by Doreen Marion Gee –
December 2: Family Discover Scuba. Exciting scuba-diving fun for the whole family with an introduction to this aquatic world in a PADI “discover scuba” program. Shallow water. 4 to 5 p.m. 8 yrs+. $40. Saanich Commonwealth Place – Rockfish Divers.
Register: www.saanich.ca. 250-475-7600.
December 3: Sea Shirt Sunday. Create your own ocean-themed fashion T-shirt, pillow or bag. Bring pillow case, cloth bag or T-shirt (white shirts available for purchase). $2 for fabric paint. 1 to 3 p.m. All ages. Regular admission; passes and memberships accepted. Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea. www.salishseacentre.org. 250-665-7511.
December 9: Canada 150 Free Skate. Celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday with a free skate sponsored by the District of North Saanich. Bring the whole family! Saturday, 12 to 1:20 p.m. All ages. Panorama Recreation Arena A.
www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250-656-7271.
December 10: A Day With Santa. Hey kids! Don’t miss this special Sunday of totally free family holiday activities: movie (10 to 11:30 a.m.); skate and/or kindergym with Santa (12 to 1:20 p.m.); Christmas crafts (1:30 to 2:30 p.m.). Respectively: Silver City Victoria Cinemas; G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre; Tillicum Centre. Tots/parents. Drop in.
www.saanich.ca. 250-475-5400 (Pearkes).
December 17: Grandma and Me and the Xmas Tree. Kids will love spending time with grandma, making a tree ornament, singing holiday songs, decorating cookies and sipping tea. Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. 3-6 yrs. $26/ grandma & child. Saanich Commonwealth Place. Register: www.saanich.ca. 250-475-7600.
December 23: Winter Holiday Storytime. Join friendly librarian, Virginia MacLeod, for stories, songs and rhymes that celebrate the joy of the season. Stay and make a winter-themed craft. Saturday, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. All ages. Free. Register by email at sidney@virl.bc.ca or call 250-656-0944. Sidney/North Saanich regional library. www.virl.bc.ca/branches/sidney-north-saanich.
December 27 to 29: Winter Holiday Daycamp. Experienced leaders will make the holidays sparkle with fun activities: swimming, cooking, games, and arts and crafts. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 5-11 yrs. 3/$90. Gordon Head Recreation Centre. Register: www.saanich.ca. 250-475-7100.
January 9: Tot Tuesday. Parents: accompany your little one for some fun-filled learning through an ocean-themed story, hands-on activity and a craft.
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Age: preschool. Drop-in. Free after paid admission or use of annual pass/membership. Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea.
www.salishseacentre.org. 250-665-7511.
January 9 to March 13: Half A World Theatre. An exciting opportunity for teens to experience the art of theatre and to brush up on acting and performance skills in improvisation, storytelling, creating characters, and more. Beginner to advanced.
Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 15+ yrs. $149. McTavish Academy of Art.
Register: www.mctavishacademy.ca. 778-351-0088.
January 13 to March 3: Creative Movements for 3-5 Year Olds – Journey Into Space. Kids will go on an exciting space adventure, while they explore a variety of movements that introduce them to dance fundamentals and yoga. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. $100. McTavish Academy of Art. Register: www.mctavishacademy.ca. 778-351-0088.
January 20: Music Bingo & Minute to Win It. Teens’ favourite “Minute to Win It” challenges are coming to Teen Lounge – from Ka-Boom and Defying Gravity, to Junk in the Trunk and Stack Attack. Guess the lyrics to today’s Top 40 tunes in “Music Bingo.” Saturday, 6 to 8 p.m. Grades 6-9. Free drop-in
and pizza. Greenglade Teen Lounge.
Greenglade Community Centre.
www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250-656-7271.
January 21 to 27: Family Literacy Week. Kids and their families are welcome to join library staff in celebrating the joy of reading. Special events, activities, reading, learning and playing together. Sunday to Saturday. All ages. Free. Sidney / North Saanich Regional Library. www.virl.bc.ca/branches/sidney-north-saanich. 250-656-0944.
January 23 to March 13: Introduction To Coding. This thrilling course will introduce children to basic coding skills to use in making their very own games. The final project is a game on a USB stick to take home. Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. 9-12 yrs. 8/$195. Greenglade Community Centre Room 8. Register: www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250-656-7271.
January 28: Winter Wildlife. Through games, crafts and hands-on exploration, the whole family will learn about how wild critters adapt to this wintry, chilly, and challenging time of year. How do they stay warm? 12 to 3 p.m. All ages. Drop in anytime. Admission by donation. Nature House. Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. www.swanlake.bc.ca. 250-479-0211.
February 1 to March 8: Hawaiian Hula Dancing! Children will learn the traditional Hula Dance, which portrays the story of the accompanying song, by using the hands and hips. Thursdays, 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. 6-12 yrs. 6/$60. Greenglade Community Centre Room 4. Register: www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250-656-7271.
February 13: Petite Picassos – Handprint Love Bug Mixed Media Canvas. Enjoy being artsy with your little one.
Join staff to help your child create a Mixed Media mini-masterpiece. Parent
participation required. Complimentary kindergym admission follows. 9:30 to
10:30 a.m. 2-5 yrs. $10. Greenglade Community Centre Room 7.
Register: www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250-656-7271.
February 14 to March 14: Home School Swimming Lessons. In each twice-weekly session, home-schooled children will enjoy a 30-minute Red Cross swimming lesson and 30 minutes of free fun time in the pool. Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 6-14 yrs. 9/$72. Panorama Recreation Centre Main Pool – Lane 6. Register: www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250-656-7271.
February 16: Teen Lounge Water Olympics. Have a blast with some Winter Olympics-inspired fun: cross country skiing, skeleton, curling and more. Friday, 6 to 8 p.m. Grades 6-9. Free drop-in. Greenglade Teen Lounge. Greenglade Community Centre. www.crd.bc.ca/panorama. 250-656-7271.
February 23: Watershed Wonders. Join the Shaw Centre and special guests for a fun-filled family day of activities, games and presentations focusing on the whole watershed. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All ages. Free with admission, annual passes or memberships. No registration required. Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea.
www.salishseacentre.org. 250-665-7511.
February 25: Raccoons are Wild. Who are these masked rascals? Are they bandits or just very clever at living alongside humans? Featuring the “Way Cool Raccoon School” puppet show, crafts and hands-on exploration. Sunday, 12 to 3 p.m. All ages. Drop in anytime. Admission by donation. Nature House.
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary.
www.swanlake.bc.ca. 250-479-0211.
February 28 to
March 21:
Pop Art – Design Your Board. Teens will use imagery from popular culture, advertising and comic books to create a piece of art – which will go onto an old skateboard or snowboard (not provided). Wednesdays, 7 to 9 p.m. 14-17 yrs. 4/$240. Greenglade Community Centre Room 6. Register: www.crd.bc.ca/panorama.
250-656-7271.
