100 epic adventures to do with your kids this Summer!

This list is organized from North to South and…

⭐ There are coupons! Please show this list (screen grab works) to your host at the business to redeem.

⬜ Shuswap River Float -ENDERBY Make sure water levels are safe!

⬜ Memorial Park Outdoor Pool and Splashpad -ARMSTRONG

⬜ SplashDown Waterslides -VERNON

⬜ Kalamalka Beach -VERNON

⬜ Got Wake Chartered Wakesurfing -VERNON

⬜ Holy Doodle Sailing Charters -KELOWNA

⬜ Hydrofly Rocket Boots -KELOWNA Fun for bigger kids

⬜ Wibit -KELOWNA, PEACHLAND, PENTICTON & OSOYOOS

⬜ Pention Channel Float -PENTICTON

⬜ Skaha Lake Park -PENTICTON

Beyond the Okanagan boundary:

⬜ Crazy Creek Hot Pools -REVELSTOKE

👉🏻 For local beaches, head -HERE-

👉🏻 More splash pads and outdoor pools -HERE-

⬜ Enderby Cliffs -ENDERBY This is a great hike with older children.

⬜ Miska Haven Glamping B&B -ENDERBY

⬜ Mount Rose Swanson -ARMSTRONG

⬜ Get Lost Glamping Adventure -ARMSTRONG

⬜ Silver Star Mountain Resort -SILVER STAR

⬜ Echo Lake Fishing Resort -LUMBY

⬜ Rail Trail -VERNON to KELOWNA

⬜ Beaver Lake Fishing Resort -LAKE COUNTRY

⬜ Fintry Waterfalls -WEST SIDE

⬜ Christie Falls -WEST SIDE

⬜ Myra Canyon Trestles -KELOWNA

⬜ Crawford Waterfalls -KELOWNA

⬜ Chute Lake Lodge -NARAMATA

⬜ Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory -OKANAGAN FALLS

Beyond the Okanagan boundary:

⬜ SkyTrek Adventure Park -REVELSTOKE

⬜ The Enchanted Forrest -REVELSTOKE

⬜ The Small Axe Roadhouse -ENDERBY

⭐ Free kids slushie with the purchase of a menu item!

⬜ Pink Rock Ice Cream Shoppe -ARMSTRONG

⭐ Buy one get one 50% off!

⬜ Smoke’s Poutinerie -KELOWNA

⬜ Okanagan Beach Club Tacos and Margaritas/Slushies -WEST SIDE

⬜ Tickleberry’s Ice Cream -OK FALLS

⬜ Osoyoos Candy Store -OSOYOOS

Beyond the Okanagan Boundary:

⬜ D Duchmen Dairy -SICAMOUS

👉🏻 Check out more Ice Cream Shops -HERE-

⬜ Starlight Drive-In Movie Theatre -ENDERBY

⬜ Little Om Yoga in the Orchard -LAKE COUNTRY

⬜ Lunch or Dinner Lake Cruise -KELOWNA

⬜ Bbq Boat -KELOWNA

⬜ IPE Aug 31- Sept 4 -ARMSTRONG

⬜ Sunflower Festival Aug 18- Sept 5 -ARMSTRONG

⬜ Davison Orchards -VERNON Take quarters for the animal-feed machine.

⬜ O’Keefe Ranch -VERNON

⬜ Yoga with Goats -VERNON

⬜ Cowboy Poetry Music Festival July 29-31 -VERNON

⬜ Kangaroo Creek Farm -KELOWNA

⬜ Covert Farms Kid’s Tour & Tasting -OLIVER

Beyond the Okanagan Boundary:

⬜ BC Wildlife Park -KAMLOOPS

👉🏻 For our big list of farms, click -HERE-!

⬜ Canadian Wildlife Museum -VERNON

⭐Free kids popsicle with the purchase of entry!

