Families Glasgow Jul-Aug 2015 issue 52

Glasgow Issue 52 July/August 2015

Summer Fun + Win

£100 Family Meal at giraffe

FULL ON

Places available from Birth-5 years

www.somersetnursery.com

6 Fitzroy Place Glasgow G3 7RH

FUN @

drama for the early years

07736298013 www.monkeydrama.co.uk ALANA@MONKEYDRAMA.CO.UK

AWARD-WINNING URBAN DANCE CLASSES & PARTIES FOR TOTS TO TEENS

stepitupdance.co.uk

70x55glasgow-rundmc.indd 2

07712 126 617

05/06/2015 14:06

Family adventure games & party venue www.riddlerooms.co.uk

Glasgow’s really useful magazine for families with children aged 0-12

News & Views

In this issue...

2-5

News & Views

6

Days Out Ideas

7

Rainy Day Ideas

8-9

Summer Camps

10

Nurture with Nature

11

Family Pages.

Win £100 Meal!

12-15 What’s On this Summer?

Get in touch Editor: Anna Wignall editor@familiesglasgow.co.uk, 07796 946661 Keep up to date at www.familiesglasgow.co.uk or find us on facebook Next issue: September/October 2015.

Forthcoming Features: Back to School, Independent Schools, Clubs & Classes Booking deadline: July 29th - Special ad rates and offers available, call or email to find out more.

We take every care in preparing this magazine but the publishers cannot be held responsible for the claims made by advertisers.

Designed by kris@grafikfabrik.co.uk.

Printed By Warners (Midlands) plc.

Front page photo: Sand Dollar Swim www.sanddollarswim.com Copyright: Families Glasgow Magazine March 2015.

Families Glasgow is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families ® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Temple House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Glasgow are fully protected by copyright and non of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Families Glasgow copies are FREE and available through a selected network of distribution outlets through Glasgow.

Can you escape...

NCT Glasgow The Room?

The Room Glasgow is a unique centre of fun-packed family-and-friends adventure escape games for groups of 2 to 30.

Challenge, riddles, mystery - sense of achievement, for fans 9 to 99.

In the rooms you are required to think out of your box, work together, brainstorm, examine, investigate, and finally escape.

The Room encourages critical thinking and creativity, moves you off your comfort zone and makes you use parts of your brain you never knew existed. A great way to enhance team working and problem solving skills.

For Birthday parties up to 16 participants Party Room is the ideal choice: going through multiple skill challenges, whilst investigating a mystery keeps everyone sharp and entertained over 90 minutes. Drawing on skills, judgements and wits as time runs out is the essence of the game.

For teams as large as 8 members, Spy Room is the ultimate choice. it is a classical room escape experience, with a little twist.

You are agents, tasked to search the office of a businessman, suspected of financing criminals. You are to find evidence and a key to escape in one.

For more information, booking or contacts visit our website at www.riddlerooms.co.uk.

Sling Hire Library After 18months in the making, the sling library opened its doors in March. We are delighted to meet with potential or current babywearing families on the third Monday of the month in the ever popular Merry Go Round on Nithsdale Rd, Pollokshaws. 10am-12noon. The service allows families from all over Glasgow and the surrounding areas to get some advice on different slings and carriers, try on some things, get demonstrations of how to use and then they can choose to hire a sling for £10 a month and a £30 cash or cheque deposit.

We have a variety of slings which is continuing to grow. There are stretchy wraps and hybrid stretchies for little ones like the moby and close caboo, we have a number of buckle slings, a ring sling, a woven wrap and a mei tai. Please contact us if you have a sling you wish to donate!

The volunteer team currently consists of 2 certified babywearing peer supporters and an administrator but do contact us should you wish to get involved.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Emma, Jen and Sarah nctglasgowslings@gmail.com or find us on facebook

Music and Dance for Boys and Girls aged 6 months - 5 years www.ballet4babies.co.uk

Miss Claire info@ballet4babies.co.uk

Open 7.30am - 6.00pm Mon to Fri

Inc. Bank Holidays (except Christmas & New Year)

0775 911 9965

Forest Kindergarten Programme Term time places also available For teachers, students & others working in an educational setting.

Places available for 0 – 5 years Easy parking/drop off ‘Provides a caring & nurturing environment’

COOKING CLASSES

(Care inspection report December 2013)

Telephone 0141 631 5235 nursery@cassiltoun.org.uk www.cassiltounstablesnursery.co.uk

Castlemilk Stables, 59 Machrie Road, Castlemilk, G45 0AZ Company Registration No SC423689

2

July/August 2015

Families Glasgow

Fun, easy and nutritious cooking classes for children and adults. www.happycookz.co.uk

NCT Glasgow Sling hire library meets 3rd Monday of the month in Merry Go Round on Nithsdale Rd at 10-12. £10 for a months hire of a variety of slings (cash deposit also required).

Find us on facebook or email nctglasgowslings@gmail.com

News & Views

Did you know? ...that burglars use social media to identify targets during summer holidays.

A leading UK home security company eSafes.co.uk has pulled together 5 simple steps to help people protect their home while they’re away soaking up the sun.

Glasgow Queen’s Park 29 Aug - 12 Sep

1. Don’t tell the world your home is empty. It can be tempting

to post a cheeky selfie at the airport or on the beach to show your friends you’re off on your holidays. However 78% of thieves use social media to find empty houses (source: mediabistro.com) so resist posting status updates like this to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

2. Make the house appear lived in. If you get newspapers or

milk delivered then cancel them during your holiday as a build-up is just like erecting a sign that says “no one is home” which will attract burglars. Also if you’ve got timers for your lights then we recommend using these as well to make the house appear occupied.

3. Enlist a neighbour or family member. One of the best

deterrents is to ask your neighbour or a family member to come around and do every day things like move your post, put your bins out and park a car on your driveway.

