Strike-day programming for kids in Ottawa

Next week’s strikes mean that Ottawa parents will need to arrange childcare in the event that you’re not home or can’t take time off work. That’s why we put together a list of some fantastic programming available to you - we’d suggest not to delay in signing up, as many of these camps will fill up fast!

Bigode Martial Arts & Fitness

What: bilingual strike camp

When: Thursday February 13, 8am- 5pm🥊

Where: 571 Lacolle Way Unit 201

Cost: $50
How to register: email bigodemartialarts@gmail.com

Wondering what to expect?

- Two martial arts classes (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Muay Thai)
- Outdoor play
- Organized games in the gym
- Arts & Crafts
- Bilingual environment
- Family discounts for more than 2 members
- Extended hours are available at an additional cost (7AM - 6PM)

Spots are filling up quick so reach out to reserve your spot!

City of Ottawa Recreation Facilities

Camp information

Camps will be available on an ongoing basis when school closures are in effect. Parents are advised to confirm which facilities are hosting camps on any given day as program offerings may vary.

Watch this page for updates to facility and registration information should more closures occur.  

• Ages: 4 to 12 years

• Hours: 8 am to 5 pm

• Cost: $40

Pre- and post-camp care will be available for an additional fee from 7:30 to 8 am and 5 to 5:30 pm at some facilities.

How to register

Sign-in or create an account. If you forgot your account information, you can have your account information e-mailed to you and search for “winter day camps.”

You can also register in person by visiting a recreation facility or client service centre.

Kanata Academy of Martial Arts

When: 7am to 5:30 pm

Cost: $25 +tax and fees

As elementary students face several strike days next week, we encourage and welcome kids to join us in a safe, fun, and structured environment. The days will be filled with games, activities, crafts, and martial arts training. Children can be dropped off as early as 7am, and picked up by 5:30pm.

Register

Kessel Run Games

Where: 240 Centrum Blvd, U102, Orléans
Dates: February 11-14th (covers Strike days and PD day) from 8am to 4pm
Cost: $35/day
This is a great camp for kids 10-16 (though kids as young as 8 can attend, get in touch with the store)

Every day I’m Shuffling: Gamers are introduced to different card games including Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, Smash Up, and Euchre and will participate in mini tournaments throughout the week to test their new skills. 

Dungeons & Dragons: Gamers will learn the concepts of Dungeons & Dragons including character building, story creation, how to be a Dungeon Master (narrator) and will run a D&D campaign. 

Board Game Classics: This week will cover all the board games that you know and love such a Monopoly, Risk, Life, and Clue plus introduce Gamers to some Board Games fresh out of the box. 

Table Top Miniatures: Gamers will learn the skill of strategic thinking, as they become the General for their armies for games such as War Hammer, War Machine, and X-Wing. Gamers will learn how to put together a cohesive army, learn to balance power vs speed, and put their wits to the test as they launch a series of mini-campaigns against fellow campers armies. 

Register

Kids Kingdom Orleans

Kids Kingdom Kanata

Dates: Currently fully booked for the week of February 10th but they plan to run camps on future strike days - check in with them because they fill up fast!

Camps are held from 7:30-5:30 each day, with flexible pickup and drop offs.

We provide all meals, which are prepared on site by our licensed chef.  These meals include Morning snack, Lunch, and Afternoon snack.

The day is structured, with programmed activities, time outdoors in our fenced in yards, and time on our structures.

The cost is $50.00 per child, and $45.00 per additional sibling. 

You can register now, and if the strike does not occur, we simply remove your enrollment.

An email will be sent the day prior to the strike camp, with all camp details, to those who are registered. 

You can email info@kidskingdom.ca to register

Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts

When: Camps will be running for all strike days as they continue to be announced, from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm 
Cost: $65/day
To register: https://www.mystudio.academy/e/?=1810/2134///1578496516

Rideau Gymnastics

Strike day and PD Day camps are available at Rideau Gymnastics.

When: All strike and PD Days 9am - 4pm

Cost: $59.95

Register online.

