We’re not saying we’re panicked about how to fill 17 days of Winter Break, but let’s just say we’re slightly anxious about finding enough activities to keep the kids busy and entertained. So, we’re planning ahead by pre-ordering fun local activity kits and signing up for cool cooking classes, as well as art and science workshops! As always, we’re happy to share our research with you…

Activity Kits, Virtual Workshops & Camps:

— Thinkery’s Take-Home Gingerbread Kits:
It wouldn’t be the holiday season without Thinkery’s Gingerbread Workshops, but this year they are offered as take-home kits for you to put together in the safety of your own home! They have two different Gingerbread Workshop take-home kits this year: a “Cookie People” kit for all-ages fun, and a full Gingerbread House construction kit for builders age 4+. Each kit also comes with instructions and links to a fun video that takes you inside the Quack’s kitchen (where the gingerbread is baked locally) and includes tips from a professional decorator. Kits are available now for purchase through their Online Store where you can also find many cool STEAM-focused activity kits, or you can buy them in-person at Thinkery’s gift shop.

Gingerbread house supplies; photo from Quack’s Bakery Facebook page


— Austin Tinkering School’s Online Holiday Gift-Making Camp:
Kids ages 6-12 will make an armload of awesome gifties in this project-packed online camp! All campers will receive a kit with some specialized materials they’ll need for camp. Parents will also receive a list with easy to find materials they’ll need to provide for camp (glue gun, scissors, markers, etc). This runs from 10 a.m. – noon on Dec. 21-23.

— Awesome Art’s Workshops:
Create your own hamsa from clay. Hamsas bring owners happiness, luck, health, and good fortune! Purchase a kit that includes materials with video instruction AND a live studio time via Zoom. You can pick up kits at a Clarksville studio, return for kiln firing, then pick up your work after it’s fired. You can also explore the art of Suminagashi Japanese Marbling and Natural Wood painting. Create your own marbled cards or natural wood ornaments to send to friends and family.

— Austin Bake School Cooking Classes for Kids:
Chef Pascal offers hands-on, fun and educational baking classes for kids (generally for ages 8+). All of the classes are live online, and siblings are most often free to join along! Choose from holiday themes or let the kids prep dinner for you one night after taking a class to make shrimp tacos or teriyaki chicken rice bowls. View the full class schedule and more details.

Photo from Bake Austin’s Instagram

— Camacho Activity Center’s Free Film Camp:
This FREE Winter Break Film Camp explores filmmaking, acting, set design, and directing in a uniquely creative and collaborative effort where youth ages 8-17 can produce their very own short film. Students will be tasked to film from home, act on screen, design their own sets and props, lend their ideas and creativity, and so much more! They’ll learn filmmaking concepts from directing and acting to shooting and audio. This takes place December 28 -30 from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Registration is free but limited.

— Camacho Activity Center’s Free Winter Break Culinary Club:
Kids ages 8-17 can explore cultures across the globe through pies, cakes, and pastries, and warm drinks. The club will meet via Zoom from from 1-3 p.m. on Dec. 28-30. All camp activities will use the oven. Optional drink activities will use the stove top. Parents must provide necessary supervision at home. Registration is free but limited. The club will make:

  • Dec 28th: Holiday Bread Pudding | Optional Drink: Butter Beer
  • Dec 29th: Tres Leches Cake | Optional Drink: Atole
  • Dec 30th: Baklava | Optional Drink: Spiced Hot Chocolate

— The Art Garage’s Virtual & In-Person One-Day Camps:
Great for kids ages 6-12, the Art Garage offers some fun one-day camps from Dec. 21-23. Whether you want to drop off the kids for a few hours, or have them log-on to participate from home, the kiddos will make some adorable art projects that could make for a great holiday gift. View the schedule & registration info. Plus, for take-home kits or pottery to paint, you can check out their online store.

Photo from The Art Garage’s Facebook page

— Mad Science Winter Break Camps & Take-Home Kits:
Mad Science of Austin is offering a Christmas Break Camp from Dec. 21 – Jan. 5 with an in-person option, Red-Hot Robots Winter Break Edition, where kids can build their very own working robot to take home or a Virtual CRAYOLA World of Design camp for grades K-5. They also have a variety of kits that can be delivered to you that includes a variety of supplies, pictured instructions and an email link to short videos for each of the items.

— Blanton Museum’s #ArtWhereYouAre Studio Lessons:
Enjoy this FREE collection of Youtube videos for all ages to inspire your young artists on trying some new expressive activities. Blanton educator Monique Piñón O’Neil leads easy, make-at-home art activities inspired by works in the museum collection. Each activity includes a downloadable supply list and instructions.

— Fantastic Magic Camp Virtual Camp & Take-Home Tricks:
A 2-hour afternoon class will be held from 2-4 p.m. from Dec. 21-24 plus 28-31 with a family magic show on Jan. 1. Registration is limited to 12 campers. Because materials will need to be distributed in advance, registration needs to be completed by December 15, 2020. More info an registration. You can also check out their online store for some fun magic tricks to try during the break.

— Round Rock Express Winter Baseball Camp
Held at Dell Diamond, the three-day camp is scheduled to run 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. from Monday, December 28 through Wednesday, December 30. Registration is $250, open to participants ages 6-14, and available via ExpressCamps.com.

Of course, we’ll be share more fun ideas for Winter Break soon! Stay tuned!

Snap pics of what your family is doing for the chance to win $100 gift certificate to Austin Steam Train!