Me

Igglepiet gg after th le show! * e

4. Lock all windows and doors. Locking the front and back

door is something we all do but can you honestly say that you regularly lock your windows too? 25% of break-ins occur via a window so they need to be locked. (Remember where you put all those little window keys and start using them!)

5. Keep valuables in a safe place. It might surprise you to hear that 51% of people don’t keep their valuables somewhere secure (source: confused.com) with 13% still keeping items in a sock drawer aka a burglars favourite place. If you have a safe make sure you use it to store all your valuables, keys, paperwork and cash in.

Book now and save £5 with this coupon!*

NightGardenLive.com No booking fee online or call 0333 300 0019 (bkg fee)

SAVE UP TO

MEET65F

Editor’s Note. During a burglary last year my 'sock' drawer was emptied out all over my bed. Ironically, landing right on top of my lap top which I’d hidden under the duvet...

Need Funding?

for your children’s or families community group?

USE CODE

VALID UNTIL 31-Aug-2015

off orders over £60 or 5% off orders under £60 NightGardenLive.com • call 0333 300 0019 (bkg fee) *Coupon worth £5 off orders over £60, or 5% off orders under £60 and expires 31 August 2015. Subject to availability, Meeting a Character requires an additional ticket which can only be bought with tickets to the main performance. Ts & Cs apply, see www.NightGardenLive.com. © 2015 DHX Worldwide Limited.

In the Night Garden and all related characters, titles and logos are trademarks of DHX Worldwide Limited. All rights reserved.

Community groups across Scotland working with parents and families of children under eight are being encouraged to apply for cash from the multi-million pound Communities and FamAd51_Glasgow_87x175.indd 1 29/05/2015 Families fund.

Now in its fourth and final year, the programme funded jointly by the Scottish Government and the Big Lottery Fund, has grants of between £250 and £10,000 available to projects Come and have fun in the woods for a unique that give Scottish children the best start in life.

Birthday Party. Choose from a wide range of Full details of the simple application process can be found activities, toast marshmallows around the campfire at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland or call 0300 123 7110. & give your child an amazing party to remember!

BUSHCRAFT BIRTHDAY PARTIES

The NEW Glasgow Rudolf Steiner School will be fully open from 27th August 2015!

We are delighted to be able to offer two Toddler groups (Southside & West End) on Mondays and Fridays for 0-3 years, the Seedlings Kindergarten will run every weekday from 9.30am-1.30pm for children aged 3-6 and School Classes 1-6 will run every weekday for children aged 6-12 years.

For more information, to enrol or arrange a visit please see visit www.glasgosteinercommunity.co.uk or find us on Facebook/glasgowsteiner.

UNLEASH THE ADVENTURE!

In the grounds of the Balfunning Estate, near Drymen 30 mins from Glasgow: https://goo.gl/maps/ Vnqas www.greenaspirationscotland.co.uk info@greenaspirationsscotland.co.uk 01360 449 220

Also available for schools, group bookings & events!

Families Glasgow

July/August 2015

3

16:36

News & Views

We can make the difference

At Belmont House School, we value every child for the individual that they are.

Discover how your son or daughter could benefit from small class sizes, personal attention and a seamless transition from Nursery to Junior School and Junior through to Senior School.

Sandringham Avenue, Newton Mearns

0141 639 2922

www.belmontschool.co.uk

4

July/August 2015

Families Glasgow

News & Views

Come and join us on a Wee Jaunt at Pedal for Scotland!

This year’s Pedal for Scotland, running across Scotland on 5th, 6th and 13th September, promises to be the biggest and best yet.

We’ve got events to suit all ages and abilities, including four fantastic Wee Jaunt rides, ideal for family groups from toddlers to teens.

So for a fantastic, fun filled family day out in the saddle, come on a Wee Jaunt with us.

Wee Jaunt Glasgow 5 Sept - 6 miles

Starting at Glasgow Green, the 6 mile ride follows a traffic free riverside route via the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Commonwealth village. Riders can then enjoy an array of entertainment at Glasgow Green. Entry £5 adult / £3 child

Wee Jaunt Edinburgh 6 Sept - 9 miles

The ride starts from Kirkliston and follows an almost traffic free route to Murrayfield stadium, where our two biggest Pedal for Scotland rides- the Classic Challenge and the Big Belter also finish. Join them and soak up the atmosphere of the ride with thousands of others! Entry £8 adult / £5 child For more details and to book visit pedalforscotland.org

Did you know?

Join In launches Club Hub

...that Ladybirds are a gardener’s friend as they love to eat the greenfly that try to eat our crops. The 46 resident types of British ladybirds are under threat from the invading harlequin ladybird that arrived in Britain in 2004.

Visit Lulu’s (Age 3!) garden blog at blog.vialiigardenservices.co.uk to find out about ladybirds and how you can help scientists do research into British ladybirds and discover some ladybird inspired crafts you can do at home!

‘Club Hub’ is a simple, free, online resource that will help grow grassroots sports clubs and groups across the country.

From finding new volunteers and promoting your club to managing club finances, Club Hub has it covered.

See: www.joininuk.org

The new online toolkit for sports clubs, by sports clubs

50% OFF Discount Voucher!

Get 50% off food at new giraffe!

Now open at West Regent Street, Glasgow.

Terms and Conditions: - Valid at giraffe West Regent Street all day Mon - Fri and after 5pm on Sundays from 6th July – 2nd August 2015.

- Not valid on Saturdays or bank holidays.

- Discount is on food only and does not include service.

- Offer is not transferable and there is no cash alternative.

- One discount per voucher, max 6 people.

- Voucher should be shown to your server on ordering and will be retained by restaurant.