They also offer drop-ins from 10 a.m. till noon every day. And this week we are giving away free hot chocolate and gymnastics tattoos for each child who visits the drop-in.

Royale Equestrian Centre

When: They plan to offer camps for strike days as they continue to come up. Check their web site for details.

Camp ages 6 to 14 

Drop off between  8:10am - 8:30pm  Pick up 4:10pm - 4:45pm 

Cost $80+ tax = $90.40. Payment to be sent to reclessons@hotmail.com (Password: Lessons)

https://www.royaleequestriancentre.com/daycamp.htm

TRYumph Gymnastics Academy

When: Feb. 11 & 13 9am - 4pm
Where: 1373 Ogilvie Road
Cost: $55
Register online

Let your child come to TRYumph Gymnastics Academy for fun and excitement! Our staff of professional coaches are ready to lead them through a great day filled with a wide range of activities.
Your child will have the change to experience the following activities:

Ninja circuit training

Slack lining (walking a tight rope) over our pit
Cargo net climbing
Gymnastics
Trampoline
Fencing
Parachute games
Badminton
Long rope skipping

What to Bring?
Gym clothes
Running shoes
Water bottle
Lunch (pack a lot of food, it’s an active day)
Positive attitude!

Tumblers Gymnastics Centre

When: Tumblers plans to run camps on all strike days as they are announced
Camps run from 9am - 4pm and you can also sign up for half days
Cost: $25-45

Register online

YMCA

With a labour disruption scheduled at schools on Tuesday, February 11 and Thursday, February 13 (OCDSB), the YMCA will be running day camps where kids can enjoy games, sports, and more!

Open to ages 4Y to 12Y |  9AM to 4PM | Y Members $42.30/day,  Non-Member $47/day

Where: Taggart Family Y (180 Argyle Ave, Ottawa) and Ruddy Family Y  (265 Centrum)
Register by calling your local YMCA or online

Family Travel: Lake Placid, New York

KITC would like to welcome back guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel.  During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet. 

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It is not every day you see your child hurtling down an Olympic Bobsled course at sixty miles per hour.  My wife and I got to live that experience on a recent trip to Lake Placid, New York.   

Lake Placid was home to the 1932 and 1980 Olympics.   The town and surrounding area still have the infrastructure of what you would expect from an Olympics including the aforementioned bobsled run, ski jump and hockey arenas.  

Conveniently,  it is also only about a three-hour drive from Ottawa.  Here is our family guide to Lake Placid, New York.  

Things to Do -  Olympic Sports Complex  - This area is home to the bobsled experience and also to the nearby cross-country ski and biathlon center.  

Our son, David, has always been the daredevil of our family.   Sandy and I declined to do the bobsled experience while David eagerly signed up.   After I filled in the paperwork, David was taken to the top of the bobsled run by vehicle.  Sandy and I walked to the midway point platform.   

We saw several bobsleds go by at extremely fast speeds.  Sandy held her breath every time the sleds passed by. We honestly did not know if David had gone because the sleds went by so fast.  

Upon further investigation,  we found an area near the finish line that offered a better view.   We also found out David was to go next. We could hear the sled coming down the course and saw it approach the finish line.   Again, Sandy held her breath and even I held my breath. Once David and the sled safely stopped, his smile ear to ear confirmed it was a great experience.  

David described it as being one of the coolest experiences of his life and said it was a similar feeling to a roller coaster.   

David was shuttled back to the centre and was given a commemorative pin and t-shirt.  We also learned one of the bobsledders working that day was U.S Olympian, John Napier.  While he did not guide David’s sled, he was very giving of his time as we chatted about his Olympic experience and took photos.   

Olympic Jumping Complex - I’ve always thought that Olympic ski jumpers are a bit crazy.   At Lake Placid, it is possible to get the perspective of a ski jumper at the Olympic Jumping Complex.  

We arrived on-site and took a gondola ride up to the base of the 120-metre ski jump. On the gondola, we were treated to a panoramic view of the Adirondacks.  

