Kamp Kiwanis continues to offer programs in these pandemic times. We are committed to our mission to empower youth to explore, think critically, connect with their communities, and to make the most of life for themselves and others. Click here for an update on our programs.
"The Wood Kookie" Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter Issue No.9 March 2021
Click here to view the 9th issue of our Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter, “The Wood Kookie.”
Sharing the Outdoors in Winter Part 2: Cold Weather Activities
After dressing appropriately for our Alberta Winter climate (see Part 1 of our blog on Sharing the Outdoors in Winter: Cold Weather Wear) go outside and play! At Kamp Kiwanis, located in the foothills just west of Calgary, Alberta, we’re fortunate to have 140 acres of forest space to play in all winter long, but you can find natural spaces in your neighborhood too: your yard and local parks. Visit our blog Use the Break from School to Reconnect with Nature which includes some places to visit in and around the Calgary area.
At Kamp Kiwanis we want kids to develop a relationship with the natural world. In addition to Summer Camp Programs, we offer various Outdoor School Programs spanning all grades throughout the course of the school year. All of our programs focus on sharing the outdoor experience with students. We pride ourselves on providing magical learning experiences that are carefully crafted to meet the unique needs of each specific school. During normal operations, we offer both overnight and day programs. We strive for our programs to increase students' capacity in the areas of environmental literacy, awareness and action, while encouraging outdoor recreational activities. For more on our Outdoor School Programs visit https://www.kampkiwanis.ca/school-programs
Here are over 50 ways to share the winter outdoors with kids. Click on the links for additional information and resources. We’ve tried to share local information where possible.
Playing GaGa ball at Kamp Kiwanis
Outdoor Activities
Sledding down “K-1” at Kamp Kiwanis
Snowshoeing at Kamp Kiwanis
Capture the Flag - with larger groups in winter
Curling - 2 Minute Guide to the Sport of Curling
Gaga Ball - we have 2 pits at Kamp Kiwanis
Ice hockey/shinny (informal hockey play/“pick-up” hockey/”street hockey”)
Nordic skiing (cross-country skiing)
Shovelling snow (make it fun with snow pile competitions or races or be a “snow angel” and shovel your neighbours’ walks and driveways)
Snowball fight (be sure to set rules first to reduce injuries and maximize fun)
Snowball target practice
Snow golf/disc golf - set up a little course in your backyard or park or disc golf course
Snow soccer
Tag/frozen tag
Winter festivals (in non-pandemic times)
Winter walk/hike
Winter campfire at The Kiwano-Ring (K-Ring) at Kamp Kiwanis
Journalling at Kamp Kiwanis
Winter Learning/Play Ideas
Snow Painting
Studying trees at Kamp Kiwanis
Animal track hunt - be a winter wildlife detective!
Campfire - roast your favourites & sing campfire songs visit our Kamp Kiwanis YouTube Channel for some song ideas
Journey sticks - a memento of your winter adventures
Outdoor journaling/sketching - find a cozy nature spot and journal/sketch - here’s some ideas to get you started: Winter writing prompts, more winter writing prompts
Outdoor story time - find a cozy nature spot and read a winter story
Owl Walk - go for an evening walk in a natural area and try listening for owls
Sidewalk Chalk - when there isn’t snow on the pavement you can write kindness messages and make colourful drawings
Snow angels
Snow forts/Quinzees or Build a shelter
Snowmen/Snow sculptures
Snowy beach - bring out the sandbox toys to play in the snow
Star-gazing/Northern light watching - try to spot different winter constellations and maybe even howl at the moon!
Throw rocks into a frozen pond and see if you can crack the ice - be sure to stay safe around bodies of water in winter and review ice safety
Tic-Tac-Toe in the snow - use sticks to draw x’s & o’s
Tree Identification - search for different evergreen trees - Alberta Guide
Winter bird feeders: Build your own https://happyhooligans.ca/32-homemade-bird-feeders/ or purchase one to hang up https://happydiyhome.com/best-bird-feeder/ - either way you can enjoy the hobby of birdwatching from your own home.
Winter bird watching - Identifying birds
Winter photography - you can create a list of winter things to capture photos of and put them into a slideshow to share
Winter picnic/tea party
Winter Yoga and More winter Yoga - you can even try these poses outside
Yeti tracks - cut out some big yeti footprints out of cardboard and tie to boots to make tracks in the snow -- they won’t last long but it will be fun!