- giraffe reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time. giraffe Glasgow/Families Glasgow Magazine Offer

n Wi

A Family Meal worth £100 @

See page 11 for entry details Families Glasgow

July/August 2015

5

Summer in Scotland: Great Days Out

Deep Sea World Fife - KY11 1JR, www.deepseaworld.co.uk, 01383 411 880

by Families Glasgow Editor

N

estling beneath the iconic Forth Bridge is Deep Sea World, Scotland’s National Aquarium – its nestling beneath the car park actually. As you step out of your car, you can warn the kids that directly under their feet are nine Sand Tiger Sharks circling hungrily at that very moment…

It’s OK, Sand Tiger Sharks are naturally very docile and here at the aquarium they are kept very well fed to ensure there are no mishaps with the aquarium’s other fishy occupants. It’s even possible to dive with them (ages 8+ and advanced booking only) which does look fantastic fun and suitable training is given to complete beginners.

The moving undersea walkway (the longest in Europe) travels through a glass tunnel beneath the main tank, which is filled with cold water taken directly from the Firth of Forth and stocked with mostly native UK species (The Sand Tigers are from South Africa). You can circle around the tunnel as many times as you like as the hundreds of different species float above and all around you. There’s so much variety and you are so close to the marine life it’s rather amazing and hypnotic and really quite easy to take for granted that you can get so close to such graceful creatures. The kids will adore it – especially if

they see Stella the cheeky Stingray and the aquarium’s largest inhabitant, Tinkerbell the serene but still scary-looking Sand Tiger Shark.

In addition to the one million gallon main tank, there are a number of other watery exhibits, displaying habitats from the Amazon to Lake Malawi which are utterly fascinating. The Piranhas and Seahorses went down especially well with our kids. Although Godzilla, the Alligator Snapping Turtle was so completely still for so long that Daddy assured the kids that it must have been a pond ornament. He had his mouth fixed open wide, just waiting to snap it shut at the first sign of food.

(The turtle, that is, not Daddy… oh wait...). It was a bit of a shame really as he was in for rather a long wait as this was Saturday and his next feed wasn’t until Wednesday!

Another highlight was the Access All Areas tour which costs another £3pp. This takes you ‘back stage’ to see the workings of all the tanks, the breeding programmes and baby sharks (they are one of the few aquariums in the world to successfully breed the endangered Angel Shark) which our children thoroughly enjoyed.

Anyway, Deep Sea World makes for a great afternoon out and it has a nice cafe serving freshly made food including kids meals. Also, keep an eye on the various feeding times, especially the seals for maximum viewing pleasure! Why not travel to Edinburgh by train and catch the Fife Circle Line from Waverley, cross the Forth Bridge and see the vast new Queensferry Crossing bridge taking shape? North Queensferry is the first stop after the bridge.

An online Family Ticket to Deep Sea World is £37 (2+2) which is £7 cheaper than paying on the door.

Dumfries House

New Free Outdoor Play Area in Ayrshire Features Earth, Air, Fire and Water Play Children in Scotland can now explore the natural elements of earth, air, fire and water through play, thanks to a brand new Harmony Outdoor Area at Dumfries House Estate near Cumnock in East Ayrshire. The Harmony Outdoor area was designed and realised by Timberplay Scotland, who previously created the outdoor activity area and the woodbased site-specific play space in the estate’s grounds. It was officially opened by HRH The Prince of Wales, who helped save the estate from closure for the nation in 2007, securing a loan of £20million. Since 2007 a further £20 million has been spent restoring Dumfries House and the wider estate.

The new space is free and open to public visitors to Dumfries House Estate, and is also an outdoor learning space for the STEM education programme based at the new Morphy Richards Engineering Building.

Dumfries House Estate is open from dawn till dusk 365 days per year. As well as the new Harmony Outdoor Area, the estate features an adventure playground, walled garden, visitors centre, cafe, and a number of educational projects.

To find out more and experience the new Harmony Outdoor Area, visit www.dumfries-house.org.uk

6

July/August 2015

Families Glasgow

Chatelherault Visitor App

Park, home to the Duke Explore Chatelherault Country ting Lodge and over 500 Hun tury Cen 18th ’s of Hamilton the clues to collect wing follo by , acres of countryside for the whole family. lable rewards. Treasure Hunts are avai s.

App sure Trea al Glob with In association or the iPhone App Store.

Download from Google Play

Summer in Scotland: Rainy Day Ideas

Have a Record Breaking Summer at Glasgow Libraries!

Looking for something fun & active for the whole family to try?

Then go for a spin at the roller disco. Enjoy the disco atmosphere with disco ball, lights and all your favourite music to skate to. We have plenty of skates available for hire (or bring your own). Don’t worry if you’ve never skated before, there are always skate marshals on hand to give you tips to get rolling.

(Minimum age 4 years) For children (and adults) who want to learn more there are lessons covering everything from the basics of skating to more advanced things such as skating backwards.

Visit www.skateglasgow.com for more information.

Glasgow Libraries is delighted to be working with the Guinness World Records ™ on the 2015 Tesco Bank Summer Reading Challenge Scotland. The theme will be Record Breakers!

Guinness World Records ™ mission is around inspiring, celebrating achievement and personal best, which reflects the ethos of the Tesco Bank Summer Reading Challenge.

Record Breakers will bring together the amazing worlds of fact and fiction, challenging young readers to explore some of the astonishing real-life achievements and world records featured in the Guinness World Records Books as part of their Summer Reading Challenge 2015.

Children are challenged to read six books over the summer, to earn a fantastic Record Breakers medal and certificate and maybe even set their own ‘personal best’ for reading!

Collecting stickers as they go, young readers will discover weird, wonderful and wacky records from around the world in six different categories: Cool Tech, Way to Go!, The Big Stuff, Animal Magic, Human Touch and Action! Adventure!

Plus, children can find competitions, challenges, author interviews, news, and the book sorter which recommends what children might like to read next at... www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk throughout the year.

