what is there to do with a big group of kids in portland oregon?
476906
Go hike the waterfalls along the Columbia river gorge.  Beautiful, active, and the bounus of wearing the kids out so they will go to sleep earlier or take a nap.
126188
ok -- I am an AZ native & my family didn't always have a whole lot of money to do the "conventional" activities very often...\nSometimes we would go to my Grandma's house for "art lessons" during the summer.  Once, she taught us about using "textures" by simply giving us crayons with the paper peeled off & sent us on a mission inside & outside around the house to do "rubbings" of vents, wood-siding, doors, etc. that we were to somehow put together in an artistic picture book.  It was really fun & a great way to learn about art...\n\nAnother 'cheap' way to entertain kids is rock-hounding. Arizona has tons of great places to go & walk around collecting beautiful stones/minerals/crystals -- of course not all kids are into rocks but for others, it is entirely fascinating.\n\nThen, of course, there's always the library...\nHere's the link to the ones located in Mesa.\n\nhttp://www.mesalibrary.org/kids/default.asp\n\n*A quick search of the City of Phoenix website should turn up the local library for your area.\n\nAs an alternative to spending a ton of money on crowded, over-priced waterparks - nothing like a strategically placed water hose to "run through" when it's hot outside.  (At least, that's what my parents led us to believe -- I've seen the slides - they were definitely lying -- but we didn't know that back then)\nEven better - get a 'Slip-N-Slide' or something like that.  They also have kiddie pools that you can hook up a hose that sprays water over pool/kids.\n\nOh - by the way -- don't knock the "park" suggestions, sometimes a park can be a great way to have fun.  You just gotta be willing to look at it thru the kid's eyes. Bring water balloons, squirt guns, bread for ducks, sunscreen, a blanket, wipes, balls, frisbees, kites, whatever your family is into....  Remember - a park is always FREE.  (and you can't beat that).\n\nJust some ideas to mull over -- good luck to you.   \n\n*PS* Don't forget to check your local parks service, city/state website & some of the usual tourist-type sites - they sometimes run specials in the summer because it's the "off" season.  (Not necessarily FREE but cheaper than usual anyways)  \n\nHave fun!!!\n\n~mishel  =P\n\nOther great ideas found below:
213082
I dont think there is much to do in Utah, you better find some of your friends that have no where to go and just hand out..... Or get together with them and take a road trip.
33816
A hands on museum, many of which are science museums.  Kids get bored if all they can do is look and be told to keep quiet.  Any good hands on museum will get them involved and you will have to pull them out at the end of the day.
76743
Kids should play outside with the three dimensional people.
251230
Make the environment hand son and experiential. Make sure each kid has alot of choice in what they can do and always offer a variety of challenges. Group building and team activities work really well with this age group and they enjoy the bonding that things like a high wall or rope challenge bring.Putting the kids directly in a challenging situation will definately make them become creative and self-sufficient. Hiking and camping skills can be taught as well. \n\nteaching kids about local plants and animals can be done as well.\n\nHere are good outdoor therapy ideas:\n\nhttp://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/txextrst.htm\n\nwww.outdoor-learning.org/horizons
465929
Take them to a pediatric wing of a hospital.  I'm sure the older kids would enjoy them.
1182014
www.matchingmoms.org\nyou'll also be able to find local playgroups or start your own and advertise there. I have met a ton of life long friends on that site.  Also you could just go to the park or museums wherever is child friendly and just strick up a conversation and give them your number incase they want to get together for a playdate.  Always Always Always meet in a public place until you know them well enough.
208192
Depending on the wether you could go fly kites or take day trips to museums or galleries but if it is bad wether you could play board games or something like that make crafts if you want its spring break here and raining so my kids are stuck inside  and we play games and try new food dishes that we cook ourselves plus i did let them have friends stay the nite.
621940
Go to a Phil and Friends Show.\nPlenty of other festivals attract these people too.
76532
The best place is at home.  Have a scavenger hunt where they go to known neighbors in groups to find select things.\n\nHave a dress up play that they can create by raiding your clothes closet.\n\nMake a bunch of finger foods.  Everyone can braid their hair and do makeup.  And stay up all night in their Pj's watching movies.
466413
are you kidding? you are so luck to be there. take them to the exploratorium, golden gate park, steinhart aquarium, lake pillsbury, ukiah, fort bragg, the avenue of the giants. get going.
591360
watch some cool movies, eat lots of food, gossip, call some really cute boys, maybe jump on a trampoline or go swimming if you have any fun stuff like that! Or play some hoops or soccer and you know you'll think of some stuff once everyones there!
246937
build block towers and let them ruin them.\nget those markers that only mark on special paper, it is a little expensive to keep buying the paper but it is worth it.\nsit in the bathroom and get some fun bath toys, kids love water.\nmaybe get one of those little ball tents, babies love balls.\nmy daughter and I always liked watching barney together and lamb chop, sing a long videos so we would sing and dance together\n\ncheck and see if you have a neighbor with a 10,11, or 12 yr old you could pay alittle money to play outside with you. teeny boppers love to earn a little extra cash and with you there you wouldnt have to pay too much. if you find a good one they will get used to your kids and you could let them babysit when they got a little older.
162741
Well, any decent sized town should have a church or non-church based day-care or preschool.  If your kid(s) are school aged, consider hitting up a neighbor with whom you and your child are both familiar.
269313
Check out:\nhttp://www.kidslovelondon.com/kll/index.html\n\nHas some great ideas on it.\n\nWhat about Battersea Park Zoo? Recently been refurbished and has a good selection of animals in there. Also you have the park to walk around which has lots of wildlife on the lakes and a deer enclosure.\n\nThere are city farms at Vauxhall, Surrey Quays, and one in Merton which also has a riding school (bit young I know but if she likes horses she can at least go see them)\nhttp://www.deencityfarm.co.uk/\n\nCheck your local borough council website as they often organise many events such as painting activities, library storytime sessions and activity "playgyms" for toddlers.\n\nFailing all that get her to sleep and then go down the pub!
539056
GO TO A WATER-PARK OR ZOO.TAKING THEM SOMEWHERE YOU CAN HAVE FUN WITH CROWDS LETS THEM KNOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEIR COMPANY AND NOT JUST TRYING TO GET THEM IN BED.