Socially Distanced Halloween Activities in Ottawa

Halloween may look a little different this year due to COVID-19 safety protocols, and unfortunately some of the usual activities, such as Trick or Treat with the Mayor, have been cancelled, but there is still some safe, outdoor fun to be had in the Ottawa area!

The Original Haunted Walk – Halloween Season
When: Nightly until November
Where: Various locations in Ottawa
Price: $30+HST per person

Great for older children and adults, The Haunted Walks are best known for their tours and stories of ghosts and haunted places. New for 2020 are Ottawa Bubble Ghost Tours. These tours feature up to 12 participants from no more than three households, allowing for a safe way for participants to hear some local ghost stories while socially distancing! In addition to reducing tour sizes, The Haunted Walk is also increasing their cleaning and disinfecting and all staff are paid sick leave to encourage them to stay home if they are feeling unwell. Masks are required for all indoor tour locations.

Saunders Farm – Haunting Season
When: Saturdays and Sundays between now and November 1st
Where: Saunders Farm, Munster, ON
Admission: Booking in two hour time slots - limited capacity, book in advance
Price: $22.60 per person; kids under two are free

Scarier at night and as a not-as-scary experience during the day, Saunders Farm offers families the ultimate in Halloween thrills and chills!  The Day Haunting Season is fine for kids as the more scarier attractions are closed and the jumping pillows and main play area is open. This year, the daytime attractions includes their famous Mazes, Jumbo Jumpers (jumping pillows), Haunted and Pumpkin Patch Hayride, The Coven, and our super fun play structures.

The Fright Fest (Night) at Saunders Farm is good for children ages 12 and up. For more information visit: http://saundersfarm.com.

Acres of Terror
Where: Cannamore Orchards, 1480 County Road 32, Crysler
When: Nights (6:30-10pm): Sept. 25-26, Oct. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-25, 28-31 - we are OPEN on Halloween night. Days: (12-4pm): Oct. 17-18, 24-25 and 31st (Halloween day).

In their 28th year, Acres of Terror has four main components: the spooky wagon ride, the house of terror, the spooky village, and the fog maze! New for 2020, all tickets must be pre-booked online for a specific date and time-slot to ensure the ability to maintain physical distancing.  Only a limited number of tickets are available per 15 minute time slot.  Small groups of 10 or less will depart every few minutes.  Attractions and grounds have been modified to allow for the safest experience possible, with physical distancing requirements and enhanced safety protocols in place.  Masks are required. Visit https://cannamoreorchard.com/acres-of-terror/ for more information, including pricing.

Fall Family Fun At Hugli's Blueberry Ranch
When: On now until November 1st
Where: Hugli's Blueberry Ranch, 2139 Greenwood Rd., Pembroke, ON
Weekends: $11.95 + HST (kids & adults)  Under 2 is free. (includes shows and wagon rides to the pumpkin patch)
Weekdays: $7.53 + HST (kids & adults) Under 2 is free.

Various family-friendly outdoor activities. Masks/Face Covering are required in the store, on the frequently sanitized wagons and when you cannot stay two meters away from others.  Disposable masks are available for a $1 donation.

“A Practice of Deceit”: Escape room theatre with Live History
When: Saturday, October 17, 2020
Afternoon from 1 pm to 3 pm (Family hours for ages 7+)
Evening from 6 pm to 10 pm (Adults only for ages 18+)
Cost: $22.75 per person (ages 16+); $6.75 for children (7+) accompanied by an adult.

As the sun sets at Billings Estate, the voices of the past will speak once more…Step back in time to 1900 as you sort through webs of secrets, scandals, and hearsay to help bring a mysterious affair to a close. Will you be in time? Inspired by true events, Live History returns to the museum with this exclusive escape room theatre experience for one day only!

“A Practice of Deceit” will take place outdoors and has been adapted to meet public health guidelines including physical distancing (review our tips for a COVID-wise visit below). Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled start time. 

Pumpkinferno
When: Open seven days a week from now until October 31st.
Where: Upper Canada Village
Admission: $16 +HST; children under 4 are free
New this year: No walk-ins; must book in advance

This fun outdoor event is for all ages and includes 7000 handcrafted pumpkins all lit at night along a kilometre long path in a picturesque 19th-century backdrop.

Pumpkin Fest at Proulx Farm
When: Saturdays and Sundays; now until October 31st
Where: Proulx Family Farm, 1865 O’Toole Rd., Cumberland

This time of year, Proulx Farm is transformed into a giant Halloween playground with a hayride, play structures, a guided tour on how to grow pumpkins, petting zoo (masks recommended), and more. Due to COVID some activities are unfortunately be unavailable for this season to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Stories About Friendship

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share stories about Friendship. This month’s post is by Ann-Marie (Annie) Miller, Supervising Librarian, Children’s Department at the Ruth E. Dickinson Library.

