Alberta Family Fun
Alberta Family Fun:
Packing the most in to our family vacation
This summer my husband’s nephew was getting married in Edmonton. Our boys were thrilled to be asked to be the ring bearers!
So, we decided to make a family vacation out of the trip and see as much as we could in Alberta within the 10 days we were there.
These are our trip highlights and tips for visiting each place.
Edmonton
We actually did not spend much time exploring Edmonton, as we spent most of our time with family. But, we did hit a few key places.
The Lego Store
This was a definite shopping highlight, and a great tip from a friend. The store contains, as you can imagine, all the Lego you can dream of.
There are the typical kits, but also stations where you can build your own Lego figurines.
Our favourite was the Lego wall. For $20 you get a big cup and can fill it with as many random pieces as you can fit in. The sales associates even took the time to teach us how to fill it properly to get the most bang for our buck!
We probably got about 300 pieces and had such fun filling it to fill every nook and cranny!
West Edmonton Mall Water Park
As one of the largest malls in the world, this is a shopping and entertainment paradise.
Before we went we had decided to take in just one of the parks – the water park.
I got a family pass with my Air Miles!
Here is the basic information that you need to know.
1. Check the rules and regulations before you go. Know the height restrictions on the rides to avoid disappointment.
2. Get there early. Try to arrive when the park first opens, as it gets very busy as the day progresses with longer and longer lines to wait in for the slides. We arrived when it first opened and didn’t have to wait at all.
3. Get a locker. They cost $8 for the day and you get a wrist band to scan to open and close it as many times as you want. It’s expensive, but worth it.
4. Don’t rent a tube. They cost about $5 per tube and you can use them on certain rides, but they are just another thing to look after and there are rides for tubes that you can just use those ones provided.
5. Study the map. Learn the names of the slides you want to go on. When you get there, there is a massive staircase with tons of possibilities. They are all well-labeled, but you need to remember the name of the slide, or stand there following each slide to the top so you know where to go. I found this a bit overwhelming!
6. Ask an attendant. Any attendant that we asked for directions knew exactly how to get to each water slide and which coloured staircase to follow. They were all amazing.
7. Get a drink. One of the coolest parts of the waterpark was that there are all you can drink Coke products from juice to pop and iced tea. All day. All free. Wowee!
8. People will get hurt. There are hundreds of people at the park. People are bound to get hurt. In the wave pool a teenaged boy clunked heads with me and gave me a near concussion that still hurts 2 weeks later!
Daniel and Thomas went together in the Hurricane Ride (aka hamster wheel). You run inside, trying to stand up, but you end up falling over and bouncing all over the place.
Although more than 1 person is allowed at a time it is quite dangerous. Thomas came out with a huge grin on his face but a bloody nose from banging against Daniel.
9. Only one to ride in the Hurricane Ride!
Have fun! Next time, I think we will brave the amusement park, Galaxy Land!
Elk Island National Park
One of my main goals for the trip was to see a wild bison. To do so, we headed to Elk Island National Park north of Edmonton.
This beautiful oasis is home to herds of free roaming plains bison, wood bison, moose, deer, and elk. Also boasting over 250 species of birds, the park is a bird watcher’s paradise. Be it for wildlife viewing, hiking, cross-country skiing, picnicking or overnight camping, there is something for everyone at Elk Island National Park.
Bison are particularly active in the late-July to early August rutting period.
When you arrive at the park, stop first at the visitor information centre at the main gate. Pick up a hiking map and an Xplorer Kit for kids.
We did not do this, but wish we had stopped here first.
There are many trails that vary in length, but with children, we picked a few of the shorter ones.
There are three trails under 4 km in length: Amisk Wuche, Lakeview and Beaver Pond. The Living Waters Boardwalk is a 300 m floating sidewalk off the shore of Astotin Lake.
This time we explored the Living Boardwalk. This is a floating boardwalk and takes about 15 minutes to walk. It is totally worth it!
Living Waters Boardwalk 300 m
This 150 m floating boardwalk starts from the Astotin Interpretive Centre makes its way onto a lakeside marsh. This short trail is ideal for families with small children. It offers a close look at pond life and great views of Astotin Lake and its islands.
