Blog

Sign up to get free subscriptions for friends & family

June 30, 2021

Starting June 28th we will resume our daily email-based programming that is filled with a range of activity ideas and their how-to instructions for you and your family.

Why Teacher "Thank You" Notes Matter

May 30, 2021

Gratitude is one of the most important skills to nurture in our children, and creating thoughtful gifts for their teachers is a great way to show it.

Fun Family Activities For Victoria Day Weekend

May 18, 2021

The May 2-4 weekend is always a favourite as it marks the final countdown to summer vacation! It's the boost we all need right now to get through the next few weeks as we remain hopeful for a return to more normal times ahead.

6 Tips For a Healthy Family Dynamic in Lockdown

May 17, 2021

Our resident educational strategist shares strategies to maintain a healthy family dynamic while stuck at home. Plus, 3 great indoor activities for you and the kids.

5 Coping Strategies For Parents Over The School Break

May 17, 2021

The holidays will be different this year. Despite this, you can still prepare for a holiday that’s relaxing and fun — one that has a comfortable balance of family time, independent activities, and rest. You can create new memories while also staying sane and healthy (mentally and physically!).

Creative Activities for Mother's Day

May 17, 2021

In the days leading up to Mother's Day, we have lots of great activities to keep the kids engaged while turning their minds to giving gratitude to mum. Choose from a range of activities that use materials and items you would typically find around the house.

Dance With Kids Help Phone For a Brighter Tomorrow

April 30, 2021

On Sunday May 16, 2021, join us at the virtual Dance + More for Tomorrow event! Let’s dance while raising funds together to help ensure every young person in Canada has someone to talk to today, tomorrow and every day.

Preparing For Your Child's Report Card

April 23, 2021

Educational strategist and author Jane Kristoffy offers advice for parents on how to respond to your child's progress amid the pandemic.

Return to In-Class school: What to Expect

April 23, 2021

Many kids have transitioned back to in-class school. Here's what parents can expect and how to prepare for it.

How To Get Your Kids On Track In A Disrupted School Year

April 23, 2021

There’s light at the end of the tunnel, yet for many parents, there's still work to be done for our kids on the education front. Here's Jane Kristoffy's advice on getting your child back on track.

Coping in the 3rd wave: 6 tips for parents

April 23, 2021

Many parents wonder how to cope with this seemingly never-ending pandemic. As tough as things are, as parents, let’s continue to model coping skills to our kids. They watch our every move! Here's 6 ways you can do that.

Assessing Your Child's Mental Health While Learning Online

April 23, 2021

Distanced learning, virtual learning, online learning...call it what you want, but this model of schooling has quickly become a reality for many students across the globe. While we sometimes focused on the logistics of the technical and physical aspects of online learning, let’s not overlook the emotional and mental health side of it as well.

Top 5 Indoor Activities for Spring Break

April 13, 2021

When the Spring Break weather decides not to cooperate, we're here to help. Our program team has reviewed our hundreds of ideas and are suggesting these activities to keep your kids engaged and entertained until things dry up outside.

The Backyard Camp E-newsletter Just Got Better

April 13, 2021

We’re glad to see so many parents and children have enjoyed our email newsletter and website, based on your feedback in our recent Backyard Camp community survey. With that, some big news! We'll continue to share fun, educational and age-appropriate activities with the launch of our premium, subscription-based Backyard Camp e-newsletter...

The Lost Art of Imaginative Play: Why It’s Important

April 13, 2021

With Family Day just about upon us, here's activities at home that can aid family relationships while creating tangible benefits for kids. It isn’t always easy to keep kids active indoors but the solution is within your reach. The best part? Decreased screen time and reduced childhood stress.

Backyard Camp Faces: Erin Elfassy

April 6, 2021

Erin Elfassy is both a Backyard Camp founding parent and volunteer. Recently, we caught up with Erin to learn a little more about her background, role in Backyard Camp, and what makes the camp a fun, successful program for both kids and parents.