Visit your local Glasgow library from Wednesday 24th June to discover truly amazing, wonderful and wacky records from around the world - it’s all FREE and suitable for 5yrs+

Make & Share a Lego Video What is a Kronkiwongi?

Kids define the indefinable with LEGO bricks. A Kronkiwongi does not come with instructions. It is not in any dictionary and cannot be found anywhere. In fact, a Kronkiwongi cannot be truly defined, because it is anything that a child can imagine and build.

The Kronkiwongi video series, which can be viewed on Facebook, invites the viewer to witness the creative genius of children at play.

Parents and children from all over the world are invited to join in, by building their very own Kronkiwongi from LEGO bricks and sharing it on the LEGO Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LEGO.

FRIENDS They’ll think it’s COOL.

You’ll know it’s

EDUCATIONAL.

COOL

Combining 100% waterproof protection with unbeatable comfort, BOGS® festival footwear helps the whole family avoid the mud and rain in style!

BOGS® offer a stylish look but are practical and more durable than many other fashion wellies on the market making them more comfortable and protective.

So the days of cold and soggy feet are a thing of the past.

Ladies Rainboot @ RRP £60 100% waterproof and ideal for warmer weather Kids Rainboots @ RRP £35 Keeps kids feet fresh & dry in fun vibrant designs Kids Yukon Sandal @ RRP £35 - For the adventurous optimist!

BOGS® new kids Yukon Sandal is made for adventurous kids who want to make the most of the sunny outdoors. The Yukon is crafted with a soft suede upper and features a microfiber footbed for comfort.

Yukon is the perfect summer adventure sandal and is available in six colours in sizes 23-30.

To see the full range of BOGS footwear visit www.bogsfootwear.com

ENRICHING

memorable

awesome different

ENROLL YOUR CHILD

TODAY!!

www.bricks4kidz.co.uk/glasgow B4KGlasgow

Summer in Scotland Welly Boots from BOGS®

@Bricks4KidzGla

BRICKS4KIDZ.CO.UK LEGO® is a registered trademark of the LEGO® Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse these programs.

Creative Learning Corporation common shares are listed on OTCBB under the ticker symbol CLCN. © 2013 Bricks 4 Kidz

Families Glasgow

July/August 2015

7

Summer in Scotland: Summer Camps & Activities

Bricks 4 Kidz New American-style Summer Camp in Glasgow Camp Indy comes to Glasgow with sports, arts, camp fires and outdoor adventure. Camp Indy, based at Kelvinside Academy in the heart of Glasgow’s west end, is set to bring the stateside summer spirit to Scotland for children age 6-14. Camp Indy is available in one or two week sessions from 27 July 2015, from £35 per day or £150 per week from 8.30am to 5.00pm.

Reserve a place online www.campindy.co.uk or by contacting Donna and Hiran on 03333 44 00 77.

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Various Drama, Dance and Music Courses To book any RCS course please call 0141 270 8213 or visit www.rcs.ac.uk/summer

Tap into your child’s potential by encouraging their curiosity and creativity with a Bricks 4 Kidz® Summer Workshop. Lego® Bricks, robotics, exploration & fun make up the Bricks 4 Kidz® summer experience. We have workshops running throughout the summer holidays at the Trades Hall Glasgow. Half day & full day options available to book now.

Please see our website www.bricks4kidz.co.uk/glasgow for full details or contact cbarr@bricks4kidz.com.

Learn a Language Camps In need of some summer holiday fun and supervision for your children? Between the 29th of June and the 7th of August.

Activities include: arts&crafts, learning about different countries and languages, book readings, games and more.

There are also two weeks of Gaelic immersion sessions available between the 27th of July and the 7th of August.

Costs are £22,50 per child/half day or £6,- per child/hour, 8:30-13:00 or 13:00-17:30.

For more information see www.thelanguagehub.co.uk, or find them on Facebook and Twitter or directly at The Language Hub children’s bookshop and language school, 52 Keith Court, Glasgow G11 6QW, 0141 258 2700.

Get your skates on!

Got an 8 - 12 year old who loves to skate or wants to learn how? Join the summer skate week where they’ll receive daily skate lessons, roller disco, play games, get crafty and have fun!

Visit www.skateglasgow.com for more information.

Summer Club @Monkey Drama

Summer Rugby @ Victoria Park The outdoor Summer holiday term is back at Victoria Park, Glasgow running every Saturday morning from 4th July – 8th August. 9.00am Junior, 9.35am Senior and 10.35am Advanced.

You can book either 4 or 6 weeks.Contact Sandra on 0845 313 3252 or Sandra@rugbytots.co.uk. To book a place visit www.rugbytots.co.uk

Performance Courses @Scottish Youth Theatre Summer Festival 2015 Performance Courses from the 3-8 August. Junior Courses for 8-11 year olds. www.scottishyouththeatre.org 0141 552 3988

8

July/August 2015

Families Glasgow

Monkey Drama are delighted to be the Mums in the Know Award Winners of the best class for 2-4 year olds! it just goes to show that so many people are loving our classes and most importantly the children are enjoying their weekly drama adventures! We are also delighted to be running a summer club this year for children aged 3-6 on Wednesday 29th, Thursday 30th and Friday 31st July, running from 9.45 – 11.45am each day in Broomhill Community Church. All 3 days must be booked and these are drop off sessions so parents are not required to stay, the cost is £36. Each day we will make some props to take on our Monkey Drama adventures. It is going to be lots of fun! If you would like to book, please get in touch asap as places are filling fast.

If you can’t make our Summer Club, then why not book a free trial for one our weekly classes. We run in Broomhill Community Church on a Friday’s at 9.45am or 11am. The public classes are suitable for ages 2-5. We also run awesome parties and can cater for up to age 7.

