May Activity Calendar for Youth at Home
The LINC Youth Centre's May calendar includes great activities for each day of the month for teens at home. Follow along with our LINC staff and do activities each day and post a photo of you completing the task – or jump around between dates and choose the ones that you like best!
For those doing activities each day:
Each day at 8 am, we will post the activity of the day on The LINC's facebook page and each time you post a picture of you completing one of the tasks, you will be entered into a draw for a Courtenay Recreation/LINC Youth Centre prize pack. 31 days in May, could mean 31 entries - show us what you've got!
Check out The LINC's facebook page:
Additional photos/videos of activity ideas will be available on The LINC's facebook page – check them out each morning!
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Click on the links in the table below to go to the instructions for each activity:
Create sidewalk chalk games:
Bring out your inner child!
- Hopscotch
- 4-square
- Snakes & Ladders
- Roads for your toy cars
- Obstacle courses
- Twister
- Follow the line games
- Tic Tac Toe
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Camp out in your yard or living room:
Pop popcorn, make smores or try out the Smore Cupcake recipe below and tell scary stories! Check out this article about the haunted landmarks of Vancouver Island.
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Write a letter & send it in the mail:
Could be a little pick-me-up for a friend, a joke for a family member, or even just something to bring a smile on! Check out Global Pen Friends to find children and youth pen-pals that may be interested in receiving your snail mail – for more information, check a tour of their site here.
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Plan your Halloween costume; it is never too early!:
What are you going to be this year? Planning an amazing costume takes time!
Some ideas for inspiration:
- Pirate, super-hero, ghost, creepy doll, clown, fairy tale characters, pac-man, TV character, devil, pumpkin…
Look on Pinterest or just Google many more ideas!
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Scooter/Skateboard Maintenance Day:
Check out this video (link) from one of our skatepark staff, Mateo, with some tips on maintaining your skateboard this spring. Keep watch on The LINC's facebook page for more videos with Mateo teaching some beginner tricks!
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Watch a drawing tutorial & practice:
Learn to draw nature scenes, eyes, faces, shading, or whatever else you would like to try!
Check out Art for Kids Hub or other drawing videos for beginners on YouTube.
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Online Best Trick Contest:
To celebrate BC Youth Week we were going to have a skatepark best-trick contest. Now we’re taking it online and switching it up! Show us your talents, and your tricks, skateboarding, singing, slam dunks, surprise us and score some sweet swag!
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Write your Bucket List:
What types of things would you like to do in your future?
Paragliding? Skydiving? Traveling somewhere warm? Learning a new skill? Running a marathon? See the Pyramids? Race a Sailboat?
Check out The Buried Life to see their list and how they turned it into a tv show on MTV. With every item they crossed off their list, they helped someone else accomplish one of their dreams. The possibilities are endless!
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Have an At-Home Spa Day:
Treat yourself!
DIY Oatmeal & Honey Face Mask
Ingredients:
- ½ cup oatmeal (uncooked)
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tbsp pure honey
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook oatmeal, water, milk and honey for 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently with a spatula or spoon. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Massage a thick layer of plain honey all over your clean face and neck before applying mask.
- Apply mask to your face with upward strokes. Lie down and relax for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove and rinse by using a soft facial wash cloth and warm water.
https://www.somewhatsimple.com/oatmeal-and-honey-facial-mask/
DIY Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup oil (almond, olive or coconut work best)
- 1/2 tsp vitamin E oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
- Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix together. You can add more or less oil to your liking.
- Store in an air tight container. Since this recipe doesn’t contain any preservatives, it’s best if it’s used within a month or two.
How To Use A Sugar Scrub:
- Scoop a small amount of the Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub in your hands with a spoon.
- Scrub all over your hands or feet – or wherever you’d like a little extra softness.
- Allow to sit on your skin for 3-4 minutes. Enjoy this time to rest and relax.
- Rinse well and then pat dry with a towel.
https://www.somewhatsimple.com/vanilla-brown-sugar-scrub/
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Try Journaling:
Write about things you are doing, how you are feeling, or anything you would like to write about!
There are many journaling prompts as well if you are unsure what to write about.
Check out these prompt ideas:
Self-reflection
Deep thought
Thought provoking journaling
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Have a costume photoshoot:
Pull out those old clothes out of your closet, old accessories, and even some old Halloween costumes you have stored away. Put together fun outfits and take some funny photos!
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Ice-cream sundaes:
Raid the cupboard and see how creative you can be with toppings! No ice-cream? Try yogurt!? Join us Facebook, post your photos and be entered to win some prizes!
