EZY-BREEZY Spring School Holiday Guide!

The weather’s warming up and the kids are keen to get out and enjoy themselves, with two whole weeks of school holidays stretching out in front of them. But while it may not quite be beach weather yet, there’s plenty of free and affordable ways to keep them happy these holidays thanks to a great program of activities from Newcastle and Lake Macquarie City Councils.

Newcastle Region Libraries

Just because you’re inside doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy elements of the great outdoors, with the chance to create a gorgeous garden mobile or ornament out of recycled aluminium cans.

The free one-hour workshop will be held across five of the Newcastle Region Libraries from September 26 to 29 and is suitable for children aged 9 to 14 years.

Children will also have the chance to Bee Amazed at Stockton (October 5) and Hamilton (October 6) libraries. Learn about the amazing world of bees, sample some honeycomb and create a native bee hotel to take home.

Still on the insect theme, head over to New Lambton (October 4) and Wallsend (October 5) libraries for the Travel Bugs workshop, for a chance to learn more about the creepy crawlies that live in the garden.

If your kids are looking for something with a little more bite then the Crocodile Encounters at Adamstown (September 28) and Beresfield (September 29) libraries will give them something to really sink their teeth into. For just $7 they can get up close with a crocodile during this fun and interactive one-hour wildlife experience, which features a range of reptiles and it suitable for children aged five to twelve.

There’s plenty on offer for the teenager in the family too, with Upcycled T-shirt Crafternoons on September 27 and October 4, a DIY Flower Crown workshop (September 29, $5) and an Animate and Create activity that will teach them how to make an awesome stop motion animation on their iPad (October 6).

Bookings for all activities are essential. To find what’s on near you, visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Library/Whats-On

Newcastle Museum
Everyone loves to experiment, and there’s no better place to tap into your scientific side than at Newcastle Museum’s free Science Shows, where you will experience explosions, learn more about the workings of all things great and small, and dive into the fascinating world of chemicals.

The popular shows are sure to fill up fast, with three sessions every day on September 26 and 28 and October 3 and 5.

But that’s not the only entertainment on offer at the museum these holidays, with a special community exhibition - Hunter Water turns 125, proving that school isn’t the only place you can learn something new.

Hunter Water and Newcastle Museum are giving the public access to fascinating historical photos, memorabilia and tools of a bygone era to showcase how our local water and sewer system has evolved over time.

The museum is open every day of the school holidays from 10am to 5pm, visit www.newcastlemuseum.com.au for more details.

Newcastle Art Gallery
You can always rely on the Newcastle Art Gallery to keep things interesting, with a series of workshops and tours sure to educate and inspire children of all ages.

Kick off the holidays with the popular Torchlight Tour of the gallery on Saturday, September 23 from 6pm-7.30pm. The tour costs $10 per child (accompanying adults are free), and entry includes all art materials and snacks – you just have to remember to bring your own torch.

Kids will also have the chance to get creative at the Mad Heads art workshop, which will be run three times a day from September 25-29. The one-hour workshop costs $10 and will see children create pinch pots with modelling clay to make a unique 3D clay character they can take home with them.

In the second week of the holidays, the Magic Blue Print art workshop will teach participants about the cyanotype printing process and allow them to create a blue print of silhouette images. It will be held three times a day from October 3 to 6 and cost $10.

Bookings are essential for the tour and the workshops. Visit www.nag.org.au for more details.

Lake Macquarie Libraries
Whether you like craft or computers, reading stories or programming robots, there will be something for every child at Lake Macquarie’s libraries these holidays.

Join volunteers from Ocean and Coastal Care Initiatives Lake Macquarie at the hands-
on Sea Creatures of Lake Macquarie workshop at Morisset Library on September 27, or learn more about aerodynamics at the Fold and Fly: Paper Plane Making workshop at Swansea Library on September 26.

Cardiff Library will host a Design, Build, Program Robotics workshop on September 27, perfect for children aged eight to 14, while crafty children can learn how to knit and crochet at the Lost Skill of Wool Craft at Toronto Library on October 6.

There will be plenty more activities on offer across the two weeks, so visit www.library.lakemac.com.au/kids/school-holiday-fun for details and to book your place.

Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery
Children can tap into their more artistic side at the art gallery, with a host of workshops exploring everything from Creative Bookmaking (September 26, October 3), to Re-using Old Books to Make Beautiful Artworks (September 27 and October 4). Both workshops cost $20 per child and run for two hours.

Bookings are essential. Visit www.artgallery.lakemac.com.au or contact 4921 0382 or for more details.

Charlestown, West Wallsend and Swansea Swim Centres
The weather is heating up, so there’s no better time to dive into the Intensive Learn to Swim Program at Lake Macquarie’s three swim centres.

Boost your child’s confidence in the water with this intensive five-day program, which has beginner to transition levels available.

Suitable for children aged three years and older, the program will run from September 25 to 29 and again from October 2 to 5.

Bookings are required for the $55 program by calling Charlestown on 4921 0782, West Wallsend on 4921 0738 or Swansea on 4921 0733.