While we’re home and kids are missing their after school and weekend sports, dance, STEM and other activities, it’s nice to know we can still check in with our favorite local enrichment providers.
Here are Twenty some of the many local businesses that are offering virtual classes and activities for kids and parents. Many activities are free; some cost nominal fees, but it pays to support these local spots to keep them running.
Annapolis Maritime Museum
Annapolis Maritime Museum is launching virtual learning worksheets, crafts, videos and lesson plans. Send your kids on a trash scavenger hunt, explore the AMM’s Oral Histories collection, learn about the lifecycle of your favorite Chesapeake Bay critters, take a tour of the AMM’s virtual exhibits and much more.
Anne Arundel Public Library
AACPL is providing a massive amount of online programming, from toddler storytimes, to concerts to open mic poetry nights.
Artworks to Gogh
Artworks is offering online art classes (for ages 3 and up), which are a great way to keep the creativity flowing while the kids are at home! Artworks is offering 1 art lesson per week with a video lesson, powerpoint presentation with additional content and visuals, and printouts to be used with the lesson. $8–$10 per week (depending on child’s age).
ArtFarm Annapolis
ArtFarm’s virtual classes will be a lot like in-studio classes and workshops with Art Farm’s teachers, who have come up with some pretty cool classes for a wide range of ages. Most classes will be 4 weeks in length and about 45 min. in length. The classes will focus on process and technique so that you can work on your “homework” during the week until your next class. Classes include beginner drawing, watercolor, cartoon illustration, mixed-media and others. And don’t forget to follow ArtFarm on Facebook and Instagram for daily Get Your Sketch On challenges!
Ballet Theatre of Maryland
Join live daily classes via zoom including beginning ballet, intermediate adult ballet, and creative movement.
Baltimore Museum of Industry
Museum learning doesn’t have to stop when you’re at home. Keep kids of all ages engaged during this break from school with these free activities designed and collected by the education staff at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, including storytelling activities, a virtual tour of the BMI, printables, activity booklets, and a Design Your Own Label activity.
Blooming Breath Yoga
This Severna Park Yoga studio teaches kids and teens Yoga and is offering free daily yoga sessions for kids on Facebook, as well as evening gentle yoga and meditation sessions on Wednesday and Sunday nights to help calm kids before bedtime.
Capital Weather Gang’s Weather School
Tune in to the fun weather dudes at the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang to learn about weather topics like how to build a barometer, learn about air pressure, and how weather can improve your mood.
Chesapeake Arts Center
Hop onto Chesapeake Arts Center’s Facebook page for daily live dance classes including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and modern. Plus, CAC’s Color Wheel Challenge, which gives kids great crafting ideas to try out at home (with minimal supplies).
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Find cool lesson activities like Life as a Lighthouse Keeper, the Chesapeake Bay Food Chain, and How to Engineer a Lighthouse.
Children’s Theatre of Annapolis
Musical theatre, voice, acting and jazz dance are all offered via Zoom classes by the talented staff of Children’s Theatre of Annapolis, each day during the week. Tuition is $20, plus a $2 processing fee. CTA also offers free Facebook live voice lessons/sing-a-longs Mondays at noon.
Club SciKidz
Club SciKidz is offering daily online STEM content—from egg drop to catapult building challenges; pudding slime to growing crystals. These exciting daily challenges and activities are a great way to keep kids excited about learning.
The Dance Center of Severna Park
Now offering Live ‘I Can Dance’ drop-in classes with Mrs. Kellie. Registration is easy, just click the link, sign up for a drop in class and Mrs. Kellie will send you link for the class! If you are going to sign up for I Can Dance, please register the day before. Registration is open!
Design in Motion Dance Center
Design In Motion Dance Studio offers a full range of dance education in Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap and Lyrical styles. The studio is hosting online live classes starting April 1. Plus live dance parties and more family activities.
Echo Hill Outdoor School Outdoor Insiders
Join Echo Hill Outdoor School naturalists in cool outdoor lessons like how to safely make a campfire, building a dugout canoe, plant identification, and learning about Chesapeake Bay workboats. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2 p.m. on Facebook.
Mathnasium
Keep the kids’ math skills sharp with these cool math card games from Mathnasium! They are also offering a special deal for new customers – they are waiving the assessment fee, you receive a complimentary starter pack, and get $20 off each month enrolled with no minimum commitment.
Maryland Hall
“Maryland Hall @Home” is a series that includes a collection of digital content for adults and kid including weekly ArtReach challenges, digital gallery tours, a Virtual Sip and Paint and more. Keep up on Maryland Hall’s website and social media channels for regularly added content and resources.
Mission Martial Arts
Mission Martial Arts is offering daily workouts on their YouTube channel. All videos require no equipment and can be done anywhere. Also stay tuned for live streaming classes.
Naptown Sings
Naptown Sings is offering music classes online, including Musikgarten fun for kids up to 3, Music Immersion classes for ages 3 to 8, and Glee Club classes for older kids. There are weeks-long programs as well as Drop-in classes for $15. Follow Naptown Sings on Facebook or Instagram for periodic free activities for little ones as well.
Olney Theatre Center
Daily free online learning sessions include Beginning Playwriting, storytimes, sing- and dance-alongs, Craft with Me, and classes for older kids, including Monologue Coaching and Audition Tips.
Pongo’s Learning Lab/Coder Kids Club
Pongo’s is continuing many of its programs online, including Coder Kids Club, YouTube Stars and more, and has opened up a free virtual Minecraft Club on Mondays. Pongo’s has also started a series of cool job interviews so kids can learn about different cool careers online. Follow along on their website or Facebook for the Cool Jobs schedule.
SQRRL!
Let your kids get their wiggles out with daily SQRRL! Live concerts on Facebook! Daily at Noon.