From virtual basketball training to digital museum field trips, here are 10 activities to do from April 13-19, as well as ongoing ones to explore.
April 14, 17
Perfect your free throw
Put the finishing touches on your dribbling and rebound skills with Round Rock’s virtual basketball training series, hosted each Tuesday and Friday on the Round Rock Sports Center’s Facebook page. Free. Ages 7-15. 6 p.m. www.facebook.com/roundrocksportscenter
April 14
Dive into Texas history
Texas History Tuesday, anyone? Learn more about the cowboy era of Texas history with the Bob Bullock Museum’s weekly presentations, led by a museum educator over Zoom. April 14’s lesson is a deep dive into the cattle drive era, running from 1866-90. A Q&A session will follow the presentation. Free. Livestreams held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. www.thestoryoftexas.com/education/distance-learning
April 14
Zoom through a new book
What better time than during shelter-in-place to catch up on your reading? Join the Round Rock Public Library’s book club for a rehash of M.L. Stedman’s “The Light Between Oceans.” The group discussion is held the second Tuesday of each month and will be held on April 14 via Zoom. Free. 6-7:30 p.m. For information on the Zoom meeting, contact Julie Chapa at 512-218-7014 or [email protected].
April 15, 17
Engage in virtual play
Read, write, sing and play with your toddlers as the Round Rock Public Library hosts its Pre-K Pause and Play program, held on Wednesdays and Fridays each week on the library’s Facebook page. The librarians offer new activities each session for children to explore. Free. 10:30 a.m. www.facebook.com/roundrockpubliclibrary
April 15
Manage your mental health
During stressful times, it is important to keep track of one’s physical, mental and emotional state. From equipment-free workouts to relaxing yoga flows, the Clay Madsen Recreation Center posts weekly fitness videos as part of its Wellness Wednesday series. For an example of past classes, fitness instructor Alejandra guides residents through a relaxing yoga session in this April 1 archived video. Free. www.facebook.com/roundrockparksandrec
April 16
Enjoy a virtual storytime
While the Hutto Public Library may be closed, Thursday storytime classes continue. Parents interested in signing up for preschool storytime can do so through the library’s Facebook page. Alongside reading, the digital storytimes also include songs and fingerplay, STEM and art activities, and learning Spanish words and phrases. Free. 10:30 a.m. www.facebook.com/huttolibrary
Ongoing opportunities
Through April 23
Write an original short story
Children ages 8-12 are encouraged to write and submit an original short story to the Round Rock Public Library's Write On! Tween Short Story Contest. The top stories will be published in a book and housed within the library's local author collection for children. Free. Full details are available at www.roundrocktexas.gov/event/write-on-short-story-contest-ages-8-12.
Through May 4
Cross a marathon off your list
Social distancing is not a sprint, but a marathon—and so is this latest fitness challenge from the Pflugerville Parks and Recreation Department. Lace up your sneakers and set out to complete 26.2 miles on the city’s trail systems before May 4 to win a prize. Participants create an account on www.fitrankings.com, join the “26.2 Mile Virtual Pfitness Challenge” group and sync their tracking device to the website or app once daily to track progress. https://parks.pflugervilletx.gov/parks-facilities/trails/pforty-mile-trail-challenge
Through May 15
Participate in a reading challenge
The Round Rock Express is offering two general admission outfield lawn tickets to the July 5 baseball game to children 12 and under who complete a reading challenge. Want to go above and beyond? Additional prizes will be awarded at the game to readers who reach certain milestones. Free. Full details are available at www.milb.com/round-rock.
Take a bucket list-worthy trip through U.S. national parks
While this year’s spring break may have been less than ideal, gear up for your next trip: a virtual tour through national parks. The 360-degree video from Google offers 113 museum views from around the country, including Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the Statute of Liberty, Redwood National and State parks, and Big Bend National Park, among others. https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service
