By Shane Flug
Extended recess – or a chance to keep learning? Maybe Spring Break can be both. However your young ones will spend March 23 to April 2 (March 25 to April 2 for Catholic schools), there are day camps and year-round activities aplenty in Calgary. [Photo credit: Telus SPARK]
If you’re conscious about your budding artist’s screen time, put it to more creative use during Quickdraw Animation Society’s new Spring Break Animation Camp for Kids (March 27 to 31, ages eight to 14). For $320 (members) or $350 (non-members), young creatives will explore the animation process through easy-to-use software, drawings, cutouts and plasticine, bringing their cartoon short to life on-screen.
STEM (science, tech, engineering and math) knowledge is argued to be a future workforce treasure, so why not begin your young builder’s path with the a child's most famous building block? Brickineers’ Lego Robotics spring camp (March 27 to 31, grades 1 to 6, $165) at Bridgeland Riverside Community Association will focus on a mining theme where campers will build an excavation operated by remote control or computer.
From launch rockets and cardboard cities to animal poop, TELUS Spark’s spring camps range from the worlds of light and colour, the science of everyday kitchen items, projectiles and, of course, our yucky – and sometimes hilarious – bodily functions. The $275 weeklong camps (March 27 to 31) include gallery tours, outdoor adventures, live science demonstrations, Dome Theatre show admission and hands-on activities that unapologetically get a bit messy (but no launching snot rockets).
This 55,000 square-foot playground isn’t just for the big kids. InjaNation Fun & Fitness spring camps (March 27 to 31, $325, or $225 for three days) welcome little warriors as young as five. The camps aren’t just fun and games on their American Ninja Warrior and military obstacle courses, climbing walls and trampoline park – instructors also teach fitness skills including nutrition, basic anatomy and teamwork.
Money tight this Spring Break? No problem! Keep the kids moving on the cheap at our city’s many fine recreational centres such as nearby YMCA, Southland and Village Square Leisure Centres or at the Trico Centre For Family Wellness. Monthly memberships for youth and children range from $15 to $35 each per month for all locations. Get the kids to whack a birdie on the badminton court or unleash their inner Tarzan at the wave pool rope swings.
From insects to plants, birds to wetlands, the City of Calgary’s spring nature camps at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Ralph Klein Park offer a week-long adventure filled with explorations, games, stories and arts & crafts. The camps are priced at $115 for ages four to five and $225 for ages six to nine and are scheduled March 27 to 31.
There’s still powder to enjoy at WinSport, so they’ll be offering Spring ski and snowboard camps throughout March. Whether learning to stay balanced to wanting to get some brief hang time on small jumps, there’s something for all skill levels. The camp is open to kids aged six to 12 and is priced at $160 per day with lunch and a lift ticket.
March came in like a lion for Calgary this year. With the long-term trend predicting chances of a few more flakes falling before Spring Break starts, it could be a good chance to take those plastic sleds to popular hills like St. Andrew’s Heights or Confederation Park for some tobogganing before they go out like a lamb… back into your garage.
Whether to enjoy some last-chance winter fun or set off on a camp adventure, there are many options in Calgary to keep your kids' bodies and minds active this Spring Break. After all, school’s not the only setting where you can ask them, “What did you learn today?” at the dinner table.