⬜ Okanagan Science Centre -VERNON

⬜ Colour Drop Design Silk Scarf Making -VERNON to KELOWNA

⬜ Oyama Zipline Adventure Park -LAKE COUNTRY

⬜ Myra Canyon Adventure Park - KELOWNA

⬜ Falcons Baseball Home Games -KELOWNA

⬜ Okanagan Adventure Park -JOE RICH

⬜ Safari Ridge Paint Ball -WEST KELOWNA

⬜ Zipzone -PEACHLAND

⬜ Kartplex -OLIVER

⬜ Scandia - KELOWNA

⬜ Loco Landing -PENTICTON

⬜ Rattlesnake Canyon -OSOYOOS

… 🛠 More is coming! We’re working on it riiiight now!

Vernon Winter Carnival knows how to Celebrate February!

~ Guest blog submitted by The Vernon Winter Carnival.

Since 1961, our mission has been to foster community spirit and promote Vernon as a Winter Destination through a 10-day Winter Festival. Vernon Winter Carnival offers a unique winter experience that is inclusive to all. We strive to bring our community together through fun events and activities that keep us connected through shared experiences.

📸 Vernon Morning Star

📸 Vernon Morning Star

Through honoured Carnival traditions and exciting new opportunities, residents and visitors get to show their community spirit— to show the true Carnival spirit.

As a non-profit society we rely on your continued support to help us achieve our vision to be leaders in community spirit and engagement, not only during Vernon Winter Carnival, but year round. 

This year Vernon Winter Carnival Celebrates the 62nd Annual winter festival - presented by Valley First! From Feb 4-13 events will take place through-out the city - in person and virtually as we continue to navigate the ever changing world of COVID-19. All events held during Vernon Winter Carnival will take place under the most current Public Health Orders from the PHO. 

New events this year include the Winter Playground happening at the DND Grounds every day of Carnival Feb 4-13. The Playground will feature an Ice Palace, family-friendly winter activities and entertainment. A daily activity schedule and tickets for the Winter Playground can be found online at:

👉🏻 vernonwintercarnival.com/events

In addition to the new Winter Playground event the festival will also welcome back the Vernon Winter Carnival Parade Feb 5th, Snow Sculptures at Silver Star Mountain, the Polar Bear Swim and many more outdoor events.

Many third party events will also go forward including virtual events with Planet Bee and the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives, outdoor and indoor events at O’Keefe Ranch, Chocolate Classes with Cotton’s Chocolates and an outdoor scavenger hunt with the Downtown Vernon Association, just to name a few. 

Event tickets  can be purchased online at vernonwintercarnival.com/events  by phone at 250-545-2236 or in person from the Vernon Winter Carnival Office 3401 35 Ave – open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. 

75+ Kid-Friendly things to do this Winter

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH!

🔴 Vaccine Cards for ages 12+ required only where noted. For more information click here. Many activities are running at limited capacity, you may need to reserve a spot before you go.

- ENDERBY -

• Visit the Courtyard Art Gallery.

• Check out Soapolallie Soapworks.

• Grab pancakes or quesadillas at Hungry Jack’s.

• Stay at Miska Haven’s woodsy cabin or yurt.

- ARMSTRONG -

• Shop new and used at Sea Star Kids Boutique.

• Toboggan at Armstrong Elementary School’s famous hill.

• Have a sundae at Pink Rock Ice Cream Shoppe. HOT TIP: Sundaes on Sundays are only $5.

• Grab soup and a giant cookie from The Wild Oak Cafe.

• 🔴Roller skate at Hassen Arena every Friday night. Vaccine Card Required

- VERNON -

• Taste honey and visit the bees at Planet Bee.

• Buy some new-to-you books at the Alpine Centre Book Warehouse for only $1.

• Pick from over 200 board games to play at The Boarding House Cafe.

• Shop for new-to-you clothing and toys at Little Plum Children’s Boutique.

• Grab traditional pizza and gelato at La Carraia.

• Learn something new at the Okanagan Science Centre. HOT TIP: Yearly family passes are only $75 and includes FREE admission to 28 other Science Centres and Museums in Canada.

