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Unique Activities For Youth in Salt Lake

Posted on February 26, 2024   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Terina Ria

Terina Ria

A red-headed young girl learns stop animation with legos.

A workshop at the Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids. (@utahfilmcenter/Instagram)

Are you looking for unique ways to get your kids out of the house? Whether they’re into birds or animation, here are a few fun programs.

Wild Explorers

Utah State University’s Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter in Park City has an afterschool program called Wild Explorers for kids in K-5th grade. Each session is $60, and financial aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will spend one day a week (for a three-week session) at Swaner from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Snacks are included. Be sure to register early! Here are the remaining programs for the year:

March: Bird Nerds

April: Budding Botanists

May: Eggs to Legs

New Roots Youth Agriculture Program

The International Rescue Committee’s New Roots program has an initiative called YALL (youth, agriculture, livestock, & leadership) for refugee and new American youth, grades 8-12, or recent high school graduates. Participants will learn about food justice, farming, and leadership skills.

The program runs various dates in the spring, summer, and fall at the New Roots Redwood Farm or the Sunnyvale Farmers Market. Those who participate in the full program will receive a $450 stipend. Free UTA passes are available on request. Applications are due March 8 for youth and Feb. 29 for peer leaders.

Tumbleweeds Film Festival Workshops

Does your kid have an interest in filmmaking? The Tumbleweeds Film Festival For Kids is happening April 19-20 with film screenings, activities, and workshops. The workshops include everything from special effects makeup to stop-motion animation.

Most workshops will be held at the Viridian Events Center in West Jordan and cost $25, although a few are free. Tumbleweeds also offers a Spanish-speaking workshop on moviemaking at home. Registration is open now!

Do you have any more recs for kids?

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