- BGCA Youth Development Toolbox
- University of Maryland (also supports the Europe Region)
In support of our continued services to children and families, the following resources have been compiled for use during the COVID-19 pandemic to address a variety of family needs and virtual programming. Please share these valuable resources with your families and our CYS staff. Download the printable PDF here, or check out the list below.
Government Resources:
Facebook Page
The hotline is part of the Army Medical Readiness Assistance Program and is intended to connect callers to trusted COVID-19 information sources and answer questions. The hotline will be manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be reached by calling +1(1800) 984-8523, DSN 421-3700, or +1(210) 295-3700. U.S. Army Public Health Center - Frequent updates about the Army’s response to COVID-19 and health resources.
The Military OneSource portal provides access to service-specific news, resources and social media.
Non-Government Links:
No Official U.S. Army Endorsement Implied
Resources for COVID-19- Good list of websites and resources to assist you in supporting military youth during the quarantine.
Parent resources include: Help Students Learn from Home, Emotional Health Check-Ins, and Talking about COVID-19.
BGCA's mobile-friendly social platform with access to over 185 program activities in areas such as STEM, leadership and the arts.
Includes Military resources
(Download the YD Toolbox app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.)
Parents can download the latest version of BGCA’s Youth Development Toolbox app. The YD Toolbox mobile app provides easy, immediate access to activities that give youth a high-quality experience. Features include:
• Quick Tool allow easy access to the elements that make up high-quality youth activities, including community builders, energizers and reflections.
• Content will be updated regularly
Click2Science addresses the need for low-cost, high-quality resources and skills needed to create positive STEM learning experiences with youth.
Hundreds of printable activities and worksheets for children grades PreK-12.
• Sample curriculum, coloring pages, games, worksheets, puzzles and more.
• Browse educational print resources for children by age and subject.
A variety of articles including: Social Distancing Teaches Us How Kids With Disabilities Feel, Finding Virtual Inclusion, etc.
Military Families Behavioral Health Guides:
• Anxiety in Young Children: A Military Parents’ Guide through Transition
• Depression in Youth parent guide
Preventing and Preparing for COVID-19
COVID-19 Resource Center
Free guide will help students with questions about the pandemic crisis, is incredibly interactive and offers multiple activities for family engagement.
4-H Youth Development
Includes videography, CYSTekware activities, Up for the Challenge (fitness, nutrition and health), babysitting, imAlone, and Tech Discovery.
Learn By Doing At Home Series (each day Alaska 4-H adds a new activity). Examples include: gardening, baking, yoga, watercolor painting
Virtual State Programs: 4-H STEM at Home, 4-H QuaranTEEN Project, 4-H YouTube Challenge
STEM Lessons and activities – You Be the Chemist
Activity packed website including 4-H Challenges (food art and upcycling/repurposing), activities to keep kids learning from home (Virtual Field Trips, 4-H STEM, History and Civic Engagement and Healthy Lifestyle)
Studio 4-H – Tune in daily for virtual activities. Social media campaign that shares various virtual activities via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
List of activities and resources with quality media and at home learning opportunities that include science, animals, kids, healthy living, civic engagement, and much more.
Virtual cooking contest, community service activities, and learn about animals.
At home activities for kids – a list of at-home learning resources for families to utilize
Jam packed website of at home learning resources and weekly challenges
Louisiana 4-H Virtual Recess - daily for activities to keep your mind and body moving.
Learn from Home Video Series. A wide variety of topics from DIY birdfeeders to science café, and much more.
Learning from Home:
4-H Spirit Challenges (gardening, snacks, STEM activities, etc.) 4-H Healthy Living Activity Guide
Resources include Managing Your Stress, Be a Detective: Understanding Disease Outbreaks, Crafts Around the World series.
Wide variety of resources are imbedded in 4-H project-based learning. Choose something you like and dive into it!
Missouri 4-H QuaranTIME – A variety of topics offered through Zoom (Foods – International Foods, Healthy Living, Planning a Menu, Baking Substitutes, and more)
List of unique At-Home Activities (virtual dairy farm tour, virtual exercise videos, mindfulness classes, Extension Horses)
A variety of virtual learning experiences broken down by grades. I Wonder Science Workshops, self-paced opportunities, and activity guides.
Agriculture in the Classroom, and a list of non-4-H science websites for youth.
4-H from Home! - interactive lessons on varying topics such as healthy living, STEM, civic engagement, the arts and more, Tuesdays and Thursday from 3-4 p.m. using Zoom for Middle School age youth.
