Boredom-busters for the summer holidays

School’s out, the silly season is over, and parents are now faced with one last summer challenge — how to entertain the children. According to City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn, Geraldton is “the perfect place to spend your summer break”. Alize Bransby-Riley, 6, who came to Geraldton from Katanning for part of her school holidays, said the best part of being in Geraldton was the fun, the beach, and swimming. The Geraldton Guardian has put together a list of activities that are either cheap or free to make these school holidays breezier than our foreshore. MOVE YOUR BODY Groups around Geraldton have made it easy for kids to pick up a new sport this summer, or fine-tune one they already love. This year’s offerings are inclusive, varied and sure to be loads of fun. Soccer clinics are a supervised beach soccer activity to help kids improve their moves on the field. Runs today and tomorrow, then on January 12, 13 and 27, from 10am-11am at Midalias Beach for children over nine. The activity is free, but register through Eventbrite. Soccer for Change is a supervised soccer clinic with a few fun games, for kids aged eight to 17. It will run from January 18-22 at Wonthella Bowling Club from 8.30am-12.30pm. No cost, but registration through the Mitchell Street Community Centre Facebook is essential. Learn to Play Croquet on January 12 with the Geraldton Croquet Club from 10.30am-noon. It’s aimed at kids aged 12-15 and costs around $5 to participate. If you have fun, you can compete in fun games on Wednesday and Thursday of that week. Wheelchair basketball is a challenging and fun activity that will be held from 10am-11.30am on the Foreshore Basketball court on January 14 and 28. It’s free to join in but closed-in shoes are essential, and all players should be over 10. The activity is free, but register through Eventbrite. A Junior golf clinic will be held on January 14 at the Geraldton Golf Club. Open to anybody between the ages of five and 17 who brings their hat, sunscreen, sneakers, water bottle and $15. Registration essential. Girls’ skate night will be held from 6pm-9pm on January 24 at the Wonthella Skate Park for girls aged seven to 15. All gear is provided and coaches will be on site to get wheels moving smoothly. Email Nick at infinityskate wa@gmail.com to register. Skate coaching for children aged seven to 15 will be at Wonthella Skate Part on January 17. Aimed at beginners who need support making their skater dreams come true. Email Nick at infinityskatewa@gmail.com to register. Sunset/sunrise yoga has been planned by the city for the school holidays for all ages and abilities. Sunset yoga will be held at 5.30pm on Sunday at Stow Gardens. Sunrise yoga will be held at 10am — well after the sun rises — at the Geraldton Yacht Club lawn. Both events are free. Pokemon GO Walking Tour will be held by the Youth Precinct on January 20. Children aged eight to 15 can take part in a raid hour in a quest to be the very best. The activity is free, but register through Eventbrite. Kids’ triathlon will not be for the faint-hearted. Kids will swim in the bay, ride up the Beresford Foreshore, and run by Midalias Beach. The event will be held from 9am on January 30. It costs $7 to participate, and registration with the Geraldton Triathlon Club is essential. GET CREATIVE The more you try, the better you get when it comes to creative pursuits. Several Geraldton organisations have put their heads together, creating numerous opportunities for kids to try, fail and improve. Snap a Bug is a macro-photography course for kids of all ages at the Museum of Geraldton, held from 10am on January 7, 12, and 14. The event costs $5 and registration with the museum is required. Friday Film is a free school-holiday movie event held at 7pm at Stow Gardens for kids of all ages. The Missing Link will be airing on January 8, followed by Scoob! on January 15. Just rock up — no registration required. Paint the summer with artist Phil Doncon on January 12 and 13. From 10am-noon, he will be painting a community mural at Glendinning Park, and has invited kids over nine to join in. The activity is free, but register through Eventbrite. Smudged Colour Explosion Art is a chance to get creative with oil pastels at the Geraldton Regional Library for only $6. If there’s a budding impressionist inside your kid, register via Eventbrite. For ages eight to 12 on January 13. More Ripper Writing is a chance for kids to fine-tune their story-writing skills or discover a new