Staying at home is not a guarantee for boredom. In fact, there are so many ways your family can make the time at home feel like you’re on an adventure of a lifetime, not unlike Buck in Disney’s adaptation of The Call Of The Wild. Adapted from the Jack London’s beloved literary classic, The Call Of The Wild brings to life the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog, and the man (Harrison Ford) he must learn to trust. While exploring the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon, Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime and finds his true place in the world.
Your family may not be able to journey to the Alaskan wilderness for discovery and adventure, but there are tons of things you can do at home to have fun, strengthen friendship and family bonds, and find inner strength just like Buck did. Here are 10 ways to have an epic adventure at home, without leaving the house.
1. Have a The Call Of The Wild movie night. Get out the blankets, make some hot cocoa and pop some popcorn old-school style on the stove. Then settle in for an adventure with Buck. The movie is now available on digital platforms including Amazon and iTunes.
2. Play hide and seek with your dog. Tell your pup to stay, hide in another room and have them find you. Inside time is a great way to bond with your best friend and they’ll love all the time you give them. No pup? Try staging this with a favorite stuffed animal.
3. Bake bread from scratch. Find a family-friendly recipe and get everyone in the kitchen to mix, knead and bake. Enhance those wilderness survival skills by baking one of the essential foods without leaving the house and purchasing it at the store.
4. Learn how to read a map. Paper maps still exist and GPS is not always reliable when you’re out adventuring in the wild. Teach your kiddos how to navigate using a map so they’ll always know how to find their way.
5. Go star-gazing in your backyard. Learn the names of the planets, constellations, stars and the moon. Find the North Star and learn about its ability to help you survive when you’re lost, and read about the phases of the moon and identify where it is each night.
6. Host an indoor treasure hunt. Work as a family to hide various items around your house. Make a list of those items and then have every member go on the hunt. If you have a big family, create teams and appoint a leader.
7. Build a fort. Grab some sheets, chair and pillows and start building an epic indoor fort. Don’t forget flashlights and books for your indoor fort adventures.
8. Explore a National Park via Google Maps. Did you know that 62 National Parks are all available on Google Maps for you to tour on your electronic device? Check out the gigantic trees in Redwood National Forest. Go for a virtual hike in Zion National Park. Or check out the glaciers in Alaska’s Denali National Park.
9. Learn how to sew. You don’t need a sewing machine to create. Using a needle, thread and some material, you can teach your kiddos how to do simple things like sew a button or stitch a simple pillow together.
10. Make a family time capsule. Use your indoor time to teach your kids about a family time capsule and create one for your family. Chances are, you have all the supplies right inside your house. Ask each family member to write or draw a memory and include something in the capsule to save. Then decide when in the future your family will open the capsule.
Staying indoors is a great way to bond and discover new ways to adventure. Don’t forget to go on a journey of a lifetime with Buck as he navigates through the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon. Get it now on digital!
—Leah R. Singer