Backyard Camp Faces: Mark Silver

April 6, 2021

As a father of 3, technology executive and faculty at the Schulich School of Business in Toronto, Mark Silver already wears many hats. So it may seem surprising that Silver decided to don another by co-founding a camp program for kids. For Silver, though, his decision hinged more on necessity than choice.

Garden Experiments with Light & Water

March 31, 2021

It's common for many of us to dismiss plants as inanimate objects that we see in places we haven’t yet paved over. The ways that plants utilize light and water can be fun to experiment with, and they can give us a better understanding of the fact that plants are living beings that can sense and respond to their environments.

A Mindful Poem Activity: ‘The Hill We Climb' By Amanda Gorman

February 18, 2021

I've lost count of the minutes I’ve spent in front of my laptop trying to convey my complete adoration of Amanda Gorman’s poem ‘The Hill We Climb’

Q&A with Jane Kristoffy: Educational strategist and author of 'Launch Your Kid.'

January 27, 2021

We spoke with Jane Kristoffy, an educational strategist based in Toronto and owner of Right Track Educational Services about strategies for parents and caregivers to help overcome the mental and emotional challenges children face while learning remotely during the pandemic.

Share your favourite activities

October 6, 2020

Let the Backyard Camp community know about your own favourite activities to do with your kids using #BYCChallenge

Meet The "Teachers," Backyard Camp's Drivetrain

October 6, 2020

The volunteers that bring Backyard Camp to life each day wear many hats. If you view Backyard Camp as a car made of many parts, "The Teachers" are really the drivetrain that powers the program.

Backyard Camp Survey - The Results Are In

October 6, 2020

We want to thank everyone in the Backyard Camp community who participated in our recent survey. Your feedback is tremendously valuable as we look to gain insight into how the program will evolve in the coming weeks and months. Ready more about what you've told us.

The Social Benefits of Esports for Kids

August 7, 2020

While we would like to see our kids spend time engaging in outdoor activities this summer, don't be quick to discount the emotional and mental health benefits esports offers during these unique times as video game companies continue to focus on games' social components.

Kids Summer Reading List Part 1

July 29, 2020

Whether it's a rainy day, or on the beach or in the park, keep your kids' minds engaged and away from the screens for a while. Part 1 of our favourite children's books.

Backyard Camp teams up with Kids Help Phone

July 27, 2020

Backyard Camp teams up with Kids Help Phone to raise funds, awareness and promote summer fun‍ with $25,000 pledge to help families navigate unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

Bird Watching, a Natural Pastime

July 19, 2020

Bird watching, or birding, has been a favourite summertime family activity for generations. We dive into why it has withstood the test of time and tips you can use to bird watch in Canada, home to some of the most beautiful species in the world!

The Beautiful Game

July 16, 2020

The world's most popular sport has had the highest child participation in Canada for a long time. has been the sport with the highest participation in Canada. What makes this sport the "Beautiful Game"?

Reach for the Stars

July 9, 2020

The universe has captivated human beings for thousands of years. It's no surprise that stargazing is a common summertime activity, it's one of our personal favourites and we explain why.

Free daily email programming guide for parents

July 8, 2020

Backyard Camp was started just a few weeks ago when a group of parents started asking the question - “What are we going to do with our kids if summer camps are cancelled as a result of Covid 19?”

Ball is Life

July 8, 2020

Basketball is the fastest growing sport in Canada. Our thoughts behind this fast paced and wonderful game and why it's a perfect outdoor activity for the kids this summer.

Purchase arts & crafts, educational and STEM activities

July 3, 2020

Throughout the summer we’ll be featuring a number of fun, engaging and entertaining products from our friends at Super Toy

Backyard Camp Launches Esports Experience for Families

July 1, 2020

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Backyard Camp Esports League powered by Mission Control.

Backyard camp to deliver daily camp programming

June 22, 2020

Parents and caregivers can reboot the summer camp experience at home with today’s launch of Backyard Camp – a new, free service delivering daily activities and customizable programs by email aimed at keeping kids active and engaged all summer long.

Creating a fun obstacle course

June 12, 2020

Whether it's indoors or outdoors, an obstacle course is an easy way for children to stay active and develop new skills.