We hiked the Amisk Wuche trail. Amisk Wuche Trail 2.5 km (1 – 1.5 hours)
Amisk Wuche is the Cree Indian name for Beaver Hills. The diversity of this trail is ideal for keeping children interested. The trail winds through aspen, birch and spruce stands. A series of floating boardwalks takes the trail across small kettle lakes and beaver ponds.
This was a really interesting walk with lots of different scenery. We even saw lots of bear poop… but no bears!
Our final hike was the Beaver Pond Trail 3.5 km (1 – 2 hours)
Trappers had completely eliminated beaver from the park area by the mid 1800s. Park staff successfully re-introduced them in the park in the 1940s. This trail is characterized by evidence of beaver activity near the trailhead. Lodges that are overgrown with vegetation are abandoned. The open aspen forest and sedge meadows along this trail are ideal for birdwatching in summer and observing large mammals grazing in winter.
This trail was a nice walk, but there was nothing to see. The forest growth was so high that you couldn’t see any water and certainly no beaver lodges! I would give this trail a miss for something more interesting!
We drove the Bison Loop road a few times to look in the paddock for a bison. We saw lots of spots where they had stopped for a scratch, but no bison.
When we left the park and were driving back down the highway, off in a distance we saw a herd of bison at a watering hole.
Although they were at a distance, I still saw them! A great way to end the day!
Drumheller
By far, the trip to Drumheller was the highlight of our trip to Alberta.
Drumheller is a town within the Red Deer River valley in the badlands of east-central Alberta. It is located 110 kilometres northeast of Calgary.
Rolling fields suddenly give way to steep, dry coulees ridged with the strata of hundreds of years of erosion by time, wind and water.
The scenery here is like nothing I had ever seen before.
Hoodoos
Each hoodoo is a sandstone pillar resting on a thick base of shale that is capped by a large stone. Hoodoos are very fragile and can erode completely if their capstone is dislodged (in other words, no climbing allowed).
The protected Hoodoos site is a guaranteed spot to see Hoodoos but smaller versions of these sandstone giants can be found all over the Badlands.
You can even play “spot the Hoodoo” as your driving along Highway 10 South (also known as Hoodoo Trail for that very reason).
The Hoodoos site is located 16 km east of Drumheller on Hoodoo Trail (Highway 10).
Pull off at the official site to climb on the hoodoos. It also offers a great view of the badlands! And, it’s free!
Rosedale Suspension Bridge
This area is known for its mining, so there are a lot of mining museums to visit as well as attractions related to the mining industry.
The Star Mine Suspension Bridge is a 117 metre long pedestrian suspension bridge which crosses the Red Deer River in Rosedale, just outside of Drumheller,
Walk across the bridge for free! It is a fun, fast and free activity to do while in the badlands.
Drumheller’s Little Church
We did not stop here, but many people asked us if we did. In fact, we didn’t know about it, so now, I’m telling you about it, so you can stop!
This church is renowned for seating 10,000 people – 6 at a time.
Dinosaur Haven
Drumheller is known as the dinosaur part of Alberta and have really worked this into the town’s identity.
On every street corner there are large fibreglass dinosaurs. Each one has its own personality. Thomas was obsessed with these and needed to stop to get a picture with almost every one we saw!
This was a great addition to the town!
Aquaplex
This was a great way to spend an evening.
There is an indoor and outdoor pool, hot tub, steam room, shallow and deep areas in both pools, with an indoor swinging rope and diving board.
There is a separate waterslide that is 150 foot long that runs inside and outside of the building.
Children 6-17 yrs: $5.25; Adults 18-59 yrs: $7.25
Splash Pad
If you are looking to cool down in the summer, in front of the Aquaplex is a fountain and splash pad where kids can play for free.
There are plenty of benches for the parents!
Worlds’ Largest Dinosaur
The World’s Largest Dinosaur is open year-round and visitors can climb the giant T-rex and admire the badlands from inside her gaping jaws.
This dinosaur is located in front of the visitor information centre and the aquaplex in Drumheller.
The admission is $3.00 per person, $10.00 per family and children 5 and under are free. Plus GST.
There are 106 steps to climb to reach the top of the dinosaur and my legs hurt the next day! It’s a quick visit, so might seem expensive for the journey. However, your ticket is valid for 2 hours, so you can go up and down as many times as you want (who would want to?).
