As you count down the last days of school, you may need some suggestions with what to do with all of the extra time you are about to have. Not to worry, I have done a little research and here are some (mostly outdoor) activities for the many hours you will now have to yourself.
- Canada Day. To start off, July 1 is Canada Day! Although this year will be a bit different, there are still opportunities to celebrate with your own families. The City of New Westminster is even offering a family Canada Day Kit (registration required) that includes activities and supplies to help celebrate.
- Burnaby Village Museum. This is an outdoor heritage museum located nearby, just off of Canada Way. Admission is free and online reservations are required in advance.
- Art Downtown. The Vancouver Visual Art Foundation has an outdoor summer program that exhibits art, along with the artists and live music in a few locations downtown. This would be a great opportunity to see some artwork outside, interact with artists and even learn about different techniques used in their creations.
- Spray Parks and Wading Pools. Yes you can reserve times at swimming pools, but if you just want a quick trip to the park to cool off and play, spray parks are the way to go! They are located all over the lower mainland including Burnaby and close by in New Westminster.
- Beaches. I will almost always include the beach for any outdoor activity. It’s so great for exploring, relaxing, swimming and playing! What’s not to love?
- Yoga. There are a number of free online yoga classes that you can watch to get some exercise on a rainy day, including Cosmic Kids Yoga on Youtube. The instructor, Jaime, tells stories during her online classes, incorporating the yoga postures. If you would rather do some yoga outside, checkout the matcollective.com that offers free or by donation yoga classes around the lower mainland.
- Volunteer. A great way to learn some skills and support your community is to volunteer. Although there aren’t as many positions available this year you can always find some opportunities to help through the City of Burnaby or help with shoreline clean-up.
- Greenways. Throughout the lower mainland there are many trails and areas to explore nature right in the middle of our busy cities. There are a number of spots perfect for walking or biking, including greenways in North Vancouver, Vancouver and Burnaby.
- Geocaching. This is something I haven’t yet tried, but I really want to give it a shot this summer! Basically it is like a giant, outdoor, world wide treasure hunt. You can download an application such as this one and use GPS coordinates to find little “treasures” that you can take as long as you leave items behind of equal value. This is something that can be done with friends, family or on your own!
- READ! Yes of course I was going
to include this! But you can read almost anywhere: the park, a beach, your backyard. You can start up a weekly book club that meets in a park or find a cozy spot to read by yourself. Don’t forget, the Burnaby Public Library has a summer reading club that they put on every year in conjunction with the BC public libraries. The theme this year is “Crack the Case” and you can participate online or pick up your supplies in person. Included is also an additional summer challenge and the opportunity to write the ending to a mystery play called Misadventure at the Lighthouse.
Whatever you decide to do this summer, stay safe and try something new! I can’t wait to hear about your summertime adventures in September!