March Break fun in and around Ottawa

Looking for something fun to do with the kids over March Break next week? Here are a few ideas.

For animal lovers

Photo of Butterflies Go Free at the Montreal Botanical Garden copyright Laura Byrne Paquet.

Critter-loving kids will probably run out of time before they run out of things to see and do at Space for Life, a collection of attractions in the shadow of Montreal’s old Olympic Stadium. Comprising the Insectarium, the Biodome, the Planetarium and the Montreal Botanical Garden, it’s fun anytime but especially so at the minute for butterfly lovers, as the Butterflies Go Free event has taken over the garden’s tropical greenhouse. Countless jewel-toned butterflies flit about, and this year’s displays focus on cocoons and caterpillars.

The Canadian Museum of Nature is usually closed on Mondays in the winter, but it’s open during March Break, all the better to accommodate folks who want to see the Walking With Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet 3D movie or taste a mealworm with apple and honey. (I swear I am not making that last one up.)

The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is rolling out its annual Barnyard Break (March 12 to 20) to draw families during March Break. You and the kids can learn how to make butter or maple taffy (sounds tastier than mealworms!), watch cows being milked, or meet a rabbit.

For arts and crafts

The Champlain Trail Museum and Pioneer Village in Pembroke has a range of kids’ activities for March Break, including a First Nations craft workshop on Monday, March 14, and a pioneer craft workshop on Friday, March 18.

Here’s a deal for everyone: You can spend a few hours exploring Almonte’s super-cute shops while your budding Picasso enjoys a drop-in class at JB Arts. Depending on the day, kids aged 6 to 14 can dig into painting, drawing, mixed media, clay and other types of art. Call in advance to make sure there’s space, as these classes sold out last year.

The Merrickville Public Library has organized drop-in fun for school-aged kids throughout the week—everything from Easter egg painting to Star Wars origami.

For outdoorsy types

Mount Pakenham is offering three-, four- and five-day skiing day camp programs for kids aged 6 to 14, including instruction and lunch, starting at $199.

The NCC has all sorts of suggestions for free March Break activities in the Greenbelt, ranging from hiking at Stony Swamp to taking the self-guided trail through the Mer Bleue Bog.

Photo courtesy of Wheeler’s and Lanark County Tourism.

Puppet shows, pancakes and tree-tapping demonstrations are among the fun on the menu during Maple Madness (March 12 to 20, March 26 and 27, and April 2 and 3) at the Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area in Kingston. And in McDonald’s Corners in Lanark County, Wheelers Maple has a Maple March Break Festival. (If you’re looking for more maple sugar bushes to discover, check out the list toward the end of my road trip roundup post from a couple of weeks ago.)

For history buffs

At the Canadian Museum of History, you can try all sorts of activities related to the current Vikings exhibit—hey, how often do you get the chance to make an old-fashioned helmet or meet a real live Viking (re-enactor)? And if you haven’t yet caught the Thomas the Train Engine exhibition, March Break offers the perfect opportunity.

Do you have a small royalist in the family? Then the Commonwealth Day celebrations at the Bytown Museum (Monday, March 14) may be just his or her cup of Earl Grey tea (in fact, you’ll get a free cuppa with your admission that day). As well as learning about the days when the sun never set on the British Empire, and the more recent history of Britain’s former colonies around the world, you can check out the museum’s recently renovated youth activity area.

For parade lovers

An alternative to OC Transpo? Maybe! Flickr/Creative Commons photo of Ottawa’s St. Patrick’s Day parade by Michelle Tribe.

March Break coincides with St. Patrick’s Day this year, so there are lots of chances to see marching bands, clowns and floats in a variety of parades. You can kick off March Break at the parade in Douglas on March 11, Syracuse on March 12, Ottawa on March 19 and Montreal on March 20.

For science fans

Among other amusements, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum is offering a LEGO contest (advance registration required), a workshop where you can make aliens out of modelling clay and Star Trek-themed activities during March Break.

Many of the March Break activities in this roundup from Brockville Tourism have a scientific theme, including the Tinker Lab at the Brockville Public Library and a seed exhibition at the Brockville Museum.

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