Ocean Science Centre Visitor Information

From the Ocean Sciences Web Site...

Marine Public Education
The Ocean Sciences Centre Marine Public Education Program is open for the season from June 1st through September 6th. Marine Interpreters are available from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily.

Our Program is outside, and includes the Touch Tank and the Seal Research Facility. Admission is free - Donations are welcome.

Visitors are welcome year-round to view the seals from our outdoor visitors observation platform.
Contact Daryl Jones at 737-2459 for further information. There are no indoor tours of the Ocean Sciences Centre facilities.

Seals are also available for viewing at visitors leisure.
Since 1988 the Ocean Sciences Centre has organized and played a continuous role in public awareness in marine sciences through its Marine Public Education Program. Each summer we invite visitors of all ages to our outside touch tank and Seal Facility where student interpreters discuss research conducted at the OSC, marine mammal and sealing issues, and introduce the curious to a variety of native sea creatures.

Salmonier Nature Park

Family Fun Day, Saturday, August 21
Enjoy a concert in the park with Sonya Abbott and Friends, enter our art contest to win great prizes and enjoy a WILD WALK with a Park Interpreter.

WILD WEEKEND!
Saturday, August 28
Join Terry Reilly for a Teddy Bear’s Picnic and bring your Teddy Bear to our Teddy Bear Rehabilitation Centre!

Sunday, August 29
Take part in Backstage Pass (call 229-7888 to book a tour as participation is limited), enjoy a live animal presentation with Perry the Peregrine Falcon, play games, and take part in our scavenger hunt!

Great contests, prizes and refreshments at all special events!

Salmoneir Nature Park Summer 2010 Events are here...


Here's a review from 2009
We just got back from a field trip to Salmonier Nature Park. It was very stroller friendly and if your kids like animals and the outdoors this is a great way to spend the day. We planned the 40 min drive each way around our son's two nap times and had a picnic in Holyrood on the way home.

One downside could be that you may not get to see all the animals every time you go as the enclosures are so natural they allow them to hide. So you could have a disappointed child on your hands if the moose is a no show. Our son is too young to care at this point, but we only saw about 2/3 of the animals because the rest were shy today. It is a beautiful place for a walk no matter what animals are visible, but some children may find this uninteresting.

There is no fee but they take donations so we 'paid' what we felt was a fair price for two adults and a child.
Check the website for other information. Labour Day weekend is the last summer weekend they are open but they are open weekdays in to the fall.

Baby Gear to Share - Awesome Idea!

Saw this the other day and thought I would help spread the word: Baby Gear to Share

From their web site:
Baby Gear to Share is a company in Newfoundland and Labrador specializing in baby equipment rental for St. John's and surrounding areas. Travelling with young children is challenging enough...make your travel experiences more enjoyable and hassle free by arranging your baby gear to be here when you arrive!


Renting baby gear provides lots of advantages!

•It means you can travel with only a suitcase and carry on! With increasing airline restrictions on baggage, less is definitely more!

•When borrowing gear from others means that you can never be sure how old it is, if it has been sanitized, or if it has been recalled/meets today's safety standards. Equipment from Baby Gear to Share is purchased new and is cleaned and inspected before and after every use. All equipment is monitored for recalls or safety concerns.
•Rental prices are reasonable and are delivered right to where you need them- home, hotel, airport and more! Less hassle...isn't that what a vacation is all about?

We offer the latest and greatest brands, ensure cleanliness, and monitor the safety of all Baby Gear to Share equipment.

Grape Dessert

This is yummy and my child loves grapes. But be sure to cut the grapes in especially small pieces to avoid the possibility of choking. I modified it from a weight watchers recipe back to full fat for my toddler. Try another type of crumble topping if you have nut-allergies at home.

Creamy Grape Dessert

1 lb green seedless grapes, washed and dried well and chopped
1 lb red seedless grapes, washed and dried well and chopped
8 oz fat Greek yogurt
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:
2 tbsp brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)
Cut grapes in half and set aside.
Mix yogurt, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until blended well. Stir chopped grapes into mixture, and pour in large serving dish.

Combine brown sugar and crushed walnuts. Sprinkle over top of grapes to cover completely. Chill until ready to serve.

