Next Friday, Jan. 27 is a professional development day in School District 57, and there are plenty of activities for kids with a free day to play.
Downhill skiing, gymnastics, skating, swimming, roller skating, laser tag, inflatable playgrounds, video gaming and museum activities are on tap.
The Prince George Gymnastics Club is giving kids aged five to 12 a chance to try out gymnastics in front of the coaches using the club's equipment at its Exhibition Park headquarters. The session runs from 10 a.m. to noon, at a cost of $10. Preregistration is a must. Call 250-564-7343.
Powder King near Mackenzie offers half-price rentals and lift tickets for children and youth. For $20 each, the ski bus provides return transportation from Prince George. Call 1-866-769-5464 to reserve a seat.
Tabor Mountain is offering lessons in skiing (ages six to 12), snowboarding (ages eight to 12) and freestyle skiing (ages 10 to 14) for $69 cost per kid including lift ticket, equipment rental and return transportation from the Northern Sport Centre. Coaches from Tabor and PacificSport will be on hand to lend their expertise. Call 250-960-5344 or register online at www.pacificsportnorthernbc. ca.
Hart Highlands ski hill will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3740 Winslow Drive.
The Roll-A-Dome is teaming up with L A Promotions for roller skating (11:30 to 1:30 or 2 to 4 p.m., $2.50 per session), inflatable boomers jungle gym (10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $7.50 admission), and laser tag ($2.50 per child). Call 250-564-6795 for more information.
Both of the city's swimming pools provide a warm respite from winter weather.
The Four Seasons Leisure Pool (open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) has a water slide, swinging rope, diving boards, wading pool, hot pool, steam room, and 25-metre pool.
The Prince George Aquatic Centre (open from 6:15 a.m. to 8 p.m.) has 50-metre and shallow pools, diving boards and tower, wave pool and river, hot pool, sauna and steam room, and a workout gym.
From 1:30 to 4 p.m., pool fun leaders are organizing games and water activities for the kids and each Friday night, the Aquatic Centre hosts Extreme Pool Parties for kids aged 14 and under.
Videoscape at the Hart Centre Mall is offering two hours of gaming on Playstation, Xbox 360, Wii and computer consoles for the price of one. Large groups should pre-book by calling 250-962-5884.
The Exploration Place museum at Fort George Park provides fingerpaints as well as other fun activities. The preschool program runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and school-aged program runs from 1 to 3 p.m. Half-price admission rates apply for Pro-D Day ($3.50 for kids 12 and under, $4 for students and seniors, $5 for adults).
Finger knitting is the featured Fun in the Gallery activity for kids who visit the Two Rivers Art Gallery near the Civic Centre, from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. Admission is $5 plus HST.
The Family Y offers Kids are Cooking program from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Highland Development Centre on McDermid Drive. Cost is $36 per child.