Healthy Foods with Quick and Tasty Recipes for Healthy Youth
4-H At Home includes a variety of projects with arts, healthy living, STEM, and civic engagement
Inspire Kids To Do Home Activities – Photography Challenge, The Exciting Egg, and Food Challenge
4-H @ Home - daily 4-H activity sent via e-mail. Activities can be completed at home using common household materials. Other projects include Hatching (chicks) with 4-H and Horse Institute
A wide variety of in-school lesson plans provide quality educational experiences for youth that are active, engaging, and most importantly, aligned to state content standards.
Ideas for Learning While School Are Closed – includes STEM, Makerspaces, Coding and Robotics, Food and Fitness, Learn Something New, Just for Fun, and so much more.
PBS Wisconsin remains committed to ensuring that all kids statewide have access to learning during school closures.
STEM
Fun for Elementary School Kids
No one is too young (or old, I might add) to code. Learn how to build an iPhone game, write your first computer program, draw in JavaScript and much more
Discover the nuts and bolts of engineering. This website contains advice on careers, entertaining info on all kinds of fields and links to the eGFI magazine.
Searching for news on the environment, homework resources, info on contests or ideas for an environment-based school project? Check out this website run by the Environmental Protection Agency.
One of my favorites. The website of the San Francisco-based Exploratorium is jam-packed with interactive activities, videos, apps, links and more.
Extremely interesting. Here you’ll find wild and weird facts about nature, resources for science projects and info on all kinds of world records.
I visit this website every day. It has hundreds upon thousands of articles that explain the wonders of science (and almost everything else on the planet).
Apps and activities and videos, oh my! Play games, watch baby chicks hatching, create virtual chemical reactions or use forensic science to analyze different types of candy.
Career information, image galleries, NASA Television, features and articles … whatever you’d like to know about aerospace, you’re sure to find it here.
SEMAA was developed to increase the participation of historically underserved K-12 youth in STEM fields. School activities and summer sessions are held throughout the nation.
The website for PBS’s popular science show is overflowing with videos and articles. Explore the wonders of evolution, nature, physics, math practically any STEM subject that rings your bell.
Get stuck on science. This website has over 1,000 ideas for science fair projects, project guides, project kits and detailed profiles of STEM careers.
Question everything. Along with a rundown on the Science Channel’s TV programs, this website has plenty of videos, quizzes, games and the latest science news.
In addition to articles and job information, STEM-Works has stocked their site with interesting activities. Test your skills in the reptile quiz. Rescue an athlete in the Bionic Games. Or, simply follow the path of great whites with the Global Shark Tracker.
A year-round online learning destination for kids and teens. Use the promo code “MIDSFREE” to get a free first month!
A computing platform that allows children to develop programming skills through fun, creative courses. Join the millions of kids from around the country learning to code with Tynker!
At Funology, science is bound to get interactive. Make a tornado with water. Build a Jurassic Park terrarium. Or, simply torment your siblings with endless jokes about bugs and insects.
Your parents might be interested in this. Curated by the U.S. Department of Education, this website contains math activities (to be completed at home, at the store and on the go) for preschoolers and elementary kids.
Every kid should be an ecological hero. Learn about biomes, blue whales and data collecting. You can even create your own classroom experiment. Available en Español.
From imaginary jungles to ion experiments, Kids.gov has plenty of resources for a rainy day. Watch an animation on thunder and lightning or take a virtual field trip to the National Zoo.
Hands-on science activities, games, cool videos, scavenger hunts … this website is full of fun stuff. KSC also hosts a free, nationwide science competition for students in grades three to six.
At NASA Kids’ Club, it’s perfectly okay to fool around in space. You can use your science and math skills to explore Mars, construct a fleet of rockets or search for NASA spinoffs in your garage.
Build your own spacecraft, play space volcanoes or browse through a gallery of sun images. When you’re at the Space Place, the universe is the limit
Which do you think is cuter: the puffer fish or the clown fish? On this website, you can vote in polls, take part in eggs-periments, watch videos, play puzzles and learn amazing facts.
Meet meteorologist Crystal Wicker. She’s put together a website that explains everything about the weather. Find fun facts, games, flashcards and photos, plus get answers to your meteorological questions.
Learn programming languages, graphic design in Photoshop, and more! Use the promo code “MIDSFREE” to get a free first month!
PBS kids
Help Jackie, Matt and Inez use math to protect the digital universe from evil. Don’t worry: Cyberchase has lots of math games, videos and activities to aid you in your quest.
