and the fields haven’t been depleted yet of ripe fruit. - Most u-picks are cash only, so be prepared to bring cash. Prices generally range from $1.25-$2.5/lb. - Some farms are certified organic, some follow organic practices without being certified, and others take the conventional approach. If you want to know what a farm’s growing practices are, just ask. - Kids are welcome, but most farms do not allow dogs. - You’ll be out in the sun, crouching and kneeling in the dirt or mud (if raining) while handling stain-inducing fruit, so dress the accordingly. - Pack hats, sunscreen, wet wipes, snacks and plenty of water. You might need to bring a change of clothes and shoes. - No need to bring your own containers; farms will have cardboard boxes set inside special carriers ready for you to fill. - Berries will keep longer if picked with green caps intact. Once you’re home, get them in the fridge right away, and use or freeze them within a couple of days. - And don’t drink coffee before going, it makes the fruit taste sour, plus most farms have only porta potty available on the field.
Museum FREE Days Blue Star Museum members – offering FREE admissions to Active Duty Military and their Families from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Sept 7. To find out what museum is participating in your location, go to: http://arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums Aside from the Blue Star Museums, there are other Museums that offer FREE admission day each week throughout the year: WA State History Museum, Tacoma –every 3rd Thursday from 2-8 pm. Children’s Museum of Tacoma –every 1st Fridays from 10am to 7pm. Hands On Children’s Museum, Olympia –every 1st Fridays. Image Children’s Museum, Olympia – ½ price starting at 3pm on Thursdays. Museum of Flight –every 1st Thursday from 5-9pm. Seattle Art Museum –every 1st Thursdays. FREE every 1st Fridays to Seniors. Military (with ID) get a special admission discount for special exhibitions. Seattle Asian Art Museum – member of the Blue Star Museum. FREE days schedule are: 1st Thursdays – FREE to all 1st Fridays – FREE to Seniors 62+ 1st Saturdays – FREE to Families 2nd Thursdays – FREE from 5-9pm Burke Museum, University of Washington Campus – member of Blue Star, free to military personnel and up to 5 of their family members any day of the week. FREE for all every 1st Thursdays, until 8pm. Frye Art Museum – always FREE admission and FREE parking. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11-5pm and Thursdays from 11-7pm. Closed on Mondays. Northwest African American Museum – FREE from 11-7pm every 1st & 2nd Thur. Wing Luke Asian Museum – FREE from 10-8pm every 1st Thur. & 3rd Sat. Bellevue Arts Museum – every 1st Fridays from 11am-8pm KidsQuest Children’s Museum – every 3rd Thurs.
Here’s a list of nearby farms that you can enjoy a fun family day this summer: Picha’s Berry Farm, 6502 52nd St. E. Puyallup. Tel: 253841-4443. Open 8-4pm every day. Picha Farm berries are featured item at select Anthony’s Restaurants. http://www.pichafarms.com/berries.php Spooner Berry Farms, 3327 Yelm Hwy, Olympia. Tel 360-456-4554. U-pick strawberries started June 15 and open every day from 8-6pm. Cost: 1.65/lb. http://www.spoonerberryfarms.com/ Check out their Facebook page for updates. Pigmans Organic Produce Patch, 10633 Steilacoom Road SE, Olympia. Tel: 360-491-3276 Opening later in the season. Check on their Facebook page for updated schedule. http://www.pigmansproduce.com/ Schuh Farms, 15565 WA-536, Mt. Vernon Tel. 360-4246982. Call or check their Facebook page for updates. Always check if the fields are open before you go! Some may close early for a day or more, due to heavy picking traffic. Enjoy! 3
Kids / Teens Dollar Movie Express all Summer long! Starts June 23… Available at participating Regal Cinemas from 10am every Tuesdays & Wednesdays. To check the show schedule and participating theaters near you, go to: http://www.regmovies.com/Movies/Summer-MovieExpress Lakewood: Regal Lakewood Stadium, 150& RPX Lacey: Regal Martin Village Stadium 16 & IMAX Puyallup: Regal Longston Place Stadium 14
Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse –is offering a 10-movie pass for $5 (.5 cents/movie), cost $1 if purchased at the box office. You can buy the movie passes at the box office or online at http://www.cinemark.com/summer-movieclubhouse.aspx Cinemark Theater near JBLM is in Olympia located at Westfield Capital Mall, 625 Black Lake Blvd SW, Olympia, WA 98502. Summer Bowling Special for Youth – every Saturday during the summer, youth can bowl at Sounders Lanes Family Fun Center for only $5 from 11am – 1pm. For more details, call 253-982-5954. For regular weekly specials, visit JBLMmwr.com/bowling. Sounders Lanes is located at McChord Field at 737 Jackson Blvd. Read to the Rhythm – JBLM Libraries Summer Reading Program is open to all ages. Online registration starts June 15 at JBLMmwr.com/libraries. After registering stop by Bookpatch Library to pick-up your Summer Reading Program T-shirt and your read to the Rhythm goodie bag. T-shirt sizes and styles are limited. Bookpatch Library is located at 2109 N. 10th & Pendleton, JBLM-Lewis Main. Tel: 253-967-5533 Youth Flag Football - Register through July 17 for CYS Services’ flag football youth camp for ages 9 to 18. The camp meets July 20-24 from 1-3 p.m. Register online at JBLMcyssRegistration.com. For more information, call CYS Services at 966-2977 Middle School Youth Summer Programs - Register your CYSS-enrolled youth currently in grades 6-8 for summer programs offered weekly June 15-Aug. 24. The fee is based on total family income. The program is offered at Hillside Youth Center from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information, call 966-CYSS. British Soccer Camps - Register your youth ages 316 online at www.challengersports.com for the 2015 British Soccer Camps. The JBLM-Lewis Main camp is on July 13-17 and the McChord Field camp is on Aug. 17-21. For more info, call CYS Services at 253-9662977.
Basketball Camp - Register through Aug. 7 Camp starts Aug. 10-14. Open for ages 5-18. Ages 5-11 meet from 9-11 a.m. and ages 12-18 meet from 1-3 p.m. Register online at http://JBLMcyssRegistration.com. For more information, call CYS Services at 253-9672977. Lego Club – at McChord Library, Lincoln Blvd SW. Kids ages 3 & up can get creative. Club meets the 1st Sat of each month at 10 a.m. Space is limited, so if you’re interested, please register early at http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID =8436&EventID=220778&PK=326858. The library will provide the Lego bricks, the kids provide the imagination! Teentastic Takeover at Grandstaff Library, Lewis Main. Teens & Tweens take over the library! 1st Wednesdays of each month, different activity every month. 6-7:30 p.m. FREE! Geek Club Last Thursday of every month at 5pm, McChord Library. Are you a Geek? First rule of Geek Club: Respect the Geek. Bring your brain and your passion to discuss cosplay, anime, manga, LARP, faming and everything feel. Remember the second rule of Geek Club: Talk about Greek Club. 253-9823454. CYSS SPECIAL NEEDS: Does your child have special needs? CYSS has a Special Needs Accommodation Process to ensure your child is placed in the safest, least-restrictive and most appropriate environment. The SNAP Team is a multidisciplinary group of representatives from the Exceptional Family Member Program, Child, Youth and School Services and Army Public Health Nursing working on behalf of Families to determine the safest, least-restrictive and most appropriate placement for children/youth with special needs. For more information, call Parent Central Service at 253-966-CYSS.
EFMP ENROLLMENT PROCESS & RESPITE CARE INFORMATION. To understand the EFMP enrollment and respite care process send your inquiry to: usarmy.jblm.imcom.list.dfmwr-acs-exceptionalfamilymember@mail.mil