The Other Lester's Farm

I have heard great things about Lester's on Pearltown Road as a venue for Birthday Parties. I haven't been yet, but would love to hear from anyone who has. I will try to check the farm out soon and report back.

Update:

We visited the farm this weekend. It was early when we went and they were still mucking out the barn, but the staff were really friendly and informative and the number and variety of animals was more extensive than the Lester's Farm Market petting barn. The little dwarf goats are so strange and cute! They look like they might start speaking to you and telling you how to find Mordor.

This looks like it would be a wonderful place for a party. There's a full restaurant there and a couple of greenhouses with plants for sale.

Yogurt Pops

This is no great or innovative idea, but I'd thought I would post it anyway because sometimes the simplest ideas are the ones you forget about.... I bought a tray for making homemade popsicles and instead of juice I filled it with yogurt.

Now when my toddler wants an 'ice cream' he is getting a healthier version. These days there are some pretty fabulous yogurt flavours out there too, we are a fan of coconut.

Call for Submissions - Special needs, food allergies etc...

I am aware that there are parents out there who have expertise in adapting a birthday party for a kid with a gluten issue or figuring out the best way to make nut-free lunches....If you have some ideas about allergy-friendly food... please drop me a message or write up a piece for me to post.

If your child has special needs and you want to share ideas, services, or products that help make your life better... I'd love to hear about those too!

Lester's Strawberry U pick is Open

Lester's Farm has a blog - and it says the strawberry U-pick will open today!

City Calendar

The City of St. John's keeps a pretty current and active calendar of events that can be useful for planning family activities or mom and dad date nights...

Reminder - Outdoor Playgroups

DEEDFRI has Outdoor Play groups this summer Free playgroups in the St. John's area

Ribbons and Bows

I got this email the other day and thought I would share it with you. Melissa makes a really cute product....

Hi Erika,
My name is Melissa and I love your blog, I check often to see what goodies you have discovered for activities and products. I wanted to share with you a small little business I have started from my home. I have a fan page on facebook where I sell handmade hairbows for little girls. I would love for you to have a look! Its Melissa's Ribbon Bowtique! It started with me just making a few bows for my 3.5 year old (still waiting for my 7 month old to grow some hair..lol) and I have been selling them now for a few months. Love to hear what you think!!!



Thanks :)

Bowering Park Sprinkler park is open!

The Bowering Park Sprinkler park is finally open and it is loads of fun. Now that summer has finally begun in St. John's here is one more awesome thing to do with your kids.

Lighthouse Picnics

If you haven't been to Ferryland Lighthouse for a picnic yet, you really should give it a try. The food is fabulous, the hike is good, and the possibility of seeing whales while you dine is a real incentive.

Lighthouse picnics advertises a children's picnic on their web site, but I haven't tried that option myself. If you have, let me know what it was like.

The road to the lighthouse will seem long for little legs, but a good trail model stroller or a child carrier and a strong back can get you there. Leave yourself lots of time to enjoy the walk and you'll have nice tired kids on the way home.  A picnic blanket is provided so don't worry about lugging a bunch of gear out there.

Garden centre fun

I am a big gardener so each year I am off the various gardening centres to pick up some new plants. This year I have been taking my toddler along. He loves helping load up the wagon with the plants and walking among the colourful flowers. The centres with greenhouses make this a good activity even for rainy days... which of course we have had lots of this year.

Some toddler-friendly gardening spots in and around St. John's that we have visited are Lester's Farm Market, Shady Brook Nursery, Holland Nursery, and hopefully this weekend we'll check out Pat's Plants in Witless Bay.

Shoo fly... don't bother my kid!

June is black fly month, July it's mosquitos ... but the pesticides worry me more than the fly bites so I bought a eucalyptus-based non-DEET bug lotion to try. Well it had its first real test yesterday at Nana and Grampy's house in the country and guess what? It worked, our child didn't have a single bite despite wearing shorts and everything!

This is an Off! product you can read more about it here.

And the winner is...

Cindie Babstock! You are the winner of the Gingersnap Gift Certificate!!Email me in the next 7 days to collect your prize....