Design anything (!) your mind might imagine. Through Design Squad challenges, videos and tutorials, you’ll discover all there is to know about engineering principles
Pre-K STEM games, activities and videos galore. The adventurous Cat in the Hat is even ready to lead you on an exotic math safari adventure
Wondering what you can do to protect the planet? The Greens have some great ideas, including games, activity guides and their very own carbon calculator.
Explore the world of biology with this free online game. In one simulation (Microland) you control hungry microbes. In another (Ecoland), you have to balance out the space station’s ecosystem
Hot science and cool ideas. You’ll find all kinds of activities and experiments on Zoom’s website, including things like lemon juice rockets, crazy straw bridges and bubble cities
Science Games and Apps
Amazing Alex has a lot of crazy physics challenges in need of your inventive solutions. You can even build and create your own. Brought to you by the creators of Angry Birds.
Those whacky (and wildly successful) birds are now playing their physics puzzles in space, where gravity does some pretty strange things!
Plunge headfirst into your amazing brain with songs, animations and mini-games. The complete game is available for purchase as a CD-ROM or digital download.
Geography nuts rejoice! This educational app contains pictures and facts on hundreds of places, plants and animals.
An amazing collection of science experiments, games, activities and challenges. You might choose to run the blood cell relay race or use a computer model to build your own interstellar slush business.
In this fun physics-based game, you’re in complete control of Max and his incredible magic marker. There are 15 puzzle levels, with challenges, secrets and rewards in each.
You don’t have to be a computer genius to code! With this app, any kid can learn the ABCs of programming in a graphic environment.
Everywhere you go, always take the weather with you. In this app, you’ll learn how to identify various weather situations in different seasons. For kids age 3 to 6.
Sid from PBS’ “Sid the Science Kid” has three science games for your entertainment pleasure: Gabriela’s “Collection Inspection,” May’s “Chart It!” and Gerald’s “Time Machine.” For kids age 3 to 6.
The cheerful animated characters from Nick Jr.’s TV program offer lots of math games and activities for preschoolers.
Travel the world by solving geometry challenges along the way. You’ll receive passport stamps for perfect quests. Covers Common Core standards 3MD, 3G, 4MD, 5G, 6G, 7G and 8G
Do you have what it takes to save the galaxy? You’re going to need your math skills to complete your training missions in this free online game.
One for the parents. This useful app walks kids through the steps to solving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division equations. There’s a handy scratchboard area where kids can work problems out by hand.
Pizza, pizza! In this math-based game, you buy ingredients, design signature pizzas and sell them to customers (hopefully at a profit).
How fast is the world’s fastest train? How many jellybeans fill up a soccer ball? In Questimate!, you get to make up your own questions.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to rescue the fireflies hidden in Mystery Math Town. Be warned: you’ll need your math skills to unlock all the rooms and passages on your quest!
In the Numbers League, only math can save the day. You’ll use everything from addition to negative numbers to assemble a team of superheroes and capture a horde of villains.
Bored with everything? The crazy characters at UMIGO might have the answer. Their interactive games are just right for building math and critical thinking skills.
STEM Fun for Middle School Kids
Competitors on this TV show have just 30 minutes to come up with a solution to an (seemingly) impossible engineering challenge.
Bill’s entertaining television episodes cover everything from comets to the science of music. Have some fun with his home demos.
Otherwise known as the National Junior Mathematics Club, Chi Alpha Mu is the younger sibling of Mu Alpha Theta. Check out its list of contests and summer grants.
Interested in learning more about chemicals, air quality and water pollution? This website has videos, games and experiments to help you along.
A STEM bonanza. Kids Ahead is packed with all kinds of resources, including scavenger hunts, videos, articles, links to local activities and fun events and info on cool jobs that inspire and excite.
Hone your math skills with online games, virtual thrill rides and national competitions! MathMovesU also offers a variety of scholarships and sponsorships.
The folks at MythBusters use experiments to bust rumors, myths and urban legends. (During their Cannonball Chemistry experiment, they accidentally drove a cannonball through the side of a house.)
Founded by America’s first female astronaut, Sally Ride Science hosts a number of student programs, including science festivals and overnight camps.
Bob is a science teacher who loves to experiment (often on Jimmy Kimmel). His website has videos, links and plenty of ideas for build-your-own experiments and science fair projects
It’s all about the weather. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and NASA put together this educational website to teach kids about meteorology and earth science. Check out their games section.
