Summer 2020… is already weird. After months of taxing distance learning, summer camps would have been a light at the end of the tunnel for stressed-out parents and kids alike. But as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, plenty of camps are closed, and the ones remaining open have parents asking some questions. Namely: Is it really safe to send my kid to camp this year? And: What on earth am I going to do with them if I don’t?
As companies adapt to the current vortex that is life right now, many are releasing “summer camp in a box” options that get delivered right to your door, or virtual classes and workshops, or even a ton of free offerings for those of us whom the pandemic has left without disposable income. So if you’ve chosen to keep your kids home this summer, don’t panic. Ditch the bug spray (and parental stress of providing your kids a “perfect,” educational, coordinating-outfits kind of summer camp experience) and check out these contenders to make summer 2020 the best staycation ever.
From PBS Kids’ e-camp to a Vermont farm camp in a box, from virtual visits to National Parks to the New York Botanical Gardens (and 100+ more museums), we’ve got summer “camp” activities for kids of all ages, all genders, and all interests. Um, can adults sign up too?
A version of this story was originally published in June 2020.
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Camp Slumberkins
Camp Slumberkins is based on the foundations of play therapy; it’s carefully crafted to promote and support children in emotional regulation, self expression, and building self esteem. And what kid couldn’t use that these days? Camp Slumberkins includes one Bigfoot stuffie as well as mini duck, turtle, frog, and snail stuffies. Plus there’s an adventure map, sticker badges, a board book, and four decks of cards with 44 total activities that support key emotional skills: security, patience, imagination, and self-expression.
Bronx Zoo Virtual Camp
The Bronx Zoo is offering a virtual wildlife camp, and holy baby gorilla, where do I sign up? Campers will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the animals and exhibits, experience close encounters and deep dives, meet wild animal keepers and scientists, participate in cool science and conservation action and more.
Campers will also receive one child Total Experience ticket for the Bronx Zoo and one child general admission ticket for the Central Park Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo, the Queens Zoo, and the New York Aquarium. Seriously, take my money already. Or, if you’re in Ohio or Nebraska, check out the Columbus Zoo Virtual Camp, or Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo’s virtual camp.
The Crafter’s Box
If you have older kids or teens who are crafty, prepare to be blown away with The Crafter’s Box. The Crafter’s Box offers artisan workshops and kits, with two ways to explore: Subscribe as a monthly member, or shop their marketplace. For each workshop, you get a kit of all the materials and tools needed, access to an artist-led video workshop that teaches you the ins and outs, and you create a beautiful personalized project.
The sheer number and diversity of workshops they offer is unbelievable: wooden spoon carving, quilting, looming, knitting, stained glass, printmaking, stamping, clay, leather work, the list goes on and on. And if your teen is interested in having a crafting party with their friends (socially distanced, of course) there’s the option of a crafter’s night membership too.
Red Velvet NYC
Red Velvet NYC isn’t your grandma’s baking camp. Treat yoursel— I mean, your kiddos, with a twice-monthly delivery of everything your kid will need to make two delicious gourmet baked goods. Just think of it: Come the next PTO bake sale, your little ones can proudly say they baked it themselves (and you can stop lying that you made those store-bought cupcakes.) Perfect for your budding Julia Child.
Hildene Farm Camp in a Box
If your kid can often be found climbing trees, jumping in puddles or digging in the dirt, this Hildene Farm Camp in a Box is for them. Designed for children entering first through sixth grade, this Camp-in-a-Box offers themes including Plants and Pollinators, Ponds and Wetlands, and Forests and Farm.
All the tools are provided to have fun, learn together, and inspire a child’s curiosity while discovering the simple wonders of the natural world. The box comes from a farm in Manchester, Vermont, and is sure to pique any little farmhand’s interest.
Little Passports Camp in a Box
Little Passports is a great way to travel the world while never leaving your backyard. Kids will learn about the world around them by “traveling” to Brazil, Japan, France, Egypt, and Australia. They’ll complete pen-to-paper activities, collect coins, enjoy hands-on culturally relevant projects, and much more. If you want to extend your camp day, visit the Little Passports Summer Camp website, where you can engage with online country-specific content and print more activities for a complete camp day.
PBS Kids Virtual Camp
PBS Kids Virtual Camp is the dream camp of every kid who grew up on PBS. Completely free, it’s separated into themes like animals, crafts, dinosaurs, science, space, and DIY. PBS has rounded up printables, activities, crafts and games for each theme; there’s also a summer bucket list, reading chart, and activity book. PBS Kids Camp for the win!
Camp Hullabaloo
Over the course of 12 themed weeks, Camp Hullabaloo will send campers a brand new book and a selection of kid and family-friendly activities. This series will not only provide little stay-at-home campers with a beautiful 12-book library; it will provide parents with endless ideas for entertaining little ones all summer long. You can customize your subscription for one, two, three or four kids.
Camp KiwiCo
KiwiCo is beloved, and for good reason. And all their content for camp will be available for free! They’ve created four different five-day sessions of hands-on activities, content & projects you can enjoy with your camper. All four sessions are free, but if you’d like to make the days a little longer, you can also supplement your camper’s experience with KiwiCo crates that are handpicked to match each day’s camp themes. The crates can be purchased individually ($24.95), or you can buy the five-pack for a whole session for $99.95. Choose one of four camp boxes (according to the age of your kids) Koala, Kiwi, Atlas or Tinker Camp.
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium
The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri has a truly impressive Youtube channel, on which you can take virtual tours of the aquarium, meditate with videos of jellyfish and penguins, see how to explore the ecosystem, watch ‘Book and Beast’ reading videos, and even film some videos of your own. All free, all incredible. The ultimate field trip you can take in your pajamas.
Camping Busy Box
If your family’s chosen summer activity is camping (something you can actually still do mid-pandemic! Huzzah!) you might find that your kiddos are less than enthralled with the great outdoors when they can’t hang with the kids the next campsite over — or if it rains and you’re stuck in your tent for an excruciating 12 hours. Happy Camping Busy Box from Etsy to the rescue.
Fill downtime with outdoor-inspired crafts, games, nature walks, bug hunts, and more. Four fun campfire recipes and a special place setting will make your trip even more memorable. This kit comes with everything you need for each activity, right down to the paint, markers, scissors and glue — which means absolutely no planning or prep on your part.
Visit National Parks from Home
Good news; There’s a whole slew of ways to visit National Parks from home. Aside from the truly stunning virtual tours, the National Parks Foundation has free activities, games, and crafts on their website — and via their infamous Junior Ranger Program, which lets kids earn badges from home. When they roll into school in the fall with their backpack covered in Junior Ranger patches, they’ll have the coolest answer to the question, “So what did you do this summer?”
Color Our Collections
If your kids need something to keep them distracted while you get some work done, or they just enjoy coloring (doesn’t everyone?) Don’t waste money on crappy coloring books of cartoon characters. The New York Academy of Medicine bridged the gap between history and contemporary culture in the “Color Our Collections” campaign, in which libraries and museums from around the world (over 100 institutions! It’ll take all summer for your kids to go through all of them) have compiled free coloring books as well as free coloring book pages for download.
Each reflects the materials that the org holds in its collections. Some of my favorites are the New York Botanical Garden,New York Public Library, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Check out the whole selection at Color Our Collections.
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