Check out all this and more on our website. www.monkeydrama.co.uk alana@monkeydrama.co.uk 07736298013

Summer in Scotland

Back to School Classes If you want to get organised over the summer ready for the new school year in August, here’s some clubs and classes that you can book up now...

Step it up Dance To celebrate their expansion across Glasgow, award-winning company, Step It Up Dance, is offering FREE classes at all new venues during the first week of their Autumn term. New classes are popping up all over the place and can be viewed online at www.stepitupdance.co.uk.

Step It Up Dance offer award-winning urban dance classes and parties for tots from age 18 months to teens and inspire kids to get active in a fun and exciting way. All Step It Up Dance teachers are highly trained and professional, creating a warm and welcoming environment at all of their classes.

Founder of Step It Up Dance, Niki Hutchison, said: “More and more parents recognise that if their children start taking part early in a form of exercise they enjoy, this will set them on a healthy path for life. This is why we have had to expand the number of classes we run into entirely new areas of Glasgow.

We have the best, highly skilled dance teachers in the industry teaching our unique curricula. Our teachers engage kids from the minute they walk in the door. Even if a child has never done a class before or suffers from shyness, time and again we are amazed and incredibly proud to see how dancing to music they love can transform them and help them grow into confident, happy and healthy kids.”

Niki’s top ten reasons why dancing is good for kids: • Gets them fit and active • Improves listening skills • Helps them learn within a group environment • Boosts confidence • Helps flexibility • Improves rhythm • Improves posture • Helps them make friends and improve communication skills • Teaches balance and co-ordination • It’s great fun!

The new 8-week term begins on Monday 17th August and costs £45.50 (including first free week). To book your first class for free, email hello@stepitupdance.co.uk.

Check out the website for more information at www. stepitupdance.co.uk and also for information on their awardwinning urban dance and creative dance parties.

Brand New! HappyCookz Fun, easy and nutritious cooking classes for children and adults. www.happycookz.co.uk

Explore Create Perform @ Tron Theatre Term commences: Wed 9th September. For prices and information talk to Lisa lisa.keenan@tron.co.uk 0141 552 4267

Check out...

Glasgow

Clubs & Classes online listing for more information on new classes starting from August for all ages or look out for our Back to School Special

Take part in our Tesco Bank Summer Reading Challenge Scotland 2015 and find out

about the astonishing real-life achievements and world records featured in the Guinness World Record Books.

Choose from a great selection of fact and fiction books, collecting stickers as you go, to discover weird, wonderful and wacky records from around the world.

Read six books or more and challenge yourself to reach your personal best and earn a fantastic

Record Breakers medal and certificate.

Have a

Record Breaking

Summer at Glasgow Libraries!

Sign up for the Challenge from 24th June at any Glasgow Library - it's all FREE and suitable for 5 yrs+

For more information: www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk Glasgow Life and its service brands (found at www.glasgowlife.org.uk) are operating names of Culture and Sport Glasgow.

WORKING TOGETHER TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN GLASGOW PARTNER

SUPPORTER

PHOTO CREDIT © Dave Warren Picture Team 2015 for The Reading Agency and with thanks to Southwark Libraries, Canada Water Library and the children from Alfred Salter Primary School.

Families Glasgow

July/August 2015

9

Summer in Scotland: The Great Outdoors Photo by: Helen Walsh, Wildlife Trust

Photo by: Bushcraft at www.greenaspirationsscotland.co.uk

Nature’s classroom

By Hannah Hunter

A

s parents we know that children are happy in the outdoors, and once even the most hardened of citydwellers have got used to the damp and mud, they revel in unstructured time spent in the natural world.

This applies not only to small children, but older ones too – contact with nature is known to impact positively on teenage anxiety and depression.

Outdoor play can develop children’s understanding of risk, as well as testing their emotional and physical strength.

Learning how high they can climb or how brave they can be, teaches them about themselves as well as how they relate to the environment. Contact with nature has even been shown to increase creativity and language development.

Children’s activity levels automatically go up when they are outdoors. As childhood obesity has a direct link with inactivity, outdoor learning could be key to tackling this growing problem.

Despite this, many of today’s children are missing out.

According to Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts: “Children in 2015 are spending half as much time outdoors as they were a generation ago and it can not be unrelated that one in ten children suffer from depression. Society is starting to realise the risks that this separation from our natural environment poses to our children’s health and happiness.”

So what can you do as a parent to increase your kids’ contact with nature? Here we explore some of the options:

Forest schools

Inspired by Danish ‘open air life’ nurseries, the first UK Forest School was started in Somerset in 1993, at Bridgewater College. Since then the movement has spread across the UK, with many Local Authorities employing trained Forest Schools practitioners to deliver a woodland learning experience each week, usually to primary-aged children and nurseries.

Contact the Glasgow Outdoor and Woodland Learning coordinator to arrange a visit to your school or group by a qualified instructor. Tom Cooper. 0141 613 2763 tom@urbanroots.org.uk or owlscotland.org For younger children, see Glasgow’s first outdoor nursery Woodland Outdoor Kindergartens at www.woodlandoutdoorkindergartens.com or call 0844 736 5865 for more details.

10

July/August 2015

Families Glasgow

Clubs and classes

Many schools have nature or gardening clubs, often run by parent volunteers. Tried-and-tested outdoor organizations, the Scouts and Girl Guides, offer a range of activities and camps.

The less traditional Woodcraft Folk, (www.woodcraft.org.uk) focus on developing children’s connection with activities exploring issues around nature and the natural environment.

Family nature days

As well as providing accessible venues for school and group outings, the Wildlife Trusts run activities across the UK just for families and children, organised by local groups, ranging from ‘nature tots’ toddler groups to family pond-dipping days. Visit their website to find local information wildlifetrusts.org Go to the Forestry Commission website www.forestry.gov.uk to find your nearest woodlands. They have a free app with maps and local information on camping, trails and activities.

