Is your family looking for ways to keep active and entertained during the recent Shelter in Place order? We know this can be a stressful and difficult time for families to navigate, so we’d like to provide you with a list of resources and activities to keep your family engaged and happy!
Take a Virtual Museum Tour
Did you know that you could tour some of the world’s most renowned museums from the comfort of your own home? That’s right! Many museums offer free virtual tours of their facilities, so that you and your family can traverse through the halls of art, history, or science museums with the help of your laptop. Below is a list of eight popular museums offering this virtual option:
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- The Vatican Museum
- British Museum, London
- National Women’s History Museum
- The Louvre
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- NASA
Looking for something a little different? No worries – check out this list of 30 museums, zoos, and theme parks that are ALSO offering free virtual tours.
Visit a State Park
Just because restaurants and non-essential businesses are shut down, doesn’t mean that nature is! All of Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources properties will remain open during the Shelter in Place order, and even better – all entrance fees have been suspended!
The DNR asks that individuals and families continue to practice social distancing at parks, nature reserves, etc. For more information on the DNR’s recommendation for park-goers, please visit their website.
Audible Stories
Amazon’s Audible app has launched a new service titled Audible Stories in response to COVID-19 and the millions of families that are self-isolating at home. Audible stories will provide free audiobooks to kids and teachers everywhere so long as schools remain closed.
All stories are FREE to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone, or tablet.
Browse thousands of titles on Audible Stories here.
Brush Up on Your Photography Skills
Professional Photographers of America (PPA) has opened ALL of their online classes for FREE to professional and amateur photographers. With over 1,100 classes to choose from, this is an incredible opportunity for the child who has shown interest in photography.
Visit PPA’s website to learn more.
Stream a Shakespeare Play
The American Shakespeare Center (ASC) is offering recorded streams of popular Shakespeare plays for you and your family to enjoy. Streaming tickets begin at just $10, and will buy you a cinema-quality video that you can stream for one week.
Tickets ARE limited. To preview shows and purchase a stream, please visit ASC’s website.
Stay Active with Virtual Soccer Lessons
JMF Program Associate, Katrina Ornelas, is an avid soccer player with 17 years of experience, including four years at the collegiate level. She is offering virtual soccer lessons for children ages 5-18. Lessons are offered via Skype or Facetime, and will focus on the fun combination of soccer drills and skill-building activities. Lessons are curated to each athlete’s abilities and skill-level.
Lessons are $25 per hour. Please contact Katrina Ornelas at (219) 218-0718 to sign-up, or for more information!