• 🔴Paint something pretty at Colour Time Ceramics. Vaccine Card Required.

• Have stuffed french toast at EATology.

• Bring your remote control truck to Make My Fun and drive their indoor crawler track.

• Visit the critters at AJ’s Pets & Things.

• 🔴Drop in to do some rock climbing at The Rock Garden. Vaccine Card Required

• Spend the night at the Vernon Lodge. They have a live indoor jungle complete with river and swimming pool. *Vaccine card required for the restaurant.

• Head to Vernon Teach and Learn & Lollipop Lane for take-home activities, fresh made waffle cones and a wall of Jelly Belly flavours.

- SILVERSTAR -

• Whip down the mountain at Tube Town.

• Ride the Gondola and take in breath taking views.

• Skate 2.5 acres of Brewer’s Pond. Skate rentals available for $12.

• Turn the kids loose on mini snowmobiles.

• Go for a ski. Kids 5 and under are free!

• Have hot coco and snacks at Town Hall or Tube Town Cafe & Bar.

- LAKE COUNTRY -

• Drop-in at the Lake Country Play Cafe on Tuesdays.

• Grab snacks and hot drinks at Lake Country Coffee House.

• Bundle up and play at Beasley Park.

• Wander the Rail Trail and Pelmewash Parkway. With enough energy, you can do a full loop around the lake.

• Visit some exotic critters at Lake Country Pet.

- KELOWNA -

• Jump on giant inflatable bouncers and climb around on the play structure at Jump 2 It. Plus a toddler area for little ones!

• Enjoy a Moolix ice cream cone at their McCurdy location.

• Go indoor jungle themed mini golfing or play the arcade at Scandia.

• Experience virtual reality at the Arcadia Virtual Reality Lounge.

• Your kids are going to love EnergyPlex - there’s a 4 level indoor playground, rock climbing, laser tag, an aerial park and arcade.

• Play some extreme glow-in-the-dark laser tag at Planet Lazer.

• Jump that energy out at Airhouse where there’s enough trampolines to tire out any active kid (and their parents too!).

• Skate downtown at Stuart Park.

• Pick out some brand new books to read at Once Upon a Bookstore.

• 🔴Go climbing at Gneiss Climbing Gym. Ages 3+. Vaccine Card Required

• 🔴Hop in the pool at H2O Adventure & Fitness Centre. There’s a wave pool, water slides, spray area and a surf wave simulator. Vaccine Card Required

• Paint pottery at Work of Art Pottery Studio.

• Have a Breakfast Bento Box from J’s Cafe.

• Visit the Okanagan Heritage Museum and learn a little history about the area.

• Work together as a family and escape at Exit Kelowna.

• Loadza Toys is Kelowna’s best toys and games store! Pick out some new stuff to keep them occupied at home.

• Shop East Kelowna Market.

• Visit Farming Karma for fruit sodas and porch swings.

- BIG WHITE -

• Hit up the Tube Park and slide like a maniac.

• Skate the giant outdoor rink.

• Ski the slopes. Kids 5 and under are free!

- WEST KELOWNA -

• Snow shoe and toboggan at Telemark Nordic Club.

• Play indoors at Just 4 Fun PlayCentre. There’s a bouncy castle, soft play merry go round and a 20 ft inflatable slide.

• Try bannock at Kekuli Cafe Indigenous Cuisine.

• Go for a treat at Bliss Bakery.

- SUMMERLAND -

• Taste authentic Canadian maple syrups at Maple Roch and grab an ice cream.

• Grab a smoothie, lunch and baked goods from The Beanery Cafe.

• Go birding in the Ornamental Gardens.

- PENTICTON -

• Enjoy a coffee while the kids play at Busy Beans Play Cafe. Great for ages 0 - 7.

• Drop in for gymnastics at Springers Gymnastics Adventures. These guys prefer cash :)

• Head down to the Penticton Virtual Reality Studio to play games and experience new things in VR.

• Have ice cream and cake at Ogos. Everything’s bright and colourful, the kids will love it.

