Will we be sending our kids back to school in the fall? If so how? And if not, how? The many school districts of Los Angeles have been sharing their plans with anxious families in a series of announcements, proposals, and town hall Zoom calls.

One thing seems certain: most school districts are sticking with their previously announced 2020-21 school calendars. That, however, is where the certainty ends.

Principals, teachers, superintendents, school board members, and Governor Newsom have been wrestling with the question of returning to school since before school finished. In recent days, LAUSD and 12 other local school districts in Los Angeles and Orange County have released or updated a plan for returning to school next month. On July 17, the governer of California weighed in emphatically, establishing strict guidelines for a county's schools to reopen for in-person learning.

Read on for state and county guidelines as well as local school district plans for beginning the 2020-21 school year.

One of the main reasons we're willing to deal with the challenges of raising kids in NYC (the crazy rent, the stressful school searches, the closets for apartments) is our easy access to enriching cultural activities like world-class theater and spectacular museums. But, when it's time for some good old-fashioned outdoor fun, New York City can be equally enriching. The city offers a range of bucolic parks and outdoor destinations where kids can get busy playing outside, all without leaving the five boroughs.

From fishing to hiking to exploring off-the-beaten-path parks, here are 25 outdoor activities for the whole family. Some are FREE, most are accessible by public transportation, and we guarantee that they're all tons of fun.

Bring your little animal lover to meet the animals at Philly zoos and nearby animal farms. Kids will thrill to get one-on-one time with animals whether by seeing them, feeding them, or even petting them.

The zoos near Philadelphia, including the popular Philadelphia Zoo, have all reopened but with new coronavirus-related restrictions in place. Some Philly petting zoos have kept animals on display but removed feeding opportunities. Read on to find out what has reopened near you, but be sure to check individual websites for the latest info before heading out the door.

Camping is a great way to explore and enjoy nature with kids, especially in a summer when families want to maximize time outdoors. But when everyone returns to the campsite from the day's adventures, camping games can help keep children entertained (no screens needed!). Here are 17 camping activities for kids to play with parents or with one another, whether they're sheltering from the rain or settling in by the campfire for the evening.

For more old-fashioned games to pass the time, introduce kids to these outdoor games from the 70s and 80s.

We have the best recipe for how to make homemade ice cream in a plastic bag, or a mason jar if you want to be a little extra. You don’t need a fancy ice cream machine to make delicious homemade ice cream! And it's so easy, that kids shouting "I'm Bored" from the rooftops can make this themselves. We also have 100 other ideas of things to do when kids are bored!

These two homemade ice cream recipes take just 5 to 10 minutes and in just a few steps. Making homemade ice cream is one of the coolest science experiments for kids, and the perfect anytime activity, but especially fun during the summer.

With NYC slowly reopening, families are stepping out to explore favorite playgrounds, and now Brooklyn Bridge Park offers a brand new place to play. Three acres of parkland debuted last week with the opening of the Pier 2 Uplands.

The Uplands include a brand new sprayground, adding to Brooklyn Bridge Park's already spectacular playground scene and are a worthy addition to our summer staycation bucket list.