If you are staying in Oakville this March Break the Recreation and Culture department offers programs to suit any taste: arts, adventure, athletics and more! Choose a week-long camp or mix it up with a day-by-day program. Extended care hours are also available. Both YMCA and Bronte Creek Provincial Park have great programs as well.
Week-at-a-glance camp schedules are provided for select camps so that you know what to bring, when off-ground permission forms are required, and so on.
Join us for the final skates at Oakville Arena!
We made a lot of memories here. The Town of Oakville invites you to say "goodbye" until we say "hello" to the new Oakville Arena in 2018 with two FREE skates! Enjoy free skating, cake, cookies and hot beverages on Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 1-2:30 p.m. and 3-4:30 p.m. at Oakville Arena.*
We also encourage you to share your stories and photos of this special Oakville landmark. If selected, your memories could be showcased at Oakville Arena! Certain restrictions apply. Please visit the Oakville Arena page for more information about these special events and submission details.
*While supplies last. All participants must wear skates and helmets are strongly recommended for adults and mandatory for children. Capacity restrictions apply.
Added Recreational Swimming times March 14 to 18!
Glen Abbey Community Centre
- March 14-17, Leisure swim, 2-3:30 p.m.
- March 18, Leisure swim, 3-4:30 p.m.
Iroquois Ridge Community Centre
- March 14, 15 and 17, Combo swim, 1:30-3 p.m.
Please note: The slide at Iroquois Ridge will be running during all March Break combo swims.
Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre
- March 14, Leisure swim, 1:30-3:30 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
- March 16, Leisure swim, 6-8 p.m.
- March 17, Leisure swim, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Added Recreational Skating times March 14 to 18!Glen Abbey Community Centre
- March 14 and 17, Public Skate, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Joshua's Creek Arenas
- March 14 and 16, Adult and Child Shinny Hockey (ages 5-8), noon-1:20 p.m.
- March 15 and 17, Adult and Child Shinny Hockey (ages 9-12), noon-1:20 p.m.
Sixteen Mile Sports Complex
- March 14, 16 and 18, Public Skate, 10-11:30 a.m.
All participants must wear skates for admission to public skating. Helmets are strongly recommended or mandatory for all programs. Capacity restrictions apply to all skates.
Skate and helmet rentals
New to skating, or just getting back into it, and you don't have skates and/or a helmet to participate? Skate and helmet rentals are now available at select locations including River Oaks Community Centre and Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Visit the Skate and Helmet Rentals page for more information
The extremely popular Beetle Bugs (ages 4-5), Bonanza (ages 6-9), and Break Out (ages 10-13) camps will be back at Glen Abbey Community Centre. Before and After Care is also available at this location for an additional fee (separate registration is required). Pick and choose your days or register for all five! A great number of these are full, but there are waiting lists as well as a few openings.
Please complete the general off-site permission form (PDF, 19 kB) for the Bonanza and Breakout programs and bring it with you on your first day. Additional waivers are required for select trips as noted.
These week-long programs at River Oaks Community Centre are ideal for the new player or the novice hockey star! A chance to learn new skills and improve on others, this camp provides 90 minutes of on-ice instruction and a different sport to try each day. Combine this with off-ice training and you have the complete package.
Three age groups are offered: Tyke (ages 5-7), Junior (ages 8-10) and Senior (ages 11-13). Depending on registration, age groups may be combined. This is not a learn to skate program; campers should be able to skate to get the most out of this camp. Full hockey equipment required.
Do you want to be a Goalie for a Day? We provide goalie equipment, campers can try this unique position. Goalie sign-up will be on the first day of camp.
Before and After Care included in camp fee. Camp runs from 8:30-4:30 p.m. Before Care is 7:30-8:30 a.m., After Care is 4:30 to 6 p.m. Ages may be combined based on registration. Staff is HIGH FIVE certified.
Babysitter Training [C]
Looking to get into the ‘babysitting’ business? Do you know what to do when you’re home alone? Babysitter Training [C] (ages 11-14) is offered Monday, March 14, or Friday, March 18, at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC).
Staff of Safety on Site (SOS) teach the program. Cost includes instruction, manual and certificate. Please bring along a lunch, drink, snack, pen and paper, and a LARGE DOLL/TEDDY BEAR to practice on. No peanuts or nut products please!
Home Alone [C]
Empower children (ages 9-12) with the confidence and skills to take care of themselves when they are Home Alone [C]. Taught by the staff of SOS-Safety on Site, this program includes Red Cross PeopleSavers Level 4, internet safety, and strategies for handling the unexpected. Offered on Monday, March 14 or Friday, March 18, at QEPCCC.
Lights Camera Action Educate Camp - Film Making [C]
Lights Camera Action Educate Camp - Film Making [C] (ages 9-12) is a week-long camp at River Oaks Community Centre.
Are you the next big movie star or director? Learn about the magic of movie making while filming live on location! While using our cameras, tripods and Macbooks, create the next big blockbuster and be the talk of the town!
With the specialist from Lights Camera Action Educate (C) learn how to use angles to tell your story and to record your tale on a storyboard. After filming, learn to edit, add sound effects, voices, music and special effects. When it's finished, you'll take your film home on DVD for viewing.