If it was not already high enough,  we took an elevator to the top of the ski jump.  We proceeded outside to the observation deck. The view was amazing but it still confirmed my idea that ski jumpers are crazy.  I had also gained a new admiration for their bravery.    

We eventually made our way back down the elevator and gondola.  I must admit, Sandy and I were both happy when David said he does not want to become a ski jumper.

Cloudspltter Gondola Ride -  Whiteface Mountain is one of the most popular downhill ski hills in the northeast United States.   Luckily, the Cloudsplitter Gondola takes skiers and non-skiers to the top of Little Whiteface Mountain.   Our family fell into the non-skier category. The gondola ride took about fifteen minutes to reach the peak.   It was easy to understand why Whiteface is so popular. Skiers and snowboarders were carving up the freshly fallen white powder.  

Once at the top, it was a perfectly clear day and we were treated to a stunning view of the valley and surrounding peaks.   David wanted to explore some of the side trails. If he had it his way, he would have spent hours at the top of the mountain. The only problem was that the temperature at the top of the mountain was a brisk -20 C with the wind chill. I was good after about fifteen or twenty minutes.    

We made our way back to the gondola and had worked up an appetite.  We checked out the Base Camp Market and all had a delicious clam chowder soup.  

Where to Stay - We had a very comfortable stay at High Peaks Resort.  Located right in downtown Lake Placid, the resort was centrally located to everything.  Some of the touches I liked was the central lobby area where one could find multiple fireplaces and comfortable chairs. It was the perfect place to lounge and just relax.  There were many board games to be found including chess. The resort provided a delicious hot chocolate and cookies to complete the ambiance.

David, Sandy and I also enjoyed the swimming pool and hot tub found in the resort.   

We look forward to checking out the resort in the summer as well.

Where to eat -  There is no shortage of restaurants to be found in Lake Placid.  One thing I did like is that most seemed to be locally owned. There were no golden arches on every street corner.   We had several good meals in Lake Placid but for us, the standout was the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery.   It had the right mix of the friendliness of a pub mixed in with relaxed family dining.  The food was delicious with Sandy and David enjoying the fish n chips while I tucked into the bacon cheeseburger.   Our server was extremely attentive and friendly.

If you go - It is impossible to summarize everything there is to see and do in Lake Placid during the winter in one article.   A few other activities include dog-sledding on Mirror Lake, tobogganing down a chute, and skating on the outdoor oval where the Olympic speed skating took place. It is also a pleasure to just walk around Lake Placid downtown.  It is not uncommon to find winter sports competitors from around the world mingling.   

Lake Placid will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Olympics from February 14-23.  There will be many activities with an Olympic theme.  

As with any winter activity, it is necessary to plan ahead and check the weather.  A very useful website for all Olympic related activities is www.whiteface.com.  For an overview of all tourism-related activities in Lake Placid visit, www.lakeplacid.com.

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Full disclosure, we were guests of the tourism office of Lake Placid. Our hotel and attractions were covered but as always, all views are my own.

Sugar Bushes in Ottawa (and area)

It’s almost that time of year where the sap starts to run and fresh maple syrup is available for all to enjoy! Maple syrup season is the sweetest part of winter for many reasons and visiting local sugar bushes has become a family tradition for many. Many Ottawa sugar bushes also offer family-friendly activities such as hay rides, playgrounds, walking trails, as well as other sweet treats…are you excited yet? Here are some sugar bushes you will want to visit!

Fulton’s Pancake House and Sugar Bush

Maple Season starts February 15th
399 Sugar Bush Road
Pakenham, ON
https://www.fultons.ca/

A pancake house, maple shoppe, a playground and outdoor activities such as a sleigh rides (with an additional fee) and more, family-run Fulton’s Pancake House and Sugar Bush is a great place to spend a good part of the day!