• Drop in and try parkour at Ethos Parkour & Movement.

• 🔴Choose from over 500 board games to play at Meeples and Milkshakes Board Game Cafe and make sure to have a milkshake too. Vaccine Card Required

• 🔴Climb the walls at Hoodoo Adventures’ climbing gym. Vaccine Card Required

- APEX -

• Skate through the forest on a 1km loop.

• Blast down the hill in the tube park.

• Grab some crinkle fries at the Cafeteria.

- NARAMATA -

• Rent a cabin at Chute Lake Lodge.

• Hike Naramata Waterfalls.

- KEREMEOS -

• 🔴Hit up the Similkameen Recreation Centre and enjoy 5 pin bowling and an indoor climbing wall. Vaccine Card Required

• Grab some comfort food and pie at The Ranch.

Did we miss anything good? Comment below!

Stay tuned… we have more coming!

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Need more stuff to do? 👇

Field of Screams is Undead for 2021

*submitted by Field of Screams*

What do zombies that roam the corn maze say? Grainnnnnns.

Field of Screams is back at O’Keefe Ranch for 2021 and this years theme? Zombies.

Grey-skinned, moaning, missing an eyeball and coming for you - Zombies are fear incarnate. Field of Screams: Zombie Apocalypse will feature the origin of the infection, the breakout hospital and even an overtaken amusement park! Enter the walking dead neighbourhood if you dare and protect your brains at all costs!

In a twist of events, the Field of Screams will harvest your soul in their first ever fourth maze: The Dark Maze. In previous years the event has hosted three mazes full of creepy actors and elaborate sets. This year, they have announced that they will be opening up a fourth and even more terrifying maze with no sets, no actors and no lights. we dare you to walk through without using your flashlight and only your imagination to keep you company.

Among other exciting changes, Field of Screams has announced that they will be beginning ticket sales early this year and will be limiting the tickets sold each night. This means, if you want to get in you better act fast! Tickets will go on sale August 1st, 2021 and can be found on their new website at www.fosokanagan.com.

The dates for this year’s Field of Screams are:

• October 1st & 2nd

• October 7th - 9th

• October 13th - 16th

• October 20th - 23rd

• October 27th - 30th

Gates will be open at 6:30pm and the event will run 7:00pm - 10:00pm each evening.

It will once again be hosted at Vernon’s O’Keefe Ranch.

Online Ticket Prices:

• $10 +GST Dark Maze Pass

• $15 +GST Single Maze Pass

• $30 +GST Double Maze Pass

• $45 +GST All Maze Pass

At The Gate Prices (if not sold out online):

• $15 Dark Maze Pass

• $20 Single Maze Pass

• $35 Double Maze Pass

• $50 All Maze Pass

*Cheap Nights will be held on October 7th, 13th, 20th and 27th where you can get an All Maze Pass for only $30 +GST. This option is at the gate only.*

HOT TIP: Want to skip the line? Field of Screams offers a VIP option for an extra $20 per ticket. If you have ever attended the event, you know this is a must! Get your tickets before they’re sold out!

Follow Field of Screams on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK for more exciting updates and giveaways.

Team DTO's End of Summer Okanagan Bucket List

How is it mid-August already?! Anyone else like us?.. full of big ideas and good intentions… and then BOOM you’re drunk in the back yard and summer is 3/4 over.

Maybe you tried to hit up all of the places on our 173 Family Friendly Summer Activities in the Okanagan list. Or maybe you didn’t get to do nearly as much as you wanted because of the C word, or fires, or the news, or the comfort of your air conditioned living room, or aliens…

…hey, we’re not judging, we just said we’re drunk in our backyards…

Either way, there’s still lots of time left to get out there and explore the Okanagan!

Team DTO and our friends at Hello Okanagan have put together a list of all the last minute fun summer things we want to do before September rolls on in. Are your Okanagan bucket list items on our list? Comment below! Maybe we’ll see you out there!

This is your redemption period! Make us proud!

