No, you’re not dreaming. It’s June already, and that signals the end of another school year. Kids across Long Island are already looking forward to some much-deserved time off from homework. Parents look forward to summer too, but with the expenses of end-of-year functions, camps, and vacations, June can start to really add up.

Fear not, you and the family can still enjoy this last month of school and stay on budget. We’ve rounded up a list of the best FREE things to do on Long Island in June. You won’t want to miss a close-up visit with wildlife, outdoor family yoga, amazing magic tricks, hunting for treasure, and more.

For more ways to enjoy early summer, check out our June GoList. Remember, our Long Island events calendar offers exciting family options as they develop throughout the month. You might also want to visit our guide to Long Island theme parks and water parks as the weather (hopefully) gets warmer.

From sunflowers and surfboards to ponchos and potatoes, the range of innovations by Native Americans is staggering. Their ingenuity is celebrated at the New York City branch of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), located in the Financial District, where the new imagiNATIONS Activity Center invites young visitors to explore the contributions of Native people through hands-on displays accompanied by kid-friendly texts in both English and Spanish.

The new center opened this May, and like the rest of the museum, is FREE to visit for all ages.

Families in Yonkers and up the Hudson can climb aboard a river adventure to see molten glass take shape before our very eyes. A boat that serves as classroom, workshop, and history lesson, The Corning Museum of Glass's first ever floating exhibit, GlassBarge, has set sail for four months through nearly 30 communities en route to a homecoming celebration in Corning, NY. We got a sneak peek when it set off from Brooklyn, where glass and kids' minds were equally blown.

How stressful is the end of the school year? Let me count the ways. We know we should have figured out summer camp by now, really we do, but somehow summer has snuck up on us and plans are still in the hypothetical. Well, Mommy Poppins has your back with a list of great camps that still have availability. Don't see what you need? Open the map at the bottom of the page to view by location. If you don't see what you're looking for, make sure to call some of the other camps in our Summer Camp Guide and Directory for more options. 

Summer vacation may be staring you in the face, but there's no need to panic; all of the camps listed below still have availability as of this publish date. But don't delay; spots are filling fast!

And... action! As summer kicks off, a familiar annual scene is playing out at locations throughout the Southland: the season of free, nearly free, and gloriously cheap outdoor summer movie series has started rolling. At museums, parks, beaches, and malls, indoors and outdoors, in the early morning and by the light of the moon, families can catch both recent blockbusters and timeless classics for free or close to it. (While free is awesome, we think a dollar is still pretty good!)

Below you can find our comprehensive guide to free (and darn close to it) summer movie screenings and festivals. Click on the event names for more details, including movie titles. And keep checking back, because we'll continue to post more listings as they are announced, throughout the 2017 summer movie season.

If your dream vacation is one where the kids are out of their minds with fun, while you sip piña coladas by your private plunge pool, have I got a place for you. Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, gives little ones all the fun of a theme park visit while providing adults with a luxurious, all-inclusive vacation that doesn’t leave you needing another getaway when you get back.

From the best rooms, pools, experiences, and eats, read on for our review of everything you need to know to enjoy your Caribbean family vacation at Nick Resort Punta Cana.

Most children are fascinated by all creatures, whether they are furry, slimy, scaly, or prickly. With their colorful feathers, quirky personalities and ability to fly, birds are especially captivating. My young explorers love to grab their binoculars and pretend to be ornithologists. Of course, just venturing outside in a suburban backyard will lead to a bird sighting or two. But for a more exciting experience, try visiting one of Hartford County's many nature centers, which go the extra mile in welcoming and educating young bird enthusiasts.

Bird-watching is a great hobby for many reasons. Kids get the opportunity to engage in physical activity outdoors (usually for free!), sharpen their observation and listening skills, and increase their patience. It can also inspire other fun activities like making a bird feeder, collecting materials from nature and trying to replicate a nest, or creating art projects. So go ahead: follow the sounds of birdsong and visit one of the following places.

Adding to the long list of summer family fun to be had on Governors Island, visitors will now be able to ice skate with a view of the Statue of Liberty. Opening Saturday, May 26, Mel’s Rink Governors Island, gives New Yorkers the chance to ice skate during the summer months thanks to a synthetic material specifically designed for metal ice skates, offering an “ice-like” feel.