Click here to view the 7th issue of our Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter, “The Wood Kookie.”
Where Are They Now?
Wondering what some of our Kamp Kiwanis Staff Alumni are up to since working as part of the Kamp Kiwanis Staff Team? View this playlist to find out what alumni are doing and how Kamp Kiwanis inspired their life, adventures and career choices. If you are a Kamp Kiwanis Staff Alumni and want to share a video update, please contact us at kampers.korner@kampkiwanis.ca
"The Wood Kookie" Kamp Kiwanis Newsletter Issue No. 6
Click here to view the 6th 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.”
DIY Tent Ornament
On November 28th, 2019, a volunteer and staff crew from Kamp Kiwanis went downtown Calgary to the CORE Shopping Centre to decorate 2 trees, as part of Find Christmas Downtown. One with a Kamp Kiwanis theme and one with a Kiwanis Apple Festival theme. Our staff and volunteers, with the talents of Stacey from Crafternoon YYC and Bigfoot Custom Shoes created all of the ornaments. Trees were donated by Canadian Tire and will be delivered to families in need of a tree by The Magic of Christmas in time for the holiday season. For more on the event visit https://www.calgaryjournal.ca/more/living/4848-local-charity-teams-up-with-downtown-calgary-to-spread-christmas-cheer.html
One of the ornaments created for the Kamp Kiwanis tree was a tent and campfire ornament created by Crafternoon. You can make one of these ornaments at home using a few easy to find supplies. For materials and instructions on how to make one of these delightfully cute ornaments for your own tree click here and keep your camping memories alive all holiday long!
"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.”