| Indoor Activities For Families |
- Plan a garden (for the spring/summer). Start seedlings inside.
- Celebrate Earth Day by making crafts with recyclable materials:
- Make a homemade fly trap for those pesky houseflies that find their way inside.
- Create some paper flower crafts to brighten up your home.
- Bring some spring-like flowers indoors with this Circuit Flower STEAM activity.
- Make a colourful butterfly with a bubble blowing technique.
- Create this cute birds in a nest craft.
- Build a cotton ball launcher and see who's shoots cotton balls the farthest.
- Enjoy this fun STEM activity: how much weight can an aluminum foil boat hold?
- Have fun doing science experiments: floating egg or fireworks.
- Chemistry experiments for teens...make learning fun!
- Crafts for tweens and teens.
- Make fluffy unicorn slime.
- Attach a retractable net to your dining room table, and presto: table tennis! (Watch out for chandeliers.)
- Design an indoor mini putt course. Use different objects throughout your home to make this as challenging as possible. For the holes use plastic cups on their side to hit the ball into. If you don't have a golf putter think of different ways to play with either a hockey stick, your hand, foot etc. Keep score and see who can complete the course in the least amount of shots!
- Start a week-long fitness challenge – indoors and out – jump rope, sit-ups, pushups, etc. Team up, kids versus adults to see who has the muscle!
- Make a giant floor maze
- Get creative in the kitchen! Try a new recipe, bake and decorate cupcakes or make a video cooking/baking your favourite recipe and send it to family and friends.
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Have an International Dinner Night. As a family, pick out a country you would like to learn more about and are interested in. Find cuisine that is unique to that country. Prepare a dinner that would be served in that country. Maybe you can even find clothing that is worn in the country and wear it to dinner. Each family member would be responsible to bring one fact about the country to share at dinner time. Plan for an evening of creative learning time!
- We may not be able to travel the world right now, but we can find out about people in other countries and visit the world from home. Choose a new country to visit, virtually, every day. Learn the things that are special about the new places you 'visit':
- What animals live there?
- What is special about the place and its people?
- What do they eat?
- Which continent is it?
- Identify its location on a map
- What is its climate like?
- Flag
- What other interesting facts did you learn?
- Make a music video to your favorite song.
- Play improv games online with friends.
- Challenge each other to these fun brain teasers (and give your brain a workout at the same time!).
- Make a family video or time capsule! Place some special photos, stories or answers to questions, in a shoe box. Save it somewhere safe (where you won't forget) to open it up at a later time. You can also create a video "time capsule". Kids love to see themselves on video, so how about acting out a play, writing a silly song together or just "interviewing" each other. Questions like "How old are you?", "What do you want to be when you grow up?", "Who's your best friend?", "What's your favourite toy?", etc. are great to preserve and look back on when kids get older.
- During these challenging times, it's common for our families to be feeling anxious or battling a case of the worries. Try making a calming jar. The falling beads and glitter will help slow down breathing and bring a feeling of relaxation.
- Use some pillows and blankets and make a fort in the living room.
- Build an indoor obstacle course out of couch cushions or cardboard boxes.
- We've all had quite a few movie nights this past year, but why not make your movie night into a "drive-in movie" experience? Make a cute car out of cardboard boxes (Hello, Amazon deliveries!) and attach a basket of snacks, then 'drive' over to your TV screen and settle in for a fun movie night!
- Missing summer? Have a beach day indoors! Turn up the heat, put on your swimsuits, lay out your beach towels, make some homemade popsicles or buy your favourite ice cream, put on a summer-themed movie and make your own indoor beach for the kids to play in.
- Another idea to bring summer indoors is to go camping in the livingroom. Set up a tent and sleeping bags, make indoor s'mores, build a fake indoor campfire, and snuggle up for a fun night of 'camping'. The best part is there are no mosquitoes!
- 8 Fun Pencil and Paper Games
- 10 Kid-Friendly Card Games
- Ultimate Boredom Buster: 101 Things to Do When Kids Are Bored.
- Make a bird feeder and build a bird house.
- Listen to the birds in your neighbourhood and learn a new bird call.
- The Region of Waterloo Library has virtual programs, online access to favourite newspapers and magazines, and links to online resources for entertainment or research.
- KidsAbility has complied a great list of activities to support families during COVID-19
- The rare Charitable Research Reserve has shared a list of activities, experiments, games and workshops.
