Summer in the Great Outdoors: For Children of All Ages

Summer is coming and we long to organize and facilitate summer memory making.  We want our children to climb trees, hike, swim, and experience nature.  It is our opportunity to stretch the imagination.  The world becomes our summer classroom!  Camps, libraries, museums, universities, and churches offer summer programs to provide hands-on-learning for youth all over the Northwest.

What can our summer look like?  Here are some ideas and links.

HIKING & CAMPING:  We know that we benefit by walking, but here is a great article about hiking and brain research.

Do enjoy hiking? OutThere Monthly has a scavenger/ treasure hunts for the whole family.

AllTrails 

Washington Trails Association

Club Slow Motion (Found on FB)-This is an all women's hiking group.  The hikes are well-paced.  Most of the hikes range from 3-5 miles distances.

Washington, Idaho State,  Montana, California, and Oregon State Parks: These websites are a great way to find a campsite.  It also can be used to reserve an environmental center, yurt, and small cabin.

Just for Kids

Junior Ranger Program

Summer Camps

Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture- The MAC Museum is offering art, science, and music camps for all ages.  Programs include field trips, campouts, wilderness safety, geocache, kayaking, and more!  ArtFest is also a wonderful opportunity to play and create.

Camp Metamorphosis is a camp for 4th-6th graders.  Whitworth University offers this camp through their Talented and Gifted Department.

Camp Opportunity is for grades 6-9. Camp Opportunity offers three different themes for the week.  "Trek of the Techie, "Farm to Table," and "Explore the Great Outdoors." Students can choose one focus or try a little in all three class offerings.

Camp Spalding-Camp Spalding offers overnight camps for children and families.  Camp Spalding's Family camp offers deluxe cabins and provides linens and amazing food.  The staff takes the time to form relationships with the whole family.  All activities are provided and organized.  This provides a low-stress vacation.

Washington:

Summer Camps or Programs for Children with Special Needs:

Joni and Friends

Camp Goodtimes- Resident camp designed for 7-17-year-old cancer patients and survivors

Montana: Camp Dream

Oregon: Very Special Camps

California: Camps for Kids with Special Needs

Sports:  There are so many opportunities for youth to participate in summer sports camps.  Trying to choose is the most difficult part.

Basketball-NBC Camps

Disc Golf-PGA disc Golf Course Directory Map

Disc Golf Directory

Libraries

Most libraries offer summer programs.  Our local library has hosted educational music, drama, dance, science programs for young children.  Do you have a child that has a library fine?  Some libraries offer a fine forgiveness program.

Finding Peace and Quiet for Your Children, Part: 2

Children need time to reflect at home and in school.  In order for children to self-sooth/self-regulate they must first identify their current emotions.  We use a tool/reflection sheet in the classroom and in the home.  There are days when we all wake up on the "wrong side of the bed."

Students need support, but what is helpful? Calming? Encouraging?  I have looked all over YouTube, Google, and more for guided mindfulness for children.  I have found my favorite product called, Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents).

GoNoodle is a wonderful free website for children.  Many schools use this site for brain, exercise, and movement breaks.  As a parent, I use GoNoodle for the calming activities.  The site has child-appropriate mindfulness and yoga activities.   The site gives participation points and has virtual rewards.  

When do I use this site?  I use this in the morning, before school.  Classrooms have a limited amount of time to focus on social and emotional development.  

Cosmic Kids Yoga is another site that leads yoga through storytelling.  Children love the engaging stories and become immersed in the story while exercising.

Stories can help children identify/validate a child's feelings.  I love to use Storyline Online in the classroom and home. The Screen Actors Guild has many videos of famous people reading literature.