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SAFFRON WANTS TO..

TRY SOMETHING NEW

1. Build a bouquet of flowers at the new Sparrow Grass Field and Flower in Armstrong. Featuring u-pick flowers, locally made ice cream and a scenic farm view that’s perfect for pictures.

2. Go ziplining at ZipZone in Peachland. The also have a Ninja Course, DynaClimb climbing wall, Games Area and Puzzlearium.

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JENNY WANTS TO…

BE ACTIVE

3. Rent E-Kruise electric bikes and cruise around downtown Kelowna, Knox Mountain and the beautiful vineyards of South East Kelowna.

4. Paddleboard over to Annie’s Beach Cafe and Lounge at Frind Estate Winery in West Kelowna. You can paddle up to the beach and sit right by the water as you enjoy delicious food and amazing wine.

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KATIE WANTS TO…

KEEP THE KIDS COOL

5. Spend the day at Lakeview Park in Vernon and splash around in the peanut pool. It’s the perfect little wading spot for younger kiddos plus there’s a great playground there too.

6. Take the family to Splashdown Waterpark. They have kiddie slides for the younger kids and a variety of fun big slides for bigger “kids” (parents)!

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SHEI WANTS TO…

GET IN THE WATER

7. Spend a lazy day floating the Penticton Channel for the first time ever!

8. Head to City Park in Kelowna and bounce on the Wibit. It’s not just for kids…plus you get your cardio in for the day.

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ARIELLE WANTS TO…

KEEP HER ONE-YEAR-OLD ENTERTAINED

9. Tractor-train rides at Davison Orchards in Vernon. Plus visit the animals, play on the playgrounds and have some fresh fruit ice cream and pie!

10. Hang out with kangaroos and wallaby’s at the Kangaroo Creek Farm in Kelowna. They also have capybaras, parrots, sugar gliders, turtles and other animals that kids (and grown ups) will love.

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STACEY WANTS TO…

GET OUTSIDE

11. Check out Music in the Park at Memorial Park in Armstrong. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and snacks and enjoy some local music.

12. Hike Little Tunnel in Naramata. It’s an easy hike featuring a rock tunnel and it’s great for all ages and skill levels.

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HELLO OKANAGAN

PETER WANTS TO…

CHILL OUT

13. Spend the evening under the stars at the Starlight Drive-In in Enderby.

14. Kick back on Okanagan Lake with a rental from Kickin’ Back Boat Rentals in Lake Country.

DAVID WANTS TO…

BE ADVENTUROUS

15. Whip around like a maniac at Kartplex in Oliver.

16. Check out the brand new District Wine Village in Oliver. Artisan crafts, wine, beer and food all in one location!

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Need more fun activities? 👇

Neuron Canada electric scooter program launches Downtown Vernon!

The City of Vernon and the Downtown Vernon Association are thrilled to announce the launch of a new program for Vernon. Neuron Canada e-scooters are officially available for rent!

The e-scooters will be placed downtown and all over Vernon from Okanagan Landing to Swan Lake and can be used for a fee.

From the Neuron Canada press release:

“Riders will benefit from a range of world-first safety features and pioneering innovations including: the world’s first app-controlled helmet lock which secures a helmet to every e-scooter in between trips; topple detection; a 911 emergency button; voice guidance to educate and warn riders on how to ride safely; and a ‘Follow my Ride’ function. Geofencing technology will be used to control where e-scooters can be ridden and parked, and how fast they can travel. Our e-scooters are also fitted with a unique license plate for easy identification and to promote responsible use.”

Rates start at $1.15 to unlock + $0.35 per minute thereafter. Daily, weekly and monthly passes are available.

For more details, click the link below.

Happy scooting!

Get 15% off Treaze Treasure Hunts!

Meet Serge!..

He’s high on life and riddles, creating Canada’s Premier Treasure Hunt Experience. His main goals? To get you out into the community, doing something super fun, with people you love (or even just like, or tolerate). Oh yeah, and you can win CASH prizes.

