8 things to do with kids in Pittsburgh this week, from free fishing to $1 movies

It does the heart good to see more and more summer staples returning to the calendar. Safety restrictions keep us all feeling a little more comfortable as we venture from home. And there are still plenty of online pursuits in between. Schedule a Trianglers fishing outing, head to the beach or learn the secrets behind Indiana Jones.

1. Go fish!

Free lunchtime fishing returns to the North Shore with Trianglers weekly program on July 1. All ages can try their hand at casting a line into the Allegheny River, but those 16 and older will need a fishing license. No equipment required: Just borrow a rod and reel from Trianglers. The fishing adventure is scheduled from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Make a reservation for the limited slots here.

2. Watch a movie – for just $1

Waterworks Cinemas reopened with new health precautions that include masks and extra sanitizing. The MovieScoop $1 Summer Series for kids begins this week with screenings at 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. Families can choose from general admission or sensory-friendly screenings. The series starts with “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, followed by “A Dog’s Way Home” and “Goosebumps 2” with more movies added through Aug. 6. In addition to the $1 admission, snack on a $3 popcorn and drink combo. Make your reservation and see the complete lineup here.

3. Join the ‘Dr. Jones Watch Party’

Watch the “Raiders of the Lost Ark” via Zoom and listen in on Carnegie Museum of Natural History educators as they provide entertaining commentary throughout the film. Learn what’s realistic and what’s ridiculous in points of archeology, anthropology and booby-trapped tombs. Register here for the free frivolity.

The experience might just get you longing to revisit your favorite dinosaurs and Egyptians. Happily, the Natural History Museum and Museum of Art reopen on Monday, June 29, with timed tickets. Expect safety restrictions.

4. Head to the beach

The beachfront at Moraine State Park is open with a 75-percent capacity and a few restrictions. Take a dip in the cool green water and enjoy a picnic lunch under a nearby tree. Bring along bikes to take advantage of park trails that ramble over hill and dale. Other nearby state park beaches open for swimming include Raccoon State Park and Keystone State Park.

5. Make a Storytelling Jar

Kids ages 4-8 are the prime age for imaginative storytelling. This project from Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Creative Connections will arm them with the skills they need. Gather supplies and watch the video that explains the three parts of a good story – a beginning, middle and end. Kids will think up lots of ideas – favorite places, people, cartoon characters – and write them on slips of paper that go into a jar or bowl. Ready to compose that story? Begin picking out slips from the jar, one at a time, using the words as prompts. It’s a fun group activity for the whole family as ideas pass on from person to person into one wild story.

6. Hit the trails

Kids of STEEL teamed up with Venture Outdoors in a Youth Nature Running Series. After months of being housebound, kids ages 5-11 will revel in this progressive experience. Download the printable packet with 15 activities that give directions on getting started and getting stronger. The exercise begins with a walk/run to start easy, then slowly works to a more advanced pace. The activities give kids the chance to pay attention to nature, too. Once all the pages have been completed, return the packet to Venture Outdoors and receive a prize.

7. Soak up science

Carnegie Science Center opens Monday, June 29, with timed tickets and dedicated times for the most vulnerable. Find special discounted admission for Rangos Giant Cinema, where kids can laugh and learn at “Beavers: The Best Dam Movie You Ever Saw” and be awestruck at “Humpback Whales.” Live shows, like the chemistry-based “Reactions in Action” and the electrifying “High Voltage,” are included with admission. The USS Requin submarine opens its hatch for walk-through tours, too.

8. Create hardware jewelry

Kids can up their jewelry-making game with these new skills. This MakeShop Show from the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh will help kids create exceptional bracelets, keychains and necklaces. Begin with twine, ribbon or string and gather some washers, hex nuts and other hardware from the garage or toolbox. These pieces take friendship bracelets to a whole new level.