Besides, how often can you say that you climbed inside a giant T-Rex?
Royal Tyrell Museum
The highlight of any trip to Drumheller is the Royal Tyrell Museum.
Again, through Air Miles I got free tickets to the museum.
The Royal Tyrrell Museum features ten signature galleries devoted to paleontology, with 40 dinosaur skeletons with more than 110,000 fossil specimens.
And it is worth every penny to visit, and you need to spend at least an entire day here!
Upon the advice of friends we signed up for one of the museum’s programs.
We chose the Dig Experience that was good for kids and adults.
Using the tools and techniques of paleontology, you will uncover fossil replicas in our simulated dig site, unearth their unique stories, and hold real fossils. Experience the thrill of excavation on this 90-minute realistic dinosaur dig.
We had to guides who walked us out into the Badlands where we were taught the basics of how to conduct and archaeological dig. We were given the tools, and then able to uncover bones. At the end of the session, the guides walked us through what we were seeing.
We determined what dinosaurs we were looking at, and based on the position of the fossils, how they died.
At first, we weren’t sure that we would like a simulated dig. But, knowing how easy it would be for someone untrained to damage a fossil, we quickly understood!
The fossils were fibreglass casts buried in plaster paris.
We quickly forgot that this was a simulated dig, and thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of discovery.
This program added so much to our visit, that I am very glad we did this! We all learned so much!
The Royal Tyrell Museum itself is organized so well. There are numbered signs from the ceiling to help direct you in order so that you don’t miss anything. These are really to be used for people who are getting an audio tour of the museum, but they work for everyone, too.
At each display there are 3 levels of information. Near the floor there are panels and buttons for toddlers to manipulate. At waist level there are games for older children to play, while at the top there are information panels for adults to read. Everything is extremely well thought out!
As you progress through the museum, you begin at the beginning of time and progress through the various time periods, seeing how the animal and plant life changes.
There is even a whole herbarium devoted to the plants alive at the time of the dinosaurs.
There are also several live animals that are closely related to prehistoric animals.
It is a non-stop engaging learning experience for everyone.
When asked what the best part of our trip was, everyone immediately said Drumheller and the Royal Tyrell Museum!
There are so many more places we could have explored at the Badlands in the Drumheller region, but we ran out of time. It’s definitely worth spending a few days in this area!
The Rockies
As this was the first time for the boys to see actual mountains, we wanted to take in as much as we could for our whirlwind tour of the Rockies.
Rockies Accommodations
We did most of the Banff – Jasper National Parks in one day, making a long, but doable day. Both nights we stayed outside the park, as it was a lot cheaper.
We stayed in the Quality Inn in Canmore, and then the Econo Lodge in Hinton at the other end.
Banff
Banff was nuts. It was crazy. It was so full of people that it was near impossible to find a parking spot! However, we did take some time to explore some of the shops in town!
Sulphur Mountain Gondola
Once again, I got adult tickets for the gondola through Air Miles!
We were lucky that there was not a long lineup at the gondola, and we boarded within 5 minutes.
The gondola was an 8 minute ride to the top of the mountain with incredible views.
Once at the top, we took the 1km stair climb to the Cosmic Ray Station. The views from here were incredible, and it was worth the 20 minute walk… even if your legs do hurt the next day!
Banff Hot Springs
My youngest son is obsessed with hot tubs, so we knew we had to take him to the hot springs. He kept asking all day when we would get to go!
These natural hot springs were 39C when we were there. There are lots of places to relax in the shade, or out of the water. There were also lots of small children there.
This made for a relaxing afternoon!
Even though it was hot outside and the pool was hot, we still managed to stay an hour!
Johnston Canyon
This hike was on my MUST DO list. The pictures of the catwalks along the canyon walls looked amazing!
Before going we got a great piece of advice. Go early. If you don’t, you will never get a parking space. We got there around 9:30am before most people arrived, so we were able to park, and hike the trail without reams of people.
We also hiked beyond the first falls to the upper falls. There were even fewer people up here, and it was so beautiful, and worth the walk. Round trip, this was about 5km.
Lake Louise
As this is one of the most famous places in the Rockies, we thought we should take the kids to see it. The last time I was there, the lake was frozen, yet crystal clear!