At many of their forest centres you can buy a pack that will take you on a ‘Superworm’ kids trail, which includes activities and challenges for younger children.

To get the whole family moving, you could try geocaching.

All you need is a GPS enabled device that uses coordinates (you can download the free geocaching App from Google Play or iStore). Download co-ordinates to find the caches (small waterproof boxes of ‘treasure’). Once you find it, sign and date the logbook, re-hide the geocache exactly how you found it, and share your experience online! www.geocaching.com/play You can pledge some ‘wild time’ with your children by signing up to The Wild Network – an organisation dedicated to reconnecting children with nature, at projectwildthing.com.

They have a calendar of different events, and lots of fun activity ideas that will get you and your kids outdoors.

More Outdoorsy Links: Outdoor Workshops & Children’s Outdoor Parties www.greenaspirationsscotland.co.uk/green_workshops

Woodland Outdoor Kindergartens

www.woodlandoutdoorkindergartens.com Tel: 0844 736 5865

Need to identify some wildlife? www.uksafari.com

Green Aspirations Tel: 01360 449 220

Family Pages

Think Back to School Now!

Win a Family Meal!

Worth £100!

We have teamed up with family-friendly restaurant group, giraffe, to offer ONE lucky family the chance to win a meal worth £100 to celebrate the opening of giraffe at West Regent Street, Glasgow!

Take a culinary global tour and discover a world of flavours at giraffe. From its delicious Full Brunch, Nachos Nirvana, Thai Duck Stir Fry and Mexican Chicken Burger to Rocky Road Sundae – there is something for everyone, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner.

So, whether you’re treating the kids to lunch, settling in for a leisurely family breakfast, enjoying a welcome coffee break or grabbing a mid-week cocktail with friends, giraffe is the ideal destination.

To be in with a shot of taking home this tasty prize simply answer the following question:

Where did the original giraffe open in 1998?

Yes, I know the kids have only JUST broken up from school, but, trust me, the next couple of months will simply race by, crammed with holidays, day trips and outings.

I always think that I have plenty of time to sort out school labels before term starts. And what happens? I end up staying up the whole night before, labelling endless pieces of uniform, shoes, underwear, book bags, sports kit and lunch boxes.

Until last year, when I discovered Snappy Tags, which must be the quickest, easiest way of securely labelling soft and hard items on the planet.

A Snappy Tag is similar to a small button. Your child’s name is etched onto the tags before they are delivered to you, and names are guaranteed not to fade or wash off.

The process of putting a tag into the applicator is simple, even for a person like me who is useless at understanding instructions. All that remains is to put in a strip of backs and snap the tags, one by one, onto the items, taking just 40 seconds! There is NO sewing or ironing involved and plenty of time for a congratulatory glass of wine or two afterwards!

Snappy Tags also stock a Back to School Naming Kit comes in standard size (with25 tags and a Snappy Stickers Starter Pack) or a bumper size (with 50 tags and the Snappy Stickers Starter Pack). I opted for the standard kit and it was the best £20 I’d ever spent!

View the full Snappy TagTM range at www.snappytags.co.uk As recommended by

Kids’ uniform going astray?

(Clue: it’s famous for its Heath and millionaires...) ...Youto need Please email correct answer with full contact details editor@familiesglasgow.co.uk Subject: giraffe T&Cs: Family meal voucher to the value of £100 per prize.

Deadline for entries is August 1st 2015.

BUY OF THE DAY

The easy one-snap way to label clothing!

PUSH—CLICK— SNAPPED ON!

Go-Carts, Catapults & Midnight FeastsKeep tabs on their clothes...

Brought to you by Say It Personally Ltd

Call: (0844) 5611994 www.snappytags.co.uk

Book of vintage pastimes and traditional activities to keep bored children amused and away from their As recommended by computers!

Recommended by Buy of the day What better way to keep Kids’ uniform going astray? the kids entertained, active, BUY OF THE DAY and (most importantly) outdoors, than a throwback ...You need to the past times of our own youth, with added The easy one-snap extras that even we would have loved to try when we way to label clothing! were younger!

From older classics such PUSH—CLICK— SNAPPED ON! as building a tee-pee, Brought to you by Say It Personally Ltd playing pooh sticks or searching for animal tracks, to Call: (0844) 5611994 things that are a little more scientific such as growing crystals, Keep tabs on www.snappytags.co.uk making a lava lamp or building a balloon rocket, Catherine Coxtheir clothes...

A one snap solution has put together a fantastic collection of vintage past times. rrp £9.99 0844 5611994 www.snappytags.co.uk www.thehistorypress.co.uk

Keep tabs on their clothes

Families Glasgow

July/August 2015

11

What’s On?

Selected Summer Highlights in Scotland

Family Fun at the Falkirk Wheel Let the little ones off the leash at the children’s activity and water play zones at the Falkirk Wheel. There is also cycle hire and woodland walks. zone! It’s a great place for children and adults alike to get a really vibrant, hands-on connection with The Falkirk Wheel and the Scottish canals.

Dinosaurs Return! at Edinburgh Zoo Dinosaurs Return! is a seven-month long dinosaur exhibit at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, running until 1 November 2015. The attraction features 14 life-size animatronic dinosaurs who all move and make realistic dinosaur calls. The exhibition is a wonderful experience for both adults and children alike, with plenty to keep the children entertained, with a dinosaur detective trail and a dinosaur fossil dig.

RZSS Highland Wildlife Park at the Cairngorms RZSS Highland Wildlife Park, set against the scenic backdrop of the Cairngorms mountains, is home to both native Scottish wildlife as well as endangered animals from around the world, including polar bears and tigers. Families can choose to spend the day investigating the walk-around area of the Park on foot, as well as driving or taking a guided Land Rover tour of the main reserve, getting close to the European bison, red deer, Przewalski’s horses, vicuna and others. The Park also offer exciting daily keeper-led feeding talks, where visitors can watch as some of the animals are fed whilst listening to interesting information about the animals.

