10 Local Ways for Kids to Spend Spring Break 

A week from today, classes will be out for Noblesville Schools’ two-week spring break.

For some, vacation plans have long been made to head out of town. For others, it’s a “staycation” at home, finding things to do here locally. 

When my now sophomore daughter was elementary age, camps where participants can learn something new were always high among the choices. Purdue Extension of Hamilton County’s former one-day “I Can Do It Camp” was my daughter’s favorite spring-break camp when she was in fourth grade. It was where she learned to knit, how to plant gardening seeds and how to make vegetable soup, all in a day.

1. This year, Purdue Extension offers three one-day spring break camps for grades 3-6: April 4, Magic Monday: The Wizarding World of 4-H, where participants will brew some fizzy and bubbly concoctions such as root beare, and will learn about herbs, plant an herb and paint a one-of-a-kind pot, and make their own wand; April 5, Taco Tuesday: Taco Cooking Challenge, where participants will learn food preparation and how to incorporate the science of cooking into fun dishes; and April 6, Winning Wednesday: Clover Gaming, where participants will explore the science of board games and create their own board game prototype, all from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville. Cost is $30 per day. Register at https://bit.ly/3COzEsV

We’ve also enjoyed City of Noblesville camps.

2. The Noblesville Parks Department offers full-day camps for ages 6-11, featuring games, crafts and other activities, plus field trips. Participants can choose 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday camps, including field trips, at Forest Park Lodge basement, March 28-April 1 and April 4-8. Monday. Wednesdays and Fridays are $26 per day, $5 more per child per day for nonresidents; Tuesdays and Thursdays are field-trip days for $40 per day, $5 more per child per day for nonresidents. Aftercare, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. is $5 per day. Campers should wear gym shoes and pack their lunch, two snacks and a water bottle. Register at 317-776–6350 or visit www.noblesvilleparks.org

3. The Boys & Girls of Noblesville, of which we are big supporters, will have two different spring break opportunities. Camp Crosser for ages 6-13 will feature archery, arts and crafts, group games, STEM activities, fort building, nature education and campfire cooking, during a full-day weeklong camp, the week of March 28-April 1 and the week of April 4-8, for $115 per week. Week of March 28, Space Week will offer campers a chance to discover the science behind the galaxy with activities such as parachute engineering and rock building and launching. Week of April 4, Nature Week will offer scavenger hunts, wildlife education with a DNR officer and miniature boat building and racing. Camp Crosser is a high-energy, outdoor program designed to provide kids with adventurous and educational experiences. Campers meet at the Club each morning and are bused to the 20-acre Camp Crosser a few miles north of Noblesville along the banks of the White River. Register at 317-773-4372 or visit https://bgcni.org/.

4. Three-day immersive clay camp will meet three times, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. March 29-April 1 and April 5-8. Spring break camps offer a different project every day at Kiln Creations in downtown Noblesville. Register one kiddo for $80 or two for $150..Participants will learn how to throw a mug on the wheel, how to make a handbuilt mug and how to pull handles for mugs.The goal is that each attendee will end up with at least 2 pieces. Register at www.kilncreations.net/

5. My Art, also in downtown Noblesville, offers three half days of art camps, 9 a.m. to noon, open to ages 5 and older. In Spring Jungle Camp, paint a spring panda using acrylic paint on canvas using watercolors, markers and colored pencils on April 5. In Tulips and More Camp, draw, shade and blend with oil pastels plus paint with acrylic and watercolor paints on April 6. In Spring Bunny Camp, draw and paint bunnies, using acrylic paint, watercolor paint and markers on April 7. Cost is $45 per camp and includes all art supplies. Camps are also offered at Fishers and Carmel locations. Visit www.myartindy.com

6. Conner Prairie in Fishers reopens for the 2022 outdoor season on March 29 with sprucing up of the Treetop Outpost, spring cleaning in Prairietown and Civil War Journey, plus the 1836 Balloon will be open, weather dependent. Visit connerprairie.org.

7. Hamilton County Parks offers free spring break programs, weekdays April 4-8: Silly Safari, April 4; Hoosier Owls, April 5; Animals in your Backyard, April 7; Hedgehog Hannah, April 8, all at 11 a.m. at Cool Creek Nature Center in Westfield. Visit MyHamiltonCountyParks.com.

8. Find some good books, CDs or DVDs and discover other activities at your local library.

9. Take a class at Caravan Classes or the Nickel Plate Arts campus in Noblesville.

10. Bowl, play golf, do laser tag and arcades at Three-Two-Fun 32 Bowl in Noblesville, or enjoy bowling and arcades at Pinheads in Fishers. Both have great restaurants.

– Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.