This time, again, there were so many people around that we nearly gave up trying to find a place to park. However, we found a spot at the last minute.
We quickly parked and dashed in, walked halfway around the Lakeshore trail to take some pictures.
It was far too crowded so we retreated.
Glaciers
Along the route there are several lookout points with information signs, to stop to see the glaciers.
We stopped at both the Crowfoot and the Bow Glaciers.
We then stopped at the Columbia Icefields. We did not go to the interpretive centre, nor did we take a ride on the glacier bus, but we did pull in across the street to the Athabasca Glacier.
As you drive along the roadway to the parking lot, and as you hike the 1km to the toe of the glacier, you can see signs of where the toe of the glacier was each year. It is very depressing to see how much it has retreated in the past 100 years!
We hiked up the hill to the toe of the glacier.
There are many barriers warning visitors not to cross as beyond the barriers it is very dangerous and people have died.
Jasper
We didn’t spend much time exploring Jasper as it was evening by the time we got there, and we were all tired.
However, we did discover Jasper the Bear.
Both David and I remembered a big wooden bear instead of this bear. Apparently, he has been moved indoors to a museum to be protected. This bear is the new town mascot.
Wildlife
Driving through the Rockies we saw incredible views, beautiful crystal-blue lakes, and tall mountains and glaciers.
We also saw elk, deer, bunnies, coyotes and a ton of ground squirrels!
Hinton
Hinton was a great stopping point, about an hour beyond Jasper. From here, we could still see the mountains, and it was a lot cheaper and less touristy!
We found an incredible 3km trail through the marshlands called the Beaver Boardwalk.
We spent the whole morning exploring the various paths that wandered through the marsh and the woods. And, there were hardly any people here!
Overall
We had a fantastic time in Alberta.
I am not sure that I would go again in the middle of tourist season, as it was so crowded! But, we are so glad that the boys got to experience something totally different than Nova Scotia by the ocean!
We were surprised at the tall mountains, the views that go on forever, the huge roads and highways, and scenery like we’ve never seen before (like the badlands).
When asked what our highlights were we all said… Drumheller and the dinosaur museum!
The boys also ranked West Edmonton Mall waterpark up there, too!
Alberta is such a vast place that it is hard to do it justice in only 10 days, but we gave it the ol’ college try, and loved every minute of it!
Alberta… we’ll be back!
Community Libraries
Building a Community Library
It all started a few months ago when I attended a provincial conference where participants were encouraged to do something for their communities. I just couldn’t think of anything at the time that I could take on!
Then, on a family trip to Prince Edward Island, on the boardwalk in Charlottetown, I saw a small community library. One of those places where you take a book or leave a book.
I took a picture of it, and sent it to our town office and asked what needed to be done so we could have one in our town.
I was told to go forth and do it and they would support me!
This started our family project of the Wee Kentville Library.
Read more about the story in a newspaper article that was written about the project.
Luckily, my husband volunteered to help, as he is quite handy. So, most of the credit goes to him. I was merely the project manager.
There are many ideas and plans available on Pinterest to help you get started.
The RE Used Resale store in New Minas donated a wooden book case for the cause.
Without plans, my husband built a roof for the bookcase, and then shingled it.
He then built a door using slats of hardwood flooring, and plexiglass.
My sons helped to paint it (with outdoor paint donated by the town).
Then, our friend and neighbour, Jim, came over to paint the words on the bookcase.
We ended up with
Kentville’s Wee Library
Take a Look or Take a Book.
With the library assembled, we handed it over to the town who installed it in Miner’s Marsh in Kentville. This is a boardwalk trail around a marsh, and is a popular walking place with the town.
The library has been a huge success!
Within hours of posting it on the town’s Facebook page, nearly 3200 people saw the post, 83 people liked it and 17 people shared it (with more likes and shares from those posts).
Within days, the library had already had a steady stream of visitors. This has not stopped.
People that I didn’t even know came up to me to thank me for the library and tell me how successful it had been!
In the first few weeks, we are having to refill the library every few days! Thanks to the Annapolis Valley Library who provided us with boxes of discarded books to get us started!
My favourite moment was going to the marsh to check on the library and seeing a family sitting on a bench, reading a book. This is what it’s all about!
