Ahh, the flowers are beginning to bloom, the grass is turning green and the birds are chirping. Is there anything better than springtime in Calgary? This is the perfect time to get outside, shake off your winter blahs and soak up the warmth of the coming season. Here are 10 ideas and tips to make sure that you and your family make the most of spring, while saving money and having fun!
1. Go on a mini vacation while being one with the outdoors. It’s the time of year when people try to get their first camping trip in; campsites aren’t that busy, it’s getting warmer, the air is crisp and fresh – and camping is the best way to get out there and enjoy it. Try something different and opt for sleeping in a tipi or a trapper’s tent. At only $57 to $79 per night, you’ll be paying much less than you would for a night at a hotel, and your kids will enjoy the cool experience. The season starts May 20, and you can call or go to the website for more information. (Sundance Lodge is located 45 minutes west of Calgary; check out www.sundancelodges.com or contact 1-403-591-7122.)
2. Stop and smell the lilacs at the 4th Street Lilac Festival on Sunday, May 29th, 2011. Considered to be Calgary’s best free festival, the Lilac Festival has something for everyone, including great food, entertainment, vendors and activities for kids. The parade starts at 10am and the festivities go on until 6pm. For more information on the event location, vendors and entertainment schedule, check out www.4streetcalgary.com/lilacfestival.
3. Go green and get crafty just in time for market season! Farmers’ markets will be popping up all around the city soon, and many are already open, so it’s the perfect time to get your children interested in visiting the markets. Pick up a couple canvas tote bags from a craft store, along with some fabric paint, fabric glue and any other decorative items you can find. Help your little ones decorate the totes with pictures of their favorite fruits and vegetables, flowers and other summery images. Use these bags instead of plastic ones when you go to the market with your family, and have your children pick out their favorite healthy items and carry them in their creations. Allowing your kids to be involved in choosing grocery items will promote healthy opinions of food and will encourage positive eating choices.
4. Help your kids find their inner Ansel Adams. If you don’t have enough cameras to go around, borrow some from a friend or pick up some inexpensive disposables. Head out on a photographic expedition into the city parks (to capture nature at its best), downtown (if architecture is your kids’ preference), or to the park with friends and family, so they can focus on getting candid pictures. You’ll be surprised how interested most children are in photography, and it’ll be refreshing to see their perspective on things once you’ve printed the photos. Pick out a few favorites and frame in some reasonably-priced frames (IKEA is a great place for cheap frames!).
5. Host a family game day and a picnic potluck! Invite friends and family and head to your back yard or a park for a day of classic games like relay races, 3 legged races and hula-hoop contests. Keep the costs down by asking everyone to bring one picnic item, like sandwiches, a salad, beverages or a dessert.
6. Have a tea party fit for a queen. This is a great ‘Mommy & Me’ activity, so try to dedicate a couple of hours to it. Early in the day, bake some cookies (have your little one help!) and put together some mini sandwiches. Set the table, put some pretty flowers in a vase and make plenty of room for your little one’s favorite stuffed animals. Also be sure to dress up for the occasion – it is a party, after all.
7. There aren’t any drive-in movie theatres left in Calgary, but that doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying a movie under the stars. Here’s what you’ll need: a table, a television and DVD player that you can set up in your back yard; blankets, pillows and cozy clothing to make sure that everyone is warm and comfortable; and an assortment of your family’s favorite snacks. Choose an outdoor-themed movie, like A Bug’s Life, Antz, Bee Movie, The Fantastic Mr. Fox or Indiana Jones. Start setting up around sunset, so you can see what you’re doing, and so you can begin the movie night as soon as it’s dark. It’ll feel like a night out with the family, but it’ll allow you to have more quality time together, and it’s free!
8. Set up a sundae or banana split bar and go bananas! Set out bowls of sprinkles, chocolate sauce, chopped fruit and frozen yogurt for a lightened up version of these classic treats. Also, try out a few tasty, not so classic ingredients like: cherry pie filling, canned peaches, dried fruit (like apricots and cranberries), pumpkin and sunflower seeds or lemon custard. Use up ingredients that you have in your pantry, to reduce cost, and watch everyone get creative in the kitchen!
9. Barbeque up a colorful feast that your kids will love to eat! We all know that it’s important to have a balanced diet, and a huge part of that involves making sure you and your family get a sufficient amount of vegetables. Easier said than done, no? As involving your kids in the shopping process, seen in Tip #3, gets them excited about food, involving them in cooking does the same. Next time you’re grilling up dinner on the barbeque, make a load of vegetable skewers to go along with it, and let your children assemble them.
First, soak some wooden or bamboo skewers in a dish of hot water for 20 minutes, and cut up a variety of vegetables into even-sized pieces (good options: white onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, asparagus, zucchini and whole cherry tomatoes). Have your children choose the vegetables they want and thread them onto the skewers (make sure they’re careful with the sharp ends!). Point out patterns and encourage them to use as many colors as they can. Afterward, place finished skewers in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper or your choice of spices. Place on a piece of foil on the barbeque, to prevent vegetables from falling through the grill, and cook for just a few minutes, or until vegetable skins start to darken.
10.Make healthy, homemade popsicles out of your child’s favorite fruit. In a blender, puree equal amounts fresh fruit (like berries, bananas, mangoes or pineapple) and low-fat plain or vanilla yogurt. Divide the mixture evenly into popsicle moulds or paper cups that have been sprayed lightly with cooking oil. Place in the freezer, and insert popsicle sticks after they’ve been freezing for an hour. Continue to freeze for at least another two hours before eating.
Stephanie is a freelance writer specializing in travel and food writing. For more information, visit www.stephaniearsenault.ca.
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