1. Melbourne Writer’s Festival Schools Sessions
Last year I took my 10 year old for the first time to attend a couple of the schools sessions from the Melbourne Writer’s Festival (MWF). It was a fantastic experience for my son (you can see his review of his time on his post Melbourne Writer’s Festival Schools Sessions. I did try to see if his school could go this year as a whole, however that has not worked out, so I have bought individual tickets again this year and he will be attending three sessions on one day. The sessions are fantastic value at only $6 a session and the MWF website has the sessions conveniently broken down into year levels, so it make it easy to see which session would be appropriate for your child. Some highlights from this year program include:
- Gabrielle Lord, author of the amazing 365 Conspiracy series. (You can read my son’s review of the January edition of Conspiracy 365.
- Ursula Dubosarsky author of Return of the Word Spy
- What Makes a Hero? by Author Jackie French
The MWF runs from Aug 27 until Sept 5. Check out their website – school programs for full details on session times.
2. National Tree Day
Sunday 1st August in Planet Ark’s National Tree Day. Schools Tree Day will be taking place on the Friday 30th July. Last year over 312 000 people at 3 500 sites dug deep to improve their natural surroundings. The aim of Tree Day is to show children how easy and fun it is to help our environment.
The Tree Day website is well set out and make it easy to find an event near you. Simply head to their Volunteer page enter your postcode and you will get a listing of events within a stated radius of your post code. Then click on one of the listings to find out more info and register. Here is an example of an event close to us:
Gardiners Creek Valley
Date and Time: Sunday, 01 August 2010 10:00am to 12:30pm
Aims of the project: The Friends of Gardiners Creek Valley in conjunction with the City of Boroondara have been working along Gardiners Creek through Nettleton Park for aproximately ten years. The aim of the planting is to improve wildlife habitat and the overall quality of Gardiners Creek.
Suitable for Children: Yes
Accessible for disabled: No
Notes about the day for Volunteers: Please wear appropriate clothing (hat, covered shoes, long sleeved shirt and long pants recommended). Please bring gardening gloves.
The following will be provided: Tools and equipment for planting, Drinking water, BBQ
Activities that will take place on the day: Tree, shrub & grass planting
3. NGV Kids Corner
The theme for NGV Kids Corner for August is Light Play. It has been the theme through out winter and we were went along in June to enjoy the installation. Come back to the blog on Friday to see more about it when I post my review.
Sparkling crystals, fish that respond to shadow and a view through a kaleidoscope are all part of children’s experience in Light Play; the second creative installation for children in NGV Kids Corner. Children learn about light and colour and art in a playful way. Melbourne artist Juan Ford has added his inspiring response to the installation, creating a wonderful interactive experience for children and their families.
NGV Kids Corner is free and open from 10am–5pm (Closed Mondays). It is located on the corner of Flinders and Russell Street. (It is completely separate to the Ian Potter Centre as the entrance is from Flinders Street.) Parent/carer supervision is required.
4. Super Heroes vs Villains
At Family Life Home, we know that in every little person, there is a BIG personality waiting to bust out! So get ready and launch yourself into our SUPERSIZED party where all Super Heroes and Superior Heroines are invited to soar the stratosphere and arrive for the worlds largest gathering of action heroes and villains, as Family LIfe turns into a thriving metropolis for the day.
Date: Friday 6th August 2010
Time: 10am arrival, 10.30am show and 12pm finish
Address: 18 Grattan Street, Prahran 3181
Bookings: online here.
Contact: 03 9529 6877
Dress: Dress up as your favourite superhero
Tickets: $10 children & $15 adults, $42 family of four, babies in arms free
5. Cultural Diversity Week Quest Exhibition
This is the last full month that the Cultural Diversity Week Quest Exhibition display will be on at the Immigration Museum.
See winning entries from the 2010 Cultural Diversity Week Quest.
The Quest encourages Victorian students to celebrate Victoria’s cultural diversity through artworks in a range of media. The winning entries were announced in March during Cultural Diversity Week and are now on display at the Immigration Museum.
Students’ works reflect their investigation of cultural diversity within their school and community and include multimedia presentations, personal migration stories and a whole school dramatic production.