Designed for kids age 8 to 16, Scratch is a place where you can program your own interactive stories, games and animations. A project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab.
A great learning tool for kids interested in programming, graphic design, and more! Use the promo code “MIDSFREE” to get a free first month!
STEM Games and Apps
Auditorium is a beautiful and challenging puzzle with many different solutions. One game reviewer called it “part puzzle game, part light sculpture, part musical instrument
Based on the T.V. series, this immersive adventure allows you to solve your own forensics case. Levels range from beginner to advanced.
DimensionU has developed lots of games that tackle STEM skills. Use math to reveal the mysteries of Xeno Island or join forces in a race to disengage a bio-digital virus.
Learn to design your own video game! Explore game-based quests and take courses to build your skills.
An incredibly slick point-and-click adventure game. You’re a robot who’s been tossed on a scrap heap and must solve a series of puzzles to make it back to the city, save the girl and beat the bad guys.
Amaze friends and parents with these quick (but impressive) mathematics tricks.
Minecraft is a popular 3-D block-building game that pushes your imagination to the limits. Protect yourself against nocturnal monsters or a build a giant one-of-a-kind creation.
Journey deep into the nano-world. Build the greenest city in the universe. Prepare for the apocalypse. Some of these games are free; some must be purchased.
A mind-bending action adventure game built around physics principles and environmental puzzles. Navigate portals and battle against a power-crazed artificial intelligence named GLaDOS. Suitable for teens.
Your uncle has disappeared. He’s left his Interdimensional Shift Device behind. And his house just got very weird. Welcome to the physics-based puzzle game known as Quantum Conundrum.
Everything you want to know about robots in one easy app. Robots for iPad has 360-degree views, lots of articles and specs and hundreds of photos and videos.
You knew there had to be a game completely devoted to it. Unlock the secrets of the world-famous Rubik’s Cube.
All of the education with none of the guts. This app allows you to wield virtual dissection tools to uncover the mysteries of amphibian anatomy.
Design 3-D models for Minecraft, create your own video game or even direct a 3-D animation! These digital technology-focused camps are held in various southern cities. For kids age 8 to 16.
Curious about biotechnology research? Have a look at these video podcasts, e-learning courses and resources.
A good resource if you’re just starting to look into computing. You can explore career options and majors, search for accredited programs and tinker with the visual career cloud tool.
This website includes a university search, info on engineering majors and a long list of links to camps, internships, scholarships, contests and more. You’ll also find insights from experts and virtual engineering games.
If web surfing isn’t your style, you can always play the free STEM career exploration game. It’s geared toward middle school and early high school students.
Your source for all things IT. Check out their list of degree programs, upcoming IT events, internships, student programs, advice on paying for college, career fairs, websites and the like.
STEM Fun for Girls
CanTEEN was developed to help girls explore STEM careers. Take a challenge (such as creating your own urban garden), play games like “Click! Spy School” or learn more about real-life role models
Why should you become an engineer? Let this website for middle school girls explain. Along with interviews, quizzes, fun facts and profiles, it has links to scores of engineering contests, clubs, programs and scholarships.
Dream big and love what you do. This guide to engineering for high school girls is packed with profiles of inspiring women, great tips for college prep and helpful job tools.
Be what you want to be. Sponsored by L’Oréal, this site offers all kinds of STEM options, including a video blog, profiles of women in science, a list of summer camps and info about careers.
Curious about a career in science or technology? This youth-produced media series for girls from undeserved groups has lots and lots of ideas to explore.
Push your limits as you make the world a better place. To support STEM experiences, the Girl Scouts have developed three leadership journeys and a number of STEM proficiency badges.
Inspired by “Women’s Adventures in Science” and developed by the National Academy of Sciences, this website invites you to investigate the careers of famous women scientists.
SciGirls videos are great resources for the classroom. Each episode follows a different group of middle school girls who are designing and building STEM projects
Aspire to be great. You’ll find a huge variety of engineering resources on this site, including links to activities, competitions, camps and scholarships.
Meet the women you want to be. This NASA site includes video interviews and biographies of NASA employees, as well as info on careers, events and outreach programs. Energy.gov has a sister site called Women@Energy
Learn the most popular programming languages like Java and iOS, explore Minecraft modding and 2D and 3D game design, and dive into graphic design in Photoshop. Use the promo code “MIDSFREE” to get a free first month!
G2O is an initiative of The Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF) designed to engage girls, parents, and teachers in expanding girls’ educational opportunities. Visit their website to explore careers in STEM, participate in summer contests, and more!
