Not sure how to keep the kids busy during this lockdown school holiday? There are a wide variety of family-friendly, fun offerings available across our three local councils. From cooking to gardening, treasure hunts and online nature talks, there is something to please everyone!
Check out what activities your local council is offering these school holidays.
Banyule
Local Wildlife and Ecology
Friday, 24 September 2021 | 06:30PM - 08:30PM
We are fortunate to have many highly valued conservation areas and wildlife corridors that help support our local wildlife. Kim, a wildlife rescuer from Wildlife Victoria who is also a local wildlife carer, will talk to you about some of the fascinating local animals and their ecology which you may come across in our urban environment.
Gardening Workshop for Kids
Thursday, 30 September 2021 | 02:00PM - 03:00PM
The Macleod Organic Community Garden will host an inclusive range of fun activities that provide opportunities for families to learn about growing food, seed and seedlings plantings, and prepare our children for a healthier future.
After you book your place, collect your gardening kit from one of our local libraries and join in our online workshop for kids.
Explore local wildlife and how to sustain nature
Thursday, 30 September 2021 | 07:00PM - 08:00PM
What species may be living in your backyard or local park and how can you help them to thrive? Jacinta Humphrey from La Trobe University will address these questions using examples from her research into the impacts of urban development on birds. Our biodiversity officer Paul Davis will talk about how to attract wildlife to your garden and outline some wildlife gardening principles, as well as inform you about our Gardens for Wildlife program, so you too can contribute to enhancing our local biodiversity.
Mindfulness and Yoga for Kids
These online sessions will be an introduction to mindfulness and physical practice in strength and flexibility. Teaching children how to use the breath to control different emotions, boost confidence and maintain a healthy mind. Beneficial for stress, anxiety, and personal growth. My Serenity yoga classes are structured specifically for children and are fun and playful. These classes are suitable for school-aged kids.
Mindfulness and Yoga for Teens
These online sessions offer a little more insight into body awareness, and for balancing adolescent anxiety with tools in stress relief. Feel confident as we challenge balance and strength. Self-doubt is not an issue as you will learn to concur with something new. Take this practice and apply teachings throughout other aspects of your life.
Cooking Workshop for Kids
Join a chef on a cooking adventure from home!
Hosted by Foost, this fully interactive class has children cook along and make some delicious scrolls and thumbprint cookies. Children of any age are welcome, but younger children will need more assistance. Come along, cook together and then enjoy a delicious snack.
Biodiversity Photo Contest
Our local animals, plants and landscapes are diverse and inspiring. Have a camera?
If you are a Banyule resident, share a photo of a local native plant, animal or natural landscape for your chance to win free plant vouchers.
You can submit 1 photo, so send us your best shot!
Winners will receive plant vouchers redeemable at our locally supported, indigenous nurseries.
Solve a Nature Mystery
Come and enjoy this 1.2km self-guided audio tour through the beautiful Rosanna Parklands. Using a coded map to guide you, discover hidden clues, examine bush evidence and take advice from the local creatures to help you solve the riddle that has sugar glider all wound up! Suitable for the whole family, this nature mystery tour will particularly appeal to junior sleuths aged 4-10 years. Bring water, use sunscreen and dress appropriately. You will need a portable device with internet access in order to participate in the audio tour.
Nillumbik
Try It Out Tuesdays: DIY Tin Can Planter Boxes
Tuesday, 21 September 2021 | 2:00PM - 4:00PM
Learn how to upcycle tin cans into trendy plant pots! Participants will also learn how to make a macrame style plant holder to hang their plant tin with!
Waterbug Activity (Online)
Wednesday, 22 September 2021 | 10:30AM - 11:30AM
If you have curious kids who’d like to learn more about the water bugs that platypus eat (or if you want to find out more about these fascinating creatures), come along to a free webinar on 22 September. You will be provided with an insight into different kinds of water bugs, including dragonfly larvae, mosquito larvae, beetles and snails. In this all-ages webinar, you’ll get to learn about water bugs and see what they look like under a magnifying glass.
Gaming Hangout
Thursday, 23 September 2021 | 2:00PM - 4:00PM
Join Nillumbik Youth for the ultimate gaming session! Participants can battle it out in any online, PC or mobile game of their choice.
Try It Out Tuesdays: DIY Upcycled Wallet
Tuesday, 28 September 2021 | 2:00PM - 4:00PM
Join Nicola to learn how to upcycle a tetra milk carton into a cool wallet!
Trivia Thursday
Thursday, 30 September 2021 | 2:00PM - 4:00PM
Grab your friends together for a battle of knowledge. Prizes are up for grabs for the ultimate quiz wiz!
Nature Treasure Hunt
Join us in the self-guided Nature Treasure Hunt through Nillumbik! Nature is all around us, from backyards and suburban streets to bushland reserves and rural landscapes.
Exploring nature is fun and easy to do. There is so much to discover. Download your Nillumbik Nature Treasure Hunt postcard and see what you can find, whether that's in your back yard, on a walk through the neighbourhood or on one of our trails or down at your local park.
Diamond Creek Self-Guided Bike Tour
Family bike rides along the Diamond Creek Trail will be even more fun when you have the chance to spot decals along the way and learn all about platypuses! On the trail between Edendale Community Environment Farm in Eltham and Allendale Road, keep your eyes peeled for 10 decals along the path with fun facts about the life cycle, unique and quirky features of the platypus, as well as tips on what we can all do to preserve their habitat. The decals will be spread over a round trip of approximately 5kms. Start at Edendale with decal 1 and do the round trip to see if you can spot all 10 decals!
Whittlesea
Trivia
Session 1: Wednesday 22 September | 4:00PM - 5:30PM
Session 2: Wednesday 29 September | 4:00PM - 5:30PM
Are you ready to put your pop culture knowledge to the test?
Young people within the City of Whittlesea are invited to take part in a fun, youth-focused trivia event!
Assemble your friends to take part or make some new friends within the session while we cover music, movies, TV shows and general pop culture knowledge.
Online Escape Room Experience
Thursday 23 September 2021 | 3:00PM - 5:00PM
Young people aged 12–18, who live or study in the City of Whittlesea, are invited to take part in an online interactive Escape Room experience. Through interacting with a real-time actor, you will work together with other participants to solve a series of puzzles to reveal the mystery of the situation of the main character. Isolation is designed and delivered by Melbourne Escape Rooms, via Zoom. Cost: $5
Civic Leadership Workshop
Thursday 30 September | 1:30PM – 4:30PM
Young People within the City of Whittlesea are invited to take part in the Civic Leadership workshop delivered by the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY), exploring the concept of civic leadership through active citizenship and how this can be used to make positive change in your community.
By participating in this workshop, you will:
• Develop an understanding of what Civic Leadership and Active Citizenship means and how you may be able to take part in it
• Recognise the importance of having your voice heard
• Learn how to enrol to vote and run for local election
Positive Image Competition
Join other young people aged 12–25, in sharing positive photos throughout these school holidays for your chance to win some great prizes. If you're looking for inspiration, try and snap a photo that relates to the following categories: wellbeing, LGBTIQ+, wildlife, mental health, fitness, healthy living, culture, safe & happy places in CoW, environment/sustainability, or springtime.
To submit your photo, complete the online form, or visit Baseline's Facebook or Instagram pages and leave them a message.