In the box, we tried to put a few nature books that people could use during their visit. Although they were labelled MARSH COPY, they still seem to disappear. But, at least they are books being put to good use!
I think it’s safe to say we have a hit!
With so much use, the door to the library came off the hinges and had to be rebuilt so they opened sideways and not up and down. This put less pressure on the hinges.
I have been approached by other communities who would like to build a wee library. It’s a wonderful idea, and I hope we see a few more wee libraries across the Valley!
Stay tuned for one coming in Port Williams later in the fall!
Does this inspire you to try one in your community? I hope so!
Lunenburg Fishery Museum of the Atlantic
Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, Lunenburg
**Disclosure: our family received a NS Museum pass for free so that we could tour about the province and talk about our experiences**
When I told the kids that we were going to the museum at Lunenburg, first they thought I meant Louisbourg (where we visited last summer)
Once I explained that that we were going to the Fisheries Museum in Lunenburg, they were equally as excited.
“I love that place!”
We went to the Fisheries Museum 2 years ago and the kids still remember our visit. We had a friend staying with us so we decided to go here on a day trip.
Here’s what the website says
The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic provides the ultimate waterfront experience, in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
While at the Museum, you experience life in a fishing community and discover, up close, life at sea.
Explore our magnificent aquarium and wharf-side vessels. Make your way to the Ice House Theatre, where films are shown throughout the day. Browse at your leisure or take a guided tour. Come rain or shine, relax and enjoy! The entire family will enjoy their entertaining visit with us!
Parking
Next to the museum there is a parking lot where you can park all day for $4. You must have exact change to pay.
Our Day
We arrived at the museum first thing in the morning with our Museum Pass in hand. We were given bracelets to wear to show that we had paid admission. This way, we could come and go within the museum and also visit the displays at the wharf.
Thomas (7) picked up a picture scavenger hunt to complete during his visit.
The Fisheries Museum is one of the most interactive museums we have ever visited.
On every floor there are fun fish facts to explore. Lift the fish tab to learn something new!
On the ground floor there is an aquarium with fish native to Nova Scotia.
This is one of the kids’ favourite parts of the museum.
Or, maybe it’s because there is a squeegee in front of each tank that you get to use to clear away the fog!
Part of the exhibit includes a touch tank full of different sea creatures from the ocean.
The boys always love the dancing scallops!
My husband, the historian, was incredibly impressed with the museum.
As he puts it, the museum includes areas of the natural world as well as the fishing industry. In particular, he liked the 3rd floor of the museum which contains everything that supported the fishing industry, or was part of the fishing community from displays about rum running to rope making.
When you enter the museum there is a big white board to tell you what programs are happening that day.
We arrived in time for a talk on lobster lore, where we learned everything and more about lobsters!
The kids got to pat one, too!
This was another visit highlight!
Other programs includes talks and films. Make sure you go to at least one during your visit!
There are also things on every floor for the kids to play with, manipulate, touch and try.
This was so great for the kids, as they were happy not to have me yelling at them every 5 seconds to stop touching things!
They got to try on fishermen’s woolen clothes.
Play in a kiddie corner with books about the sea.
Build their names with nautical flags.
Weave using a loom.
Try rug hooking.
And sew on a bead for a provincial project where the names of the Halifax Explosion victims are being beaded as braille for a quilt!
After exploring inside the museum, we went to the wharf. Docked are several ships that you can climb aboard and explore.
This time, the Bluenose II was docked! We couldn’t board her, but got to see her up close!
Hours & Contact
Open 9:30 am – 5 pm daily until June 20, then we will be extending to 5:30pm
Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
68 Bluenose Drive, Lunenburg
If you are heading to the South Shore, or looking for a fun and easy day trip, definitely add the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic to your list.
And, if you get hungry, our favourite place to go is across the street to Big Reds located in the old jail building.
After eating, because you have a bracelet, you can wander back to the museum to see the highlights again!
What a wonderful day exploring in Lunenburg!
Heal with Boiron
Healing with Boiron
**I received a sample of these products in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are my own.**
It couldn’t have arrived at a better time.
Two days earlier I popped my foot out of the socket. Again. It happens a lot, but hadn’t happened in 6 years, so I thought I was in the clear. WRONG!
My foot was badly damaged, bruised, swollen and all-round awful.