More Fun Indoor and Outdoor Winter Activities You Can Do at Home
Things to Do When It Is Freezing Out
Frozen ice blocks made with food colouring and water
Blow ice bubbles (Best at -20C or colder)
Ice candles (remember to not leave burning unattended or use faux tea lights)
Enjoy the joys of winter!
"The Wood Kookie" Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter Issue No.7
Click here to view the 7th issue of our Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter, “The Wood Kookie.”
What is Kampers Korner?
Kampers Korner is a feature shared on 3 of our social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram and You Tube. On Kampers Korner we bring you videos, nature and STEAM activities, songs, stories and more from Kamp Kiwanis. The initiative started as a means to bring help bring Kamp Kiwanis Outdoor Education and Summer Kamp Programming to those at home during the COVID-19 Pandemic through the magic of technology. We hope you enjoy learning and sharing the outdoors and that it encourages you to keep building a connection with the natural world while practicing safe physical distancing.
If you have any questions or concerns about Kampers Korner or the guidelines please get in touch with either
Nick Taven - Camp Director or Kristen Palagian - Assistant Director
Phone: 403-242-9255
Use the Break from School to Reconnect with Nature
Many schools around the world have cancelled classes in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Getting outdoors and learning about our natural world, however, has not been cancelled, so why not use this time to reconnect with nature? It’s no news that with increasing technological advances, fewer natural spaces and over-scheduling, our children have slowly been experiencing a disconnect with the natural world.
“The term Nature-Deficit Disorder® was introduced in 2005 with the publication of ‘Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.’ Louv coined the phrase to serve as a description of the human costs of alienation from nature and it is not meant to be a medical diagnosis (although perhaps it should be), but as a way to talk about an urgent problem that many of us knew was growing, but had no language to describe it. The term caught on, and is now a rallying cry for an international movement to connect children to rest of nature. Since then, this New Nature Movement has broadened to include adults and whole communities. (From http://richardlouv.com/blog/what-is-nature-deficit-disorder/)
Maybe we’ve been given a little bit of a gift amid the chaos of Corona Virus, while schools and indoor recreational facilities close and we work more from home, an opportunity to kids get outside and reconnect with nature and also do some fun indoor learning about our natural world. We are fortunate in Calgary to have the Rocky Mountains and many other natural spaces within an hour or less from our doorstep, but you can even connect with nature in your neighbourhood parks or backyards.
Here’s a list of some activities and resources for sharing the outdoors and also bringing the outside world in. We will add to the list as we discover more resources. If you know of any good resources, please let us know and we will review it and possibly add it to the list.
IN ALBERTA, PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST UPDATES AND ACTIONS TO PROTECT ALBERTANS AND TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AT https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx
Nature Activities
DIY Forest School Activities https://www.theschoolrun.com/diy-forest-school-activities
Exploring Nature in Your Neighborhood: Activities For Kids & Families (by California Department of Parks and Recreation) http://kids.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25384
Free & Fun: Outdoor Learning Activities, Games and Projects (by Kootenay Boundary School Districts) https://kbee.ca/families/
Fun Activities for You and Your Family (by My Health Alberta) https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/activities-for-family.aspx
Fun Nature Activities for Kids (by Little Bins for Little Hands) https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/outdoor-nature-science-activities-kids/
Fun Outdoor Activities To Do At Home (by Lorena Romo, Porch.com)
Kamp Kiwanis Blog: Family Day Nature Fun In Snow or Sun http://www.kampkiwanis.ca/blog/2017/2/19/family-day-nature-fun-in-snow-or-sun
23 Nature Activities for Kids to Create, Explore & Learn (by Hands On As We Grow) https://handsonaswegrow.com/nature-activities-kids/
Nature Games (by Ultimate Camp Resource) https://www.ultimatecampresource.com/camp-games/nature-games/
Outdoor Education Games and Activities https://bctf.ca/ssta/Assets/Assets_PD/PD_District%20Day/PD16_NowWhat/Outdoor%20Education%20Games%20and%20Activities.pdf
Outdoor Classroom Day Resources https://outdoorclassroomday.com/resources/
130+ Free Outdoor Learning Activities by Outdoor Families Online https://outdoorfamiliesonline.com/free-outdoor-learning-kid-activities/
44 Preschool Outdoor Learning Ideas (by Teaching 2 and 3 year olds) (many of these can be used with kids ages 4 -6 as well) https://teaching2and3yearolds.com/44-preschool-outdoor-learning-ideas/
