So you didn’t get around to signing up your child for summer learning through New Westminster schools? Or maybe they just didn’t embrace the idea of being in a classroom in July?
Never fear — there are still plenty of ways to add learning opportunities to your child’s summer schedule.
Of course, every trip to the park or the store counts as a learning experience, as your children engage with nature and practise their math and language skills in day-to-day settings. But if you want some slightly more structured learning that’s still fun for the kids? Well, we’ve got you covered.
We rounded up this list of 5 ways to sneak learning into your child’s summer, right here in New West.
Take them to the farmers’ market.
Of course, there’s plenty of delicious food to enjoy at the New West Farmers Market, with an array of produce, prepared foods and food trucks to enjoy every week. But you can also sneak in a chance for some learning around the noshing, what with the obvious focus on sustainable, local foods. Plus, there’s Sprout Club for kids aged five to 12, with free educational activities every week that cover topics around food security, nutrition and the environment in fun ways. Past activities have included making pinecone bird feeders and painting plant pots to grow vegetables from seed.
The markets run Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m. in Tipperary Park, next to New Westminster City Hall. You can find out about each week’s offerings at the New West Farmers Market website.
Brush up their Shakespeare.
You’re never too young to be exposed to the works of William Shakespeare — especially not the way Shadows and Dreams serves up the best of the Bard in family-friendly style, outdoors at the Queen’s Park bandshell. This summer, the local theatre company will present As You Like It, running July 29 and 30, Aug. 5 and 6. The 2 p.m. shows are free, and people of all ages are welcome.
Explore the Fraser River.
For those fascinated by the fast-flowing water that defines New Westminster, the Fraser River Discovery Centre beckons. You and your family can discover the stories and the diversity of the Fraser River and its contribution to the life, history and future of British Columbia and those of us who live here. Enjoy the exhibits, the interactive Discovery Zone and special activities that include Super Saturdays programming on the last Saturday of the month. On July 22, the programming is devoted to Fiery Friend and Foe, looking at the implications of wildfires.
You can find the Fraser River Discovery Centre at 788 Quayside Dr. It’s open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can get a family admission (two adults and up to four children) for $15. Single admissions are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, $3 for children aged three to 12 and free for those under three.
Plus, there are summer daycamps for those who really want to delve deeper.
Tap into their inner bookworm.
Keep the kids’ interest in reading alive with the New Westminster Public Library’s Summer Reading Club, open to children aged three to 11, and Teen Summer Reading Club, for those aged 12 and up. Children can choose a reading goal, earn weekly stickers for meeting their target and then earn a medal for completing seven weeks of reading.
You can add to the fun with library events such as family storytimes, pyjama storytimes, storytimes in the park and more — check out the library’s events calendar for details.
Don’t forget about New West’s Kinder Books, at River Market, which offers an appealing selection of work for young readers, plus special events like storytime with arts and crafts (July 19) and a Night at the Bookstore storytime and art session (July 21). As an added bonus, July is Waldo Month, as the bookstore leads the live Where’s Waldo scavenger hunt. Find out all the details at Kinder Books’ website.
Step back into the past.
You can make a day of it exploring New Westminster’s history, if you’re so inclined. You can take the family down to Anvil Centre to check out the New Westminster Museum, where the permanent gallery traces more than 10,000 years of New Westminster history. The smaller Gallery 7 now houses Reconciling, made up of three installations that address truth and reconciliation.
Then you can wander down to the waterfront and check out the Samson V Maritime Museum, where the kids can explore the last surviving wooden steam-powered sternwheeler to operate in Canada.
You can also stroll over to Irving House (302 Royal Ave.) to check out the home, built in 1859, that belonged to Captain William Irving and family. Irving House also offers a variety of registered programs, run through the city’s parks and recreation department — like Faery Fantasy for four-to-six-year-olds, and Heritage Embroidery for teens and adults. Check out the city’s Summer Active Living Guide for details.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected]