- Follow Early Years Info Waterloo Region on Facebook and Twitter for activities for young children.
- Help the Waterloo Region Museum literally write history! Share your experiences of life in Waterloo Region during the COVID-19 pandemic with written accounts, artwork, or video recordings by emailing them to helpusmakehistory@regionofwaterloo.ca with the subject line “Writing COVID-19 History”. For more information, visit: https://www.waterlooregionmuseum.ca/en/whats-on/help-us-make-history.aspx#
- Waterloo Region Museum has a list of activities that will bring the museum to you at home
- Nature At Home activities from Grand River Conservation Authority.
- Kids Corner - police themed activities for kids from our friends at Waterloo Regional Police Service.
- Fire safety for kids with Sparky School House.
- Jumpstart - check out their fun ideas to keep kids active at home and for fun tips from their partner programs, including ways to stay connected and engaged with Jumpstart Athlete Ambassadors.
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| Outdoor Activities For Families |
- Download the Earth Rangers App to give your kids free access to missions that help the animals they love! It's loaded with environmental challenges designed to get them outdoors and protect nature all year long.
- Visit one of our many parks here in North Dumfries and bring along a ball, frisbee or kite.
- Go for a bike ride in your neighbourhood, or bring your bike to Cowan Park and ride laps around the Eby Trail. For longer bike rides, check out these local maps.
- Draw one of these hopscotch ideas on the sidewalk in front of your home or on your driveway.
- Get out your skipping ropes and try one of these jump rope games.
- Grab a ball and have fun with one of these 8 great games for kids.
- Go for a walk in your neighbourhood or take a hike on one of the many scenic trails in North Dumfries. Be a wildlife detective while on your hike and don't forget to dress for the weather! Remember to keep 2 metres/6 feet apart from others while out for a walk. Enjoy one of these 10 Healthy Smoothies for Kids as a healthy treat after your adventure.
- Go on a Spring Scavenger Hunt!
- Potato sack races: a classic game with a few old pillowcases equals endless fun.
- Make nature confetti from leaves.
- Historical Walking Tours right here in North Dumfries. Remember to keep 2 metres/6 feet apart from others while your family is out for a walk.
- Play tag with one of these 21 super fun tag games.
- Head out for a night of stargazing. Learn about and find constellations.
- Listen for owls. Most owls are nocturnal, so you’ll need to find a time and a place to safely get out in the evening for your adventure. Owls use their voices to establish territories and attract mates in the dark.
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| Learning at Home (for both children & grown-ups) |
- Learn At Home resources from the Province of Ontario
- Owl magazine online, a great place for kids to keep up-to-date on science, tech, sports, history, entertainment, social issues and more!
- Jumpstart offers educational resources for parents, teachers and students to make learning and teaching a lot easier and more fun for everyone.
- Farm School is a series of 1 minute videos discussing farm life. Each video maps directly to the Ontario Curriculum Connections for grades 1-3.
- Homeschooling ideas and activities
- Dramatic interpretations of pivotal events in Canada’s history available through Heritage Minutes. These videos are intended to entertain, educate and encourage further research into our nation’s past. Classroom resources, including background information for each Minute and select lesson plans, can be found at www.historicacanada.ca
- Play and explore at the government of Canada's Climate Kids website.
- Embark on 30 adventures or quests, that will help you understand and celebrate our natural world, while learning about how dependent we are on our planet.
- Learn a new skill like coding and coding for children.
- National Geographic: Kids Videos
- Indigenous Canada is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the University of Alberta's Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.
- Free online learning for adults living in Ontario, through Employment Ontario.
- Learn a new language.
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| Favourite Recipes From Council and Staff |
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Breakfast Casserole submitted by Karen Winter, Director of Leisure & Community Services
Ingredients
- 10 slices bread (remove crusts if preferred)
- 12 slices ham thinly sliced
- 2 cups cheddar cheese sharp, grated or thinly sliced
- 6 large eggs
- 1/2 tsp black pepper ground
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup chives chopped
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup corn flakes cereal, crushed
Instructions
- Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish or spray with cooking oil.
- Cut and fit 5 slices of bread to fit over entire bottom of dish. Depending on the size of your bread and casserole dish you might need more bread. Layer the slices of ham, onions then top with the cheddar cheese. Cut and fit the remaining 5 slices of bread to completely cover the ham and cheese.
