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16 Nov 2023

Summer School Holidays

As the weather warms up, summer is the perfect season to swap screen time for green time, so get the kids back outside and into nature at Centennial Parklands! Our education experts have developed a diverse range of School Holiday Programs that are fun, nature-connected and have a splash of education for children aged up to 12 years.

Led by our skilled and knowledgeable Education Rangers, children will be able to explore and discover the marvellous natural environment in the heart of Centennial Park and enjoy unique and accessible outdoor learning experiences.

There’s something to capture the imagination and creativity of every child, from Christmas actvities through marvellous machines with a focus on STEM to outdoor theatre fun. Check out our schedule below and prepare your kids for thrilling outdoor adventures these summer school holidays.

All our programs are full-day drop-off programs (parents do not attend) except for Spotlight Prowl for Families (evening event) and Mr Bowerbird Scrooge and Dreamtime Drawing - Aboriginal Art Class for Kids.

Parents can drop kids off between 8 am - 9 am and pick them up between 3 pm - 4 pm.

Our programs are very popular, so book early to not miss out. If you missed out on your favourite program this season, make sure to sign up to our School Holiday newsletter to be the first informed when bookings are open for the next period.

December 2023 program

Monday 18 December


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 8am – 4pm
Event Type: This a drop-off program. Parents do not attend with children. 
 

Jingle Bells, jingle bells … join us for hours of creative gift making and nature exploration.

Enjoy the beautiful park and see what amazing Holiday decorations and gifts you can make. Discover Badu Ngura (Lachlan Swamp) and its inhabitants and collect natural materials that will become part of your beautiful art creations. The day will not be complete without sharing some holiday stories, a selection of fun games and time spent in the outdoor classroom.

Children will be introduced to a range of art mediums and natural materials – gifts parents and grandparents will love.

Join us for a whole day of outdoor fun.

BOOK NOW

Tuesday 19 December


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 8am – 4pm
Event Type: This a drop-off program. Parents do not attend with children. 
 

Jingle Bells, jingle bells … join us for hours of creative gift making and nature exploration.

Enjoy the beautiful park and see what amazing Holiday decorations and gifts you can make. Discover Badu Ngura (Lachlan Swamp) and its inhabitants and collect natural materials that will become part of your beautiful art creations. The day will not be complete without sharing some holiday stories, a selection of fun games and time spent in the outdoor classroom.

Children will be introduced to a range of art mediums and natural materials – gifts parents and grandparents will love.

Join us for a whole day of outdoor fun.

BOOK NOW

Wednesday 20 December


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 8am – 4pm
Event Type: This a drop-off program. Parents do not attend with children. 
 

Jingle Bells, jingle bells … join us for hours of creative gift making and nature exploration.

Enjoy the beautiful park and see what amazing Holiday decorations and gifts you can make. Discover Badu Ngura (Lachlan Swamp) and its inhabitants and collect natural materials that will become part of your beautiful art creations. The day will not be complete without sharing some holiday stories, a selection of fun games and time spent in the outdoor classroom.

Children will be introduced to a range of art mediums and natural materials – gifts parents and grandparents will love.

Join us for a whole day of outdoor fun.

BOOK NOW


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 10:30am-11:30am
Event Type: Parents or carers must remain with their child during the program. 
 
Come on a Christmas Carol adventure with an Aussie twist.
 
Meet the stingy workaholic bower bird called Mr Scrooge and join him as he learns the true meaning of Christmas, the hard way.
 
The show is fun, live and with a large smattering of Christmas JOY! Will his bower be finished before Christmas eve?
 
Can he get through Christmas without getting into a flap? Will Mr Scrooge join the flock?

Presented by the Eaton Gorge Theatre Company.

Find out more

January 2024 program

WEEK 1

Wednesday 10 January


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 8am - 4pm
Event Type: This a drop-off program. Parents do not attend with children. 
 

The greatest alternative to screen time!
 
Keep cool this summer – join our educators for a whole day of water fun away from the beach. Learn to make a water filter, avoid the spray of the spitting cobra and explore our ponds with some dip netting. These activities are heaps of fun for kids and they will also gain knowledge that will help them with their STEM classes in the next terms.
 
BYO Lunch, water bottle, hat, and morning tea. You may also like to bring a change of clothes and shoes to go home in as we will be getting wet!

BOOK NOW

Friday 12 January


Age: Children aged 5+
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Event type: This program is for families  

Dusk is a wonderful time to spot animals in Centennial Parklands. The park is home to a variety of nocturnal creatures, from brushtail possums, microbats, and tawny frogmouths to one of Sydney’s largest colonies of grey-headed flying-foxes.

Join our experienced Rangers for a fascinating and surprising spotlight walk to see how the Park transforms when the sun goes down.

Meeting point: Robertson Road Gates 

What to bring:

  • Enclosed & comfortable shoes

  • Warm clothing - it gets cold after dark!

  • Torch

  • Camera (no flash)

  • Waterproof clothing in case of wet conditions, the walks run rain or shine.

  • A sense of adventure

BOOK NOW

WEEK 2

Monday 15 January


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 8am - 4pm
Event Type: This a drop-off program. Parents do not attend with children. 

Inspire your inner engineer on our zany Marvellous Machines day in the park!

Design and build a Rube Goldberg machine; a comically involved invention that is designed to perform a simple task in a hilariously complicated way OR in our current climate of heat and water conservation, design and build a water rally. Working in teams, your task will be to design and build your own wild invention to solve an everyday problem.

