kids’ stuff
Kidding Around:
YXE’s Best Places for Kids & Teens If you’re in the market for a great combination of everything engaging, entertaining and educational for the little ones, pile in the car and get ready to taste some of Saskatoon’s best camps, programming and kid-friendly businesses! Fun with Learning The Saskatoon Public Library (saskatoonlibrary.ca) is loaded with kid- and familyfocused programs and events, including puppet shows, Code Club for Kids (which teaches kids 8–12 how to write computer code), and movement programs such as Family Yoga or the Family Dance Party—a dance party in the library where staff encourage kids to groove to popular music. The SPL also offers Family Storytime in English, Mandarin and French, while for the tween or teenager in your home, they can check out Teen Paint Night and Write Out Loud, which introduces them to spoken word poetry. All library programs and materials are free.
Visit Clip ’n Climb (cncyxe.ca) to find 24 different climbing walls full of obstacles and extra challenges, including a vertical drop slide, which simply has to be experienced to be believed! The walls, which vary in difficulty, are suitable for ages 3 to 4 and up. Once clipped into the harness in front of whichever wall, you’ll feel safe and have fun in this colourful, bright environment, perfect for those who love a new thrill.
The University of Saskatchewan has learning and experiential camps (kidscamps.usask.ca) that offer myriad options: they have Band Camp, Aspiring Young Artist Camp, Drama Camp and a Summer Academy for Voice and Piano. For young scholars, there have SCI-FI Science Camps and the History, Politics and Governance camp at the Diefenbaker Canada Centre. The university also features summer activities such as swimming lessons, sport programs, and camps for young athletes. Just outside the city you’ll find beautiful nature and the museum and gallery exhibits of Wanuskewin Heritage Park (wanuskewin.com), perfect for an active day close to nature. They offer guided tours for specific programs such as tipi raising or a medicine walk, and from May to September they have a daily dance performance in the afternoon. Their online events calendar lists their summer kid’s camps (which focus on archeology, healing plants, respect for Mother Earth, etc.)
20 f low APRIL/MAY 2019
Text by Naomi Zurevinski with files from Paul Miazga All photos courtesy except as noted