Parc Omega

399 Route 323 Nord,
Montebello, Québec
https://www.parcomega.ca/en/

Omega Park is located in Montebello and from the end of February until mid-March you can enjoy wagon rides, maple taffy and visit the sugar shack. Learn about the traditional ways of making maple syrup and enjoy maple taffy on a stick. There are also trails you can explore. Admission to the sugar shack is included in the admission fee to the park. For more information on Omega Park, check out this blog post on everything there is to do while there.

Proulx Maple and Berry Farm

Proulx Maple and Berry Farm

Maple Season starts February 23rd
1865 O'Toole Rd.
Cumberland (Ottawa), ON
https://proulxfarm.com/

Enjoy a pancake brunch in a rustic cabin in the heart of their sugar bush. There is also an onsite farm store as well as additional activities including a small animal petting farm, horse-drawn hay rides, as well as outdoor play parks and slides. Farm Admission, $5.76+HST/person, kids under 3: free

Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm

Maple season starts February 29th
2452 York's Corners Rd.
Edwards, ON
https://stanleysfarm.com/family-fun/pancake-house/

Regulars love their all you can eat brunch, age-old log cabin with a wood-burning evaporator to show visitors how maple sap is turned into syrup, animal barn, and their taffy shack!

Temple’s Sugar Bush

Temple’s Sugar Bush

1700 Ferguson Falls Rd.
Lanark, ON
http://www.templessugarbush.ca/

Exclusively features their “Sugarmaker’s Buffet” – served “cabane a sucre style” on weekends and holidays in March and April. This gorgeous property also features a nature trail that takes about 15 to 20 minutes to walk - perfect for families! For more information visit our complete blog post on Temple’s Sugar Bush.

Wheeler’s Pancake House, Sugar Camp and Museum

1001 Highland Line, McDonalds Corners
(Lanark Highlands)
http://wheelersmaple.com/

Open daily all year from 9am-3pm, including Saturdays and Sundays. There is a farm museum and a maple syrup museum, along with the original sugar shack. There is also a small playground as well as sheep, alpacas, horses and a miniature horse. There are trails for walking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing (you can rent snowshoes).

The Log Farm

Maple season starts February 29th
670 Cedarview Road
Nepean, ON
https://thelogfarm.com/

Located in the heart of Ottawa west, The Log Farm is a historical farm site, where you can see how the Bradley family lived in the 1860’s. The farm is a working farm so visitors see all kinds of animals on the farm site. The original Beavertails will also be onsite this year, as well as everyone’s favourite taffy in the snow (both are cash only). There is also a bonfire, a giant hay mountain and a giant snow mountain. Visitors can also catch a wagon ride (tractor drawn) to the sugar bush.

Vanier Sugar Shack

Maple season starts mid-February
300 des Pères-Blancs Avenue
Vanier, ON
https://museoparc.ca/vanier-sugar-shack/

The Vanier Museopark’s Sugar Shack is one of the few active urban sugar shacks. Every year, the Vanier Museopark also holds a Sugar Festival that demonstrates many old maple sugar traditions. Treat yourself to maple taffy on a stick and walk through the many tapped maple trees throughout the part.

The Zoo Inside You at the Canadian Museum of Nature

Over the holidays we got the chance to visit the Canadian Museum of Nature in order to check out their new exhibit “Me & My Microbes.” We went on New Year’s Eve day, which was the perfect time - most people were leaving when we arrived and we had many sections of the museum to ourselves!

The human body contains trillions of microbes, and outnumber human cells by 10 to 1! Most of these little guys are good for us, helping with digestion, fighting off infection and disease and even affecting our moods. Microbes also live ON our bodies, and you can find them everywhere, often concentrated on different areas of the skin.

As always, the exhibits are created to entertain both adults and young children alike. There are interactive displays, simulation games and even a small area for toddlers and younger children where they can play with stuffie microbes such as bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Our favourite part was the presentation at “The Lab.” These run regularly throughout the day in both french and english. The information was fascinating, and definitely captured my kids (7 and 10 years old) attention. At the end of each section the facilitator would ask multiple choice questions, and we got to answer with number decks that were sitting on the benches.

