Our world has dramatically shifted because of the coronavirus pandemic. As we all do our best to adjust, Turtle Bay Exploration Park has suspended regular hours to the public while still providing care and protection for our exhibits, animals and gardens.
At this time, we believe it’s vitally important to strengthen our connections to one another and to build new ways to bridge the social distancing this moment requires. While our doors are closed, please enjoy Turtle Bay TV, safely buy plants from our Nursery, and tune in to our social channels. We are still working to be a resource for you.
Many of us are home and exploring all the internet has to offer in the way of education for our kids as well as compelling programs and practices to entertain us and sustain us through the stay-at-home order. Searching for options can be overwhelming, so we’ve put together a staff-curated list of links for you to explore and come back to. Whether you’re looking for educational links, are looking for ways to boost your immunity or want to learn how to meditate, we’ve got something for all ages. Let us know if there are other resources you’ve found that we should consider including.
We will continue to update this website, so visit frequently for new ideas!
Education, Edutainment & Entertainment
Resources for Families with Children
LUCI Creative - Future Exhibit Designers: 5 Fun At-Home Make-a-Museum Activities for Kids
25 Activities for little ones stuck indoors - Social studies, Art, Math, Games and Family Connection resources!
COVID19 Camp: Education and Entertainment for Kids - A huge list of categorized educational and entertainment links to peruse here
At-Home learning with PBS - Includes Storyline Online: Books read by Screen Actors Guild artists, Disney & the Khan Academy’s “Imagineering in a Box”, and so much more
Virtual Teaching/Learning - You’ll find a whole drove of virtual learning resources here, including daily agenda guides to virtual field trips, videos, documents, and more
And this one has Math choice boards for all elementary grade levels
Health & Wellness
Podcasts
BeingWell – Best tips and practices for being well with Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson. Download the FREE app and listen at your leisure.
Irresistable – (Formerly known as Healing Justice) Podcast: more than resistance, Irresistable is building movements for justice that are expansive, vibrant, and fully alive. Download the FREE app and listen at your leisure.
Free Meditation Resources for Healthcare Professionals
Headspace [currently free for healthcare professionals with NPI#]
Ten Percent Happier App [currently free for healthcare professionals]
To claim your complimentary subscription, you’ll redeem the gift code HEALTHCARE on their website. Then log into the mobile app on your Apple or Android device using the same Ten Percent Happier account and all the subscription contents of the app will be unlocked.
Or just go to their Coronavirus Sanity Guide to access relevant free content/resources without creating an account.
Meditation and Calming Resources
The impact on life as we know it can lead to overwhelm. We are uncertain just how much our world will change, but we know we are living through unprecedented times. The uncertainty of the future can be more easily managed if we are able to calm our systems. There are tools for us to achieve this, and there are FREE resources for children and adults.
Redding Tai Chi - Learn to relax, reduce stress, and improving your balance through simple, easy-to-do Tai Chi movements. Free introductory lessons in Tai Chi.
Children’s TTT Tapping Song – Created at Redding School of the Arts in collaboration with Dr. Kristin Miller, Trauma Therapist with an original song written and performed by RSA Musical Director, Tom Burkett. This technique uses simple body movements to calm the “flipped lid” of children and adults! Sing along with RSA students and learn to tap out stress!
Resources for Resilience – FREE Self-help techniques to help with anxiety, fear, exhaustion and more.
Ten Percent Happier – Coronavirus Sanity Guide – access FREE content and resources without creating an account
Calm.com [currently offering free resources]
Holden Qigong - Claim your FREE Immunity-boosting QiGong Video classes you can do in your own living room
Insight Timer Meditation App – Download the app for over 40,000 FREE meditations for sleep, anxiety and stress
Stop Breathe & Think App - Help kids discover their superpowers of quiet, focus and peaceful sleep with this easy-to-use app! Try Alexa skills on your Amazon Echo or Dot!
UF Psychiatry Mindful Relaxation Minutes Archive – Mindful Relaxation Minutes (actually 30ish minutes)
Meditation for Calmness in Uncertain Times (6 min) - Podcast
UF Mindfulness Resource Links – Meditations, podcasts, readings and mindfulness groups
Healthy Minds App [currently available free]
2-Minute COVID-19 “Resilience Reset” (Daily guided meditation and tip from resilience science)
Andrew Weill Center for Integrative Medicine COVID-19 Resources – Videos, podcasts and practices
Brief Guided Relaxation/Meditation Options Facilitated by UF faculty