To help support our amazing Camp Pringle community we have compiled a list of resources for kids, teens and adults who are at home affected by school closures and social distancing precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have suggestions to add to our list please email info@camppringle.com so we can grow our list of resources and support each other. Together we are strong! 

Yours in Camping,

Claire Friedrich
Camp Director

Websites:

• Brain POP – Make any room a classroom! Brain POP is available to help curious learners stay informed and on track during school closures – https://www.brainpop.com/
• Scholastic Learn at Home – day by day projects to keep kids reading, thinking and growing – https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
• PBS Kids – Check out the PBS kids website for interactive games and sign up for their online newsletter to get daily activities & tips to help kids play and learn at home – www.pbskids.org
• National Geographic Kids – Check out science experiments, quizzes, games and homework help resources – https://kids.nationalgeographic.com
• Math Playground – Free online math games, logic puzzles & brain builders – https://www.mathplayground.com/
• Drawing for Kids – Colouring pages, crafts & drawing tutorials for kids – http://www.hellokids.com/r_12/drawing-for-kids
• Discovery #Mindblown – exploration, curiosity and STEM-based edu-tainment, Discovery #MINDBLOWN is all about exploring the world around us through videos and games – https://www.discoverymindblown.com/

Live Streams:

• QuaranTime with Science Mom – This awesome online stream featuring home science experiments, crafts and math is live weekdays from 8am-10am PST. You can also catch up on past episodes on her page https://www.youtube.com/sciencemom
• TheGoProject Virtual Camp – Every weekday from 8-9am PST kids in grades 1-6 and their parents are invited to share in an hour of virtual camp featuring storytelling, crafts & games – https://thegoproject.ca/virtual-camp/
• Center for Puppetry Arts – inspiring imagination, education and community through the global art of puppetry! Live storytelling online via zoom. Shows start every hour from 9am-2pm EST (6am-11am PST) – https://puppet.org/center-for-puppetry-arts-home/
• Enchanted Fables Princess Parties – Enchanted Fables from Victoria, BC is offering free virtual video messages for your kids at home. – https://enchantedfables.com/video-messages/

Podcasts:

• Kid-Friendly Podcasts! Check out some amazing educational and fun podcasts for kids & families to enjoy – https://learnincolor.com/top-podcasts-for-kids.html

Virtual Tours:

• NASA – Take a virtual tour of NASA’s International Space Station – https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/suni_iss_tour.html
• The Smithsonian Museum  – Take a virtual tour of the Smithsonian – https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
• The Louvre – The Louvre is the largest art museum in the world and you can tour it online – https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne#tabs
• Boston Children’s Museum – experience a 350 degree perspective of this museum especially for kids – https://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/museum-virtual-tour
• National Women’s History Museum – From STEM, to the Olympics to Fashion find out all the incredible ways women have contributed to history. Check out their online exhibits and their virtual field trips! https://www.womenshistory.org/womens-history/online-exhibits
• Buckingham Palace – take a virtual tour of the stunning Buckingham Palace in London – https://www.royal.uk/virtual-tours-buckingham-palace
• Monterey Bay Aquarium – check out the daily live cams of the otters, penguins, sharks or more living at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. They also have tons of stories and Q&A segments about all their animals – https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams

Faith & Spirituality

• Sylvan United Church – Our neighbours at Sylvan United have put together a youtube channel for virtual pastoral support during a time when congregations have cancelled in person gatherings. Check out weekly videos from Reverend Katherine, the Minister at Sylvan United and Camp Pringle – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEv9-9mNVZGJuRts0qLD9pQ
• Illustrated Ministry – Illustrated Ministry is offering free weekly resources during school closures. Each week there will be a lesson and colouring pages related to the weekly lectionary readings – https://www.illustratedministry.com/flattenthecurve/
• Being a Good Samaritan: A Pandemic Devotional for Children – Created from the folks at Parenting Forward. This devotional can help children cope with “why” in the uncertainty of disrupted routines and social distancing – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ou16JW08rFcpxmKmTgfrgvehr40Dr_Hm/view?fbclid=IwAR1YVH70qNDO7Zl-PCDS9mGXrjPDssu8VCi2Gej9wbvdw1AadkD4aYv2-8k

Mental Health Support

If you or someone you know is struggling to cope with depression, loneliness or anxiety while isolated at home, you are not alone. Check out some free services to support you and your loved ones as we navigate COVID-19.

• Kids Help Phone & Crisis Text Line – Free, confidential, Canada-wide service available 24/7 that offers support for kids, teens & adults by text, phone or online chat – www.kidshelpphone.ca
• BC 211 – Free, confidential telephone and texting service available in British Columbia 24/7. This service provides referral information to a full range of community, social and government services http://www.bc211.ca/
• Pixel Thoughts – a 60 second meditation tool to help ease worry and clear your mind https://www.pixelthoughts.co/
• MindShift App – strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help you relax and be mindful and use active steps to take charge of your anxiety. https://www.anxietycanada.com/resources/mindshift-cbt/
• Quiet Kit – guided meditation for beginners – www.quietkit.com
• 2020 Pandemic Journal – A daily, reflective journal for children to help them process the changes in their routines due to COVID-19. – http://www.camppringle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020-Pandemic-Journal-for-Kids.pdf
• Booster Buddy App – a free mobile app designed by Island Health to help young people improve their mental health – https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/children-youth/mental-health-children-youth/boosterbuddy-mobile-app
• Stop, Breathe & Think App – an app that helps you check in on your thoughts and emotions, provides mindfulness and helps you strengthen your forcefield of peace – https://www.stopbreathethink.com/

Provincial & Local News:

• School District 79 – for the most up to date information on the Cowichan Valley school district’s response to COVID-19 and news on school closures – https://sd79.bc.ca/
• BC Centre for Disease Control – http://covid-19.bccdc.ca/
• Island Health – https://www.islandhealth.ca/
• CBC News British Columbia – https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia
• CTV News Vancouver Island – https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/