My oldest also loved reading about microbes in our mouth and what affects our dental health. My youngest loved a simulation game where you consume different foods or antibiotics and see how they have an impact on our microbiome (all the microbes living in our guts!)

I really appreciated the science on dirt, and how being “dirty” (playing outside, getting our hands dirty in the garden and not stressing so much over disinfecting our houses) can lead to more diverse microbiomes; which science says may help to ward off disease. Now when my kids complain about going outside I’ll tell them they’re just making their microbiome happy!

The exhibit is on until 29th, and the cost is $6 per person (on top of admission), but free for members and kids 2 and under! It’s definitely not to be missed, especially if you’re a bit of a science geek like I am.

The museum is also hosting some upcoming special “gut talks” that explore the human microbiome. These include:

1) January 16th: Our lifestyles, our microbes: The hidden connection.
Dr. Kathy McCoy and Dr. Braedon McDonald, an intensivist and clinician-scientist, will discuss the effect of modern lifestyles on the human gut, and how an imbalance in our microbes may influence many diseases or disorders, such as allergies, autoimmunity and cancer. Dr. McCoy will also talk about how scientists hope to harness the power of the microbiome to promote health and treat disease.

2) February 6th: Diet and prebiotics: Happy gut, happy life.
Dr. Raylene Reimer, University of Calgary Professor and Registered Dietician, and Dr. Jon Meddings, gastroenterologist and dean of the Cumming School of Medicine, will explore how diet plays a major role in shaping the community of microbes that call our intestines home. An imbalance in these microbes has been linked to many common diseases. Dr. Reimer will discuss the influence of diet and prebiotics (“fertilizer” for healthy gut bacteria) in counteracting disruptions to gut microbiota including in conditions such as obesity, diabetes and autism. Tickets for this talk will be available as of January 16 at nature.ca.

3) March 12th: Let them eat dirt: Childhood and the microbiome.
Dr. Marie-Claire Arrieta, University of Calgary microbiologist, and Dr. Chris Waterhouse, a paediactric gastroenterologist, will discuss how the millions of microbes that live in our bodies influence childhood development. Dr. Arrieta will explain how an imbalance in those microbes—for example, through antibiotic overuse, hyper-cleanliness and poor diet—impacts children’s health, leading to an increase in obesity, asthma, and other chronic conditions. Dr. Arrieta is a co-author of Let Them Eat Dirt: Saving Your Child from an Oversanitized World. The event includes a documentary screening and book-signing. Tickets for this talk will be available as of February 20.

All talks are FREE but they recommend you reserve tickets by visiting their website

The Ottawa Public Library's top 10 most notable 2019 books for young kids

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share their top 10 most notable 2019 books for young kids. This month’s post is by Xiao Feng Xing, Librarian, Youth Collections at the Ottawa Public Library.

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Small in the City by Sydney Smith

Sydney Smith won the 2019 Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s book illustrations as well as a lot of starred reviews. During one of the young boy’s monologue, he says: “I know what it’s like to be small in the city.” Then, he proceeds by giving a lot of friendly advice. It’s like a puzzle. We don’t know who his missing friend is. Then, suddenly, a big spread of a lost cat poster gives us a visual clue. The boy is on a search and rescue mission for his lost cat. Beautiful small panel watercolours and full spreads illustrate the snowy, noisy big city, and the little boy’s worried feelings for his lost cat.

My Winter City by James Gladstone

Our home town Ottawa is filled with snow in the winter. Even though this book uses Toronto as a background, kids in Ottawa will still appreciate the winter scenes and the watercolour pictures from each spread. Young readers will enjoy the adventures of a boy, his father, and their dog, from sunrise to sunset, on a snowy winter day. Maybe they’ll put the book down and go out to enjoy some winter fun themselves.

Sharon, Lois & Bram’s Skinnamarink by Qin Leng

The classic Canadian song is much loved since Sharon, Lois and Bram performed it to audiences for the first time in 1978. This beloved trio of children’s entertainers have sung the song at the UN General Assembly! It has come to symbolize friendship, inclusion, joy and love.

