2 . What limits you from hiking more often? If not having a suitable hiking partner is keeping you out of the woods, why not take a look at the great hiking clubs across Canada?

Membership cost: $10 for a single membership

Description: The club organises day hikes, backpacking trips, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing trips for members to gain new skills and valuable information. The trips are open to everyone and range from easy to moderate to difficult.

Membership cost: Students $40; non-UBC students $60

Description: The UBC Varsity Outdoor Club is a social group that hikes and rock climbs. Members lead trips, run skills workshops, and host presentations. Members can borrow equipment from the club. The UBC VOC has also constructed a few huts in the Coast Mountains.

Membership cost: Free

Description: The Pender Harbor Hiking Group offers a way for members to meet like-minded people and get fit. Hikes are scheduled two months in advance, so check the website regularly to find a hike that suits you! Hikes are usually one and a half to two hours long every Monday and Wednesday morning, but some full-day hikes are scheduled, depending on member interest.

Membership cost: A single membership is $25, and students pay $10. Children are free when they come with a registered family member.

Description: The Vernon Outdoors Club is an active group that enjoys hiking and cycling. Members are encouraged to share their activity ideas and interests. The group organises a Tuesday Activity each week.

3 . The London Eye remains temporarily closed but in line with the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown, we plan to reopen from 17th May. You can pre-book now. Further information can be found here.

What to Expect

The London Eye soars 443 feet into the sky and its views stretch 25 miles in every direction. Since opening in 2000, it has been used as a backdrop in countless films and is loved by Britons and visitors alike. This is the UK most popular visitor attraction, visited by over 3.5 million people a year.

Each London Eye capsule holds up to 25 passengers comfortably. All capsules are fully air-conditioned and rotate (旋转) on a special device designed to keep everyone upright as the wheel makes a slow but progressive rotation. The full rotation lasts 30 minutes of an ever changing view of this dynamic city.

Opening Times

■ September to May 10:00 am—8:00 pm daily

■ June 10:00 am—9:00 pm daily

■ July 10:00 am—9:30 pm daily

■ August 10:00 am—8:30 pm daily

■ Not open on Christmas Day or during maintenance period.

Ticket Prices

Adult: January to March £15.00     April to December £15.50

Child (5-15 years): January to March £7.50   April to December £7.75

Child under 5 years: free

Senior (60 plus): £12.00

Booking line

■ 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Sunday

■ Telephone: 0870 5000 600

6 . Endangered Species (濒危物种) Books for Kids

Will We Miss Them? Endangered Species

Written from the unique view of a 13-year-old author, this book interests children in the lives and challenges of endangered species, helping other young people learn about these animals as the first step toward saving them.

♦Author: Alexandra Wright

♦Publication Date: September, 2011

Almost Gone: The Worlds Rarest Animals

Have you ever seen a wombat or an Eastern barred bandicoot? Probably not. These animals are almost gone from the earth, and they’re not alone. Simple, informative text and cul-paper paintings introduce basic endangered species knowledge to young children.

♦Author: Steve Jenkins

♦Publication Date: January, 2016

A Poetic Journey into the Wild

Take a journey across land and sea to meet 21 endangered and threatened animals. Lovely paintings and poems introduce amazing animals from around the globe and show the dangers they face. The book also lists activities and organizations that provide more detailed information about endangered species protection.

♦Author: Rachel Allen Dillon

♦Publication Date: February, 2019

Eyewitness: Endangered Animals

This DK Eyewitness book is an exploration of endangered animals around the world, including factors that are driving them toward extinction (灭绝) and ways that we can help them survive. Blocks of text and diverse photographs keep readers turning the pages.

♦Author: Ben Hoare

♦Publication Date: August, 2015

7 . It can be hard to keep kids busy sometimes, especially when school is out. Whether your kid is in pre-school or high school, there are fun, educational, and even some free apps on this list for them.

ABCmouse. com

ABCmouse.com is available both as an app and a website. It uses fun storyline-based videos, quizzes, and activities—there’s even a virtual map outlining your child’s learning path to keep kids engaged.

Ages:4-8

Cost:One-month free trial, then $ 10/month subscription (订阅).

EPIC!

Epic! is an app for kids with an e-book library that contains over 35,000 children’s books. This app is a perfect way to take reading wherever your device goes, and it’s great for families with kids of various ages.

Ages: 2-12

Cost: one—month free trial, then $ 8/month.

QUIDK MATH

Kids know that math can be boring, but this app transforms numbers into something more creative and interactive (互动的). Quick Math Jr. is an app for kids with 12 different math games that feature fundamental math skills and concepts.

