FRAMINGHAM, MA - During summer vacation many parents may be hearing the all too familiar "I'm bored" from their school age progeny.

In these "difficult economic times" things to do that are are free or only cost a few dollars -- and don't require excessive driving can help stretch the family budget between trips to Six Flags, Canobie Lake Park or other New England area day trips.

For activities in the list that require traveling in town -- consider having kids go places on MWRTA routes.  Older kids can walk to a neighborhood bus stop, and go by themselves -- relieving their parents of driving duty -- and helping reduce local daytime traffic.

Things to do in Framingham in the Summer:

• Make some Sidewalk Chalk and color on the driveway, a concrete deck or the sidewalk with colored chalk.  If you find a big enough area, you can use the chalk to make a bike riding course or make up some type of a game.

• Use chalk to Make and Play Hopscotch <-- watch a YouTube Video, learn how to play.

• Visit the Framingham History Center Museum.

• Make a lemonade stand.

• Visit the Danforth Museum, or join the Summer Arts program.

• Go to a Concert on the Green, (Friday nights, June, July and August).

• Hike or Ride a Mountain Bike up Nobscot Mountain.

• Go to Learned Pond or Waushakum or Saxonville Beach

• Plant something -- in a garden, or in containers.

• Boat or Canoe down the Sudbury River -- ok, you need a boat or canoe for this, but if you ask around, a neighbor or relative may have one you can borrow.

• Walk, jog or roller-blade at Cushing Memorial Park.

• Play handball against a brick wall.

• Go fishing, (Fishing license required age 16 and up).

• Play basketball, kickball or even just a game of tag at one of the schools or playgrounds.

• Make a Kite and fly it at a school, park or playground.

• Hike the Carol Getchel Nature Trail.

• Play Frisbee or Hackey-sack on the Centre Common.

• Hike or walk a dog in Callahan State Park.

• Visit one of the Farms in Framingham.

• Go to the Framingham Public Library for an events, to read or to use a computer.

• Ride the MWRTA somewhere you've never been in Framingham for lunch.

• Go to Garden in the Woods.

• Build and put up a bird house or bird feeder.

• Have "bug day" -  catch crickets, grass-hoppers and other friendly insects in a field and when it gets dark out try to catch lightning bugs in a glass jar.

• Take photos of local wildlife or other interesting subjects and enter a photo contest.

• Find a couple other bored kids and write a play -- then act it out.

• Build a go-cart, (the non-motorized soap-box type), from old bicycle, lawn equipment or baby stroller wheels, scrap wood or metal -- recycle some old junk into something fun to build and ride.

• Start a rock collection.

• Make clay from corn starch and then make stuff with the clay.

• Find a few friends that play musical instruments and hold a "jam session", (video record yourselves and upload it to YouTube and you could be the next band we link to!)

• Go GeoCaching - a modern high-tech hide n' seek treasure hunting game played with GPS-enabled electronic devices.

• FREE Kids Nature Activities at Cochituate State Park, (July & August, Tuesdays - Saturdays. Park entrance is just over the Framingham / Natick town line on Rt. 30).

There' a month's worth of ideas.  If you have more ideas for stuff to do for bored kids, please share them with others in the comment section below.

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