It is a must sing along in our children’s programs on Valentine’s day. In this special book version of the song, the author has added an introduction to the anthem, along with some additional verses. Qin Leng brings joy and love of life with her clear and simple soft tone watercolour illustration. She uses different kinds of people, families, and even animals. The sing-along story celebrates love, community, and the joy of music.

Albert’s Quiet Quest by Isabelle Arsenault

The words and images are by renowned Montreal author Isabelle Arsenault. A young boy named Albert just wants to find a quiet place to read. He finally finds a quiet corner with a painting of an ocean sunset. It’s a good spot for him to read and daydream by the seaside. He’s continually disturbed by different people who invite him to play outside until he can’t tolerate it anymore and makes a raucous. Gradually, his family and friends respect his quiet quest and they all came to his nook to read a book quietly together. The story unfolds using graphic novel like speech bubbles and panels. It shows how some kids, especially autistic kids, struggle to have their own private and quiet space.

Saturday by Oge Mora

Ava and her mother cherished Saturdays because it’s the only day that Ava’s mom doesn’t have to work. Ava is hoping to do a lot of things but then things go wrong. Storytime is cancelled; her hair gets messy; the park is too loud; and now they’ll miss the puppet show. Mom thinks she has ruined Saturday. During a touching moment, Ava uses the same words her mother uses to comfort and reassure her: “Mom, don’t worry. Today will be special. Today will be splendid. Because today is Saturday and I spend them with you!” And then they go home to do a puppet show together. The book uses a unique collage style that depicts the busy weekends of many families and working parents. 

River by Elisha Cooper

River is one more excellent book illustrated by Elisha Cooper following Farm, Beach, and Train. The book uses iconic water colours to illustrate a young woman’s canoe journey down the Hudson River. She shares her challenges and adventures of navigating rapids, dams, and the experience of a storm and hardship in the dark night. Thanks to her resilience and determination, she finally meets her family at the end of her journey. This is a story of courage for young kids who will learn that with perseverance you can overcome many challenges.

Daniel’s Good Day by Micha Archer

“What is a good day for you?” Daniel is a young boy who wants to find out what a good day is for the people in his neighbourhood.

The author’s colourful collages and simple text tell us many simple things that give us joy. This is an inspiring and optimistic story.

The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown by Mac Barnett

This is a little longer than our average picture book, with 42 pages to remember the 42 years of life of Margaret Wise Brown. As author Mac Barnett says, “You can’t fit somebody’s life into 42 pages, so I am just going to tell you some important things.”

You will be amazed to learn that many of the author’s popular books, including Good Night Moon, are not recommended for purchase by experts in the New York Public Library. As a result, none of her books were purchased by public libraries at the time. This book, with vivid illustrations, depicts the author's great children’s  short lifespan of 42 years.

Migration Incredible Animal Journeys by Mike Unwin

This is a non-fiction picture book. The stunning illustrations and simple text present a collection of epic animal migrations across our planet. Each animal has its own story to tell. Each spread depicts one animal’s unique journey, enduring harsh weather and dodging hungry predators.

Sweety by Andrea Zuill

Sweety is awkward, even for a naked mole rat. She knew that she didn’t always fit in. She has protruding front teeth, thick glasses and some very unusual hobbies, such as identifying different fungi. She gave a book report using interpretive dance. Her aunt Ruth had the same experience when she was young, so she always encourages Sweety. “Being different is one of the best things about life.” If you stay true to yourself, you’ll find your people.” Finally, Sweety finds her friend Sandy. Here are the words from Sandy’s speech bubble: “My name is Sandy. Your Shirt is wonderful! I wouldn’t mind having a shirt with a mushroom on it. I love mushrooms. My favourite is Gyramitra esculenta. It looks like a brain.”

The author’s end note dedicates the book to “all those who have accepted their inner oddball”. The pen and ink drawings with speech bubbles clearly depict the oddball that Sweety is with humour and charm. Author Andrea Zuill delivers a story about learning to embrace everything that makes you “you”, and that’s something many kids can relate to.