Providers: Help Spread the Word About Camp!
“Once Upon a Time” from Camp Sparkler
- What: Camp Sparkler is a FREE virtual summer camp for families with children from birth through 5 years old! Everything is in English, Spanish & Chinese.
- When: Camp Sparkler will run for eight weeks, starting July 3, 2023.
- Once Upon a Time: Listen to a weekly folktale told by a storyteller from the culture where the story originated.
- Play: Play to learn with weekly learning activities for parents/caregivers and children to play together, inspired by the story of the week.
Share to Spark Summer Play and Learning!
- Media Kit: Please use the “media kit” below to spread the word and let families know about Camp Sparkler!
- Hashtags: #CampSparkler #OnceUponATime
- Tags: @playsparkler on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter;
Materials Providers Can Print and Share
8.5×11 Double-sided flier about Camp Sparkler, which you can share with families.
Double-sided palm card (which is a postcard that you don’t mail!) about Camp Sparkler, which you can print and share with families.
The Stories
Each week of camp, there will be (1) a story and (2) associated play activities. Families can access all the content via the app.
The stories will appear in the app for families under “PLAY.” Providers can play the story videos or share story sheets in English, Spanish, or Chinese for read alouds. All the story content will be available here and a weekly podcast version will be available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen..
Kit of Social Media Posts for Providers to Share With Families About Camp
Please share the following posts on social media, in newsletters, or in other communications with families! Hashtags: #CampSparkler #OnceUponATime / Tags: @playsparkler on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Anytime This Summer!
Spark learning this summer with #OnceUponATime at #CampSparkler! Families can explore stories from around the world and play along with their children from birth through 5 years old. It’s FREE and virtual via the @playsparkler mobile app. Camp starts July 3 and runs for 8 weeks in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Learn more about Camp and the badges and prizes your family can earn for participating: www.PlaySparkler.org/CampSparkler23.
Week 1, July 3-9: The First Fire, a Cherokee story (North America)
It’s the first week of #OnceUponATime at #CampSparkler! Listen to “The First Fire,” a Cherokee story told by Cherokee actor and storyteller Kholan Studie, and play along in Sparkler’s app to learn and grow together. All families using the @playsparkler mobile app with children from birth through age 5 are eligible to participate. To win badges and prizes, press “We Did It” and share a photo on the play card. Learn more: www.PlaySparkler.org/CampSparkler23.
Week 2, July 10-16: The Two Frogs Who Hop Between Osaka and Kyoto, a Japanese story (Asia)
Week 3, July 17-23: How the Beetle Got Her Gorgeous Coat, a Brazilian story (South America)
Do you know how to say “Once upon a time” in Portuguese? This week at Camp Sparkler, Brazilian storyteller Mary Fê will help you learn how as she tells the story of “How the Beetle got Her Gorgeous Coat.” Log onto your @PlaySparkler app to hear the story and play along! The more you play, the greater your chances of earning badges and prizes – just tap “We Did It” in the play card and upload a photo of your fun times! #campsparkler #onceuponatime
Week 4, July 24-30: The Enormous Turnip, a Russian story (Europe)
Get ready to pull…and tug…and work together! This week at Camp Sparkler, Russian-born teaching theater artist Alla Ilyasova and her puppet friend Vanya are telling a Russian story called “The Enormous Turnip.” Open your @PlaySparkler app to join Alla and Vanya, and then play along with your child to explore ideas from the story! To earn badges and prizes, you must press “We Did It” and submit a photo on the play card! #onceuponatime #campsparkler
Week 5, July 31-Aug 6: The Empty Pot, a Chinese story (Asia)
Once Upon A Time in China, people told a story called “The Empty Pot.” This week at #onceuponatime at Camp Sparkler, Chinese-American mom Winnie Cheung shares her version of the story! Log into your @PlaySparkler app to hear the story and explore some nature activities with your child. Let’s learn and play together! Win badges and prizes by pressing “We Did It” on the play cards and submitting a photo of your activity! #campsparkler
Week 6, Aug 7-13: Why the Cheetah’s Cheeks are Stained with Tears, a Zulu story (Africa)
This week at Camp Sparkler, travel to South Africa to hear the traditional Zulu story, “Why the Cheetah’s Cheeks are Stained with Tears,” then play and learn together with your child right in the @PlaySparkler app. The more you play, the greater your chances of earning badges and prizes. Just tap “We Did It” in the play card and upload a photo of your fun times! #OnceUponaTime #CampSparkler
Week 7, Aug 14-20: In The Beginning, a Filipino Creation Story
Week 8, Aug 21-27: Now it’s YOUR turn! Let’s tell stories! (Global)
Camp Sparkler is wrapping up this week, but there is one more story to tell: YOURS! We’ll think about oral storytelling and tell stories together one more time. It’s also your last chance to earn badges and prizes just by playing with your child! Just tap “We Did It” in the play card and upload a photo of your fun times! #onceuponatime #campsparkler
Camp Info for Families
Website for Families: If you have families in your program who want to learn more about Once Upon a Time from Camp Sparkler, please direct them to playsparkler.org/campsparkler23.
Questions: Support@playsparkler.org