By Anita Grace
March break is around the corner and families are making plansfor a week with no school. If you’re still not sure how to fill thetime, here are some suggestions for local activities and camps.
Most schools in Ontario are closed from March 16 to 20 this year, while schools across the river in Quebec will be closed March 2 to 6.
The Kenny family in Westboro is excited about a week of winter activities. With four kids between the ages of 7 and 5 months,mom Meghan Kenny said, “every outing is an event.” They plan to hit up the Experimental Farm and do other activities close to home.
“We’re still working around nap schedule,” she said, as she swayed back and forth trying to settle her youngest to sleep in his carrier.
Outdoor local activities could include a visit to the sledding hills at Westboro Kiwanis Park or Carlington Park behind the Dulude Arena. Mud Lake has accessible nature trails for walking or snowshoeing. And the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail and Brittania Winter Trail provide groomed surfaces for skiing, fat biking, and walking.
Families may also want to take advantage of the Three-Day Ottawa Museums Pass, which for $30 gives access to nine national museums and galleries (Agriculture and Food Museum, Aviation and Space Museum, Science and Technology Museum, Museum of History, Museum of Nature, War Museum, the Diefenbunker, National Gallery, and Royal Canadian Mint).
Camps
For families juggling demands of jobs and parenting, being away from work for a week is not always an option.
Lacing up his skates in Westboro’s Lions’ Park, Mic Masek said he can’t take a week off work. So he looked for camps where he can drop the kids off every day. This year, his 4- and 6-year-old will be learning Jui-Jitsu during a week-long camp at Zen Mixed Martial Arts on Colonnade Avenue. Masek practices Jui-Jitsu himself and sees it as a great way “learn how to use your body.”
Within the Kitchissipi Ward, Dovercourt has week-long March Break camps for ages 4 and up. With options like ‘Baking: Chocolate Lovers Paradise’ and ‘Circus Performers’, theircamps are always popular and can fill up quickly, though some spots were still available when we went to press.
The City of Ottawa runs Camp Ottawa Adventure at the Hintonburg Community Centre (ages 6 to 13). Register through the City of Ottawa’s recreation registration site.
For kids who want to explore their artistic side, Evergreen Art Studio near Hampton Park in Westboro offers a March Break Felting Camp for ages 7 and up. In a small-group setting, kids will have a chance to explore wool and use felting to create spring animals, fairy houses, cozy nests and spring flowers, while also having time for outdoor play.
Westboro mom Leah Williams said her daughter Munroe has previously participated in Evergreen camps. She had high praise for studio owner and artist Susie Shapiro, noting that the studio has a great set up. “My kid loved it.”
For active kids, the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre has a camp for kids ages 4 to 12, with gymnastics, trampoline, crafts and active play on tap.
Day trips and mini vacations
March break can also be a great time for day trips and mini vacations. There are several sugar bushes in the Ottawa regionwhich offer horse drawn sleigh rides, pancake breakfasts and, of course, maple taffy on snow.
Williams said she usually signs Munroe up for week-long camps, but this year for the first time she and her husband are taking the week off work and the family is going on a trip to Quebec City. They are looking forward to exploring winter activities there.
Sometimes it’s also nice to stay at home and keep things simple. Mom of four, Meghan Kenny said there will be cousin time and a couple of sleepovers. “We’re in the low-key stage,” she said.