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The world is just a better place when you have a friend.  Sometimes it is not all that easy to be a friend, or to have one.  Friendship is never instant or guaranteed.  Nevertheless, the process of becoming a friend can be rewarding.  Here are a few books celebrating the joys of friendship in its many forms.

Bear Can’t Sleep by Karma Wilson; illustrated by Jane Chapman

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1126750026

 If you have yet to meet up with Bear and his circle of friends, this latest book is a great introduction to the series.  Bear should hibernate, but he just cannot get to sleep.  This is when his friends -  Mouse, Hare, Badger, Gopher, Mole, Raven and Wren -  all gather round to help out.  In rhyming text and luscious illustrations, we read about the friends making hot milk and singing lullabies.  When Bear sits up and begins to tell a story for his friends, he finally puts himself to sleep.  There are lots of books about Bear and his friends and you can read these stories to children from newborn to 5 years old.

Giraffe and Bird by Rebecca Bender

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/617329026

 Giraffe and Bird annoy each other all the time.  Bird makes faces at Giraffe; Giraffe sticks his tongue out at Bird; Bird tweets in Giraffe’s ear; and Giraffe glares back at Bird.  So it goes all day long each one annoying the other until finally they just walk away.  When the big storm comes in at night, though, each one wishes the other was close by.  So, in the lonely light of day, they seek out one another once again.  Giraffe and Bird are the most annoying of friends but they just cannot abide being apart. This is only the first of four Gerald and bird stories each one illustrated with Rebecca’s expressive drawings.   They will help to shed a little light on sibling struggles for those two to five years old in your household.

Poetree by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds; illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1174168026

 Shy Sylvia delights in writing poetry for her favourite tree.  She hides her poems in the tree’s branches and one day a new poem falls out of the tree landing at her feet.   Someone else is writing poems. At first Sylvia believes that the tree is writing back to her;  that the tree is a new friend.  Then Sylvia finds out that it is Walt, a classmate, who is writing the poems.  Sylvia and Walt form a new friendship composing poems for their tree and for one another while sitting together under the branches.  Their poems are a delight to read.  This is a lovely, rich story joyfully illustrated for those 5 to 7 years old.

Harold and Hog Pretend For Real! by Dan Santat

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1167672026

Every Grade One child loves to read about Mo Willem’s Elephant and Piggie.  Harold and Hog idolize them, too, and do their best to pretend to be Elephant and Piggie.  They discover that Hog is too careful to be Piggie and Harold is too carefree to be Elephant.  However, it is still fun to pretend to be best friends when you actually are best friends. A great addition to the early reading shelf for children 5 to 7 years old.

 Come Over to My House by Dr. Seuss; illustrated by Katie Kath

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/983845026

 If your child started out reading with Hop on Pop and The Cat in the Hat, they will dive into this slightly more advanced reader with enthusiasm.  In finely crafted rhyming text, Dr. Seuss takes us on a worldwide adventure exploring houses and customs on every continent.  It doesn’t matter where you are in the world the reader is invited to ‘come over and play’.  We find that all houses all over the world are alike ‘when a friend asks you in’.  This book will expand your child’s world and keep those 6 and 7 years old reading.

Wolfie & Fly Band on the Run by Cary Fagan; illustrated by Zoe Si

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1078918026

Renata Wolfman is always called Wolfie by her neighbour, Livingston Flott.  Wolfie calls Livingston, Fly. Wolfie likes to read and learn new things; Fly likes to have imaginative adventures.  There is a talent show coming up at school and Wolfie’s parents are encouraging her to enter.  Wolfie is happier just learning about her interest of the day – helicopters.  That is all before Fly comes in through the window with his guitar and gets Wolfie drumming along with to his new song.  Fly’s imagination takes off and before long it’s like the two of them are on stage in a stadium performing before thousands of screaming fans.  When they come back to the kitchen, they are ready to take on the annual Talent Show.  An entertaining story for those 7 or 8 years old.

Tom Swift Inventor’s Academy: the Drone Pursuit  by Victor Appleton https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1167734026

Tom and Noah have spent the weekend building a surveillance drone and now they want to test it out in the hallways of their school, the prestigious Swift Academy.  When their drone is spotted, they park it unobtrusively in the ceiling just outside a classroom.  When they go to retrieve the drone after class, it is gone.  So, begins the mystery.  Who has taken the drone, where is it now and why was it taken?  Tom and his friends worry that the theft is mixed up with an attempt to hack into the high tech company next door – the company owned by Tom’s father.  It takes quite a lot of adventuresome sleuthing to uncover the truth.  This is an exciting early novel for children 9 to 12 years old.  There are more mysteries to come in this series.

Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1145907026

A fatherless boy and a newly captured polar bear are an unlikely pair to form the bonds of lifelong friendship yet this is exactly what happens when they meet.  The boy, Arthur, is a runaway looking for his Father’s family and hoping to obtain his inheritance.  The bear is a gift from the King of Norway to the King of England and the year is 1252.  Arthur’s only hope of gaining passage to England is to sign onto the ship transporting the bear and to become the bear’s caregiver.  As it turns out, Arthur has a way with animals and the pair develops a true understanding of one another.  Whether they are dealing with the bullies on board ship, a pirate attack, a shipwreck or their run through the countryside, Arthur and the bear stick together. This novel is based on the true story of a pale bear kept in the menagerie at the Tower of London by King Henry III.  The bear lived for many years and this version suggests it was because of the gentle care given to it by his friend, Arthur. A unique plotline for this age group but there is enough adventure here to engage those 10 to 12 years old.

Hidden Gem 

Gus & Me: The Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar by Keith Richards; illustrated by Theodora Richards

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/792141026

 Yes, this is a picture book by that Keith Richards and it is illustrated by his daughter, Theodora.  The book recounts Keith’s close relationship with his Grandfather formed during their long walks together throughout Keith’s childhood.  Grandfather Gus lived in a ‘house full of instruments and cake’ and had been a ‘soldier, a baker and the leader of a dance band’.  It was Gus who handed Keith his first guitar and challenged him to learn how to play it.  Each double page spread is illustrated with Theodora’s fanciful drawings. This is a book and CD set which means you can have the text read to you by Keith himself.  The back matter includes a set of family photos.  This is what I call a picture book for adults.  Keep the tissues close at hand.

Great Graphic Novels 2020

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some great graphic novels books with us. This month’s post is by Lise Dumas, Supervising Librarian, Children's and Teen Services at the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library.

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For those who love graphic novels, the Ottawa Public Library has some new and exciting reads for all ages.  Here are some of the most interesting graphic novels for kids that have come out so far in 2020: 

Trespassers by Breena Bard.

This story follows Gabby and her family on their summer vacation at their lake home. Gabby, a voracious reader, would prefer to spend her time reading during her vacation, but her parents have decided she should spend some time with Paige, the daughter of the family next door. Although reticent at first, Gabby befriends Paige and the two decide to write a story about an unsolved real-life mystery at one of the empty homes on the lake. This mystery involves the disappearance of the homeowners one night after a party. The two girls, with the help of their younger brothers, will try to uncover the lake house mystery and overcome hurdles in their friendship over the course of their vacation. The characters are simply drawn and the art will likely appeal to young readers. For ages 8-12.

The Big Break by Mark Tatulli

Middle schoolers Andrew and Russ who are trying to win a video contest by making a movie about the legendary Jersey Devil. Their long-term friendship is tested when Russ begins a romance with Tara, a cool girl at school. While Russ is ready to grow up, Andrew is not; he still loves drawing and his action figures. This story reflects the trials of growing up and how even a great friendship can be strained - but also, that it’s okay to have new friends and have separate interests. With an engaging cast of characters including a very adventurous librarian, Andrew, Russ and Tara embark on an exciting escapade to find the Jersey Devil and finish their movie. The drawings are very expressive and the colours are vivid. For ages 8-12.

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

For ages 8-14, this story is about thirteen-year old Moth Hush, who lives in Founder’s Bluff Massachusetts. Moth is obsessed with all things “witchy” and is pleased to find out that she is from a family of witches. Moth discovers she has powers on Halloween but unfortunately, her mother forbids her from practicing witchcraft, as the family has a dark past involving witch hunts and family drama. Moth is pushed to choose between her Mother’s rejection of witchcraft and her Grandma’s encouragement to embrace her powers and leave to the human world. Moth must find her own way and bring her family together again in this fun, exciting adventure. The autumn colours, the setting and the subject make it a great Halloween read.

Go With The Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann 

This graphic novel speaks of the trials and tribulations of periods in high school. Sasha Chen worries that she will be known throughout high school as ‘period girl’ when she gets her first period the day she wears white pants. With the help of Brit, Abby, Christine and Sasha, they take on the school administration to get the school to stock the bathroom hygiene dispensers to destigmatize periods. When the school administration refuses to address this woman’s health issue citing budget cuts, all while funding new football uniforms, the girls decide to campaign for change. The book addresses first love, political activism, and the power of friendship. The images are all drawn in black and white and fittingly coloured in pink and red. For ages 10-14.

Operation: Hat Heist! By Jason Platt

This is the second book in the Middle School Misadventures series. Newell is a huge fan of a TV series called The Captain and watches the show with his Dad. The show is about a WWII Captain who gets sucked through the Bermuda triangle into another dimension. Newell’s Dad goes to great lengths to obtain an authentic captain’s hat for him only to have the hat stolen from Newell’s backpack at school and then confiscated by the principal. With the help of his friends and an eight-grader named Ethan, Newell concocts a heist to retrieve his hat before his Dad finds out it is missing. The results are unexpected and hilarious. The artwork is eloquent, and a variety of techniques are used such as monochromatic flashbacks and full-page scenes. This book will appeal to fans of Big Nate and Diary of Wimpy Kid. For ages 8-12.