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Have a picnic in your backyard or living room:
Don’t forget your picnic essentials:
- thick blanket
- cooler or picnic basket
- plates & cups
Our favourite picnic-friendly finger foods:
- berries (blackberries, strawberries, raspberries)
- veggies (mini-carrots, celery, cucumber)
- veggie dip
- crackers
- cheese
- pretzels
- almonds
- meat (sliced for crackers)
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Play indoor basketball:
Supplies: Bucket, ball, tape
Set up your bucket (on the floor) and stand behind your tape line. See if you can get the ball in! If it is easy, move your tape line further back. You could also have more than one basket and they are worth different points
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Bake a new recipe:
S'Mores Bites Cupcakes. Adapted from My Frugal Adventures https://myfrugaladventures.com/2014/03/smores-bites-cupcakes-fast-easy/
Ingredients
- 8 Graham Crackers
- Chocolate Chips or a Chocolate Bar chopped into pieces
- Small or large Marshmallows
- 6 tbsp melted butter
- ¼ cup Powdered Sugar
Instructions
- Crush graham crackers in a food processor or in a large Ziploc bag.
- Slowly add the melted butter to the graham crackers and add the powdered sugar and mix well.
- Grease a muffin tin with non-stick spray or butter.
- Spoon graham cracker crumbs into the muffin tins and push down firm so your base doesn't fall apart later.
- Push up a small amount onto the sides of each muffin tin to create a cup shape.
- Bake at 350° F oven for about 6 minutes or until firmed up a bit.
- Drop in a few chocolate chips or if you have a chocolate bar just chop it into rough pieces and put on top of the crust.
- Sprinkle a few mini marshmallows on top of the chocolate or cut a large marshmallow in half.
- Place in the oven for about 2 minutes.
- The chocolate should melt and the marshmallow should puff and get a tiny bit browned. Be very careful to watch as the marshmallow can burn easily. If it overcooks you will lose out on the creamy texture of the marshmallow.
- Once the marshmallows are puffy, remove from oven.
- Let cool in the pan for several minutes and remove. If you try to remove these from the pan before they are cooled they will crumble apart but they will still taste incredibly good
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Play paper and pencil games:
Ideas include:
Sudoku:
- The objective is to fill a 9x9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9. A cell is the smallest block in the game. A row, column and region consists of 9 cells and the whole game consists of 81 cells.
- Check out this link for games varying from easy to challenging!
Tic Tac Toe:
- Can you get 3-in-a-row!?
Dots & Boxes:
- Begin with a grid of dots drawn on a piece of paper. You can choose what size grid you wish to use. A six-by-six grid works or more advanced players may wish to draw a much larger grid. Two or more players take turns with different colored pens or pencils drawing lines between dots. The goal is to complete a box while preventing the other player from doing so. When a block is completed by a player, they write their initials inside and draw another line. When all of the dots are connected, the person with the most completed blocks wins.
- No need for a store-bought version of this fun game. Simply draw ten lines horizontally and vertically to create twenty squares. Then take turns drawing circles in an attempt to get four in a row. Once the bottom row is filled, players must “drop” their circles on top of another. Players can either mark the circles with their initials or use X and O. The first to get four in a row wins.
Check out this link for more ideas! Or print out these handy game sheets [PDF - 161 KB] and get busy!
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Learn a new joke:
Why did the student eat his homework?
Because the teacher told him it was a piece of cake!
Always good to have a funny joke in your back pocket- find a good one here
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Play would you rather on the phone with a friend:
Would you rather spend a day without your phone or a day with no people at all?
Would you rather be a famous baker or a famous barbeque master?
Would you rather break everything you touch or get shocked every time you touch something?
Would you rather play again or quit now?
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Listen to an audiobook:
Paper reading not for you? Try out listening to an Audiobook!
Check out our local library’s website for a free selection of audiobooks or you can check out lots of free options on Amazon
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Have a paper airplane competition:
See who in your family can make the best paper airplane!
Everyone makes a paper airplane, and then see which plane travels the farthest!
Here are some step-by-step directions on how to make different types of planes.
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Build a house of cards:
All you need for this is a deck of cards!
Here are some helpful tips:
Choose your cards carefully:
- Most playing cards are coated with a glossy finish to make shuffling and dealing easy; unfortunately, the slippery surface makes it difficult to stack! Look for old cards whose finish has worn down, or look for the least glossy finish you can find.
Build on a Rough Surface:
- When it comes to card stacking, friction is your friend. It’s difficult to balance cards on a slippery surface, so beginners should always build their card houses on a rug or carpet.
Be Careful:
- Try not to touch the rest of the cards while you’re stacking.
Be Patient:
- Like anything, building a card house takes practice. It’s not uncommon for one or two — or all — of the cards to fall while you’re stacking. Keep trying!
Check out this for some inspo!
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Make your own pet rock:
You can paint your pet rock, paint them, or colour with them on markers, stick on googly eyes and even fake hair!
Give them a name and place them in potted plants or around your garden.
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Research your family tree:
This is an awesome time to find out more about where you came from, what neat things your family has done, and hardships they have overcome. If you know lots about your family history, this is a great time to tell those stories to your other family members!
This can be done over a family dinner, a family games night, or just while spending time together! Check out some local resources from the Courtenay Museum Genealogy Resources
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Do a guided meditation:
Have a much-needed breathe and relax. Take yourself through an imaginary journey as you calm your body and mind.
There are many options to choose from on YouTube, Spotify, and other platforms. There’s even some kid-specific apps in your app store.
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Looking for more ideas? Check out what we got up to in April:
April calendar for Youth at Home