It has been an unusual year, to say the least. As online school starts to wind down, families may be seeking fun ways to keep kids engaged and connected over the Summer. A virtual Summer camp may be just what you’re looking for. They’ve popped up all over the country to provide some semblance of normal in an otherwise uncertain time. If you’re unsure of what the new school year will bring, consider creating a virtual Summer camp environment at home with one of these online camp options.
Virtual Summer Camp will Keep Kids Engaged and Connected in 2020
Wide Open School
A budget-friendly virtual summer camp option, Wide Open School, is available for kids from ages 4 through 18. Completely free, this plentiful resource includes lesson plans and activities to keep kids busy and connected through an online Summer camp. The wide variety of subjects allows parents to pick-and-choose their child’s schedule to customize the perfect individual virtual camp experience. Wide Open School is a project from Common Sense Media and includes a wide range of educational resources like PBS and Noodle.
Varsity Tutors
You may have seen all of the press around Mayim Bialik’s online Science class for kids earlier this month. Neuroscience: It’s Not (Necessarily) Brain Surgery virtual class saw a record number of participants. It remains a popular class weeks later. Varsity Tutors is offering a Virtual Summer Camp Program featuring a wide variety of topics like Minecraft and LEGO. The camps are all free and cover classes for kids ages 5 through 18.
Explorers Club from The Wonder
The Adventures with Emma, Explorer Series from The Wonder, invites kids to Be a Birdwatcher or Be a Shark Expert. Kids over 5 years old can learn about geography, animals or the environment in the weekly classes.
Outschool
Outschool is a popular online virtual educational portal year-round but this Summer, the site will be offering a virtual camp program for kids from age three to 18. With offerings like art, science, and Minecraft, there’s bound to be something for every child. The live Zoom classes vary in price depending on content.
K12 Destinations: Career Academy
Older students in high school will enjoy free Summer camp classes. Classes and boot camps require about two hours of work per day and include 90-minute instruction via live classroom. High school students can obtain class credit for some courses. Classes must be completed by the end of July to obtain credit.
MarcoPolo World School
For the younger kids, MarcoPolo World School provides an app for children ages 3 through 7 that covers STEAM. Through virtual Summer camp lessons and videos, young children are introduced to science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Taught in a kid-friendly way, the camp focuses on entertainment and play.
Camp Edmo
Children through age 13 will enjoy the Camp Edmo offerings that include indoor games, educational activities and a more organized virtual Summer camp for kids that need a bit more structure. Weekly topics change and include over two hours of live classes and activities administered through video. Classes begin at $150 per session.
ADA Imagine Camp
The American Diabetes Association Imagine Camp is the perfect virtual Summer camp. Designed to entertain, educate, and engage, Imagine Camp is the online version of their yearly Summer camp. Each week campers will receive two hours of online instruction and education, plus engage in fun activities together virtually and on their own.
Emory University Virtual Summer Tech Camp
Billed as The World’s #1 STEM Camp, Emory University is offering weeklong Virtual Tech Camps. Students can learn coding, artificial intelligence, robotics, video game design and so much more. Camp instructors come from companies like Disney, Apple, and EA Games.
DIY Maker Craft Camp
For the crafters in your family, Maker Camp is the perfect virtual Summer camp with live stream lessons where kids can make robots, gifts and lots more. Classes are designed for the entire family. Project material lists are available ahead of time so you can make sure you have everything you need when the live stream starts.
TakeLessons TV
Consider free online TakeLessons TV classes that teach kids a new language, cooking skills, music lessons, yoga, and more. Weekly classes are available for kids in Kindergarten through 6th grade. Check out the website for weekly offerings.
Reading Rockets Virtual Summer Camp
Keeping reluctant readers engaged and connected with books through the summer can be challenging. With the Reading Rockets, virtual Summer camp offering your child will read about their favorite topics. With options like sports, cooking, music, and animals, there’s bound to be something of interest for your little bookworm.
Virtual Junior Ranger Program
The National Park Service offers a Junior Ranger badge program but with families limiting travel this Summer, the NPS has launched a virtual Junior Ranger Badge series that allows kids to earn badges right from home. Virtual Junior Rangers complete activity booklets and depending on the location, can either send away for their badge or download and print a virtual badge.
