How to Win Spring Break 2014

Stir-crazy young ones can release their energy at Origins, BC’s only Parkour gym and academy. Hiding on the third floor of Main Street’s Planet Bingo building, Origins is a cutting-edge training facility: a sleek, modern reception, mountain views and daylight streaming in to 8000 square feet, replete with a beautiful graffitti-inspired floor-to-ceiling mural. Origins offers half-day camps during spring break and all-ages open gym during the late afternoon and evenings. Wooden structures painted in faux brick, bars, vaults, a spring floor, a climbing wall and a raised foam pit invite adults and children alike to explore the limits of their bodies-and the limits that structure imposes on psyche. Freestyle gymnastics and strength training merge in a discipline that pushes both body and mind. Amidst the playground feel of this gymnasium-slash-skateboard park, moms and dads relax while kids are a-moving. originsparkour.com

Join musical instrument inventor George Rahi and his Musical Bicycles at ArtStarts on March 29 or at the Westminster Quay River Market on March 30. Experiment with the surprising sounds of bicycles in a free interactive performance and workshop. artstarts.com

In a museum setting, Isaac Vanderhorst, visual arts instructor and education coordinator will be teaching two camps, both for ages 6-8 at the West Vancouver Museum. Students learn about Ukiyoe, an ancient whimsical Japanese art of blot printing (grandfather to animé). Vanderhorst will also be teaching them a cross-section of art-history and media, from painting to silk-screening, and sculpture. westvancouvermuseum.ca

Young soccer fans can take their game to the next level with Whitecaps Football Club’s Spring Skills Camps at South Surrey Athletic Park and at Point Grey Field. Whitecaps FC legend and former Canadian World Cup captain Sam Lenarduzzi leads the training, with first-team athletes and Whitecaps mascot Spike dropping in for visits. whitecapsfc.com

Composer, producer and traditional Lil’wat singer Russell Wallace offers a free, family-friendly Coast Salish Singing & Drumming Workshop on Wednesday, March 26 at the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. A true expansion of cultural horizons. sfuwoodwards.ca

The secret’s out: the public can access private school spring break camps at West Point Grey Academy, tailored to ages 4-11. It’s one extended playdate featuring ping pong, floor hockey, computer games, lego, cooking, cupcakes, beach walks, improv and scavenger hunts set on WPGA’s schoolgrounds, complete with sweeping views of English Bay and the North Shore mountains. wpga.ca

Using motors, sensors and building elements, students build simple machines and robots at Robokids day-camp or they can learn script writing, cinematography and post-production skills with Cinevolution Media Arts. Just two fresh offerings among the Richmond Arts Centre’s line-up of unique educational ideas. richmond.ca

Toys take to life through stories, scavenger hunts, crafts and performances at the Spring Break Scavenger Hunt at Burnaby Village Museum. Every afternoon from March 17-28, storybook toys leave behind clues and families sniff out their trail. Crafts, a tea party and a story-telling adventure round out the package-if you can manage to wrench your children off a spin on the historic carousel. burnabyvillagemuseum.ca