- In a large bowl whisk together the eggs with the pepper, dry mustard, chives, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Add the milk and whisk until well combined. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the casserole.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.
- The next morning preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Pour the melted butter evenly over the casserole and sprinkle with the crushed corn flakes over the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until set and lightly browned, about 1 hour. Let casserole stand for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Banana Bread submitted by Lee Robinson, Director of Public Works
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup all purpose flour
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mashed bananas (about 2-3 bananas)
- 1/3 cup butter
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 eggs
Optional add-in items.
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Almonds
- Chocolate Chips
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Grease loaf pan
- In a large bowl combine 1 cup of flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Add mashed bananas, butter and milk. Beat with an electric mixer on low until blended. Then beat on high for 2 minutes.
- Add remaining flour and eggs, beat until blended. Fold in add in item(s) if desired.
- Pour into greased loaf pan.
- Bake at 350F for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the centre comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes on wire rack. Remove from pan and thoroughly cool on wire rack.
Dreamy Strawberry Dessert submitted by Councillor Pam Gillespie
- Prepare 1 package Dream Whip.
- Mix one strawberry Jello with one cup boiling water.
- Add 5 ounces frozen strawberries, partially thawed, breaking apart with a fork.
- Stir until slightly thickened – 3 to 5 minutes.
- Fold in 1-1/2 cups of Dream Whip.
- Pour into dessert dishes.
- Chill until firm – about 1 hour.
- Top with remaining topping.
- Serves 6.
Creamy Caramel Fruit Dip submitted by Mayor Foxon
Ingredients
- 1 package of cream cheese
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- 1 cup cold milk
- 1 package instant pudding mix
- assorted fresh fruit
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth.
- Add the sour cream, vanilla, lemon juice, milk and pudding mix beating well after each addition.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Serve as a dip for fruit.
Rainbow Pasta Salad submitted by Mayor Foxton
- 2 cups uncooked tricolour spiral pasta
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon dill
- ½ tsp. garlic salt
- ½ tsp. ground mustard
- Dash of pepper
- ½ pound fresh asparagus, trimmed
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 cup cooked ham
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 small sweet red pepper, chopped
- ½ cup cubed cheddar cheese
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, for the dressing, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, dill, garlic salt, mustard and pepper in a bowl; set aside.
- Rinse pasta in cold water and drain well; set aside.
- Cut the tips off six asparagus spears; chopped the remaining asparagus.
- Place the chopped asparagus and tips in water in microwave safe dish. Cover and microwave on high to 1 to 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Rinse with cold water and pat dry. Set aside asparagus tips for garnish.
- In a large bowl, combine the pasta, chopped asparagus, ham, onion, red pepper and cheese. Add dressing and toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving. Serve in lettuce lined bowl and garnish with asparagus tips.
Grilled Asparagus submitted by Michelle Poissant, Recreation & Community Services Coordinator
Ingredients
- 1lb fresh asparagus
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Wash asparagus and trim the bottoms.
- Lay the asparagus in a pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss in the olive oil.
- Lay the asparagus on the grill in a row. Grill for 5-10 minutes over medium high heat until they have char marks and are fork tender.
- Remove asparagus and place back in the pan.
- Toss with garlic and parmesan cheese.
- Serve.
*You can also grill the asparagus in foil if desired.
Broccoli Salad submitted by Heather Strassburger, Revenue/Interim Tax Collector
Ingredients
Poppy Seed Dressing
- 1 cup Greek Yogurt, plain
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ tablespoon poppy seeds
Salad
- 1 ½ pounds broccoli florets
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 large apple, diced
Instructions
- Mix together the ingredients for the dressing, and set aside.
- In a large bowl toss together the broccoli, blueberries and apples.
- Pour the dressing over the top,and toss to coat.
- Refrigerate for at least and hour prior to serving.
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| Virtual Tours |
- Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre - During the tour you will have the opportunity to travel throughout the building and grounds while listening to survival stories, viewing historical images and documents, exploring artifacts and learning more about the history of the Shingwauk Residential School.
- The Royal Tyrrell Museum - a museum in Alberta all about dinosaurs.
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| Wellness & Fitness |
- Take a hike on one of the many scenic trails in North Dumfries. Bring a camera and try nature photography while hiking. "Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures."
- Go for a bike ride. Map out a new route every time to see new scenery.
