The school holidays are back again and with a chill in the air, it can be a little harder to find fun activities to keep the kids entertained. In Canberra we are lucky to have a host of free entertainment at the Capital's museums and galleries, which combine hands-on activities with learning at the same time. However if you find your child has shown a particular interest in sports, science, art or music, then perhaps a specialised program could be a fun way to spend the holidays, whilst making new friends with the same interests. Here is just a taste of Canberra's July School Holiday Programs, to cover all these areas and more.
1/ Battle Games
This is one way to warm up this Winter! Source: Battle Games Facebook
Battle Games is a fun, challenging and confidence-building day of mud and mayhem held at the Battle Games property at Symonston. Kids will enjoy making new friends, have a laugh navigating the obstacle course, get muddy, test strength and agility - all the while gaining confidence in their own abilities. The kids will also learn code breaking, compass reading, memory challenges and other practical survival skills. There are four battle games to choose from ranging from Beginner to Special Ops. Cost $85. See here for more details and the Battle Games Facebook to see photos of previous programs.
Check out the You Tube video below to see all the fun.
2/ Rock School Holiday Band Program If your kids love to make music, then the Rock School Holiday Program, also called Jam It, is on again between July 4th - July 8th these school holidays. Held at the CIT Woden Campus, this program is a great opportunity for young musicians to get together and spend their school holidays meeting other musicians with similar musical tastes. Participants attend group workshops to work out their skill level and music preference, then form bands, practice songs and then present a concert for family and friends at CIT Woden. You may even get chosen to play at Floriade later in the year.
It is generally recommended that students have had around two years experience on their instrument (or singing). The cost is $350, plus $25 for membership. See here for more details.
3/ Questacon Holiday Workshops Do your kids enjoy inventing things and science-based experiments? During the school holidays Questacon run school holiday programs at the Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre in Deakin (next to the Royal Australian Mint). Designed for kids 10-15 years, there are half day classes in App Design, Crash Test, Robot Programming, Robot Hack, Can you Lift It? and Rockets on the 4th, 5th and 8th of July. Prices are $55 a workshop for non members. See here for more details.
4/ Kids Pantry Kids Pantry is a cooking school located at Garran that run children's programs all year long, including school holidays. This July there are classes for kids aged between 5 - 13 where they can learn how to cook a host of dishes including Chocolate Mint Cheesecake, Cheesey Vegemite Scrolls, Japanese Miso Soup, Goats Cheese Fritatta and Chocolate Lime Tart. The best part of these cooking classes? Kids can learn how to make delicious dishes and then go home and make them again for the family. Prices start from $45 a class. See here for more details.
Cooking fun last school holidays. Source: Kids Pantry Facebook
5/ Zoocation Zoocation is a school holiday program for kids to go behind the scenes of the National Zoo and Aquarium. Kids get to meet the zoo's animals, play games, make toys for the animals and learn what it takes to be a zookeeper. The kids are grouped into two groups, depending on age and the program is run between 4th - 7th July and 11th - 14th of July. The cost is $80 per child for the day. See here for more details.
6/ Pottery Classes
Canberra Potters Society in Watson will be running pottery classes during the July School holidays. Try your hand at hand building and wheel throwing projects, with all the equipment supplied and expert teachers to show you how. For mums and dads who are interested, they can join the class alongside their kids and learn new skills together. Prices are $154 for 5 days of 1.5 hour classes or $275 for 5 days of 3 hour classes. See here for more details.
Pottery fun for all ages. Source: Canberra Potters Society Facebook
7/ Basketball ACT Holiday Camps If your kids enjoy playing basketball at school or down at the local courts, why not sign them up for a Basketball ACT Holiday camp to hone their skills. The camps are run by Phil Brown, former AIS Women's Program Head Coach and Australian Opals Assistant Coach, and current Head of High Performance and Coaching at Basketball ACT.
Choose between a 3 day camp (for $200) which teaches kids offensive foundation skills including dribbling, passing, shooting and cutting. There is also a 2 day camp (for $130) to learn how to shoot hoops - or you can combine both for $300. See here for more details.
8/ Lavender Art Studios
This Art studio is located in Phillip in Woden, above the Hansel and Gretal Café. These school holidays they will be running drawing and painting workshops for kids aged 5 - 13 to learn new skills and explore different themes in their pictures. Choose between a morning or afternoon 3 hour session, with kids being taught by two art teachers plus an additional supervisor. The cost is $60 a session. See here for more details.
Photos from their previous one day workshops. Source: Lavendar Art Studios website
10/ Canberra Tennis Academy
Each school holidays the Canberra Tennis Academy teaches children aged between 4-16 to play tennis and learn the skills to play a full game. Children are placed into groups with others of similar age and abilities and are taken through a variety of lessons, drills and games. Held in the second week of the holidays, there are classes called Little Smash for kids aged 4-7 ($75) or All Day classes for older kids ($200). See here for more details.
Source: Canberra Tennis Academy website
As the holidays come near, check local advertising for new programs advertised around the city. These programs are the perfect opportunity for kids to learn a new skill, improve on a talent they have and also gain confidence in themselves. Whether your kids enjoy sports, the arts, music or another hobby, there will be something in Canberra for everyone. For other options check the school holiday programs at the AIS, Canberra Yacht Club, Netball ACT and Southern Canberra Gymnastics Club. The Canberra Glassworks, Belconnen Arts Centre, Canberra Archery Club and Warehouse Circus will all post their program details closer to the date.
