I know, I know. You’ve barely recovered from the Christmas holidays and suddenly, there it is, staring you in the face: spring break.
Local parents who are facing the annual scramble to find fun and care for the kids over those two weeks in March need look no farther. We’ve looked around Burnaby and come up with these ideas to help local families keep the kids busy and amused during spring break.
Note that this year’s spring break runs from March 19 to 29 and runs into Easter weekend (Good Friday is March 30, and Easter Monday is April 2). Registration for numerous spring break camps and programs is already underway, so be sure to get started soon.
Here are some ideas to help steer you in the right direction:
SHADBOLT CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
Burnaby’s arts centre on Deer Lake is once again offering a variety of spring break programs for kids. Youngsters can enjoy the full-day Shadbolt Arts Jam, for six- to 10-year-olds, which offers a variety of dance, music, drama and visual arts options in the first week of break, or full-day Shadbolt Circus Camp (for seven- to 12-year-olds), which offers up skills such as unicycling, juggling, acrobatics, aerials, theatre skills and more in the second week.
Kids can also take part in a variety of partial-day courses including drama, dance, writing and more. Check out www.shadboltcentre.com to find the Winter Arts Guide for all the details, or register at www.burnaby.ca/webreg.
4CATS ART STUDIO
This popular arts studio in the Heights (4676 Hastings St.) is once again offering Choose Your Own Adventure Camps for kids aged six to 10. You can choose from a variety of morning and afternoon, two- and three-day options. Kids can choose from a variety of mediums including hand-building with earthenware clay, throwing clay on the wheel, acrylic painting on canvas and paper, watercolour painting, technical and experimental drawing, collage and polymer clay.
Check out www.4cats.com or go directly to www.tinyurl.com/4CatsCamps.
ARTSPACE
Artspace Children’s Art Centre (4588 Hastings St.) offers art exploration camps for school-aged children (ages five-and-a-half to 10) from March 19 to 23 and March 26 to 29. You can choose from a week of half-days or a week of full days, with after-camp care optional. Children experience visual and performing arts classes in the morning, with afternoon outings to local parks. See www.artspaceforchildren.com or call 778-989-9051.
BURNABY ART GALLERY
Burnaby Art Gallery offers Spring Art Days, with sessions for children aged four and five, and separate sessions for kids aged six to nine. Budding artists get an introduction to painting, drawing, sculpture and storytelling. The gallery is at 6344 Deer Lake Ave. Check out www.burnabyartgallery.ca or call 604-297-4422 for information. See www.burnaby.ca/webreg to sign up.
BURNABY VILLAGE MUSEUM
Once again, Burnaby Village is hosting its spring break Heritage Adventure Camp for six- to nine-year-olds. Children can play heritage games, try out toys from the past, decorate spring-themed cookies, listen to stories, and have fun with arts and crafts. Camps run March 19 to 23 and March 26 to 29, with after-camp care available if needed. See www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca for details, or call 604-297-4565.
NIKKEI NATIONAL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTRE
The Nikkei Centre is hosting a Spring Break Manga Camp from March 19 to 23, 9;30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The camp, aimed at kids aged nine to 12, will introduce young artists to this popular genre of illustration in comics – with workshops with local comic artists and cultural activities led by teachers of Japanese arts and crafts. At the end of the week, everyone will take home a comic booklet of their own manga. See centre.nikkeiplace.org or call 604-777-7000, ext. 110.
BURNABY PARKS AND RECREATION
The City of Burnaby’s parks, recreation and culture department is once again offering a host of spring break camps at a variety of city locations. Bonsor Recreation Complex has Kindergarten Club and a new Byte Camp for video game design; Cameron Recreation Complex has spring break camps for six- to nine-year-olds; Charles Rummel Centre has Camp Madawaska for six- to 12-year-olds; Creekside Youth Centre has Camp Madawaska Leadership Camp for 11- to 15-year-olds; and Willingdon offers Babysitter’s Basics, Spring Ventures and Kinder Ventures. Edmonds Community Centre offers a number of different programs, including Exclusively Arts, Spring Break Spectacular and out trips for youth (including bowling and go-karting). Wesburn Community Centre also offers multiple options, including Spring Break Spectacular and Spring Break Youth Zone, with after-camp care options available.
See www.burnaby.ca/webreg to sign up, or see www.tinyurl.com/BurnabySpringBreak2018 for details.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Once again, SFU is back with an array of spring break camp options for all ages (from as young as four to as old as 18). The youngsters in your house can enjoy golf, soccer or volleyball camps, take part in out trips or sign up for Leadership Camp – all with post-camp care options available.
See www.sfu.ca/camps for all the details and registration information.
CANLAN ICE SPORTS BURNABY 8 RINKS
Burnaby 8 Rinks offers both on-ice and off-ice options for the kids in your household. Hockey-related camps include skills-specific offerings (Skating, Shooting and Scoring; Body Contact and Checking; Powerskating and Hockey Skills; Puckhandling and more) as well as a Hockey Tips for Tots camp for skaters aged four to six. Off the ice, kids can take part in an Extreme Ball Sports Camp or an Olympic Spirit Week. Check out www.icesports.com/Burnaby8Rinks (under Programs) for all the details.
Burnaby 8 Rinks is at 6501 Sprott St.
ROMAN TULIS EUROPEAN SOCCER SCHOOL
Once again, the soccer school is offering spring break soccer camps in both the first and second week of spring break. The camps, at Fortius Sport and Health (3677 Kensington Ave.) give local kids a chance to work on all aspects of their soccer game. Check out www.romantulis.ca (see the link under Soccer Camps).
Do you know of another spring break program or camp we should mention? Send your ideas to Julie, [email protected].