- Yoga class and guided meditation by the NDCC’s yoga instructor, Angela Bryson of ANGELS-LANDING Yoga & Wellness.
- Family zumba class
- Family yoga class
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For many of us, spending more time at home means sitting more—watching TV, working at the computer, being on Zoom meetings. But you can still find ways to incorporate movement into your day.
- Spread household chores into your sitting time: vacuum a room, scrub a sink, do some yard work, or wipe down your appliances.
- Move around while you are on a call, stand for an online meeting, do squats or lunges while you’re waiting for a meeting to start, or jumping jacks in front of the TV during the credits or commercial breaks.
- Try short bursts of movement like countertop push-ups while you are waiting for the kettle to boil or toast to pop up.
- The YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo continue to connect virtually with activities for your mind, body and spirit. You can participate in a fitness classes on Monday and Wednesday on their facebook page.
- 15 ways from ParticipACTION for you and your family to stay active at home.
- ParticipACTION workout videos
- Try something new! Always wanted to try barre exercise, line dancing, cardio funk, or HIIT (high-intensity interval training)? Find a free video online, subscribe to one of the many online classes available, or download an app to guide you from the safety of your own home. Many people find they are more comfortable trying something new when no one else is watching. You just might find your new passion!
- Join the kids. Play catch or tag, go for a bike ride, shoot baskets, or pass the soccer ball with your kids.
- Dance to music, play active video games, skip rope, and remember to stretch and move after long periods of sitting (at least once per hour).
- Working from home and sitting through a lot of Zoom meetings? Fit these stretches in between meetings! Thank you to our friends at the City of Cambridge for this helpful tip.
- Find ways to do simple muscle strengthening exercises around your house such as:
- Squats or sit-to-stands from a sturdy chair
- Push-ups against a wall, the kitchen counter or the floor
- Lunges or single leg step-ups on stairs
- 25 Quarantine Mental Health & Wellness Tips
- Cultivate gratitude by verbalizing what you’re thankful for. Write down what you've been thankful for this past year and talk about it with your family. Call extended family or friends and find out what they're thankful for. Start a 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge with friends and family. Each day record one thing you are grateful for on a small piece of paper. Put that paper in a jar or small box. At the end of the 30 days, read all the things you are grateful for.
- Join the Finding Hope movement! Finding Hope invites you to look for and acknowledge where you find hope. Then take a picture. Write about it. Film a short video. Share the hope you found with others. Create and share your own stories of hope and share them using the hashtag #FindingHopeWWR or #FindingHopeMovement.
- Be kind to yourself with this mindful exercise.
- Make a conscious attempt to live in the present moment. Let go of thoughts related to the past and future and consciously focus your attention in the present.
- Give yourself a spa day. Fill up your tub with one of these homemade bubble recipes, play some relaxing music and disconnect from technology.
- Spend time reading. Whether it's a novel, non-fiction read or collection of poetry, practice some affordable escapism with a good book. Ask your friends and family what their favourite books are. Start an online book club.
- Listen to a new podcast.
- Start a journal or blog.
- Watch the sunrise or sunset (or both).
- Play an old favourite board game. Board games can be a lot of fun and can help alleviate stress. They may also bring back the carefree childhood memories.
- Helping others can help you reduce stress. Donate your old clothes and/or equipment to organizations who help people in need. This is also a great way to remove clutter and create more space in your house.
- Watch The Science of Happiness by Langs and learn the benefits of savoring life’s joys as a happiness increasing activity.
- Learn more about the Region of Waterloo's "In This Together" campaign. Download and print a sign to display on your front door or window. Or download a sign to colour.
- Wellbeing Waterloo Region - In response to COVID-19, Wellbeing Waterloo Region has added COVID related events to their calendar. These listings are events and programming related to general wellbeing that have been adapted to become virtual. Check out their listing of wellbeing activities for the month of March.
- Calming crafts - relax and de-stress while being creative.
- Learn how to create an ombre landscape watercolour painting with Steven Sabados, of In The Studio With Steven Sabados.
- Learn how to knit with this step-by-step guide.
- Fill in the blank, "I've always wanted to learn how to ____________." Chances are, there's an online course or a YouTube video for that. So the sky's the limit. Whatever you've always wanted to learn, now is the time.
- The Region of Waterloo Library has virtual programs, online access to favourite newspapers and magazines, and links to online resources for entertainment or research.
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