At Scanlon Creek Conservation Area, most of the fun this March Break is out-of-doors, at the Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority’s Spring into Scanlon March Break day camp.
Held March 12 to 15 at the Conservation Area just north of Bradford, the daily adventure camp attracted about 30 kids between the ages of 6 and 12 each day.
Activities included outdoor games like Freeze Tag, tapping maple trees in the Sugar Bush, making maple taffy in the snow, geocaching, and taking a kicksledding trip to the Children’s Discovery Garden at Scanlon.
But before campers could tackle the steep slope that led to the Discovery Garden, an outdoor adventure playground, they had to learn how to handle the kicksleds – how to push, steer and brake.
It was hard work at first, until the kids learned how to use their weight to drive the sled forward, and then bring it to a stop. Then they went kicksledding along the trails, before returning to the Nature Centre for lunch and more activities.
There are other outdoor opportunities for families over the March Break.
The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority is holding a March Break Family Day at the Tiffin Centre for Conservation, 8195 Line 8 in Essa Twp., on Friday, March 15.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., visitors can tour Tiffin’s maple sugar bush and visit the sugar shack; then try snowshoeing and kicksledding, play a round of disc golf, try crafts indoors, and explore the forest with a scavenger hunt.
If the temperatures rise and the snow melts, the Centre will substitute geocaching and orienteering for snowshoeing. Tickets are $7.50 in advance; $10 per person at the door (free for children 3 and under). Pre-registration is recommended, at their website for the family-friendly events.
And there are March Break activities planned at Maple Heights Farms, 3358 Line 5 in Innisfil, where Maple Heights Syrup and Innisfil Creek Honey and honey products will be for sale, with all proceeds going to the new Rizzardo Health and Wellness Centre. For more information, check out MapleHeightsFarms on Facebook.com.
