Bye-bye boredom: The ultimate school holiday program guide
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As we approach the end of another term, a familiar school holiday puzzle begins: how to balance the daily juggle while keeping the kids inspired and active.
Whether you’re a working parent trying to manage deadlines with childcare or you simply need a break from hearing “I’m bored” for the hundredth time, finding activities that go beyond the standard, run-of-the-mill holiday care can feel like an overwhelming task.
Luckily, there’s an incredible lineup of specialised, high-energy and engaging options this winter holidays if you’re staying in town.
From animal encounters to centre-stage spotlights, we’ve lined up ten fantastic options to cure the holiday blues and have the kids dragging you out the door in the morning.
For the thinkers and creators
Zoocation
Roar with the lions, feed the giraffes and get up close and personal with wildlife at the National Zoo and Aquarium. Their wildly popular Zoocation program trades standard holiday care for behind-the-scenes keeper tours and hands-on animal encounters. It’s the perfect way for mini adventurers to learn about conservation while burning off boundless energy in Canberra’s coolest backyard.
iV Learning STEM Camp
Ignite curiosity with this hands-on STEM camp. Led by real scientists, the three-day camp features hands-on experiments, microscope studies and engineering challenges. The sessions provide an engaging way for kids to discover the magic of science, with plenty of bubbles and fizz thrown in for good measure!
Wildbark
Perfect for nature lovers and outdoorsy kids, the Junior Explorer program held at Mulligans Flat immerses children in the local ecosystem with nature crafts, games and wildlife discovery. Older kids in the Youth Ranger program can get hands-on experience in conservation, land care and nocturnal wildlife spotting (complete with a late-night finish on Thursday).
For the aspiring performers
Pop Camp
Singing, dancing and acting collide in this dynamic program, held in Wanniassa, Harrison and Queanbeyan. Over a single week, kids participate in tech-free daily sessions focused on dance, singing, drama, prop making and costume design. The program is structured to build essential life skills such as voice projection, public speaking confidence, eye contact and self-awareness. The week culminates in a live, heartwarming showcase performance staged for family and friends on the final afternoon.
A Play in Four Days, Canberra Theatre Centre
Across four fun-filled days, young artists will work together to build an original short performance in a short timeframe. This creative workshop invites participants to see how they can be their own storytellers, directors and favourite characters, capped off with a performance to show off their hard work on the final day.
canberrayouththeatre.com.au/workshops/holiday
Perform Australia
Unleash your inner secret agent or theatrical star at the Perform Australia studios in Tuggeranong. Their high-energy, three-day holiday drama camp, featuring the theme “Spy School”, will swap screen time for secret missions, code-cracking and character building. Led by professional performance mentors, your child will master drama games and script work before stepping into the spotlight for a live showcase in a real theatre.
perform.edu.au/classes/holiday-programs
For the high-energy movers
UC Capitals Holiday Camps
Let the kids shoot hoops with the professionals! Tailored for various skill levels, these basketball camps are a slam dunk for keeping children active, teaching them teamwork and letting them learn from elite athletes, with the option to join for the full day or just the afternoon.
Australian Sports Camps
Keep your budding sports stars active and out in the fresh air with a dedicated sports clinic. Led by experienced coaches, these multi-day camps focus on skill development for a range of sports including tennis, soccer, netball and rugby. It’s ideal for high-energy kids looking to sharpen their skills during the off-season.
Warehouse Circus
If your kids want to run away and join the circus, this is officially their chance to do just that! These high-energy camps teach children everything from juggling and hula-hooping to acrobatics, trapeze and mini-trampoline. It’s a brilliant way to build coordination, confidence and spatial awareness all while keeping them completely mesmerised during the winter break.
warehousecircus.org.au/classes/shp
Woden Valley Gymnastics
Flip, tumble and soar at this active holiday program. Whether your child is a complete beginner or a seasoned cartwheeler, these structured holiday gymnastics holiday sessions help build coordination, strength and confidence. There’s also the option to join for the morning or the entire day, which is great if your little one is a beginner and wants to test the waters first!
