Granted, the sun was unforgiving that day, but unless we're going to spend every day at a pool, it made me realize I might need to plan some indoor activities this summer during the hottest parts of the day.

One I am considering is the Kids Bowl Free program. It's a nationwide program through which registered children can receive two free games of bowling every day all summer long. 

Here's a list of participating bowling alleys in suburban Chicago:

• Fox Bowl in Wheaton
• Bowlway Lanes in Elgin
• Arlington Lanes in Arlington Heights
• Wood Dale Bowl in Wood Dale
• Tivoli Bowl in Downers Grove

The Studio Movie Grill in Wheaton is located in Rice Lake Square, near the Whole Foods Market. Studio Movie Grill has about a dozen locations around the United States, and it features theaters with leather seating and a full food and drink menu; you push a button to bring a waiter or waitress to your seat and the food is served to you before and during the show. We've taken our daughter there to see some of the "Kidtoons" on weekends, and "Wreck-It Ralph" too, and we always have a good time.

Studio Movie Grill's Children's Summer Series features one movie shown every weekday (Monday through Friday) at 11 a.m. through mid-August. Tickets are $1 for children and $2 for adults. The tickets can only be purchased at the box office; they are not available online.

Here's the lineup for summer 2013:

June 10 through June 14: Clifford's Really Big Movie

June 17 through June 21: Despicable Me

June 24 through June 28: How to Train Your Dragon

TOUCH A TRUCK: The annual "Touch-a-Truck Day" put on by the Batavia Park District is scheduled for Friday from 10:30 a.m. to noon. It will be held outside the Eastside Community Center. The event is free and parent supervision is required. Don't forget your cameras .. you'll likely encounter a dump truck, tractor, bus, police car and fire truck. The rain date is Friday, May 25.

GET ACTIVE: The JustPlay! Sports & Recreational Festival is taking place Saturday and Sunday in Carol Stream, sponsored in part by the Carol Stream Park District. There is free admission, and there will be more than 100 sports, activities and performances. Before you head out, I'd recommend taking a detailed look at the schedule. There is a KidsZone, too, for the younger crowd. 

GET CRAFTY: The 5-Star Learning Ranch in Batavia (a Go West sponsor) is holding a "Craft Round-Up" on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., plus there will be a "Buckaroo Fun Fair" for the kiddies, featuring games, a bounce house, face painting and other attractions. Admission is free. 

SING, SING, SING!: Spotlight Youth Theater's Aurora Branch is performing the classic musical "Oliver!" this weekend at the Oswego East High School Performing Arts Center. Advance sale tickets are 412 for adults, $9 for children and seniors. The price is $2 higher when bought at the door. Performance times are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. 

MUSICALS ALL AROUND:  Spotlight Youth Theater's Kane Branch is performing "Pridelands" this weekend at the Batavia Fine Arts Center. I'm not familiar with this production, but it appears to be an original work set in Africa; here's a sneak peek. Advance sale tickets are 412 for adults, $9 for children and seniors. The price is $2 higher when bought at the door. Performance times are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. 

FOXY EVENT: The Red Oak Nature Center holds an "Animal Encounter" nearly ever month. This Sunday, your family can learn more about foxes on Sunday starting at 2 p.m. The event is free and no registration is required ... be prepared to possibly meet a live critter! 

Here's the lineup for the Summer Movie Express at Cantera Stadium 17. You'll find them in the Go West Calendar, too!

One of those is Classic Cinemas, which recently released the lineup for its "Wednesday Morning Movie Series." Each Wednesday morning from June 12 through Aug. 7, Classic Cinemas will show a family-friendly film (rated G or PG) with admission of $1 per person.

The showtime is 10 a.m. but the doors open at 9 a.m. and you're encouraged to come early to meet costumed characters and participate in games and fun activities. 

Classic Cinemas will take reservations for groups of 15 or more (the series is popular with summer camps and daycare programs), and the group rate of $5 per person includes admission, a Kiddie Combo and reserved seating.

Classic Cinemas has theaters all over northern Illinois, including the Charlestowne 18 Theatre at Charlestowne Mall in St. Charles. Other Classic Cinemas participating include those in Carpentersville, Elk Grove Village, Fox Lake, Oak Park, Freeport, North Riverside, Naperville, Kankakee, Downers Grove, Woodstock and Elmhurst.

