Cold weather has parents struggling for spring break ideas

WINNIPEG – It may be spring break but it feels more like winter.

The cold weather has parents struggling to find things for their children to do.

“We’re pretty pent up,” said Jana More, a mom of three. “We’re ready to be outside.”

More took her kids to the Children’s Museum and wasn’t alone. Staff say the cold weather is one reason attendance has spiked 20 per cent over previous spring breaks.

Even though there are no classes at Gordon Bell High School this week, it doesn’t mean kids aren’t packing the building. Around 250 children are spending the week there for the Circus and Magic Partnership camp, put on by the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival. The at-risk kids are all hand-picked for the program.

“For a lot of them, this is the first chance they have to get a big, happy applause going for them,” said Neal Rempel, the program’s tour manager.

Kids get the chance to learn trapeze, walk on a tight rope or stilts and juggle.

“The scariest thing about (trapeze) is you have to go upside down,” said Chyenne Rodriguez.

Parents are thrilled with the camp, especially after the cold weather kept their kids inside for months.

“I don’t think in 20 years of parenting, I have ever gone through anything like this winter,” said Theresa Tougas, whose daughter is in the camp.