By Dianne Anderson

Between gas, housing, childcare, and food, it’s always a balancing act for parents on a budget.

No one seems to have time to worry about some of the more important things in life for kids, like all day summer fun.

Now that school’s almost officially out, tens of thousands of children and youth brimming with energy are set to hit the streets, hopefully in positive spaces. For that, families can turn to the city’s many free programs at parks and libraries, complete with free summer meals through USDA Summer Food Service. No registration or income verification is required.

For student parents who can’t afford childcare while they work, LBUSD Head Start & Early Head Start is a lifesaver with free center-based care for children from birth through age 5. Parents can go after education goals or maintain job training while the kids access important developmental support during their formative years.

Together, LBUSD and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach also offer WRAP Free Summer Programming for full-day childcare during school breaks.

Kari Cho said that summer can be a stressful time for working families trying to find reliable care, meals and positive activities for their children.

“And, we are proud to help fill that need. Our Club members will enjoy field trips, sports, arts, STEM activities, weekly themes and caring staff who help make summer both fun and meaningful,” said Cho, vice president of development and marketing at the Long Beach Boys & Girls Clubs.

BGCLB’s WRAP school sites are completely free for participating families, while the Club’s standalone Clubhouse locations cost $60 per week. Scholarships ranging from 50% to 100% are available for qualifying families. Parents can register for WRAP school sites on LBUSD’s ParentVue website or app.

Hundreds of youth are served across its several locations. BGCLB’s two standalone Clubhouse locations will operate from June 15 through August 14, open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The program’s WRAP school sites will operate from June 22 through August 13, open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For BGCLB summer programming, children and youth ages 6 to 18 are served, along with some WRAP offerings also available for TK students. During program hours, youth receive daily meals and snacks, and for many working families, the program provides critical full-day supervision. Transportation is provided only for summer field trips and activities, depending on the site location and program schedule.

“Programs also include enrichment activities, academic support opportunities, social-emotional support, sports and recreation, arts programming and supervised field trips throughout the summer,” Cho said.

On weekdays, Summer Fun Days runs June 15 through August 21, according to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, with free drop-in programs for ages 5 through 12 at participating parks, running noon to 5:00 p.m.

There, the kids can access sports, games, arts and crafts, and special events throughout the day. Schedules vary by site for the Summer Food Service Program, which serves youth ages 1 to 18.

No registration is required, and meals are available at designated locations on a first-come, first-served basis at parks and libraries through the USDA Summer Food Service Program. Park locations run from June 17 through August 23, and library locations from June 18 through August 2.

For Summer Fun Days, pre-registration is required, starting June 1 at 9:00 a.m. online at LB Reconnect. Anyone who needs registration assistance can contact their local park for support.

“Many of the Summer Fun Days program locations are also locations for the Summer Food Service Program, so youth at Summer Fun Days can also have access to the free lunches. Summer Fun Days offers different activities and field trip opportunities that are site-specific. Participating locations also promote other PRM-led youth camps, programs and classes,” said Jen De Prez, community information officer for the Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine.

Across the nation, student parents are leaving college not because of academics, but because childcare and transportation costs are an extreme burden.

For that reason, Long Beach City College’s free childcare program is taking some of that pressure off with free afterschool care and extended evening hours. The program runs Monday through Thursday until 8:00 p.m., while student parents can attend class or study.

Last June, LBCC opened the Student Parenting Hub at its TTC Campus, as a dedicated support space in Room BB-208 where Viking parenting scholars access basic needs assistance, mental health services, CalFresh, CalWORKs, CARE academic support, grants and scholarships, priority registration, and coordination with free afterschool childcare programs for their children ages 5 to 18.

The free afterschool childcare program serves children ages five to 18 at the Liberal Arts Campus, running Monday through Thursday from 1-8:00 p.m. and Friday from 1-6:00 p.m. Enrollment is free for LBCC students, with limited spots for employees, and transportation is available from select nearby schools through partner programs.

Inside, students get homework help, art, music, athletics, STEM programs, enrichment, and a hot meal, all in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach and the Long Beach Unified School District. In the summer, hours expand to 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., running June 22 through August 14, extending the same wraparound support while school is out.

“We are proud to continue offering free youth recreation programs and services like Summer Fun Days and Summer Food Service during the summer months,” said Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine Stephen P. Scott. “These programs give our youth safe places to have fun, connect with their peers and receive healthy lunches. When we invest in their summers, we invest in their future.”

For more information, see:

LB Re-Connect
https://www.longbeach.gov/park/recreation-programs/programs-and-classes/lb-recconnect-registration-help/

Free summer meals at parks & libraries (USDA Summer Food Program)
https://www.longbeach.gov/park/recreation-programs/programs-and-classes/teen-centers/usda-summer-food-program/

LBUSD Head Start & Early Head Start Free Care for Birth–5
https://www.lbschools.net/departments/head-start/head-start-home

LBUSD & Boys & Girls Clubs WRAP Free Summer Programming
https://www.bgclublb.org/Summer

LBCC Afterschool Program. Ages 5–18, Free for Students
https://www.lbcc.edu/afterschool

LBCC Summer Program 2026
https://www.lbcc.edu/information/lbccs-summer-program-children-ages-6-18-now-open

LBCC Student Parenting Hub
https://www.lbcc.edu/student-parenting-hub

Summer Fun Days Registration (LB RecConnect)
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/lbparks/home?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

Long Beach Public Library Locations
https://longbeach.gov/library/visit/locations/