In July, team DTO went on a hunt and now we’re here to report back to you!

Here is what you need to know:

1. This would be super fun as a team-building event, group of friends (birthday or bachelor party) or unique date idea.

   • If you’re going on a date:

     • Wear something cute but comfortable for running around in (aka no high heels).

     • Pick them up early so you’re not late to start and

     • Grab a fancy coffee before the start time.

   • If you’re going with your spouse:

     • Wear your birkenstocks or crocs…there’s no time for shame here, you’re just happy to be out of the house.

     • Make a list of the top three reasons why you love them. Things could get dicey.

     • Before you leave, make a pact that whoever picks the first fight has to go down on the other later. That will keep them in check.

2. Costumes would be hilarious (tag DTO in all your pictures).

3. If you’re bringing kids:

   • The riddles are too tough for anyone under 10ish years old but

   • Kids have fun running and finding the QR codes to scan.

   • Pack snacks and drinks to keep them busy in the car.

4. The price is per team (not per person).

5. Treasure Hunts run a few times per year! Watch their website and our events calendar for upcoming dates in Kelowna.

Backyard Water Games

You guys. It’s happening.

You know what we’re talking about. We made it…

Okanagan SUMMER is on the horizon!

We have officially entered that sweet spot where things are beautiful and green, warm enough to be playing outside in the sun but not so hot you burst into flames if you stay out too long.

And honestly this year, it could not have come soon enough. Our kids are D-O-N-E with inside games. Sure, finger painting and fort building was amazing! It was even still pretty fun the 12th time.

But the 57th time? Yeah, they’re over it.

The kids are finally EXCITED about being outside, instead of crying that they might freeze to death (they’re pretty dramatic). And you’re psyched because the house might stay clean for longer than 1.2734 seconds. HURRAY!

And the longer they play outside, the longer you can sip cider in your lounge chair. So lather everyone up in some SPF 200 and enjoy these 7 great water-themed ways to keep the kids occupied in the backyard (for a while).

1. Sprinkler Freeze Game

You Will Need: a sprinkler and hose, music, bathing suits (or not).

Have the music ON and the sprinkler OFF. The kids can dance around to the music until it stops and the sprinkler turns on - they must freeze in place and get wet (muwa ha ha ha). Anyone who moves is out! Turn the music back on and the sprinkler off to keep the game going.

It’s Great For: super hot afternoons when the kids really need to cool down

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2. Sponge Races

You Will Need: 2 - 4 buckets (depending on how many play), sponges (any size works but bigger is more fun).

Place one bucket of water at one end of the yard and an empty bucket at the other end. How fast can the kids fill the empty bucket with water using only the sponges? If you have two or more kids, or feel like playing yourself (it’s actually pretty fun and totally qualifies as fitness), set up two sets of buckets and make it a competition!

It’s Great For: getting their energy out - all that running makes them tired!

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3. Paint With Water

You Will Need: paintbrushes, a container of water.

We all love our kids but…sometimes painting with paint can be PAINTful (see what I did there, that’s a total Dad joke). Painting is super fun for kids but usually means super messy clean-up for parents (you know… paint on the table, the walls, the kids, in your hair somehow). Outside water painting is easy to set up and relatively mess free - paint the fence, paint the driveway, paint the house. The best part is their paint evaporates and they can start all over (also a bonus science lesson!)

It’s Great For: keeping the kids busy without the hassle of clean-up

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4. Frozen Dino Excavation

You Will Need: plastic dinosaurs or other figurines, freezable containers, ‘tools’ for excavation.

Plan ahead for this one! The night before freeze a container of water with figurines submerged. Once frozen you can warm the outside of the containers slightly and ‘plop’ them out onto the pavement or the grass. Let them chip away to free their friends in their very own ice covered dino fossil field.

It’s Great For: kids who love science and the odd ‘concentration’ based game.

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5. Homemade Water Table

You Will Need: a big bin, random assortment of cups, spoons, measuring cups, sponges, empty yogurt containers, etc.