Then, at my door comes a package including the Arnicare line for muscle and joint pain, aches, bumps and bruises. Like, they knew I needed something to test the product on.
To help me test out the products, I also used my youngest son. It would not be Thomas if he did not have a bump or a bruise somewhere on his body. A scrape, a goose egg, or something. When the school calls to tell me of yet another incident, I’m pretty immune. That’s my boy!
Needless to say, during the week, we had ample opportunities to try out the Arnicare line!
Thomas would be out playing and would run in saying… I need some of that cream!
Here is a bit about the product:
Arnicare line – muscle & joint pain, aches, bumps & bruises:
The Arnicare line is made with Arnica Montana, a little flower from the mountainous region of Europe discovered in the 16th century and which has several medicinal properties.
Its analgesic properties help to relieve muscle aches, swelling and bruising. Arnicare is among the most popular homeopathic medicines worldwide.
Today, athletes as well as amateur, yogi, baby-boomers, mom and children use it to recover from sore and stiff muscles or bumps and bruises after workouts, falls and injuries or even gardening. Also, plastic surgeons have been increasingly promoting Arnicare by Boiron to promote rapid reduction of swelling and bruising.
Boiron Arnicare Homeopathic Medicines – for a healthier, more natural lifestyle.
We tested the Arnicare gel, cream and tablets.
Thomas preferred the cream and found that it immediately soothed him.
Rubbing both the cream and the gel on my foot certainly made it feel a lot better. I will certainly be keeping these products in our home medicine cabinet!
Your chance to win with Boiron!
Win a summer essential pack for the whole family that would include:
– Dapis Gel (insect bites)
– Cocculine (motion sickness)
– Arnicare gel & tablets (joint & muscle pain – bumps & bruises)
– Cicadermine (nasal/skin irritation)
– Sabalia (allergies)
– Sédatil (stress)
– Stodal (cough)
– Oscillo (flu-symptoms)
Enter daily until Friday, September 4, 2015
For one extra ballot, leave me a comment about which product you most want to try!
Huntington Point
Huntington Point – Land of the Fairy Cottages
When I suggested that we have a bonfire at Huntington Point (near Halls Harbour), I was shocked at the number of people who have lived in the Valley all their lives and had never heard of Huntington Point and it’s Fairy Cottages!
As a child, we used to have family gatherings on this beach, so I have many fond memories here.
Besides, the beach is very accessible. The road ends and the beach starts. There are no long walks to the beach. There are no steps. It’s all flat and easy to get to!
However, be forewarned that there are no amenities like picnic tables or washrooms.
The most well-known part of Huntington Point are, what has been referred to as, the fairy cottages.
These cottages were made by Charles MacDonald, who also built a home out of concrete and is now home to the Charles MacDonald Museum.
This museum is definitely worth a visit, as everything in the house is made from concrete!
In 1912, Charles MacDonald started a concrete factory in Kentville. He was renowned for being a socialist, and never paying his employees. Instead, they had a company pot, and employees took what they needed. When he finally retired, MacDonald was said to have gone to the factory and handed the keys to his foreman and told him that the factory was his!
The fairy cottages were built during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Knowing that his employees needed an income, he sent them to Huntington Point, where his family had always enjoyed camping, and had them build 5 cottages from concrete.
There were no plans. Just imagination. They were made of concrete, reinforced with iron and driftwood, and painted the most beautiful, vivid colours!
Today, only 4 of the cottages remain. The one closest to the shore, which was shaped like a teapot, started to crumble, and so they bulldozed it into the ocean.
If you become a member of the Charles MacDonald Museum society, you can stay in the “blue” cottage for a donation of a few hundred dollars for the week.
This is more like glorified camping, as they are very rustic inside. (I know, I had a tour of 2 of the cottages when I was researching the Halls Harbour Ghost Walks)
If you do go to the shore and take some pictures, there is a mailbox where you can make a donation for your pictures. This goes to help support the upkeep of the cottages, so please honour the museum’s special request.
How to get there
Drive to Halls Harbour but keep going. Pass the lobster pound and start heading back around the bay, heading south.
Take your first road on your right. It is a government sign labeled Simpson Road and Huntington Point.
Follow this road to the end, and you will be at the beach. You can’t miss it!