For the budding photographers, the Park does photography tours, twice a month on Saturdays, with an experienced guide, who will accompany visitors around the park, helping them to get the perfect shots. For dates and to book a place on the photography tours please visit: http://www. highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/events?page=1. Children are also able to celebrate their birthday party at RZSS Highland Wildlife Park, with a special party package including entry into the park, a reserved area where the kids can enjoy party boxes as well as the chance to meet a keeper and watch as they feed the snow monkeys.

For more information and to plan your trip please visit our website at: www.highlandwildlifepark.org.uk

New Lanark World Heritage Site is the perfect place to visit this summer Whether you’re enjoying its beautiful landscape and waterfall and wildlife walks, attending an event or exploring the fascinating Visitor Centre - there’s an activity for all ages to enjoy! Events include The Big Picnic: Sunday 19th July. Family fun in Robert Owen’s Garden. 12-4pm. Free entry! Plus kids go free to the New Lanark Visitor Centre.

Visit www.newlanark.org for more information

12

July/August 2015

Families Glasgow

Meet Julia Donaldson, Jacqueline Wilson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival The Edinburgh International Book Festival believes that books and storytelling play a crucial role in the lives of children, opening up opportunities and creating worlds that give children a thirst for life. Charlotte Square Gardens, a family-friendly space in the heart of Edinburgh, will come alive this August with over 200 events in the Baillie Gifford Children’s Programme featuring authors such as Catherine Rayner, Julia Donaldson, Eoin Colfer, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Jacqueline Wilson and Francesca Simon as well as the best writers for young adults including Matt Haig, Marcus Sedgwick, Sally Gardner and David Levithan. With readings, workshops, debates and discussions featuring stories, pictures, and real life adventure, the Book Festival feeds the imagination of children of all ages from toddlers to young adults. There are daily free readings, storytelling, bookshops, cafes and a range of fun activities in the Baillie Gifford Story Box – just drop by and get stuck in.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival runs from Saturday 15 August to Monday 31 August. Entrance to Charlotte Square Gardens is free.

For tickets and full details of all events go to www.edbookfest.co.uk or call 0845 373 5888.

Don’t miss out on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!

For children and Families, the Pleasance Kidzone is the place to go. Since its creation in 2009, the Pleasance Kidzone has grown from strength to strength and six years on remains the only venue in Edinburgh to offer a completely dedicated child-friendly area. Located on The Green, in the heart of the Courtyard, the Kidzone has taken the form of a gigantic tepee, a floating ark, and for the past few years, a giant inflatable igloo!

As well as the varied and largely interactive theatre programme, there is a cafe selling child-friendly food and weather-proof art pods where children (and adults) can engage in imaginative and fun arts and crafts activities. They can also enjoy storytelling sessions, face painting, music, author book signings and regular visits from all the Pleasance performers. It’s certainly the best place to pick up essential word-of-mouth show suggestions! www.pleasance.co.uk

What’s On? 29 June - 10 July ARTScool!

House For An Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, 10 Dumbreck Road, Glasgow, G41 5BW 0141 353 4770 www.houseforanartlover.co.uk ARTScool! is a 3 day creative summer school for children age 5-8 at the House for an Art Lover!

10am - 3pm £85 30 June - 2 July Boggy Beasties - Wildlife DSI Whitlee Windfarm, Moor Road, Eaglesham, Glasgow, G76 OQQ 0141 6140851 www.whiteleewindfarm.co.uk Calling all wildlife sleuths - can you help the rangers solve the mysterious wildlife crime using your detective skills? 10.30am 12pm 1 July ANSAR Summer Programme 2015 Shawlands Academy, 31 Moss-side Road, Glasgow, G41 3TR 0141 582 0210 www.shawlandsacademy. glasgow.sch.uk A fun and action packed sports and arts summer programme for 5-12 year olds! 11am to 4pm / £25/ £30 per week 1 July Brilliant Bugs Rspb Baron Haugh’s Nature Reserve, Manse Road, Motherwell, ML1 2PZ 01413310993 www.rspb.org.uk Look for all kinds of fascinating creepy crawlies in amongst the woods and meadows at RSPB Baron’s Haugh! 2pm - 4pm / £2 adults, £1 kids, RSPB Members free 1 July Family Holiday Activities at Whitelee Windfarm Whitlee Windfarm, Moor Road, Eaglesham, Glasgow, G76 OQQ 0141 6140851 www.whiteleewindfarm.co.uk Free events during the summer holidays 25 June - 12 August

1 July -30 August J Team Summer Mission The Park Church, Ravenscliffe Drive, Giffnock, Glasgow, G46 7QS 0141 620 2204 www.originscotland.org Holiday Club for Primary School Children. Games, crafts, songs with a Bible Theme. 6.30pm to 8pm 29 June -3 July Lego City Deep Sea Experience Sea Life Loch Lomond Aquarium, Drumkinnon Tower, Ben Lomond Way, Balloch, G83 8QL 01389 756429 www.visitsealife.com Become a LEGO City Explorer at SEA LIFE Loch Lomond this Summer and explore the secrets of the ocean! 10am- 5pm daily (last entry 4pm) / £13.20 admission to venue (under 3’s go free) 1 July -26 July Mearns Castle Golf Academy Golf Summer Camps 0141 644 8200, emma@ mcgolfacademy.co.uk Mearns Castle Golf Academy, Waterfoot Road, Newton Mearns, Glasgow, G77 5RR 0141 644 8200 www.mcgolfacademy.co.uk Mearns Castle Golf Academy Summer Camps are great fun and a great way to get your child into golf! 10am - 12pm / £90 per week 29 June - 3 August PACE SummerFest 2015 Pace Youththeatre, Spires Drama Studios, School Wynd, Paisley, PA1 2DA 08451305218 www.1summer.co.uk PACE Theatre Company are running one of the UK’s largest youth performing arts festivals for young people aged 3-18 from 29 June - 9 August in Renfrewshire. † 10am - 4pm each day 1 July - 8 August Rainforest Explorers Backpack Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG 0141 276 9599 www.glasgowlife.org Pick up a backpack to complete our activity trail!

