WINTER ACTIVITIES

It may be cold and grey (or even wet) outside, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stay at home! Find the gloves, pop on a hat, and escape the house for some fun! There’s a whole host of things to do together, or activities to join for little ones, to help keep them happy and inspired on the winter days ahead.

FESTIVE FUN FOR ALL 3-11 YEAR OLDS AT THE BEEHIVE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CLUBS!

Children are in for a week of festive fun at the Beehive Holiday Clubs with their mix of activities including sports, arts and crafts, cooking, traditional games and toys, gaming consoles, outdoor adventures, Christmas films, discos, magic shows with added festive silliness from Crazy Colin AND a visit from Father Christmas! Days are 8am-6pm with morning (£20), afternoon (£20) and all-day sessions (£36) available. All activities & snacks are included and HAF codes accepted. Block book the whole week or pick and choose the days, the choice is yours. Online registration and booking is open now! Book their Christmas Holiday Club at Crown Wood Primary School and Wooden Hill Primary School 19th – 23rd December and Nine Mile Ride Primary School 21st – 23rd December. Father Christmas is visiting on 21st December (morning Nine Mile Ride, afternoon Crown Wood & Wooden Hill), an additional £5 will be charged per child (includes a present). W: www.beehiveclub.co.uk

THE BEAUTIFUL NATURE DISCOVERY CENTRE AT THATCHAM HAS HAD A REFURBISHMENT!

The new-look café at Nature Discovery Centre at Thatcham is now serving a warming winter menu including soup, pastries, jacket potatoes, chilli and curry for eating indoors, on the lakeside terrace or for takeaway. Their nature-themed gift shop has a new range of sustainable and environmentally-friendly toys and gifts, and upstairs they are excited to welcome visitors to a brand new ‘hide in the sky’ to get a bird’s-eye view of all the wild goings on! Plus, enjoy all the old favourites: beautiful walks around the wildlife lake, shipping container bird hides and their popular playground. W: bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/nature-discovery-centre

MAGICAL, FREE ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES THIS WINTER AT MERL

This winter at The Museum of English Rural Life in Reading, explore the galleries with their range of free trails and activities. For more things to do, try their Winter Family Activity pack with activities to do in the galleries, in the garden and at home. Join them for a special MERLy Christmas shopping event on 27th November to meet local suppliers, try a family craft activity and enjoy a treat in The MERL cafe! Their popular Magical Lights event returns to the garden at the end of term. Wrap up warm and explore the magic of light through a host of activities inspired by the collections! W: merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on

SET YOUR COMPASS FOR CORAL REEF THIS WINTER!

One of the most popular leisure destinations in the region, Coral Reef Waterworld is guaranteed fun for all shipmates of all ages this winter! Jump in and whizz down the five amazing waterslides with pirate ship, erupting volcano, rapids, bubble pool and new splash pad! Christmas Holiday and New Year sessions are now bookable online too. Accessible sessions, groups and quieter holiday parents and toddler sessions are also all available and children under 5 swim for just £1! Coral Reef is open rain or shine with a restaurant, party booking options, parking and shop for all your poolside needs! W: www.everyoneactive.com/coral-reef-waterworld

HAVE FUN AND STRETCH CURIOUS MINDS AT THE LOOK OUT DISCOVERY CENTRE

Have you ever wondered whether you could capture a shadow? Or been curious about what your insides look like? Explore your curiosities and more this winter at The Look Out Discovery Centre, a hands-on science exhibition where you and your family can spend a marvellous day out. Whether you want to learn how to build a giant marble run, launch a hot air balloon, or play the laser harp, there’s something for everyone in the science exhibition! In the stunning location of Swinley Forest you can enhance your visit with a wintery walk in the woods, followed by cosying up with a gingerbread hot chocolate and sausage roll from Woodlarks Café. Tickets are available to prebook online. W: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/leisure-services/look-out-discovery-centre

KEEP WARM THIS WINTER BY EXPLORING A RAINFOREST – WITHOUT LEAVING THE UK

The Living Rainforest near Newbury, Berkshire is home to 700 species of plants and animals. It has a stunning collection of dramatic and rare plant and animal species all set within an indoor rainforest with tropical temperatures. Perfect to get away from it all over the winter months. They have plants with spectacular leaves, iguana, caiman, goeldi’s monkeys, even a freeranging sloth. Over the years the Living Rainforest has become the traditional Christmas Holiday Meeting point so take the family along and join one of their rainforest tours. Their tour guides really know their “Stuff” and can point out all the things that are easy to overlook & they are happy to answer all your questions. Take your time stroll around and imagine you are in a real jungle. W: https://livingrainforest.org

LET YOUR LITTLE STAR GET A TASTE FOR PERFORMING AT A STAGECOACH CHRISTMAS WORKSHOP!

