– by Doreen Marion Gee –
Please visit respective rec centre websites for further programming and registration information
December 2014:
December 6 to 7: Red Cross Babysitter’s Training Very valuable course for teens to learn the basics of being a qualified babysitter. Red Cross Babysitter Certificate issued upon successful completion; cost includes manual. 14 yrs. Sat & Sun. 9am -1pm. 2/$63. Pearkes Recreation Centre. www.saanich.ca. 250.475.5400.
December 7: ARTrageous – Holiday Ornaments Children will enjoy creating their very own special holiday ornaments to hang on the tree. They will also make awesome gifts for friends, siblings and mom and dad. 6-12 yrs. Sun. 9:30am-11am. $10. Greenglade Community Centre, Room #7. www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250.656.7271.
December 7: Christmas Sea Shirt Sunday Make fashion T-Shirts with ocean-themed prints and ‘fishy’ bags to put them in for great Christmas gifts & wrap. Bring shirt or buy small sizes at the Centre. Ages: child to youth. Sun. 1-3pm. Price: admission. $2 for fabric paint. Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre. www.oceandiscovery.ca. 250.665.7511.
December 13: PJ Party Take the evening off, Mom and Dad, while the kids have a ball with movies, crafts, snacks, games and toys – supervised by experienced leaders. 6-10 yrs. Sat. 6-10pm. $20. Additional siblings only $10. Pearkes Recreation Centre. www.saanich.ca. 250.475.5400.
December 20: Drop-in Rock Climbing Try your climbing skills at The Boulders Climbing Gym, a world-class facility. Certified instructors, safe environment. Registration required one week in advance. 6-11 yrs. Sat. 10-11:30am. $17. The Boulders Climbing Gym. www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250.544.0310.
December 29 to 31: PADI Seal Team – Rockfish Divers Awesome fun for pre-teens: Learn the basics of scuba-diving in exciting underwater adventures. Upon completion, you will earn a PADI Seal Team certification card. 8-14 yrs. Mon/Tues/Wed. 10am-12:45pm. 3/$290. Saanich Commonwealth Place. www.saanich.ca. 250.475.7600.
December 29 to 31: Be an Author Camp Great fun for little writers: Create your very own comic book, picture book or short story. Staff will help kids write their stories and publish them. Draw and design multi-media illustrations. 6-13 yrs. Mon Tues Wed Fri. 9am-noon. 4/$75. Greenglade Community Centre, Room #6. www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250.656.7271.
January 2015:
January 1: New Year’s Double Skate Ring in 2015 with a FREE skate when you bring in a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank. Loads of fun, activities and games for parents, kids and teens. Thurs. 11-3pm. Everyone welcome in Arena A. Parent and Child Soft Puck in Arena B. Panorama Recreation Centre. www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250.656.7271.
January 1 to 4: Winspear Festival of Trees Bring the whole family to see the beautiful display of holiday trees full of shiny glistening ornaments and decorated with love by members of the community. Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun. Free. Mary Winspear Centre. www.marywinspear.ca. 250-656-0275.
January 4: Sea Shirt Sunday Welcome the new year in style with a great wardrobe of ‘fishy’ high-fashion. Make chic T-Shirts with ocean-themed prints. Bring shirt or buy small sizes at the Centre. Ages: child to youth. Sun. 1-3pm. Price: admission. $2 for fabric paint. Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre. www.oceandiscovery.ca. 250.665.7511.
January 10, 17, 24, 31; February 21, 28: UVic Science Venture Weekend Clubs – Winter 2015 Program Children explore science, technology, engineering, math, complete projects and experiments, play games, enjoy lab tours and guest speakers. Venture Boys & Venture Girls in Grades 1-6. 1:30-3pm. 8 sessions/$90.University of Victoria. www.scienceventure.ca. Registration: 250.721.8983. Office: 250.721.8661.
January 22 to March 5: Good morning Rhyme Time Your tiny tots will love stories, movements, songs & rhymes at the library. 0-5 yrs. Drop in. Thursdays. 10:15-11am. Free. Vancouver Island Regional Library, North Saanich Branch. virl.bc.ca. 250.656.0944.
January 23 to 24: Mountain Dream Productions: Kids with Dreams Children, teens & parents will cheer on very talented young performers as they showcase their acting, singing and dancing abilities in this one of a kind production, Kids with Dreams. Fri/7pm. Sat/2pm. $5-10. Mary Winspear Centre. www.marywinspear.ca. 250-656-0275.
January 26: Special Australia Day Story Time Toddlers will enjoy the sunny ‘Down-under’ land in this fun Australia Day story time about vegemite, kangaroos and didgeridoos. 0-5 yrs. Mon. 10:15-11am. Free. Vancouver Island Regional Library, North Saanich Branch. virl.bc.ca. Please register at 250.656.0944.
February 2015:
February 6: Fantastic Fridays at St. Luke Cedar Hill Presenting “Messy Church”, a fun family-time full of music, stories, games, food and crafts. Dinner is provided. Children and parents. Fri. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. St. Luke’s Hall: Cedar Hill Cross Road at Cedar Hill Road. www.stlukesvictoria.ca. 250.477.6741.
February 6 & 20: Lego Stories Hey kids – there are lots of LEGO blocks at the library to build something really special. Each session will explore a different theme & your work of art will be displayed for two weeks. Ages 5+ yrs. Fridays. 3:15-4:15pm. Free. Vancouver Island Regional Library, North Saanich Branch. virl.bc.ca. Please register at 250.656.0944.
February 9: BC Family Day This is the perfect time to be active with your family. Draw prizes, $2 admission for swimming and skating. Join Panorama staff at Family Day events in Sidney. Kids & Teens. Mon. Family Day Skate: 1-2:20pm. Family Day Swim: 1:30-4pm. Panorama Recreation Centre. www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250.656.7271.
February 12: Cupid’s Cuties @ Kindergym Little ones will enjoy Valentine’s Day at Kindergym with yummy sweet sugar cookies and making a super-special Valentine’s Day card. 1-5 yrs. Kindergarten Thurs. 9:30-11:30am. $2 admission. Greenglade Community Centre. www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250.656.7271.
February 20: Go With the Flow! For little budding environmentalists: learn about the connection between the land and the sea. Activities will focus on water conservation and showcase local watersheds. Ages: Child to youth. Fri. 10am-4pm. Price: admission. Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre. www.oceandiscovery.ca. 250.665.7511.
February 20: School’s Out! $2 Swim Play with your friends in the pool, on the water slide and up the climbing wall. A staff leader will boost the fun factor with games and prizes. School-age. Fri. 1-3pm. $2. Panorama Recreation Pool. www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250.656.7271.
February 20: School’s Out! $2 Skate Kids and teens: Glide and fly around the ice with great music and games and win prizes. School-age. Fri. 1-2:20pm. $2. Panorama Recreation Arena A. www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250.656.7271.