Museum’s Victoria offer excellent value for money. Adults are $8, Concessions and Children free entry. (Additional charges may apply for temporary exhibitions.)
6. MSO 2010 Classic Kids – Come Dance and Sing
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has a a couple of Classic Kids performances through out the year. The Come Dance and Sing sessions are presented by Jay Laga’aia and held at the Iwaki Auditorium ABC Southbank Centre.
Dates: Wed 25th – Fri 27th August. For a full list of dates and times check out the MSO Website.
Cost: Adult $18.00, Children $12.00, Family (2 Adults, 2 Children) $50.00
Bookings: The MSO website was a little difficult to navigate so I recommend trying the Box Office on 03 9929 9600. Open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm.
7. Winter Tales- Bedtime stories in Como’s magical ballroom!
Children can take wear their pj’s and take along mum/dad for a story reading sessions in the beautiful ballroom at Como House in South Yarra.
Coinciding with National Book Week, 21-27 August, Como is excited to offer bedtime stories by candlelight in the ballroom. New stories and old favourites will be read to children aged 10 and under as they lounge on their picnic rugs, pillows and blankets in Como’s historic ballroom.
Date: Friday, 27 August 6:30-7:30pm. Gates open at 6pm
Cost: Admission for this storytime event is $5 per child; parents are free of charge. Admission includes a cup of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows in your favourite mug.
Bookings: Pre-bookings are recommended and payment can be made in advance or on the night. For enquiries and bookings please contact us on 03 9827 2500 or como@nattrust.com.au
8. Tim Burton Retrospective – Kid’s Flicks
The Tim Burton Retrospective at ACMI runs until the start of October. At ACMI Kid’s Flicks sessions on Sundays during this time, you can catch some marvelous Tim Burton children’s films. Tickets are only $6 each and there are a number of session times through out the day. Check the website to see what full details of the days and times all films are on, highlights for August are:
James and the Giant Peach
Sun 22 Aug 2010, 10.30am, 1pm (Kids’ Flicks)
Sun 29 Aug 2010, 1.30pm, 3.30pm (Kids’ Flicks)
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (Older Children)
Sun 25 Jul 2010, 1.30pm, 3.30pm
Sun 1 Aug 2010, 1.30pm
Sun 8 Aug 2010, 1.30pm
Sun 15 Aug 2010, 10.30am, 1pm
Bookings can be made online.
9. Family Day – Collingwood Children’s Farm
The Collingwood Children’s Farm has regular family days that are held the first Sunday of each month, Sunday 1st August for this month. On Family Days there are hay rides, a BBQ and activities matching the monthly theme.
Entry Prices: $16 Family, $8 Adult and $4 Child. Car parking is $4 all day.
10. Melbourne International Film Festival – Next Gen
Melbourne International Film Festival has a Next Gen program which is targeted for a younger audience.
MIFF’s program of mature, intelligent cinema chosen for the young and the young-at-heart, Next Gen has a crop of world-class films that’s sure to entertain and inspire cinephiles of all ages.
The festival runs from July 22 until August 8. Tickets are $10 each for children and parents.
See the Next Gen program for full details, highlights for me include:
The 80s were all about Rubik’s cubes, Michael Jackson, cassette Walkmans, calculator watches and seven-cent popsicles. But for 11-year-old Ricardo Trogi, starting afresh in a new school in Quebec City, it is a time to make new friends and fall in love – the only problem is the friends don’t like him and the girl doesn’t know he exists.
This looks great, but I am wondering whether I am attracted to it, as it this period in time relates so closely to my youth. You can see the trailer at the MIFF Website. This film is recommended for ages 8 plus.
In The Attic: Who Has A Birthday Today?
Something’s stirring in the attic. Toys are springing to life and creating a fantastical world from everyday recycled objects. It’s all tea-parties and train rides until Buttercup disappears into the Land of Evil and it’s up to Teddy, Mr. Handsome and a ball of clay named Schubert to save her.
This has such a goregous homemade look to it and is recommended for ages 6 plus. Again head to the MIFF website to see the trailer.
There is just so much great stuff in Melbourne this August. If you know of a great activity for kids, please feel free to leave details and a link in the comments.