Parenting in a pandemic - you're doing OK

Right now, a lot of us aren’t feeling OK for a lot of reasons. Whatever we’re doing as parents, we feel like someone else out there is judging us for being a “bad parent.” 

So I want to be the voice that tells you “it’s OK!”

You feel badly that your child isn’t going to be with their friends this year even though they really want to, but you feel more comfortable with virtual learning this year. It’s OK! They’re going to have a great and different experience this year and you will all do your best to get the most out of it.

You feel badly that you’re sending your kids into classrooms full of kids when there’s still a pandemic going on. It’s OK! You have a job that you need to focus on, or you know that the kids miss their friends and really need this for their mental health. It’s a great choice.

You feel badly that neither in person or virtual will work so you’re not sure how on earth they can learn anything this year. It’s OK! Unschooling is a thing. Homeschoolers often rely on kids finding their own joy and path and following the curriculum isn’t the best choice for every kid anyhow.

You’re sending your kids back to school and you don’t feel badly at all. It’s OK! You don’t need to feel badly just because other people are. You are making the choice that feels best for your family.

You’re worried the kids are getting too much screen time. It’s OK! These aren’t normal times and we have to do the best that we can given everything going on. 

You’re feeling sad and disheartened and angry and you aren’t hiding it from the kids. It’s OK! Parents have feelings too and letting your kids see what being human is isn’t a bad thing. Talk to them about it. 

You’re feeling guilty that your kids want more from you than you have to give. It’s OK! Setting boundaries and letting your kids and spouses know that you can’t give more than you have may not always feel great to them or you, but it’s not a bad thing. Work needs to happen, you need to take care of yourself, and we are all doing the best that we can.

You’re feeling sad for all that’s been lost - lost graduations, vacations, and experiences that would have been so different in regular times. It’s OK. We get to be sad about the things that have been lost. 

You’re worried your kids aren’t getting enough social interactions and it’s going to hurt their social skills. It’s OK. I know it might not be ideal, but we’re finding new ways to adapt and so many of us are in similar situations. A variety of ways to interact online are now available to us, and although it’s not the same as in-person it’s the best possible alternative we have.

You feel like no matter what you’re doing, you’re not keeping up with something else. It’s OK to not be able to do it all. It’s ok to ask other people for help or to just let some of it slide.

You feel like you haven’t done enough when everyone else seems to be loving all the quality time together and learning new hobbies. It’s OK - we’re in a traumatic situation and we don’t all have the energy or the inclination to decide to eat healthy, lose weight, and renovate the house, and you don’t need to feel like you have to. You’re doing just fine.

You’re feeling like you’re just not doing parenting right. It’s OK. You’re doing the best you can in this moment - things can look different right now because things ARE different right now.

In pandemic times we need to give ourselves some grace. We are doing the best that we can in unusual circumstances.

It’s also OK to say no to more work and no to more obligations because you are at capacity and you want to focus on other things. 

I know that right now it is impossible to get it “right” by everyone’s standards. In writing this post I’m also reminding MYSELF that I am doing the best that I can every day. I am leaning on other parents to talk to and vent to when I feel overwhelmed and like I’m doing a bad job, and I’m just trying to remind myself every day that I’m doing OK and that together we’re all OK.

Apple Picking at Orleans Fruit Farm

It’s apple picking season and we headed out to our favourite local apple orchard located right in Orleans.

Orleans Fruit Farm is located at 1399 St. Joseph and the apple orchards are now open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm for apple picking.

While there are less activities for the kids here than other orchards we have visited (they usually have a barn to play in and a play structure) the location and ease of getting there make it our favourite easy day out for apples.

COVID-19 updates

This year there have been a few changes to how they operate:

• There is no climbing in the trees and all structures and the barn are closed for playing.

• Masks must be worn in areas where you’re close to others.

• You now pick a bag (small is $18 and large is $30) and fill those and there is no weighing the apples as you leave. I’ve heard this is how many orchards have run for a while now so that may be a permanent change.

One of the reasons I love going to the orchard every year is because we’re always able to get great photos of the kids in the trees. This year, while they couldn’t climb the trees, still yielded some fun photos. :)

In these COVID-19 times we haven’t gone out quite as much as usual so it was a fun way to get out and do something outside.

And we got a full family masked selfie too! :)

If you’re wondering what to do with your apples, try out these apple recipes from our archives:

BBQ apples

Apple sauce
Apple crisp

Take your newly made apple sauce and make this breakfast sandwich

Share in the comments - what’s your favourite orchard and what are your favourite apple recipes??