You know the situation where sometimes kids prefer the box over the toy. Well, sometime random water vessels are more fun than an actual water table… especially if they have non-toys to play with. Fill the bin with water (it helps if you add some warm water), throw in the ‘vessels’ and let them play away! They will have tons of fun scooping water, splashing, making things sink, racing anything that floats. Play the “sink or float” game where you guess if something will sink or float - this qualifies as a science lesson!

Safety note: depending on how big your bin is, they may try and climb in. In our experience toddlers love to do things as dangerously as possible, for no reason, without warning, when you’re not looking, probably with something sharp in their mouths… like olympic diving headfirst into a moderately filled bin of water. Just watch them.

It’s Great For: keeping young kids occupied (for hours sometimes!)

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6. Ice Cube Towers

You Will Need: ice cub trays and other sized containers, water, time, food colouring (optional).

Freeze ice in various sizes of cubes and blocks - use some ice cubes trays and some small square containers, even big containers if you have the freezer space. Add food colouring if that’s your jam. Once frozen, spill them all out in the yard and let them build and play - race ice cubes down the slide or see who can build the tallest ice tower. The possibilities are endless… until the ice melts.

It’s Great For: being inventive and creative!

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7. Child Labour

You Will Need: buckets, sponges, soap, a hose, humans under the age of 12, megaphone (optional).

Who doesn’t have some fond childhood memories of helping Mom or Dad wash the car? Kid’s are especially great for washing the tires or the bumper or anything else under the 4 foot mark - which means less bending down for you! If your kids are old enough, you can sit back and ‘manage’ the car wash whilst shouting instructions. If the kids are younger, you may have to help but it’s still mostly free labour, so win right?

It’s Great For: feeling like you’re getting something done while also keeping the kids busy.

O'Keefe Ranch Completes Rain Garden Construction Project!

The Historic O’Keefe Ranch has completed its exciting new Rain Garden Construction Project with help from the Okanagan Basin Water Board. The OBWB provided the Ranch with a $20,000 grant to design and construct this project, which was completed using Cabin Forestry Services Ltd.

The Rain Garden Construction Project is an innovative way to not only help protect the integrity of the water resources which flow through the O’Keefe Ranch, but it is a project which helps with water conservation and sustaining the local ecosystem. Adding rain gardens helps protect the valuable water resource, the integrity of the Heritage buildings and enhance the natural beauty of the site by providing natural and drought-tolerant pollinator plants which attract bees, butterflies, and other insects.

The O’Keefe Ranch recognizes that it must play a role in the protection of the Okanagan water resource. A clean and abundant water source is the central building block for the stunning landscape of the Okanagan Valley. A clean water source is an integral part of the overall well-being of its citizens, animals, and guests. The O’Keefe Ranch is doing everything it can to ensure that this valuable resource is protected for current and future generations to enjoy.

This project is an innovative way to show how the protection of a valuable resource can be done in a sustainable and innovative way while enhancing the beauty of the natural setting of the O’Keefe Ranch that has occupied the site since 1867.

The O’Keefe Ranch will be producing educational material about the project and visitors can enjoy the new rain gardens this season from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am - 4 pm. The Ranch would like to thank the OBWB for their generous grant in order to fund this important project.

Want to go check it out?

Hours of Operation:

Wednesday - Sunday | 10AM - 4PM

Admission by donation.

FREE Spring Break Birding Kits

Need something super cool to keep the kiddos occupied this Spring Break? The Regional Parks team is ready to help you get geared up and outside exploring this spring.

Stop into the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan (-map-) to pick up a birding kit. The kit includes foldable binoculars and a birding checklist.

Then choose a Regional Park (or two, or three…) to check off the birds you see! Check out the list of Regional Parks -here-

How many birds can your family find?

Environmental Education Centre Hours:

Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 3pm

**Please remember to keep everyone safe inside the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan. Masks and physical distancing are required. Please keep it to 5 customers a time inside their space.

Make sure you pick up your birding kit before March 28 when Spring Break ends!