In-person camps and events are limited this winter break due to COVID, but there are plenty of fun virtual camps and workshops out there to keep kids entertained while school’s out.
These programs are all based in Toronto and the GTA — so if you love a program you can stick with it in the future when in-person programming resumes.
We’ll continue updating this as more camps become available. Or, you can browse our virtual camps directory here.
Multi-Day Camps
Unlike traditional, in-person day camps, virtual camps are typically shorter (most are 1–3 hours per day) so they won’t engage your child all day every day during winter break. But, they are less expensive than an in-person camp and can break up the day while kids are at home.
Machine Maniacs & Eureka! Camps
At these camps from Mad Science, kids use basic materials to create fun hands-on projects and overcome a series of challenges while gaining skills in engineering, chemistry, and natural sciences. Past projects have included building catapults and forts, constructing working light sticks, and making bird houses.
December 21–24 and/or 28–31
2.25 hours/day
Rookie & Intermediate Chess Camps
At these small-group (maximum 8 students) live online chess programs with the Chess Institute of Canada, kids get chess lessons and play online games. Sign up for Rookie Reindeers for beginners or Frosty Forks for kids with some chess experience.
December 21–24 and/or 28–30
1 hour/day
Holiday & Comfort Food Cooking Camps
Rooks To Cooks is offering two 4-day camps with different themes (Holiday Favourites and Cozy Comforts), each with a different sweet and/or savoury recipe to learn and make each day. Camps are led by an experienced chef-instructor. Morning or afternoon camps available.
December 21–24 and/or 28–31
2 hours/day
The Second City Comedy Camp
The Second City offers four hours of virtual fun and creativity with other kids, run by SC Training Center comedy pros. Activities include improv and fun theatre-based games in a supportive group environment.
December 21–24, December 28–31, January 4–8
4.5 hours/day
Chocolate-Making & Baking Camps
Over four days, kids get hands on in the kitchen, making cookies and dipped-in-chocolate desserts, decorating gingerbread houses, and learning cake decorating with the expert chocolatiers/instructors at Chocolate Tales. All the supplies are shipped to your home in advance.
December 28–31
2 hours/day
French Language Learning Camps
Keep the French fort during winter break with Camp Tournesol’s half-day camps that use board games, creative time, physical activity, nature exploration and more as vehicles for language learning. There is also focused academic time each day.
December 21–24 and/or 28–31
3 hours/day
Minecraft & Coding Camps
Full-day virtual camps are rare rare. At this one, offered by The Cube School, there is a daily morning presentation introducing campers to coding in Scratch or Python (depending on age) followed by fun Minecraft survival activities in the afternoon.
December 28–31
5 hours /day
Kids’ Comedy Camp
Stand UP for Student Well Being is a charitable organization that empowers to be confident, kind, inclusive and resilient. Week-long virtual camps, led by trained comedy coaches, teach improv and comedy writing using games, activities, and interactive lessons.
Dates TBD
1 hour/day
Single-Day Camps & Workshops
Just need a quick activity? These single-day workshops ranging from one to three hours in length, provide some diversion during winter break. They can be quite affordable (fees start at $11 per workshop). And kids might just learn something new!
Santa’s Creator Club
Participate in creative play and building activities all around fun Christmas themes like holiday ornaments, Santa’s sleigh, and reindeer. Offered by Snapology, a leading educational provider of playful learning programs using Lego and K’nex systems.
December 21
60 minutes
Holiday Art Workshops
Sign up as a family to make ornaments, holiday greeting cards, holiday animal portraits, or snow globes at these single-session workshops from Avenue Road Art School. Classes are designed for a child with adult.
December 21 and 22
60 minutes
Kids’ Cooking Workshops
Sign up for one or more single-session workshop during winter break with Rooks To Cooks. Each camp is led by an experience chef-instructor. At each session, kids will focus on just one recipe, like gingerbread cookies or snowman cake pops.
December 21–31 (various options)
2 hours