passion at the Geraldton Regional Library at 2pm on January 28. It costs $5 to participate and is open to kids aged eight to 12. The Travelling Sketchbook Exhibition has been created by kids across the State and will be in town from January 15-February 19. It’s free to view at the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery and no registration is required. Sundays by the Sea is a live music family affair held at Stow Gardens every Sunday from January 10 from 4.30pm. No registration is required but it’s recommended that guests bring a picnic rug and some snacks. Challenger is a drop-in family creative design activity held in Rocks Laneway from January 7- 17. It’s free to participate, and no registration is required. LEARN ABOUT STUFF School’s out but that doesn’t mean the learning must stop. Forget classroom desks and long days — groups across town are putting on fun interactive activities designed to get kids thinking about the beautiful world around them. Mitchell Street Community Centre will hold fun educational programs for kids aged eight to 15 from January 11-15. Starting from 9am and going till 2pm, the programs are sure to offer parents some serious peace and quiet. No cost, but registration through the Mitchell Street Community Centre Facebook page is essential. Dungeons & Dragons is an interactive game that will be held by game master Duncan from 5.30pm-7.30pm at the City’s Lester Avenue youth space on January 15, 22 and 25. The Village of Kessel is in desperate need of aid. Benevolent adventurers over nine should not sleep on this one. Register through Event brite. Geraldton Youth Regenerative Organisation Group meets weekly to discuss climate-change solutions and activities. Why not join them one Sunday at the City’s youth space on Lester Avenue? The meetings are free and open to all children over 12, with no registration required. There will be loads of educational fun at the Museum of Geraldton over the school holidays. This summer, it’s all about creepy-crawlies. Drop in any time during the holidays to pick up a metamorphosis mask, make a mini beast or learn about insect antics. On January 19, 20 and 21, pop in at 10am to learn about the birds on the beach. IN MULLEWA There will also be several events for kids in Mullewa to get involved with these school holidays. No registration will be required, but contact Julius from the City for more information on 0428 110 514 or email juliusj@cgg.wa.gov.au. Wheelchair basketball will be held today at the recreation centre held by ATLAS. This fun and inclusive game is sure to be a great time. The game will be free and run from 1pm-4pm for children over 10. A movie day complete with popcorn, a surprise film, and a game of cricket is open to anyone over 10 and will run from 11am-3pm on January 6 at the Mullewa Youth Centre. An arts and crafts day will be held in Mullewa on January 7, from 11am-3pm. Word on the street is one of the best artists in town will be guiding little creatives throughout the day. The event will take place at the Mullewa Youth Centre. It will be open to children over eight, with all materials provided. Do you feel like getting involved in some water sports over the school holidays? On January 8, there will be a whole day of fun water-based activities at the Mullewa Swimming Pool. Open to all children over 12, the day will include a free barbecue and will be held from 11am-3pm. A video-game competition will be held at the Mullewa Youth Centre on January 8, including footy and NBA and FIFA, and prizes will be provided to the champions. Open to kids over 12, it will be held at the Mullewa Youth Centre, from noon-3pm. The City has organised a Dongara bus trip for January 13. The bus will leave Mullewa Youth Centre at 8.30am and get everyone home before dinnertime. Trip highlights will include a stop at Archery Park and fishing at Seven Mile Beach. Open to all kids over 12. Murdilya Wanggajimanha is an opportunity for boys over 12 to discuss the issues facing them. The event will run at the Mullewa Youth Centre from 11am-3pm on January 14. All conversation will be monitored to ensure appropriateness. Mullewa Soccer Cup will run between January 19 and 21 at the Mullewa Youth Centre. Bring a team of seven to get involved with all the fun. There will be drinks and loads of prizes to be won. Open to children over 12. A girls’ sleepover will be held at the Mullewa Youth Centre from 2pm on January 27, open to kids over 12. What a way to finish the holidays! Sleeping bags, mattresses and meals will all be provided.