Most schools in B.C. will be closed for Spring Break 2013 between March 18-22 — but add in district closure days with Easter stat holidays and many kids are off for two weeks straight.
Most schools in the province re-open for classes on April 2.
Uber-organized parents have probably already put Junior into a week-long camp or are whisking them away to Hawaii, but the rest of us may need some extra ideas to keep the kids busy (and stay sane.)
Luckily, there are still lots of options left in B.C., rain or shine.
Here are some kid-friendly things to do over the 2013 B.C. Spring Break:
B.C. Spring Break 2013: Things To Do
Ziplining
Kids as young as six can make Mom's heart stop as they fly along a zipline in Whistler. The less adventurous can tour through the treetops on suspension bridges and observation platforms with stunning views of Whistler Blackcomb.
SHARKS!
Kids will be captivated by the Vancouver Aquarium's newest exhibit about sharks and their cousins – the skates, rays and ratfishes. Go in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Scavenger hunt
Spend the day at the Burnaby Village Museum for a scavenger hunt, crafts, storytelling or a spin on the carousel. All activities are included in admission of $7.30 -- one of the best Spring Break deals in town.
Detective work
Kids ages eight to 13 can put on their CSI caps at the Vancouver Police Museum spring break program. Junior detectives have to solve a stolen painting case and learn how to photograph a crime scene, take fingerprints, and examine bullets along the way.
Ranching
Spring Lake Ranch near 100 Mile House offers private log cabins, horseback riding, horse-drawn wagon rides through lush meadows, canoeing and fishing, all within the "relaxed western atmosphere" of Cariboo country. Spring Lake is surrounded by 10,000 acres of woods so you can try great hiking trails and abundant wildlife. If it's crappy out, there's an indoor games room with ping pong and foosball, as well as a hay loft basketball court.
Fly a kite
If it's nice out, grab a kite, a kid and a green space. Free fun.
Creepy crawly
Get up close and personal with LIVE praying mantids, hairy tarantulas and glow-in-the-dark scorpions at the Victoria Bug Zoo.
Hands-on art
The Vancouver Art Gallery is extending its family program to noon to 4 p.m. daily for hands-on workshops. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Get wild
BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops offers a science-savvy spring break day camp with daily themes and relevant activities designed to get kids gussied up about wildlife and learning. For children aged six to 12 years old.
Jump in a puddle
Don't think about the cleanup after, just think about all the fun your kids are having.
Get sporty
Try the interactives games at the BC Sports Hall of Fame, located at BC Place in Vancouver. Scamper up the rotating climbing wall, speed in a race car simulator, or time yourself on the running track.
Paint a mural
Christianne's Lyceum of Literature and Art is bringing students and the community together to paint a mural and plant plants for a condo laneway wall in Vancouver. For kids aged five to 10.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is fun for the whole family because it's suitable for a variety of ages and fitness levels. And it can be done at dozens of parks around B.C. — all you need is snow. Manning Provincial Park and Strathcona Provincial Park offer snowshoe rental and lessons for newbies.