This engaging STEAM challenge presents an opportunity for participants to learn the engineering design process and build their own Marvellous Machine. Participants learn how to work in a team, brainstorm, plan, design a blueprint and ultimately - build a machine!

BOOK NOW

Tuesday 16 January


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 8am - 4pm
Event Type: This a drop-off program. Parents do not attend with children. 

Join our full-day wonder-ful art adventure and immerse yourself in the wonders of nature! Unleash your inner artist at our park camp where you'll discover the joy of creating art surrounded by the beauty of the outdoors. Program highlights include:

  • Wonder through nature collecting materials and inspiration from the parklands around you.
  •  Learn exciting techniques like nature print, cyanotype printing, ephemeral art making, incorporating the magic of nature into your creations.
  • Working with diverse materials like clay, loose parts, and natural dyes to craft unique masterpieces.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to connect with nature and ignite your wonder in a fun-filled day of art and exploration! Join us for an unforgettable experience in the embrace of nature's splendour.

BOOK NOW

Wednesday 17 January


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 8am - 4pm
Event Type: This a drop-off program. Parents do not attend with children. 
 

The greatest alternative to screen time!
 
Keep cool this summer – join our educators for a whole day of water fun away from the beach. Learn to make a water filter, avoid the spray of the spitting cobra and explore our ponds with some dip netting. These activities are heaps of fun for kids and they will also gain knowledge that will help them with their STEM classes in the next terms.
 
BYO Lunch, water bottle, hat, and morning tea. You may also like to bring a change of clothes and shoes to go home in as we will be getting wet!

BOOK NOW

Thursday 18 January


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
Event Type: Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Against the backdrop of the stunning Centennial Parklands, your kids will discover native art and culture through hands-on painting and storytelling. Kids will learn contemporary Aboriginal art techniques and gain an understanding of Aboriginal culture through the stories told by our Aboriginal educators from Shared Knowledge.

BOOK NOW

Friday 19 January


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 8am - 4pm
Event Type: This a drop-off program. Parents do not attend with children. 

Inspire your inner engineer on our zany Marvellous Machines day in the park!

Design and build a Rube Goldberg machine; a comically involved invention that is designed to perform a simple task in a hilariously complicated way OR in our current climate of heat and water conservation, design and build a water rally. Working in teams, your task will be to design and build your own wild invention to solve an everyday problem.

This engaging STEAM challenge presents an opportunity for participants to learn the engineering design process and build their own Marvellous Machine. Participants learn how to work in a team, brainstorm, plan, design a blueprint and ultimately - build a machine!

BOOK NOW


Age: Children aged 5+
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Event type: This program is for families  

Dusk is a wonderful time to spot animals in Centennial Parklands. The park is home to a variety of nocturnal creatures, from brushtail possums, microbats, and tawny frogmouths to one of Sydney’s largest colonies of grey-headed flying-foxes.

Join our experienced Rangers for a fascinating and surprising spotlight walk to see how the Park transforms when the sun goes down.

Meeting point: Robertson Road Gates 

What to bring:

  • Enclosed & comfortable shoes

  • Warm clothing - it gets cold after dark!

  • Torch

  • Camera (no flash)

  • Waterproof clothing in case of wet conditions, the walks run rain or shine.

  • A sense of adventure

BOOK NOW

WEEK 3

Monday 22 January


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 8am - 4pm
Event Type: This a drop-off program. Parents do not attend with children. 
 

Inspire your inner engineer on our zany Marvellous Machines day in the park!

Design and build a Rube Goldberg machine; a comically involved invention that is designed to perform a simple task in a hilariously complicated way OR in our current climate of heat and water conservation, design and build a water rally. Working in teams, your task will be to design and build your own wild invention to solve an everyday problem.

This engaging STEAM challenge presents an opportunity for participants to learn the engineering design process and build their own Marvellous Machine. Participants learn how to work in a team, brainstorm, plan, design a blueprint and ultimately - build a machine!

BOOK NOW

Wednesday 24 January


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 8am - 4pm
Event Type: This a drop-off program. Parents do not attend with children. 
 

The greatest alternative to screen time!
 
Keep cool this summer – join our educators for a whole day of water fun away from the beach. Learn to make a water filter, avoid the spray of the spitting cobra and explore our ponds with some dip netting. These activities are heaps of fun for kids and they will also gain knowledge that will help them with their STEM classes in the next terms.
 
BYO Lunch, water bottle, hat, and morning tea. You may also like to bring a change of clothes and shoes to go home in as we will be getting wet!

BOOK NOW

Thursday 25 January


Age: Children aged 5-12 years
Time: 8am - 4pm
Event Type: This a drop-off program. Parents do not attend with children. 

Join our full-day wonder-ful art adventure and immerse yourself in the wonders of nature! Unleash your inner artist at our park camp where you'll discover the joy of creating art surrounded by the beauty of the outdoors. Program highlights include:

  • Wonder through nature collecting materials and inspiration from the parklands around you.
  •  Learn exciting techniques like nature print, cyanotype printing, ephemeral art making, incorporating the magic of nature into your creations.
  • Working with diverse materials like clay, loose parts, and natural dyes to craft unique masterpieces.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to connect with nature and ignite your wonder in a fun-filled day of art and exploration! Join us for an unforgettable experience in the embrace of nature's splendour.

BOOK NOW

Sign up to our school holiday newsletter, so you don't miss out on our popular programs!

Don't miss out! Subscribe to the school holiday newsletter and be the first to know when bookings open. Our programs fill up fast, so secure your spot quickly!

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You can view all our children's programs including School Holidays, Bush School and more in the What's On page of our website.
Category: Education, Kids
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