Challenge Island Virtual STEAM Camp
Challenge Island STEAM Camp immerses kids ages four through 14 in topics like sports, physics, and math. Camps are taught by certified instructors and campers can either pick up their camp materials or have them mailed. Virtual Summer camp runs through the end of August and costs between $100 and $150 per session. Challenge Island was voted Top Virtual Camp in the United States by Parade Magazine.
23 Comments
Mike Wright
June 19, 2020 at 5:04 pmOh yeah, having proper activities kids can participate too, its super necessary… thanks for sharing 🙂
Robin Rue
June 22, 2020 at 4:47 pmWe are staying in for most of the summer so I live this idea. Great way to keep them busy on lockdown!
Jen
June 22, 2020 at 5:58 pmThese are some great ideas for when my kids are a bit older. Thanks for sharing!
Katie Kinsley
June 22, 2020 at 7:19 pmThere are so many great online classes for kids. I wish I had something like that when I was younger. I love the ideas!
Rena
June 22, 2020 at 8:01 pmThis is a great idea. Kids have so little to do and keeping away from people is the only safe alternative.
Amber Myers
June 22, 2020 at 8:09 pmThis would be fun. My kids aren’t interested though. They’d rather be talking with their friends. They do play Roblox and build stuff on there, so I guess it’s something? 😉
Tasheena
June 23, 2020 at 12:36 amSo many wonderful ideas for kids. I wish something like this was offered when my son was younger.
Monica
June 23, 2020 at 2:29 amI have been wanting to look more into Outschool for my daughter. They seem to have so many amazing options.
Catalina
June 23, 2020 at 9:13 amIt’s not easy to keep kids engaged during this difficult period. That’s why the virtual camp is the best option for us!
Marysa
June 23, 2020 at 12:04 pmThis is going to be such a tough thing for my kids. They really miss regular camps, but it is good that they can have the option of going online. I want my daughter to take an art class.
Gervin Khan
June 23, 2020 at 12:41 pmThanks for sharing such wonderful topics to read especially on this pandemic time. This is definitely what every parents should or must do for their kids. It’s what’s best for them.
Lynndee
June 23, 2020 at 1:37 pmIt’s great to know that they offer it online too. It may not be the “normal” summer camp kids were used too, but I think it’s a fun idea too.
Beth
June 23, 2020 at 4:00 pmThis looks like a nice list of options to help kids learn and have fun this summer! My kids never went to camp, but I think they would have loved some of these programs.
Heather
June 23, 2020 at 5:04 pmThese all look like great camps. I have 3 in about the age range that I think would be good so I need to check these out.
Bolupe
June 23, 2020 at 5:18 pmThis is great and I wish we have summer camps in the UK. I will have to do my research.
Diana @ Nanny to Mommy
June 23, 2020 at 7:13 pmThank you for sharing this. We are really missing vacation bible school. I have been seeing a few virtual summer camps. One by Warner Bros. and another called ON.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy
June 23, 2020 at 9:11 pmMost camps here are going virtual for the summer too. I’m not sure if I’ll sign up the kids for a virtual camp yet.
Lizzie Lau
June 24, 2020 at 2:26 amThese are such great ideas. My daughter (age ten) is currently enrolled in a virtual music camp learning to mix music, and a cooking camp on zoom. She just unboxed a crepe maker from the camp sponsor!
Rose ann sales
June 24, 2020 at 7:46 amThis is a good idea, mostly in situation like this that kids are not allowed to go outside because of the virus.
Chef Dennis
June 24, 2020 at 9:48 amVirtual Summer Camp sounds really amazing and a great way to keep kids engaged and connected. I will share this with my friends.
Agnes
June 24, 2020 at 10:57 amAS much as I wanted for the kids to keep of the screen virtual programs for them are needed. This is a cool summer program.
jerry godinho
June 24, 2020 at 2:00 pmThis is an amazing article for times like these. There are so many camps that are still closed. I really enjoyed reading this.
Farrah Less
June 24, 2020 at 8:58 pmMy child is still young to go to school but I definitely feel what other Mom’s concern about this virtual schooling. This post really very helpful.