Summer Events & Programs for Youth & Families
Free and low cost child and family-friendly summer events, classes, and programs at the City of Albuquerque.
Registration and program dates vary. Registration dates are listed below as they are available.
Explore events, programs, camps, and classes for youth in Albuquerque all summer long! The City offers low cost and free ways for our youth to learn and have fun. One ABQ Youth Connect brings together all City youth opportunities of various types offered by various departments.
Categories
Summer Full Day Programs | Summer Camps & Classes | Summer Meals | Summer Events | Places of Interest | Jobs, Volunteering & Training
Full-Day Programs at Community, Multi-Gen, Child Development Centers & APS Locations
Free or low cost summer programs at more than 20 community centers, 2 multi-generational centers, and select APS locations providing planned, organized and supervised activities. Therapeutic Recreation is for youth of all abilities. Each location offers different programing and registration.
- Community Center Programs | Lottery Sign-up on April 28 - May 9 and Registration for selected participants May 14 - May 23 | 5-15 Years | $10 one-time
- Multi-Gen. Center Programs | Lottery Sign-up on April 28 - May 9 and Registration for selected participants May 14 - May 23 | 5-13 | $30 per month plus one-time $20 annual center membership fee
- PLAY+ School Playground Program | Registration May 22 at 8 am | K-Grade 5 | $15 one-time, $30 per week one child, $35 two children, $40 3+
- Inclusive Recreation Programs | Lottery Sign-up on April 28 - May 9 and Registration for selected participants May 14 - May 23 | K-High School | $40
- Early Head Start Program | Ongoing Registration | 0-3 Years | Free | Contact Monica Watrin 505-767-6512
- Preschool & NM Pre-K | Ongoing Registration | 3-5 Years | Free or Low Cost | Contact Lisa Lopez 505-767-6504
Partial-Day Lessons, Camps, Classes & Events
Each location offers different programing and registration.
- Teen Nights| Various Dates Coming Soon | 12-19 Years | Free
- Swim Lessons | May 3, 2025 at noon for June classes and June 21, 2025 at noon for July classes | All Ages | $
- Swim, Water Polo & Dive Teams | May 3, 2025 at noon | 5-14 Years | $
- Tennis Lessons | Registration May 3 | All Ages | $
- Pickleball Lessons | Registration May 3 | All Ages | $
- Junior Golf | Registration Varies, Contact Golf Course | Summer | $
- Esperanza Bicycle Classes & Repair | Ongoing | All Ages | Free
- Open Space Hikes | Ongoing | All Ages | Free
- Open Space Community Concerts | No Registration Required | All Ages | Free
- APD Camp Fearless | Registration May 1 | 8-13 Years | $
- Junior Police Academy | Registration May 1 | 14-17 Years | $
- Camp BioPark | Registration March 6 | K-Grade 9 | $
- ABQ Museum Art School | April 1 | 3-14 Years | $
- Balloon Museum Stories & Music in the Sky | Ongoing | All Ages | Free with Admission
- Library Summer Reading | Registration opens May 9 and the program runs from May 31 to July 26. | All Ages | Free
- NM State Summer Reading Program | Registration Now Open (Closes May 20) | Kindergarten Through Eighth Grade | Free
- Library Events Clubs Resources & Classes | Ongoing |All Ages | Free
- Explora! School Break Camps | 3.5-17 Years | $
Free Nutritious Meals
The Food Service Program for Children provides free meals in City community centers, parks, schools, apartment complexes, public housing, churches and at non-profit organizations during the summer. Find a location near you! Meals will be served at each site for one hour on first come, first serve basis. Please look at the PDF listing for serving time.
- Parks | Start June 4 and end on July 25 | 1-18 Years | Free
- Community Centers | Start June 9 and end on August 1 | 1-18 Years | Free
Wide Variety of Locations Across the City
Get out and about to create experiences for the whole family. Hours vary by location.
- Libraries Events: Music, Art, Crafts, Clubs, Movie Nights, Festivals, and More | Free
- ABQ BioPark Zoo, Botanic Garden, Aquarium, and Tingley Beach | $
- Pools & Splash Pads | $
- Community Centers | Free
- Albuquerque Museum | Balloon Museum | Open Space Visitor Center Art Gallery | Casa San Ysidro historic collections & events | Public Art | Free
- KiMo Theatre | Free
- Historic Old Town | Free
- City Trail Maps | Virtual Trails | Free
- Find a Park | Free
- Golf Courses | $
- Basket Ball Courts | Tennis Courts | Skate Parks | Free
- Open Space Visitor Center | Free
- Bicycling Maps & Info | Free
- Fishing | Free
- Shooting Range | Minors Must Be Supervised | $
- Library Meeting & Study Rooms | Free
- Community Center Rentals | $
- Pool Rentals | $
- BioPark Rentals | $
- Picnic Area Rentals | $
- Explora! Rentals | $
- Other Large Facility Rentals | $
Growth & Experience
The City of Albuquerque continues to be one of the largest employers of young people in New Mexico. Visit cabq.gov/jobs for current listings.
- Life Guard & Head Guard | 15+
- Youth Nature Guides | Ages 14+
- JMP summer internships | 14-19 | Paid
- Youth Summer Jobs | 14-24 | Paid
- One ABQ Volunteers | All Ages
- Mayor's Youth Advisory Council | 14+
- BioPark Volunteers | 14+
- APD Camp Fearless | 8-13
- Junior Police Academy | 14-17
Events
Come watch The Wild Robot at Movies in the Park
Join an Open Space educator for a family-friendly hike and engage in hands-on learning together as a family, listen to natural history fun facts, enjoy storytelling, and seek out wildlife.
Join us for an exciting evening of science, technology, engineering, art, and math at the Balloon Museum!
Come watch The Wizard of Oz and Wicked at Movies in the Park!
Parks and Recreation is proud to present Reading Room Rumble! Your local Esports experience at your local library!
Summer of Nonviolence presents "Twilight" with free food vouchers and music.
Free back-to-school supplies, resources, food trucks, and more!