Stagecoach Bracknell run dance drama and singing classes every Saturday during term time in Harmans Water. Their aim is to be creative, imaginative, build on confidence and resilience and do this by having lots of fun! Classes are run by dedicated industry professionals with a passion for performing arts, a desire to pass on their skills and learning to students and a huge amount of enthusiasm and energy to engage children and young people in performance. Join their no obligation two week trial in January, or their Christmas workshop on 19th -20th December for a taste of what they are about! E: bracknell@stagecoach.co.uk W: stagecoach.co.uk/bracknell

BOOST YOUR CHILD’S CONFIDENCE WITH THE EXPERIENCED TEAM AT STEPPIN OUT

Steppin Out continues to be one of Berkshire’s leading Theatre schools in Woodley and Wokingham for children aged 3½-18 years old. They have just started working on their performances for their annual glittering awards ceremony in November, the Woodley Carnival in December, as well as their performance which will go live on stage at Disneyland Paris in 2023. To book your FREE taster for their award winning, fully inclusive school please contact Shelley directly. T: 07970 034488 E: shelley@steppinoutstars.co.uk You can also submit an ‘enrol me now’ form on their website: www.steppinoutstars.co.uk

Mini Hip Hop Mon | 4:00PM to 5:00PM £46.80/term

Mini Cheer

Sun | 4:00PM to 5:00PM £50/term

Little Actors

Sat | 10:30AM to 12:00PM £100/term

F ree 2 Week Tryouts

Junior Hip Hop

Mon | 5:00PM to 7:30PM Technique Classes & Competition Crews £46.80-£117/term

Youth & Junior Cheer

Tue & Sun | 5:00PM to 7:30PM Technique Classes & Competition Crews £100/term

Junior Theatre Company

Sat | 9:00AM to 12:00PM // 12:00PM to 3:00PM Appear in two showcases per year! £150/term

info@artemis-studios.co.uk 01344 429403

www.artemis-studios.co.uk www.bracknellcheer.co.uk

FREE 2 week tryout in any class! All classes held in Bracknell FREE and discounted holiday classes and workshops

Classes for ages 7-24

Ofsted registered

Childcare vouchers / Tax Free Childcare accepted

FREE 2-WEEK TRY OUT AT ARTEMIS STUDIOS – A CHILDREN’S PERFORMING ARTS CHARITY

Artemis Studios is a children’s performing arts charity offering outstanding training for children and young people. They specialise in musical theatre productions, acting and musical theatre exams, and have competitive cheerleading and hip hop crews. They are Ofsted registered and accept childcare vouchers or Tax-Free Childcare payments. With incredible, qualified staff they offer classes from just 4 years old - through to 24! Artemis classes are subsidised - no student pays more than £5 an hour. Why not go along to their upcoming family production of The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition – February 2023 at South Hill Park? Sign up now for a free two-week try out for acting, singing, dancing, Hip Hop or Cheer! W: www.artemis-studios.co.uk | www.artemis.college

#weareetonend

Co-ed Nursery & Prep School Rising 3 to 11 years

35 Eton Road Datchet Berkshire SL3 9AX www.etonend.org

KEEP FIT, MAKE FRIENDS AND LEARN TO PERFORM WITH RAZZAMATAZ NEWBURY!

Razzamataz offers fun and funky classes in drama, singing and street dance, which will give your child the opportunity to make new friends and keep fit, while developing their selfconfidence, communication and teamworking skills! On top of this, there are lots of extra opportunities to perform – such as London’s West End or DisneyLand Paris! It’s not too late to join in the fun – go along and try them out for free in January! Call Debbi directly on or visit their website for details of classes and times. T: 01635 905404 E: newbury@razzamataz.co.uk W: www.newbury.razzamataz.co.uk

STAGECOACH AIMS TO INSPIRE STUDENTS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Stagecoach Performing Arts was founded in 1988 and continues to grow as the UK’s largest network of extra-curricular performing arts schools for children, with 55,000 students enrolled in their weekly classes worldwide. One of the first extracurricular children’s performing arts schools in the country, they aim to inspire students, making a difference in their lives by teaching Creative Courage For Life®. With over 300 franchisees and 3,000 schools and classes worldwide delivering 5,000 hours per week, Stagecoach has a global presence with schools in countries including Canada, Germany, Malta, Spain, Gibraltar, Australia. Notable alumni are Emma Watson, Jamie Bell, Eleanor Tomlinson, Tuppence Middleton, Tom Fletcher, Dani Harmer, Josh Cuthbert, Danny Mac and Charlotte Jaconelli. Find Stagecoach on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stagecoachtheatrearts and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/stagecoach_gbr. For more information visit the website www.stagecoach.co.uk

Half-Term Resilience Course

February 13th & 14th

10am-4pm, Wokingham Ages: 8-13 Piano, Singing, Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute, Recorder, Guitar, Ukulele, Violin, Drums, Music Theory and Music Composition

The Nature Discovery Centre

Registered charity no. 204330

New winter menu Nature-based gift shop

Photo: Hazel Fell

e Nature Discovery Centre RG13 3FU / 01635 874381 bbowt.org.uk/nature-discovery-centre