Here's the lineup for the Classic Cinemas' Wednesday Morning Movie Series for Summer 2013. Stay tuned for info on more cheap or free family-friendly movie options this summer! And of course you'll find them all listed on the Go West Calendar. 

GOOD GRIEF: Spotlight Youth Theater is performing "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" in Elmhurst this weekend. This is a musical featuring all your favorites from the Peanuts gang. Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for children and seniors, if bought in advance, and $2 more if bought at the door. Performances will be Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and evening at Timothy Christian School Auditorium in Elmhurst. 

GOT WOOL?: The Rakow Branch of the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin is hosting a free "Sheep Shearing" event on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Following the shearing process, there will be a story and wooly craft. The rain date is Sunday at 2 p.m.

MR. TOAD: Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles is opening a new production on its children's stage this weekend. "The Mad Adventures of Mr. Toad" is a musical based on Kenneth Grahame's "Wind in the Willows." Performances are on Sundays through June 2, with this weekend's show at 1 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students. 

FREE ART: This one makes a regular appearance in the Weekend Spotlight, but only because it's such fun, offered every single Sunday afternoon and totally free! The "Awesome Art Afternoon" at Water Street Studios in Batavia allows families to spend time creating art together. There's always a project ready for you to try, and a staff member on hand to offer guidance. It's best for ages 3 and up accompanied by a parent. This drop-in session is held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. 

* Susie's Garden Patch is located at 10285 US Highway 20 in Garden Prairie, near Rockford. Call 815-597-3011 to check availability on what's available for picking. (Looks like U-Pick asparagus is currently available, but only from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.)

Photo by LexnGer on Flickr.

* Plow Creek Farm offers U-Pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. It is located about 8 miles south of Princeton and 3/4 miles east of the town of Tiskilwa, on County Road 23. Call 815-646-4862 for a daily update on what's available and the farm's hours. 

Photo by catd_mitchell on Flickr.May 1: Point out the first letter of your child's name. See how many you see today.

May 2: Narrate what you're doing while you make lunch or dinner.

May 3: Practice counting from 1 to 10. Can you do it backwards too?

May 4: Take a nature walk together, talking about what you see.

May 5: See how many words you can think of that rhyme with "cat."

May 6: Read a Mother Goose rhyme together.

May 7: Have a TV Turnoff Day -- play games, read and talk instead.

May 8: Use funny voices as you read a favorite book.

May 9: How many circles can you spot today?

May 10: Read an alphabet book together.

FREE COMICS: "Free Comic Book Day" is a national event aimed at exposing people to comic books as an art and entertainment form, plus giving some exposure to local comic book shops. This year, it's being celebrated on Saturday, May 4. Participating comic book shops, as well as a number of libraries, give away a free comic book to anyone who comes into the location. Here's a list of participating shops and libraries in the far western suburbs. Call them for more information and to check on any restrictions:

• Graham Crackers Comics of St. Charles: 610 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. 630-584-0610.
• Thomas Comics & Collectables: 740 East State Street, Elgin. 847-697-5550.
• Graham Crackers Comics of Wheaton: 1207 E. Butterfield Road, Wheaton. 630-668-1350. 
• Graham Crackers Comics of Naperville: 1271 Rickert Drive, #135, Naperville. 630-355-4310.
• Modern Age Comics: 1180 Dundee Ave., Elgin. 847-409-6295.
• Geneva Public Library, 127 James St., Geneva. 630-232-0780.
• Oswego Public Library, 32 W. Jefferson St. 630-554-3150.

Look how cute it turned out:

Here are the supplies you'll need for your paper May Day Basket:

• Heavy paper, either scrapbooking paper or construction paper, at least 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches. (I used scrapbooking paper that was 12 x 12; cardstock weight worked best, but I used some lighter-weight sheets, too.)
• A glue stick or double sided tape
• Scissors
• Some kind of "sticks" to mount the paper flowers. I bought a big bag of popsicle sticks from the craft store, but pipe cleaners or straws would probably work fine, too.
• Embellishments for the inside of your paper flowers, such as pom poms, buttons or stickers. (These are optional; your kids could also just color the flowers.)
• A short piece of ribbon or string for attaching the tag.
• A paper punch would make attaching the tag easier.
• This awesome free printable template from Skip to my Lou, which is a great site full of arts & craft tutorials, ideas for handmade gifts and free printables.