Rhythms of Play Forest School: Outdoor Learning and Nature Activities for Kids https://rhythmsofplay.com/forest-school-outdoor-learning-and-nature-activities-for-kids/
Spring Survival Guide for Outside Fun by Rockies Family Adventures http://www.rockiesfamilyadventures.com/2020/03/spring-survival-guide-for-outside-fun.html
Things to Colour From Mother Earth by Patrick Hunter (Ojibwe Artist) https://www.princestrust.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/THINGS3.pdf
Turn Any Walk Into a Nature Walk (by National Association for the Education of Young Children) https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/turn-any-walk-nature-walk
Wild Learning: Story Stones http://wild-learning.net/story-stones/
Winter Scavenger Hunt (by Woodland Learning) https://woodlandclassroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/winter-scavenger-hunt.pdf
Places to Go/Things to do - PLEASE NOTE LIMITED ACCESS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 & REFER TO LIST OF NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR THINGS YOU CAN DO IN YOUR YARD OR LOCAL PARK
Please check weather, trail conditions and for closures before heading out. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Alberta Parks and Parks Canada places are closed, including visitor centres and washrooms. All Calgary playgrounds are closed including City playgrounds and school playgrounds. For City of Calgary facility closures in response to COVID-19 go to https://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/cema/Pages/COVID-19-Facility-closures.aspx
Alberta Parks https://albertaparks.ca/ For COVID-19 safety info regarding Alberta Parks: https://albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/news-events/alberta-environment-and-parks-response-to-covid-19/
Best 9 Hikes To Do With Your Family (Beginner - Moderate Level) Near Calgary https://www.chatterblock.com/articles/321667587/best-9-hikes-to-do-with-your-family-beginner-moderate-level-near-calgary/
Born To Be Adventurous Blog by Annika Mang https://www.borntobeadventurous.com/
Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies Blog by Tanya Koob http://www.rockiesfamilyadventures.com/
Parks Canada https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/index For COVID-19 safety info regarding Parks Canada: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/securite-safety/covid-19-info
Online Learning Resources
Access Mars (virtual tour of Mars with Curiosity Rover) https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/
Alaskan Wildlife Cams http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=viewing.webcams
Calgary Public Library - National Geographic Kids Digital Library https://calgarylibrary.ca/read-learn-and-explore/digital-library/national-geographic-kids/
Canadian Geographic Kids https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/content/kids-games
Nasa Kids Club https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html
National Geographic Kids (animal facts, videos, games, quizzes and more) https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
San Diego Zoo (animal facts, animal cameras, activities, crafts, videos, games and more) https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/
Smithsonian Ocean https://ocean.si.edu/
Weather Wiz Kids (From rainbows to tornadoes and winter storms to tsunamis, meteorologist Crystal Wicker breaks down the fascinating world of weather.) http://www.weatherwizkids.com/
Wildlife Webcams and Remote Cameras - Parks Canada https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/nature/science/controle-monitoring/cameras
Yellowstone National Park Virtual Tours https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm
Other Resources
5 Ways to Help Your Kids Love Nature (by Nature Kids BC) https://www.naturekidsbc.ca/5-ways-help-your-kids-love-nature/
ASD and Forest School (From Woodland Classroom) https://woodlandclassroom.com/autism-forest-school-how-to-integrate-kids-with-differences-feel-confident-as-a-leader/
Books to Inspire Outdoor Learning https://thesilvanreverie.com/2018/04/16/nature-play-books/
Help Your Kids Find Natural Settings Even In Urban Areas (by Eco Parent) https://www.ecoparent.ca/eco-wellness/help-your-kids-find-natural-settings-even-urban-areas
Take A Hike With Your Children: A Family Hikes and Nature Walks Guidebook for the Canadian Rockies, by Lynda Pianosi - can buy at local bookstores or outdoor depots e.g. MEC https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5055-731/Take-A-Hike-With-Your-Children
"The Wood Kookie" Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter Issue No. 5
Click here to view the 5th issue of our Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter, “The Wood Kookie.”
"The Wood Kookie" Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter Issue No. 4
Click here to view the 4th issue of our Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter, “The Wood Kookie.”
"The Wood Kookie" Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter Issue No. 3
Click here to view the third issue of our Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter, “The Wood Kookie.”
"The Wood Kookie" Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter Issue No. 2
Click here to view the second issue of our Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter, “The Wood Kookie.”