Head to Huntington Point for a magical evening! You’ll be glad you discovered something new in our own backyard!
Pokemon Birthday Party
How to Host a Pokemon Party for Older Kids
I must admit that I groaned when Daniel said that he wanted a Pokemon-themed party for his birthday. I don’t know the first thing about Pokemon. I tune out when they talk about it and really don’t want to learn anything.
How was I going to plan a Pokemon party?
I turned to Pinterest, but found that most of the games and activities were geared at 5 year olds. The activities were too young for the 8-10 year olds that would be coming.
So, we combined a few of these ideas, and Daniel actually came up with his own activities and games.
Here’s how we ran our Pokemon party
Invitations
We made invitations to look like pokeballs out of black and red construction paper, that opened using a fastener.
Pokemon Trainers Search and Find
Before the guests arrived, I hid their Pokemon figures/stuffies around the yard.
We also picked other random Pokemon characters and made a Bingo sheet.
For the characters that I did not have something tangible for, I printed them off, glued them to construction paper, taped on a popsicle stick and stuck them in the ground.
Unfortunately, because it was raining a bit, some had to be hidden in plastic bags!
The kids got a partner and went around the yard looking for the Pokemon to check off their sheet. We do not have winners in the games, but you could have a prize for the first team to find all the Pokemon.
Pokeball Toss – Pokemon Puzzle
To create Pokeballs, we bought Styrofoam balls at the dollar store. We painted the top half red, and the bottom half black. We used a binder reinforcement sticker on the front for the white circle.
We made enough so each child could have about 3 each.
On a bucket, we taped pictures of Drifloon, the floating Pokemon. We hung the bucket from a tree so that it could freely swing.
The kids were given Pokeballs and were told to try to toss the balls into the swinging bucket. When they got three balls in, they received a puzzle piece (more later).
Keep going until all the puzzle pieces are given out.
Pokemon Puzzle
I created 3 different Pokemon characters of my own.
I glued each one to a different colour of construction paper and then cut them into puzzle pieces.
Once all the puzzle pieces were given out in the Pokeball toss game, the kids sorted the pieces by colour. They divided into three groups and began to create their own Pokemon card.
On a piece of chart paper, I drew the outline of a Pokemon card.
The kids put the puzzle together, glued it on the paper and then wrote in the details.
This ended up being one of the kids’ favourite activities! They did a great job creating the Pokemon cards!
NOTE: next time, don’t cut the puzzles into so many pieces, and use a lot more colour in the drawings. It ended up being tricky to put together!
Escape from Team Rockets Hideout (watch out for the bad guys with water guns)
You assign people to be the bad guys: Jesse, James and Meoth. They wear a sign around their necks.
Make three masks – one of each stage of Pokemon. We used
Basic: Tepig
Stage I: Pignite
Stage II: Emboar.
I printed off a picture of their faces and glued them to a paperplate, cutting out eye holes. Then, we attached strings to them to make them into masks.
One person starts by wearing the basic mask. The people dressed as the bad guys are holding water guns and are hiding around the yard.
The group of kids has to get around the yard while protecting the kid who is wearing the mask. If the kids in the mask gets shot with the watergun, he gives the mask to someone else in the group.
Once you make it all around the house, change the mask to the next Pokemon stage. Keep going until every child gets a turn.
Pinata
I couldn’t find a Pokemon piñata, so I made one the old-fashioned way. I used a balloon as my base and used a mixture of flour and water to paste on newspaper. I finished it off by painting it to look like a Pokeball.
Inside, I had a baggie of treats for each guest (with Pokemon Nibs) written in the bag.
NOTE to Self: next time, use strong rope on the piñata. I used string, and it broke well before the piñata did!
Food
Off Pinterest, we found a pattern for a Pikachu cake. I bake, and my husband decorates it.
The icecream was named Vanillite (ice cream)
I also found blue drink crystals and called it HEALTH for Pokemon to drink.
Treat Bags
I coloured paper bags to look like a Pokeball, writing Trainer ____ on each bag.
In the dollar store, I found a pack of Pokemon cards for each trainer.
Waterguns – De Wott (er) Guns
Seeds – snivy seeds
Kite – Drifloon floating Pokemon
Plus the Pokemon nibs from the piñata.
Overall, this was a great party, and the kids loved it!
