Spring break.
Whether those two words fill your heart with glee or with dread probably depends very much on whether you’re a student, a teacher or a parent.
If you fall into the latter category and you’re already pulling your hair out at the thought of how to keep the small humans occupied for spring break, never fear: We’ve rounded up a bunch of camps and programs in Burnaby, covering everything from arts to history to soccer and hockey. Whatever your child’s interest, you’re bound to find something to fill the bill.
Here are 10 ideas to get you started:
4CATS ART STUDIO
The popular art studio in North Burnaby is offering Choose Your Own Adventure Camps that give young participants a chance to create projects from a variety of mediums. Camps are offered for ages five to eight and eight to 12, with three-, four- and five-day options.
See www.4catsburnaby.com, email [email protected] or call 604-299-2797.
ARTSPACE CHILDREN’S ART CENTRE
The children’s art centre in the Heights is offering half- and full-day camps. Week 1 (March 13 to 17) features Drama Adventures and Art Exploration, while Week 2 (March 20 to 24) features Musical Theatre and Painting and Drawing.
Register at artspaceforchildren.com or call 778-989-9051.
BURNABY ART GALLERY
Get your young artists into the gallery for hands-on Spring Art Days, featuring painting, drawing, sculpture and storytelling with pictures. There are sessions for four- to six-year-olds and six- to nine-year-olds, with week-long programs offered March 13 to 17 and March 20 to 24.
See www.burnabyartgallery.ca, call 604-297-4422, or sign up at www.burnaby.ca/webreg.
SHADBOLT CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
Burnaby’s arts centre on Deer Lake once again offers a host of spring break ideas for kids, from age four on up to 18. Among this year’s offerings are the full-day Shadbolt Arts Jam and Shadbolt Circus Camp. There are also partial-day courses in creative writing, drama and dance for various ages.
Check out www.shadboltcentre.com for all the details.
BURNABY VILLAGE MUSEUM
Once again, the Burnaby Village Museum is returning with its Spring Break Heritage Adventure Camp, always a favourite for the six- to nine-year-old crowd. In the 1920s setting, kids play heritage games, try out heritage toys, decorate cookies, do arts and crafts, listen to stories and more.
See www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca or call 604-297-4565.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Once again, SFU’s Burnaby Mountain campus is offering a variety of camps for kids of all ages. This year’s offerings include Clan Junior, golf camps (in partnership with Eaglequest), Leadership Camps, Out Trippers and Soccer Camps.
Check out www.sfu.ca/camps for all the details.
BURNABY PARKS AND RECREATION
The City of Burnaby’s parks, recreation and cultural department is once again returning with a host of camp and program offerings for kids of all ages. There’s Kindergarten Club, Babysitter’s Basics, Byte Camp: Intro to Coding, Camp Madawaska, Spring Break Spectacular and more. There are day-long and week-long options, and families can find offerings at pretty much all of the city’s rec centres.
To find out what’s available, pick up a current Leisure Guide at any city facility, download one from www.burnaby.ca or follow the links at www.tinyurl.com/BurnabyPRCamps.
CLIFF AVENUE UNITED FC SPRING BREAK CAMP
Cliff Avenue United FC returns with its third annual spring break soccer camp at Burnaby Lake West. The camp is instructed by professional coaches, with a curriculum designed by Cliff Avenue’s assistant technical director, Kevin Julian. It offers sports for U8 to U12 boys and girls, with Week 1 running March 13 to 17 and Week 2 running March 20 to 24.
It’s $275 per week, and registration is limited, so sign up at www.cliffavenuesoccer.com as soon as possible.
CANLAN ICE SPORTS
Canlan Ice Sports offers a number of hockey camps at Burnaby 8 Rinks, including Skating, Shooting and Scoring; Hockey Tips for Tots Camp; Powerskating and Hockey Skills; Puckhandling/Stickhandling and much more. Camps are available for kids as young as four, and prices vary depending on which camp you choose. Meal plans are also offered.
Off the ice, kids can also sign up for Extreme Ball Sports Camp or Olympic Spirit Week.
Camps are available from March 13 to 17 and March 20 to 24. Check it all out at www.icesports.com.
ROMAN TULIS SOCCER CAMP
The Roman Tulis European Soccer School of Excellence is once again offering its spring break soccer camp for all levels of players, focusing on skill development and new techniques. It runs March 20 to 23 at Fortius Sport and Health, 3677 Kensington Ave., from 5 to 8 p.m. each day. See www.romantulis.com.
Do you know of any other spring break camps, programs or activities around Burnaby? Send ideas to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