Ages: 4-8

Cost: free

BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week

For 20 years, BrainPOP has been providing kids all over the world with in-depth, yet easy to understand educational videos on everything ranging from Mozart to food allergies. BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week is an app that helps younger kids get these videos, plus short quizzes on them.

Ages :6-9

Cost: free, optional subscription(订阅)is $6.99/month

8 . Looking for educational and inspiring books for your children? You cannot miss these tales of surviving in the wild.

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

A tale of a joyful childhood summer spent sailing in the Lake District of England, this novel is based on Ransome’s own family. Two groups of children each have their own sailboat, and spend the summer defending against an imagined enemy, camping, fishing, and exploring, while trying to catch their enemy’s boat.

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

Inspired by Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, Wyss decided to write a story about how a Swiss family survived a ship accident and made a new way of life on an unexplored island in the East Indies so that his four sons could learn about basic family values, the use of the natural world and self-reliance. Morals aside, it’s a great thrilling story.

A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-porter

Poor, unpopular Elnora Comstock grows up in the dangerous but beautiful wetlands of northern Indiana, building an unusual life. She loves wildlife more than anything. The book was written as a protest against logging (伐木), drilling for oil (钻井油) and drying up rivers for agriculture that were taking place in the Limberlost Swamp.

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

The main character, Karana, is a woman left on what’s now called La Isla de San Nicolas,   just off the coast of California. She struggles in the strange conditions, experiences natural disasters and lives alone on the lonely island. Her story is inspired by that of a real woman who spent 18 years alone on the island.

9 . Los Angeles Public Schools take three weeks off during the Holidays, leaving working parents in need of camps for their kids. Here's a list of terrific Winter Camps in Los Angeles to choose from.

Act One Theatre Camp

A new online camp which brings the exciting world of theatre straight to your living room! Join us for a dynamic and interactive theatre experience where our campers get the opportunity to enjoy the fun, creativity and laughter of the theatre world. Each and every day they'll participate in acting, singing, dancing, movie-making, and stage design. All of it lead up to a professionally produced Big Show for the whole family to watch online! From the shy wallflower to the class clown: All levels of experience welcomed!

Available Dates: Dec 21 -23 and Dec 28-30

Atwater Photo Camp

In addition to Photo Camp this Fall/Winter, A PC is offering online Editing Camp. Learning how to edit with Lightroom & Photoshop will not only take your images to the next level, but it will also vastly improve the way you shoot. Join us!

Available Dates: Dec 28-31 and Jan 5-8 for both Photo Camp and Editing Camp

Camp Wildfolk

Join us in-person for “Wide-Open Spaces" Winter Camp in a beautiful outdoor setting in Valley Village. We're outdoors, masked-up, spaced-out, and all ready to make some wonderful memories for our kids. Games, Science, Nature Exploration, Robotics, Art, and more. 1 st-5th grade. Very few spaces remaining!

Available Dates: Dec 21-24 and Jan 4-8

Sender One LAX

Looking for something fun and health-conscious to do for your child this season? Sign-up for our 3-day rock climbing camp! Activities include rope climbing, games, zip line, king swing, and Sender City. Space is limited, so register early! Morning and afternoon sessions available.

Available Dates: Dec 21-23 and Dec 28-30

10 . Of all the American blockbusters, some popular movies are rolled out for the teenagers. With the preparation of popcorns, you can choose one of them for your teen to watch with you or their friends.

1. Dead Poets Society

An English teacher, called Mr. Keating, guides his students, who hope to be lawyers and doctors, to poetry and free-thinking. With each student coping with some issues, he urged them to set up Dead Poets Society for reading and writing poems.

2. The Hunger Games

Based on a book by Suzanne Collins, the story set in Panem, a destroyed country in North America. Each year, boys and girls, coming from 12 districts of Panem, take part in Hunger Games. Broadcast alive, this competition is exciting because all the participants play the games against death.

3. The Breakfast Club

It begins with five students at the Shermer High School, Claire, a princess, John, a criminal, Andrew, an athlete, Brian, a bookworm and Allison, an unfortunate person, who are forced to spend 9 hours together on a Saturday. In spite of their differences, they find that their social problems are more similar than they think.

4. Eighth Grade

Kayla is a shy, socially anxious girl trying to get by the last few weeks of middle school. She earns the “most quiet” girl title in school, but at home, she posts online self-help and motivational videos that not many people watch. Kayla is raised by her single father Mark, who tries to disconnect Kayla from the social media.