It’s hot. gas is expensive. The kids are bored and want somewhere to go. What’s a parent to do? No fear, our editorial staff at Northwest Weekly has compiled a list of things to do in the summer with children, at a cost not to exceed $10 a head.

Broaden their horizons without leaving town

Ever wanted to show your kids what “bubble and squeak” is? Take your kids to world markets on the Northwest Side that include:

The International Food Mart, 1719 Babcock; 524-9001

The English Tea Shoppe, 6877 Bandera Road; 681-2535

Tim’s Oriental Market, 7015 Bandera Road

Asia Market, 5712 Wurzbach Road; 681-8688

Ali Baba, 9307 Wurzbach; 691-1111

Sahara Middle East Grocery, 5528 Evers Road

Commune with nature

The Helotes Creek Nature Center, at 1433 Old Bandera Road, offers activities such as outdoor tours, drawing classes and more. For more information, call 695-1711 or visit www.helotescreek.org. Attendance is free, but give them a donation.

Also, consider the following parks (all in San Antonio unless otherwise denoted):

Raymond Rimkus Park, 6440 Evers Road, Leon Valley

Huebner-Onion House and Stagecoach Stop, Leon Valley

Parrigin; Parrigin Road and FM 1560, Helotes, under construction, trail only

Bamberger Nature Park; 12401 Babcock Rd; nature trails

Cathedral Rock Nature Park; 8400 Grissom Road 78251; playscape, nature trail, trail head, restrooms

Culebra Creek Park; 10919 Westwood Loop; practice youth sports fields for soccer, football, rugby and softball, first-come, first-serve

(Nani) Falcone Communty; 7625 Mystic Park; 2 playscapes, pavilion, restroom

(Edwyn) Gorrell Memorial Park; 4802 DeZavala Road; playground, picnic units, walking trail

Huebner Creek; 6300 Whitby Road

Leon Creek Greenway; 12160 Babcock Rd.; soft surface and natural hike and bike trails

Leon Vista Park; 8561 Rochelle Rd.

New Territories; 9023 Bowen Drive; pool, tennis and basketball courts, clubhouse,

O.P. Schnabel; 9606 Bandera; 1 pavilion, 1 playscape, restroom, athletic fields, basketball courts, nature trails (4.5 miles)

Spring Time, 6571 Spring Time; swimming pool, skate plaza

Chill Out

Take your kids swimming, or have them learn how to swim at the city’s carious public pools, open until Aug. 10. Outdoor pools are open from 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. General admission is free. Parks on the Northwest Side that include pools include Sunset Hills, 103 Chesswood; Spring Time, 6571 Spring Time; and New Territories, 9023 Bowen Drive.

Get Sporty

Go to Kids Sports USA http://www.ksnusa.org/organizations.htm or call the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department at 207-8480 for youth sports opportunities in your area. Parks and Recreation Department offers a nine-hole disc golf course at Nani Falcone Community Park, 7625 Mystic Park.

The Braundera Family YMCA, at 9606 Bandera Road. offers year-round sports. Youth Sports include soccer, t-ball, baseball, volleyball, basketball, and flag football. Ages vary per sport and can be from age 3-17. For more information call, 520-9700.

Expand their minds

Summer reading programs, storytimes and special presentations abound at the San Antonio Public Libraries.

To enroll your child or teen in a summer reading program, visit your neighborhood library, or go to http://www.sanantonio.gov/library/events/SRP. For more information on story times and other special programs, call 207-2500.

The Leon Valley Public Library participates in the Texas Summer Reading Program, and events are planned at the library throughout June and July. There will be special programs and fun for children of all ages during June and July. A special party will be held for summer reading club participants. For more information, call 684-0720. The library is located at 6425 Evers.

But wait, there’s more ($10+)

The following options don’t fall into our $10 a head criterion, but are still a bargain:

Registration continues at KidQuest as long as there is available space. KidQuest, a summer program for children ages 6 to 12, is provided by the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department and offers membership at a sliding scale.

Play Zone, for children ages 6 to 14, is located at each of the city’s 26 community centers. Low-income families pay only $20 for the first child and $10 for each child up to three children where the maximum family fee is $40. For more information, call 207-3000.

Also, Northside Indepen-dent School District offers various summer programs for students. For more information, call 397-8500.

The University of Texas at San Antonio offers a variety of camps, ranging from sports camps (baseball, men and women’s basketball, cheer & dance, softball, soccer, men & women’s tennis and soccer); to music camps (band, choir, flute, piano/strings); and science camps (archaeology, engineering). Prices typically range from $150 to $250. For more information, call 458-4011.

Making a splash

The following pools require membership, but are still quite a bargain:

This summer marks the opening of a swimming pool at Braundera YMCA, at 9606 Bandera Road. Membership ranges from $34 to $80 a month. For more information call, 520-9700.

Leon Valley Community Association, at Strawflower and Poss roads offers membership from $95 to $190. For more information, call 706-2996.

Forest Oaks Community Association (FOCA), at 6221 Evers Road, offers membership from $75 to $195. For more information, call 629-6898.