March Break Mix
March Break Mix (ages 7-10) is a week-long program of some of your favourite themes and activities at Iroquois Ridge Community Centre. We will mix it up with a different activity every morning, plus an afternoon swim every day! Join us:
- Monday – “Mask Making” by Sumaria (Arts Specialist with QEPCCC)
- Tuesday – “Birds of Prey” from Mountsberg Conservation Area
- Wednesday – “Morning at the Improv” with Amy of Oakville Improv
- Thursday – “A Celebration of Green” eco fun with Oakvillegreen
- Friday – “Mad Science” will present two workshops (topics TBA with takeaways for campers)
Before and After Care is available Iroquois Ridge Community Centre for an extra fee. Extended supervision is from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 4:30-6 p.m. Separate registration is required.
March Break Spa Workshop and Spa Days for Youth
Participants will learn the basics of nail care, including how to do manicures and pedicures, and proper skin care from a registered esthetician. Includes a pizza lunch, games and a loot bag of fun spa supplies!
The March Break Spa Workshop (ages 9-12) will be held at QEPCCC on Tuesday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Spa Days - Youth (ages 13-16) will be held at QEPCCC on Thursday, March 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All Ages March Break Clay Studio Drop-In
Whether you’re a novice, pro or just curious about clay, drop by the Clay Studio at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) for a super cool and inspiring afternoon of creativity. The studio technician will be available for assistance and to lead basic hand building demonstrations:
- Thursday 1-4 p.m.
- Friday 1-4 p.m.
- Saturday 2-5 p.m.
No wheel work during this session. Fee is $8 per participant, plus an additional $5 for those who wish to fire and glaze their masterpiece. Clay pieces take up to three weeks to be finished; you will not take it home the day of the drop-in. Children must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served. Spaces are limited.
Full-Day March Break Studio Art Programs at QEPCCC
March Break at the Q! Join us for full-day, studio art workshops led by professional artist instructors in the woodshop, digital arts lab, ceramic studio, fibre studio and fine arts studios.
Develop new skills, explore new techniques and try different art materials as you creatively spend your March Break discovering the specialized art studios at QEPCCC. Register for just one day or all five! Materials fees are extra.
March Break Studio Programs Before and After Care (ages 4-12) is offered from 8 to 8:30 a.m. and from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for an additional fee. Separate registration is required.
Muses (ages 4-7) will participate in the following activities:
- Monday, March 14 – Clay Creations in the Ceramic Studio
- Tuesday, March 15 – Sculptures and Structures in the Woodworking Studio
- Wednesday, March 16 – Magnificent Masterpieces in the Fine Art Studio
- Thursday, March 17 – Funky Fibre in the Fine Art studio
- Friday, March 18 – Digital Discoveries in the Digital Lab
Masters (ages 8-12) will participate in the following activities:
- Monday, March 14 – Digital Design in the Digital Lab
- Tuesday, March 15 – Fashion & Fibre in the Fine Art Studio
- Wednesday, March 16 – Clay Sculpting in the Ceramic Studio
- Thursday, March 17 – The Power of Printmaking in the Fine Art Studio
- Friday, March 18 – Wood Projects in the Woodworking Studio
Capture unique underwater scenes with the help of a photographer and aquatic staff at QEPCCC. Digital H2O Masters (ages 10-12) will swim with waterproof cameras in the morning (9 a.m.-noon) on Tuesday, March 15. Then, spend the afternoon (noon-4 p.m.) in the Digital Arts Lab transforming these images into works of art. Participants must be able to swim 25 metres. Cameras will be provided but an additional fee applies for materials.
Half-Day March Break Studio Art Programs at QEPCCC
Classical Animation (ages 14-17) – Tuesday, March 15 to Thursday, March 17, 1-4 p.m.
In this intensive three-day studio course, students will work to develop a portfolio of drawings based on the techniques of traditional animation. There is no digital compenent to this course. An additional fee applies for materials.
Graphic Design (ages 14-17) – Tuesday, March 15, 9 a.m.-4 pm.
Participants will use the Adobe Graphics Suite to combine text and visuals to create engaging designs suitable for print and digital media. Great for school projects or starting your own business! Basic MAC OS knowledge is recommended. An additional fee applies for materials.
More Than Mudpies (ages 7-12)
Register for one day or all three in the Ceramic Studio, where you’ll get to personalize your own wonderful clay creations:
- Tuesday, March 15 – Cupcake Containers, 9:30 a.m.-noon
- Thursday, March 17 – Superhero Mugs, 9 a.m.-noon
- Friday, March 18 – Safari Animals, 9:30 a.m.-noon
Clay pieces can take up to three weeks to be finished; you will not take it home the day of the workshop, but we will give you a call when it is finished! Dress for mess!
YMCA March Break Camps
Day Camp
Modeled after a typical day camp program, campers will participate in a wide range of activities including recreational swimming, sports and games, arts and crafts, rock climbing, theme days and special guests. Sign up for the entire week or choose the days you want! For children from 6 to 12 years.
Overnight
In partnership with YMCA Camp Pine Crest, this is an overnight camp experience where our teens will sleep in winterized cabins and eat in a winterized dining hall. With a balance of indoor and outdoor programming, camp activities will include group games & initiatives, low and high ropes, snowshoeing, tobogganing, cross country skiing, shelter building and campfires. *Accommodation, meals and transportation to YMCA Camp Pine Crest are included in the fee. For children 11 to 14 years.
Bronte Creek Provincial Park
“Sugaring off” is a tradition at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. The park’s annual Maple Syrup Festival begins the first weekend in March and runs every weekend in the month plus the week of March Break.
Maple dough boy recipeStaff dressed in 19th-century attire show kids how maple syrup is made the traditional way. For kids, the best part is when they pour the hot syrup on ice to make fresh maple taffy.
Families can also enjoy a Pancake House meal, take a wagon ride, or visit the farm animals at Bronte Creek’s Spruce Lane Farm.