Our Savvy Scouts have been very busy enjoying all that there is to enjoy while the Olympics are in town. Here’s our savvy list of what to do and where to go with kids, because we want to make sure you make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
- Take a Walk: The atmosphere downtown is truly amazing. Key stops to make include the Olympic Cauldron, the bobsled, aboriginal totem pole carving and the official Olympic and Paralympics Countdown Clock all located on the Vancouver Art Gallery front lawn. Then go to Granville Street’s Lunar Fest. Then Robson Square Celebration Site to watch the skating at GE Plaza below and zip-trekking overhead. (Note: The large security fences surrounding the Cauldron have been moved forward, making picture-taking easier. There is now a roof-top viewing area from a one-storey building at 1055 Canada Place.)
- Take in an Olympic Tradition: Experience pin trading at Coca Cola Olympic Pin Trading areas—downtown in the Hudson Bay Company, the atrium of CTV’s downtown offices or out at the airport.
- Take the Seabus: Travel from North Vancouver to downtown (after possibly enjoying Winterfest at Lonsdale Quay). Not only will the kids enjoy the ride, but they will get a great view of the Olympic Cauldron, the floating Olympic Rings and maybe even a few seals along the way.
- Skate with the Mascots: Enjoy this daily, for a half hour at Robson Square Celebration Site (most days they are on at 1 pm, 3 pm and 6 pm, but be sure to check the website for updates). Try to get there early to ensure a good viewing spot on the rink perimetre.
- Head to Concord Celebration Zone: At the zone, visit the Right to Play Pavillion to play soccer (indoor or outdoor) and read about the project. Then head to the outdoor skating rink and have your kids try to score a hat-trick for a prize. If you are looking for a good place to get a photo, head to Molson Canadian Hockey House and pose with the giant Canadian goalie out front. Finally, take a walk along the seawall to view the hundreds of small Inukshuks along the rocky shore, and if your kids still have energy, then play at the playground between Science World (currently Russia’s Sochi House) and Concord Place. (Note: we actually found two-hour free parking off Main Street for this trip).
- Experience Speed Skating: Enjoy a small taste of speed skating at the outdoor rink, and then head over to the tented climbing area at Richmond O Zone. Yes, the O Zone is also the home of über-popular Heineken House, but that is definitely an activity to do without the kids as the line-ups have been quite long!
- Head Downtown: Visit LiveCity Downtown’s Canada Pavillion as it opens (11 am) to avoid the lines—there are lots of interactive games for kids, including virtual slapshot hockey, snowboarding and lots of trivia games, too. This pavilion is a Canadian Olympic sport museum. Afterwards if you are walking back towards the city, stop at the BC Powersmart Village to check out on the sustainable dance floor or to write on the Expression Wall.
- Enjoy the Sunshine: Hang out at the David Lam playground. From this vantage point, you have a partial view of the screens at LiveCity Yaletown, while the kids play. When you are done, head to LilliQ Café to grab a coffee and a snack.
- Ride the Olympic Line Streetcar: Don’t miss this unique experience! A short, free ride (you can do a round-trip) from the athletes’ OlympicVillage to Granville Island on a brand new Bombardier streetcar, and once you are done, enjoy the atmosphere on Granville Island, which is home to Atlantic Canada House, Place de la Francophonie and The House of Switzerland.
- Head over to West Vancouver Community Centre’s Spirit Square for more events and activities.
- Bonus! Go for a Drive: Head into Stanley Park after dusk and just before Brockton Oval, stop at the pull out to see the floating Olympic Rings lit up.
Have you been to any great Olympic events or activities? We’d love to hear about your Olympic experiences.
Rush, rush, rush. No matter how well organized, there’s always that last minute morning scurry as you check that everyone has their lunch bag and homework signed and then hustle your kids out of the door.
Then there’s pick-up. Some days you bring a snack in the car so they can eat on the way to gymnastics or karate. Other days you plan an early dinner so that they don’t have to swim on a full stomach. Some evenings you’re all too tired to persevere through homework assignments. Even weekends, best for catching up and taking a breath from a hectic schedule, are often filled with extracurricular activities for one or more of your children.
Ideally, my recommendation is for parents to explore as much as time and money will allow before their child goes into grade one since that is when both child and parent may have more free time. After that, it’s best to refine the choices according to your child’s interest and aptitude. I advise parents not to enroll their children in more than two extracurricular activities per week. When choosing activities, you may ask your child to choose one of the two. The second choice may be something that you are inclined towards—an essential life skill such as swimming, for example.
Children, like adults, can feel overwhelmed from always being on the run. By occupying our children every waking moment, we don’t teach them the value of down time and enjoying their own company during quiet moments.
Next calendar year, think about what you want for your child, for yourself and for your family. Instead of piano or dance being that extracurricular activity, make family night the activity instead. Having some time to relax and connect with each other can make all the difference.
Looking for an eco activity to get your family excited about Earth Day? Storm drain marking is a special activity that brought me precious one-on-one time with my young boys, helped educate my children and neighborhood about the environment, left a lasting memory, and involved no cost!
When I heard about an opportunity to mark storm drains, I immediately knew my kids would love to participate. I mean, what child doesn’t like fresh air, reflective vests, glue, and a hammer? Along with the process of marking drains, the kit comes with literature to distribute for residents to read about what ‘not’ to put into storm drains. This was my boys’ favorite part of the process and I loved watching people ask my kids what the pamphlets were for and listening to their answers. From the mouth of a babe—my younger son, Angelo, would simply reply, “I’m helping the fish”.
Storm drain marking is a conservation and education project developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The process is to apply fish stickers beside the storm drain and hammer the decal with a mallet approximately 50 times so the sticker absorbs into the grooves of the cement. This activity needs to be done on a clear day and takes two days to fully dry.
My boys and I marked a long road and tagged fish decals to 35+ storm drains. They still proudly point to the drains they marked knowing they helped improve their community. It was such a fun activity and will always be a favorite memory of quality time spent with my boys.
Tips for making this activity a success:
- Set a goal. Your children will be so proud when they finish marking all the drains in their neighborhood or street.
- Always remember safety concerns if marking with younger children—especially if the road has sharp corners or is a high-traffic area.
- Talk to your local fish hatchery, the Ocean and Fisheries Department, or environmental branch of City Hall until you find a kit you can reserve.
- Spring/summer is the best time to tackle storm drain marking because you need a stretch of good weather. Bring a hat and lots of water—it’s hard work on a hot day!
