Information and Resources in the Seattle Area
Seattle Information and Resources
Food Bank Resources
Seattle Food Committee – find a food bank
Seattle Schools Resources
Seattle School District Free/Reduced Meal Program – sign up in August when entering each school year, having this in place can often be a helpful when applying for scholarships or financial aid for programs and camps in the area. It’s never too late to fill out a form to see if you qualify for the “Free/Reduced Meal” program in the school district. Just ask for one from the office.
Seattle School District Summer Meals Program – for children 18 and under, see website for complete information and locations near you. Locations Include:
- Aki Kurose Middle School 3928 S Graham Street Seattle, WA 98118
- Broadview Thomson K-8 13052 Greenwood Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98133
- Graham Hill Elementary 5149 South Graham Street Seattle, WA 98118
- Olympic Hills Elementary 13018 20th Avenue Northeast Seattle, WA 98125
- Seattle World School 1700 E. Union Seattle, WA 98122
- Washington Middle School 2101 S. Jackson St. Seattle, WA 98144
Libraries, Bookstores, Reading, Writing (and tutoring)
Seattle Public Library – We have many free programs, events and services for kids and families. Kids can get help with their homework or take part in summer learning programs. We offer story times in multiple languages for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. We also support parents, caregivers and teachers in their work with kids.
Sno-Isle Libraries – get a library card on-line and access a huge resource of materials and information including career and job help, computers and printing
Barnes & Noble – summer reading program for 1st-6th grades
Earn a free book through the Barnes & Noble “Escape into Summer Readin”
Bookstore List from Parent Map
The Bureau of Fearless Ideas : Creativity Clubs and Mentorship – free after school writing center, includes summer programs
The Couth Buzzard – new and used bookstore for all ages and often hosts free musical events
Bookshare – Free to those that qualify. To access Bookshare, a professional with appropriate expertise must confirm that an individual has a qualifying condition such as:
- Learning or Reading Disabilities such as dyslexia that significantly interfere with decoding words and reading comprehension.
- Visual Impairments such as blindness, low vision, macular degeneration, and other types of vision loss that make it difficult to see words on a page or screen or read without enlarged font, audiobooks, or braille.
- Physical Disabilities that make it difficult for students to hold a book, turn pages, move their heads, or physically manage a book or the act of reading a book in the way that someone without such a condition would.”
Math Resources
Math ‘n Stuff – a great resource for families K-12
Math ‘n Stuff Events Calendar – puzzle swap, Pokemon, Magic/Wizards Play Network
Museums and Parks – Passes for Youth
Passes through the King Country Library System · Washington State Parks · Bellevue Arts Museum · KidsQuest Children’s Museum · MOHAI Museum of History and Industry · The Museum of Flight · Museum of Pop Culture · Northwest Railway Museum · The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden · Seattle Aquarium · Seattle Art Museum · Washington State History Museum · Woodland Park Zoo
National Nordic Museum – Look for their free first Thursday’s and their events page with many that are free.
Frye Art Museum – Located in Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood since 1952, the Frye is the city’s only free art museum.
Pacific Science Center – Youth Access Membership/Free
Free Museum Admission on First Thursdays of Each Month – several Seattle area museum participate
Seattle Community Centers – great resource for kids from the Ballard location, Bitter Lake, Ravenna Eckstein, Magnuson and More
Seattle Community Centers – for classes and camps always ask to apply for scholarships and financial aid if interested
Seattle Parks and Recreation Swimming Pools – swim lessons and recreational swimming
Magnuson Children’s Garden – “We encourage you to visit the Children\’s Garden during Magnuson Park open hours to explore, experience, and enjoy this colorful oasis and welcoming environment for kids and families, as well as for birds, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife.”
