TEXAS – With school buildings closed, clubs canceled, and team activities nowhere in sight, parents and kids across the nation are looking for ways to keep kids not only entertained, but to keep them from becoming isolated. Two household names though are stepping in to provide activities to keep boys and girls alike engaged and busy.
Both the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts of America have set up online programs and activities kids can participate in. Below are a few highlights of what chapters in the San Antonio and Austin areas are offering. For more information about the activities, please visit their websites— the links can be found in each section below.
Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas (San Antonio Region)
The activities being encouraged by this organization range from community service ideas to arts and crafts projects.
Some suggestions include writing a letter to send to a senior living in a nursing home or making masks that can be donated. There are also suggestions for a fun project creating “snuffle mats,” smell toys for dogs that the Girl Scouts’ website says can be donated to the San Antonio Humane Society as a way to keep shelter dogs entertained.
There is also a list of links for “virtual field trips” where kids can take 360 degree tours of famous places like the Boston Children’s Museum or the Great Wall of China.
If you want to get your daughter involved in a group activity, this Girl Scouts’ chapter is also offering a twice weekly book club.
Troops are holding virtual meetings as well—if you’d like to learn more about how to sign your daughter for a troop, you can visit this page or email customercare@girlscouts-swtx.org.
Alamo Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America
Some of the highlights for Scouts in this program are the Facebook live events this organization is hosting. The activities offered in these courses range anywhere from learning about first aid, cooking, how to play chess, even working on camping skills like making a fire.
On the fourth Friday of the month, the chapter is hosting an at home camping event where scouts and their families can feel a sense of community by camping out together virtually.
Those courses are being offered free of charge but in order to get involved, your child does have to be a Scout. You can learn about how to join by clicking here.
Girl Scouts of Central Texas (Austin Region)
One of the highlights from this chapter is the weekly challenge. This week for example, participants are asking students to create a dinner menu for a group of aliens as a way to teach kids about entrepreneurship.
The organization is also hosting video sessions where kids can learn about wildflowers from the staff at the Lady Bird Wildflower Center or participate in a Q&A with the General Director and CEO of the Austin Opera.
To find a Troop for your daughter in the Austin region, you can fill out the form found on this website.
Capitol Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America
Over the summer, kids in Cub Scouts can join in on “Cub Scout Day Camp” where Scouts will be given a box of materials to take home. They will then get to watch videos created by older Scouts walking them through various activities provided in the box.
They will also be offering an online version of their TechLab STEAM day camp. Kids will participate in live online programming where they can learn about robotics, 3D modeling, digital media, environmental science, programming, and more.
Click here to learn about joining a unit in this region.