Hi friends!
This past week, I finally found time to put up our Christmas tree.
Good news: my 1-year-old only broke one ornament. Bad news: she looks determined to finish the job.
But you aren't here for my festive triumphs; you’re here for things that will actually help this week. So let’s get to it.👇🏼
Here’s what’s inside this issue:
The Camp Save: A winter camp at Mt Pleasant with actual spots left for the 9–14 crowd (those weird three-day weeks, handled).
The Cheap Date: A $4 Cineplex fallback for cold, soggy Saturdays.
The Kitchen Saver: A free after-school pop-up book workshop at the library that doesn’t destroy your dining table.
The Rainy Day Win: A surprisingly great “hidden gem” outing at the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
And, much more.
Scan, grab one or two that fit your week, and ignore the rest. This is a menu, not homework.
🧥Project Hastings: Turn Closet Chaos into Help
If your hall closet attacks you every time you open it… this one’s for you.
What: Project Hastings warm clothing drive
Where: Drop-off at your local community centre (check the front desk or site for details)
When: Now through December 12
What to bring:
Gently used, washed cold-weather clothing
Footwear (boots, runners, etc.)
Accessories & practical items: belts, tote bags, blankets, towels, etc.
The Move: Stop overthinking it. Do a 10-minute sweep: kids’ outgrown gear + your “I haven’t worn this since 2019” pile. One bag. Next time you’re at the community centre, drop it at the front desk. Done.
Why It Matters: You don’t have to find a specific family or coordinate pickup times. You clear the clutter, Project Hastings handles the logistics, and someone stays warmer because you finally tackled That Closet.
❄️ Winter Camp Alert: Spots for the 9-14 Crowd!
If you still need coverage for those awkward three-day weeks, here’s a little miracle. Most camps are full, but Mt Pleasant still has a rare opening that fits the bill.
What: It’s chill. Cooking, games, and hanging out. No "baby" crafts, just supervised fun with other pre-teens.
Where: Mount Pleasant Community Centre (1 Kingsway).
When:
Week 1: Dec 22–24 (Mon–Wed)
Week 2: Dec 29–31 (Mon–Wed)
Who: Youth Winter Camp (Ages 9-14)
The Move: Grab a spot before the waitlist kicks in. This might be one of the only camps in the area with actual space left.
Why It Matters: It patches those random no-school days with real coverage, keeps big kids warm and busy, and hands you a few solid work blocks instead of chaos.
🍿 Cineplex Family Favourites: The $4 Saturday Save
When it’s cold and soggy and you need an easy, low-planning outing, this is the move.
What: Cineplex Family Favourites
When: Select Saturdays at 11:00 AM (check each week)
Where: Participating theatres
Cost: $3.99 + tax per ticket
The Move: Check the schedule at the link below to see what’s playing. If it’s a hit, book seats online so you’re not scrambling for four seats together at the kiosk with kids hanging off your arm.
Why It Matters: It gets everyone out of the house, out of the rain, and entertained for two hours, without blowing the weekend budget.
⚓️ Hidden Gem: Vancouver Maritime Museum Kids’ Gallery
If you’ve done Science World a thousand times and need a new indoor option, have you been to the Maritime Museum lately? It’s the quiet underdog of Vanier Park, and it has a secret weapon: a Children’s Gallery that actually wears them out.
What: Vancouver Maritime Museum – Children’s Gallery + ship exhibits
Where: Vanier Park (1905 Ogden Ave, Kits)
When: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Cost: Regular admission; Pay What You Can on the first Sunday of each month (next one: Jan 5)
The Vibe: Less chaotic than the big museums, but packed with hands-on stuff.
The Kids’ Zone
Captain the Ship: a life-sized “cartoon” tugboat they can climb and steer
Dress the Part: costume chest (orca, seastar, octopus chaos encouraged)
Build & Explore: magnetic ships, port play, simple “how the harbour works” stuff
The Move: Use this as your “low-effort, medium-adventure” day. Aim for 10 a.m., do 60–90 minutes inside, then hit the grass and paths at Vanier Park if the weather isn’t terrible.
Why It Matters: It’s a contained outing. Compared to Science World, this is more manageable, quieter, and enough to feel like “we did something” without nuking the whole day.
✂️ The After-School Save: Pop-Up Book Maker Space at Mount Pleasant
A free, drop-in pop-up book workshop for kids at the library. This is a hands-on session where they actually learn the mechanics of how pop-up books work: folding, cutting, and gluing to make art that jumps off the page.
I’ll be there with my 5-year-old. Come say hi! 👋🏼
What: Book Maker Space (Making pop-up, accordion, and tiny books).
Where: Mount Pleasant Library (1 Kingsway).
When: Wednesday, Dec 10th | 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM.
Who: Grades K-7 (Best for kids who can handle scissors).
The Move: Pack an after-school snack and head straight to the library instead of home. You sit with your book/email; they get an hour of focused, hands-on making.
Why It Matters: It fills the 3:30–4:30 with something free, creative, and supervised. Siblings can all join, you don’t have to prep a single craft, and your kitchen table is spared the paper-and-glue explosion; so the run-up to dinner is way calmer.
🔨 Home Depot Workshop Alert: The Tow Truck
The free Home Depot Kids Workshops are legendary, but the spots vanish faster than Taylor Swift tickets.
Here is the heads-up now so you don't miss out on January's event.
What: Build A Tow Truck (Kids Workshop).
When (The Event): Saturday, January 10, 2026.
When (The Critical Part): Registration opens Monday, December 15, at 10:30 AM.
Where: Your local Home Depot (Cambie & 7th or Terminal Ave).
Cost: Free.
The Move: Treat this like community-centre registration: set a calendar alert for Dec 15 at 10:25 AM. Have the workshops page open, pick your preferred store, and register right at 10:30 before the spots vanish. If you have multiple kids, register them in one go so you’re not juggling different time slots.
Why It Matters: It’s a genuinely hands-on hour where kids use real tools, follow steps, and walk out with something they actually built. Your kid gets that “I built this!” glow that lasts all weekend.
Let’s Settle This… Who’s actually running your house?
Quick 10-second question so I know who I’m really curating for.
How Old is your Oldest Kid?
You’ve got this!
Saba Yazdani
The Cambie Memo