Magnuson Park – “At Warren G. Magnuson Park, you’ll find more than four miles of walking trails along the shores of Lake Washington, grassy fields, evergreen and deciduous trees and brush, and captivating public art installations. Located along a splendid mile-long stretch of Lake Washington’s shoreline in northeast Seattle, it is Seattle’s second largest park, encompassing 350 acres. “
Boys & Girls Clubs of King County – locations throughout Seattle for all ages
Ballard Location
Ballard Community Center – Amenities include: before and after school program, basketball court, art studio, playground, gym, kitchen, special population programs, indoor toddler playtime, preschool, child care, drop in programs, Wifi, lifelong recreation
Seattle Parks and Recreation Scholarships and Financial Aid – for all ages/classes, camps (ages 3-17), aquatic activities, youth athletics, lifelong recreation for 50+, specialized population programs, environmental learning centers programs and more
Metro Service
Youth Orca Transit Pass: Kids 18 and under ride King County Metro, Water Taxi, Seattle Streetcar, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, Everett Transit, Seattle Center Monorail, WA State Ferries and Metro Flex for Free – some exclusions may apply
Health and Dental Resources
Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD)
King County Dental Care Day – Adult Services
Seattle/King County Clinic brings together healthcare organizations, civic agencies, non-profits, businesses, and volunteers from across the State of Washington to produce a giant free health clinic at Seattle Center. The four-day volunteer-driven clinic provides free dental, vision, and medical care to anyone in the region who struggles to access and/or afford healthcare.
Seattle Children’s Health and Safety Program – Free Giveaway Events / Bike Helmets and Life Jacket Fittings
Free and Low Cost Bicycle Helmets in King County – (we have bicycle helmets available for students at Licton Springs, Check in With the PE teacher for more information)
Other Youth Events and Classes
WA Department of Fish and Wildlife – Youth Fishing Events
Center for Wooden Boats – Free Programs
Sail Sand Point – Scholarships application available
Parent Map – magazine resource for youth events https://www.parentmap.com/
Seattle Child – magazine/guide resource for family and youth events
Orlov Chess Academy – near Green Lake, inquire about school programs and scholarships
NW Little League – for boys and girls, inquire about scholarships
Ballard Youth Soccer Club – inquire about scholarships
Teen Tix – Sign up for a TeenTix Pass and use the events calendar to access museums, plays, concerts and more! most tickets and events are $5 or less.
Teen Tix – Mentorship for Teen artists of color (M-Tac)
ARC Seattle – summer day camp programs for ages 6-12
Seattle Summer Camps List – The most comprehensive listing of summer camps in Seattle, WA.
Cascade Bicycle Club – offers Activities for Youth and more
Salmon Days – Issaquah, 1st weekend in October annually, open to the public and where salmon spawn and can be viewed in creeks and streams
Issaquah Salmon Hatchery – open to the public
Carkeek Park – Open to the public. “Every year around November visitors flock to Carkeek Park to see the Chum salmon return to spawn and die. In addition to seeing salmon jumping up waterfalls…”
Kids Out and About – “Seattle’s online guide to everything for kids, teens, & families.” There’s a list of free events too.
Broadway Bound – “Broadway Bound Children’s Theatre transforms the lives of children, ages 5 – 18 through active participation in theatre arts combining a fun and supportive atmosphere with professional standards. Children of all skill levels and backgrounds are challenged and supported while developing their mental, physical, emotional, social and creative potential through the joy and discipline of live theatre.”
Creative Dance Center – classes for Nuturing Baby, to Toddlers, summer camps, and classes for teens – Adaptive BrainDance, Moder, Pre-Ballet, Hip Hop
Free Rice – A fun, on-line game to help build vocabulary and comprehension “Freerice is an educational trivia game that helps you get smarter while making a difference for people around the world. Every question you answer correctly raises 10 grains of rice for the World Food Programme (WFP) to support its work saving and changing lives around the world.”
The Vera Project – “Vera’s screen print studio offers people of all ages, identities, and skill levels the opportunity to learn the art and science of screen printing. Whether you want to print shirts, posters, comics, or something else, our instructors and studio moderators are practicing designers and artists committed to developing the creative skills of the Seattle community.” “Do you have a project you’re working on? Do you need a studio to print in? Our studio open sessions give you the opportunity to use our studio for up to 4 hours for an accessible fee.”
The Vera Project / Equip the Kids – Great for teens! “Equip the kids with the tools they need to build a more equitable, exciting, and powerful creative community for us all. In partnership with dozens of community partners and the City of Seattle, The Vera Project is making sure that young artists and production workers have access to all of the training, gear, and support they need to create their art and lead our creative economy. From in-depth audio and video production training to paid work in live-streaming and arts performance, we’re providing a launching board into creative industries for underserved youth in King County.”