Play Date! Great Family Events and Deals in the Sammamish Area

EVENTS FOR FAMILIES, July 13 – July 20

July 13: Creepin’ Critters – Don’t Squish That Bug at the

 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Educational program for the whole family. Join Lisa Taylor and Jessica Hieman, educators with Seattle Tilth’s Children’s Garden, to learn about all the creatures in your garden. See how spiders, worms and ladybugs live and grow. This fun interactive performance uses giant puppets, stories and songs to teach children and adults how these common anthropods help the garden. Fun and educational!

Cost: Free

July 14: Preschool Story Time at the

10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

For kids age three to six with an adult caregiver.  Siblings welcome. Build early literacy skills with fun stories, music and activities designed to enhance creative learning.

Cost: Free

July 14: Hindi Story Time at the

4 to 5 p.m.

For kids age three and older with an adult caregiver. This program features stories told in English and Hindi. Enjoy fun language learning opportunities with puppets, music and games.

Cost: Free

July 16: Guided Canoe Trip Through the

8:45 - 11:45 a.m.

Explore the beautiful Mercer Slough Nature Park by water with your family. Bellevue Park Rangers lead the canoe trip that begins and ends at the  Boat Launch. You’ll see how this amazing ecosystem functions as you travel into the heart of Mercer Slough Nature Park, a 320-acre wetland. With a little luck, you may catch a glimpse of the otters, herons, turtles and other wildlife of Mercer Slough. Kids must be age five and up and there must be one adult caretaker present for every two children. Some paddling experience required and participants are required to paddle a distance of four miles.

Cost: $16  Pre-registration required by calling 425-452-6885 or online.

July 16: Mother Daughter Book Club at the

3 to 4 p.m.

The club is for tween girls ages ten to 13 with their moms. This week's book to discuss is Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate. Enjoy a lively discussion with snacks. If you have questions about the club or wish to receive the reading list for future meetings via email, email sjensen@kcls.org

Cost: Free

June 20: Make Your Own Bubble Wands at the

4 to 8 p.m.

The kids’ activity for the day to is make bubble blowing contraptions and have fun making bubbles. Enjoy live music by the Northwest Accordinaires.

Cost: Free

Sweet Deals

Outdoor Summer Fun Sale at

Deal: Sale on Coleman tents, camping chairs, life vests, boats, fishing equipment, Coleman cooler on wheels and pool toys

Good Through: July 16

Open to the Public Tuesdays at UW Surplus

Noon to 6 p.m. at the UW Surplus Store, located across from University Village at 4515 25th Ave NE in Seattle.

Deal: Are you going to be furnishing a home office soon or helping a new grad move to his or her own place? Then you might be pleased by the deals you’ll find every Tuesday at the UW Surplus Store. Furniture, file cabinets, desks and tables are all available for sale here, some for as little as $10. Photos of available items, parking instructions and payment options are all available online on the store’s website.

Good through: Ongoing every Tuesday.