The birds are singing, the trees are bright shades of emerald and creation feels like it’s waking up! It’s officially feeling like summer in Canada, and with 11 weeks of quarantine under our belt, we’re itching to get outside to get some of that good old Vitamin D. And if you’re a parent, the trees are likely an extra beautiful shade of green for you—the kids can finally get outside!
Since you can never have too many ideas of how to spend meaningful time with your kids, we’ve compiled another list of family-friendly, faith-building and free summer activities to make the most of your summer in quarantine outdoors.
Take a look!
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1) Gratitude Journal Walk
Photo by Zach Lucero
Sometimes when we can’t do the things we normally do, we can become a bit ungrateful for what’s around us. But, even in the midst of a lockdown, there is so much to be grateful for! One of the best ways to keep record of our life’s blessings to write them down.
This free, downloadable Gratitude Journal from Explorer Magazine allows kids to creatively keep track of the ways God is caring for them even now! All you need is a pencil, some sunscreen and a neighbourhood to walk in. Choose a few landmarks to stop at to reflect with your kids as they answer the prompts in their journals.
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2) Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Photo by Aveleen Schinkel
The Wild Network provides free and fun activities—like outdoor scavenger hunts—designed to get kids outside and interacting with the created world around them! Their resource page, Wild Time Learning, curates outdoor challenges based on your child’s age, and the amount of time you hope to spend outside. You can also follow them on social media to find free daily wilderness challenges designed for kids of all ages!
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3) Lemonade and Magazines by the (Kiddie) Pool
Photo by Guy Stevens
If you can’t get to the beach, why not bring the beach to you? Grab a sunhat, some fresh lemonade and dip your feet in that icy backyard kiddie pool with a virtual magazine in hand. We’ve got you covered with a free magazine for every age!
For Littles
- Clubhouse Jr. by Focus on the Family
- Explorer Magazine by Compassion Canada
For Pre-teens
- Clubhouse Magazine by Focus on the Family
For Teens
- Brio Magazine by Focus on the Family (for teen girls)
For Young Adults
- Love is Moving Magazine by The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
For Adults
- Compassion Summer Magazine by Compassion Canada
- Faith Today by The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (now offering free subscriptions for Canadians)
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4) Free At-Home Vacation Bible School
Photo by Aveleen Schinkel
The Bible Project and Group have released free downloadable VBS content to host your very own camp at home! Just because we’re in quarantine, doesn’t mean your kids have to miss out on one of their favourite parts of summer.
- Wilderness Escape by Group
- Kingdom Seekers by The Bible Project
- Rocky Railway by Group
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5) Movie Nights Under the Stars
Photo by Tatiana Syrikova
Grab some snacks, a blanket and a laptop or projector if you have one! Canadian warm weather only lasts so long, so take advantage of it by spending an evening as a family watching a meaningful movie or TV show under the stars! Here are some completely free Christian streaming services with amazing, lifegiving content for the whole family!
- Castle TV by Crossroads Network
- FOCUS@Home by Focus on the Family
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