June has arrived and that means the official start of summer, and the end of the school year is just around the corner. Many of us already have camps and vacations planned, and from the sounds of many I have talked with, it is shaping up to be a very busy and exciting summer for our children. Which made me wonder – are we over-scheduling summer?

Here in San Francisco, there are so many options for camp that it can turn into a full-time job just trying to research them all and then fill out the applications. There are camps to meet the needs or interests of just about any child from 2 years old to early teens, but these options don’t come cheap. Most weeklong camps that average three hours a day cost around $300. Multiply that by 10 or 12 weeks of summer, and it has the potential to dent the family budget.

Keeping children engaged and learning during the summer months is important – it’s good for their health and keeps them in a routine. However, summer is a time to be a little more lax with your day-to-day schedule and give children a break. I grew up in the East Bay and summer meant swim team, running through the sprinklers, and rolling in the grass. I have lived in the City long enough to know that summer in San Francisco has its own definition, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room to be creative.

Here are a few of my favorite adventures that are not far from the neighborhood and cost little or no money:

Lunch at the Fort Mason Community Garden: This is a wonderful treasure tucked within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area at Upper Fort Mason (my mother-in-law was one of the founding gardeners). There are over 125 different plots where growers can harvest whatever they like, and every time we go there with our children we discover something new, which prompts a teaching moment. We love to pack a lunch and settle in at the picnic benches before exploring all the different flowers and vegetables. If there is something that has especially sparked one of my children’s interests, we usually come home and look it up on the Internet for more information, which they love. The wonderful thing about this garden is that each time you go there is something new to discover – we found that as long as the children understand what they can touch and where they can step, it is a very welcoming space.

Hike and picnic in the Presidio: With access to the Presidio and the dozen or so major trails that cross it, there are plenty of adventures for all ages. Some of the trails offer paved paths to scenic overlooks, which can be helpful to the stroller crowd. We invested in a backpack a few years ago, and most of its use has come from trails in the Presidio. There are free guides available at www.presidio.gov/kids/trails that offer kid-friendly activities, tips for parents, and a trail map. Our family loves to turn the hike into a treasure hunt, collecting leaves, rocks and sticks along the way. With so many playgrounds and overlooks, it is hard not to find a great spot to stop for a picnic or take a minute to enjoy the view.

Strawberry picking, away from the Bay: If you want to get out of the City for some fun and maybe head to warmer pastures, there are definitely plenty of options to the north, east, and south of us. One of our favorites is strawberry picking. The best time to do this is in June and July when there are plenty for picking. Our favorite farm is Swanton Berry, which is about 90 minutes south of the City. There are hundreds of rows of strawberries and they offer red wagons and containers for all your goodies. My son spent most of his time eating the strawberries and pulling the wagon, while my daughter tried to pick the biggest strawberries she could find. All the fruit is organic and they have plastic bags under the fruit to make it easy for young eyes to spot. The you-pick price is $2.50 per pound, a great deal considering what you pay for organic fruit at the grocery store. We had to get very creative with what to do with all the strawberries we picked that day. The farm is also just 10 minutes from Santa Cruz if you want to add a beach picnic to the day.

Summer should be fun for everyone, so remember when you are planning your child’s activities to include downtime, too. They need time for “free play” with no structure so they can enjoy just being children.

Liz Farrell lives in San Francisco and is the mother of two young children. She was formerly a television producer in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. E-mail: [email protected]