Summer Travel & Outdoor Fun with Apps
Whether you are traveling out of town this summer or planning a staycation, encourage the kids to take an active part in the planning process. In doing so, they will feel a sense of ownership and likely enjoy doing the activities they planned. Not to mention the added benefits of developing life skills and killing summer boredom.
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SkyView® Free – Explore the Universe
App Review:
Stargazing is a great free summer activity that kids can do while camping or in your own backyard. SkyView® Free – Explore the Universe is an astronomy app that turns mobile devices into a virtual telescope. It uses your location to overlay your view of the sky onto your camera view. Skyview locates planets, stars, constellations, and a few of the brightest satellites that orbit the earth. This highly engaging app makes starwatching interactive and educational. Additional features include night mode and an augmented reality view of the universe. End a day of summer fun with s’mores and stargazing with loved ones.
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Price: FREE
Learn More: Features & Benefits
Read Full BridgingApps Review [5]
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Waze Social GPS, Maps & Traffic
App Review:
Children and teens can use Waze Social GPS, Maps & Traffic, a community-based traffic and navigation app, this summer to help plan trip routes, learn about nearby landmarks and use one of the neat features that allows them to preview what they will see when they get to the destination. And, while you are driving, kids can assist navigation. They follow the route, let you know what is coming up, and report hazards or traffic conditions. As you travel, other Wazers in the area are sharing real-time traffic and road information, saving time and gas.
Price: FREE
Learn More: Features & Benefits
Read Full BridgingApps Review [9]
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Geocaching
App Review:
Enjoy a modern-day treasure hunt in your area or while traveling this summer with the Geocaching app. The app is everything you need for all your geocaching adventures. Geocaching [11] is the recreational activity of hunting for and finding hidden objects by means of GPS coordinates. A geocache consists of a small, waterproof container that holds a logbook and inexpensive trinkets. When you locate the container, you sign the logbook and if you decide to take a trinket, you leave one in its place. Geocaching is fun and encourages young people to get out of the house and explore the world while using technology.
Price: FREE
Learn More: Features & Benefits
Available for: iOS [12]
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Swackett
App Review:
Rain or shine, let your children help plan for outdoor activities by checking the weather on their mobile device and dress for a day of summer fun. Swackett is a visual report of the weather forecast, temperature ranges for the next 5 days, and a graphic of a person dressed for the current weather. Users can add their current location as well as additional locations. Kids will be building decision-making skills and independence as they identify the weather and dress for the day.
Price: FREE
Learn More: Features & Benefits
Read Full Review [15]
Cristen Reat is co-founder of BridgingApps and a mother who found success when using a mobile device with her children who have special needs.
Amy Barry is a Content Manager and Editor with BridgingApps and mother of five young children with a passion for mobile technology in education.
More Helpful Apps
- Staying at Home: Tech Tips to Help Throughout Your Day [16]
- Explore and Discover Our World With the Help of These Apps [17]
- Tech Travel Tips for Summer [18]
- Apps for Adventure [19]
- Life-Changing Apps for People with Disabilities [20]
You May Also Like
- Encourage Traveling for All Without Limits [21]
- Traveling Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs [22]
- Traveling with Special Dietary Need [23]
- 10 Things Every Parent of a Special Needs Child Should Have Before Traveling [24]
- Summer Staycation [25]
This post originally appeared on our May/June 2015 Magazine [26]