1 July onwards Riverside Museum Summer Beach Riverside Museum, 100 Pointhouse Place, Glasgow, G3 8RS 0141 287 2720 www.glasgowlife.org.uk The Riverside Museum’s Summer Beach returns for the summer holidays!

Family Roller Disco RollerStop Roller Rink, 139 Middlesex Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow, G41 1EE 0141 4297298 www.rollerstop.co.uk Grab the kids, get your skates on and enjoy a family friendly disco at the Rollerstop Roller Rink!

26 June -2 August Summer Activity Club at Stepz in Time Stepz In Time, Battlefield Studio, 176A Battlefield Road, Glasgow, G42 9JT 07796525432 www.stepzintime.co.uk Stepz in Time are running their fantastic Summer Activity Club for kids aged 4 upwards during the holidays! 9.30am-4pm

1 July -7 August

3 July

Summer Holiday Science Club Queens Park Parish Church, 170 Queens Drive, Glasgow, G42 8QZ 0141 4233654 www.thinkscience.co.uk Join think Science for their Summer Holiday Science Club offering fun and interactive science activities for kids! 9.30am - 12.30pm / £60 29 June - 3 July

Funtime Fridays Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663 www.rspb.org.uk Head along to RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve during the summer holidays for their fantastic funtime Friday events! 11am to 1pm (7 years and under) 2pm to 4pm (8 years and over) / £7 non members £5 members Adults go FREE

UTD Sports Summer Camps St Fillan’s Primary RC School, 20 Crompton Avenue, Glasgow, G44 5AF 0141 637 8750 www.utd-sports.co.uk Summer is just around the corner, which mean only one thing...

UTD Sports Summer Camps for football, dance & sport! 10am 3pm 30 June - 7 August UTD Sports Summer Camps 2015 Fernhill Community Centre, 12 Auchenlarie Drive, Rutherglen, Glasgow, G73 4EO 0141 6343158 www.utd-sports.co.uk Summer is just around the corner, which mean only one thing ....

UTD Sports Summer Camps for football, dance & sport! 10am 3pm 29 June - 7 August Wildlife Trail and Explorers‚ Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, Glasgow, G5 8QB 0141 287 0500 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Dress up as a wildlife explorer and go on the hunt for some wonderful wildlife 2 July Rouken Glen Baby Strollers Rouken Glen Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, Glasgow, G46 7LL www.roukenglenpark.co.uk Join the Rouken Glen Rangers on their free parent and baby walking group. † 1.30pm 2 July Track and Trails Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Help our Rangers to track animals through the forest. Every Thurs onwards 3pm 3 July - 7 August Toddler Time at Kelvingrove Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG 0141 276 9599 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Come along for regular Toddler Time sessions on.

4 July Canine Capers Whitlee Windfarm, Moor Road, Eaglesham, Glasgow, G76 OQQ 0141 6140851 www.whiteleewindfarm.co.uk Canine Capers is a fun event especially for dogs and their owners organised by the Whitelee Countryside Rangers! 1pm-4pm 4 July Glasgow Comic Con: Scotland’s Comic Book Festival Centre For Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD 0141 3524900 www.cca-glasgow.com Glasgow Comic Con returns for it’s fifth year bringing a host of internationally acclaimed comic book artists and writers to Glasgow 10am - 5pm 4 July - 5 July The Jack & Jill Market Glasgow Bellahouston Leisure Centre, 31 Bellahouston Drive, Glasgow, G52 1HH 0141 276 0767 www.jackandjillmarket.co.uk/ register.html The Jack and Jill Markets are quality nearly-new baby and children’s markets where smart mums sell and save. 10.30am ‚1pm / £1.50 per adult 4 July Mugdock Castle Open!

Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road, Nr Milngavie, Glasgow, G62 8EL 0141 956 6100 www.mugdock-country-park. org.uk Mugdock Castle is open to visitors and staffed by our Castle Stewards who will take you on a tour. 2pm - 5pm / Adults £1.50, children £1 under 5s free.

All these events and MORE can be found out www.familiesglasgow.co.uk Families Glasgow

July/August 2015

13

What’s On? 5 July

7 July - 6 August

15 July

Den Building Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Join the Rangers and see who is a budding Bear Grylls. Every Tue, Wed, Thurs 3pm

Paisley Pipe Band Championships 2015 Paisley Town Hall, Abbey Close, Paisley, PA1 1JF 0141 8803388 www.renfrewshire.gov.uk Head to Paisley to see some of Scotland’s best pipe bands compete in the annual Pipe Band Competition! 12pm - 6pm

7 July

FunBox: Fancy Dress Fun Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Glasgow, G46 6UG 0141 577 4956 www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk FunBox - the brand new family show from Anya, Gary and Kevin presents: ‘Fancy Dress Fun’. 1pm & 3.30pm / Standard £11 (groups of 10 or more = £10 per ticket) Family £40 5 July William Wallace Day Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Join Beowulf and our Rangers celebrating all things William Wallace. 1 - 3pm 6 July - 10 August Scottish Youth Theatre Summer Festival: Foundation Courses Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sherriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, Glasgow, G1 1TF 0141 552 3988 www.scottishyouththeatre.org Now in its 39th year, Scottish Youth Theatre’s Summer Festival offers a number of courses for young people aged 8-25! / £300 (payable in installments) 6 July - 18 July Summer Music Holiday Workshops for Children The Diane Mitchell Music School, Brick Lane Studios, 7/9 Weir Street, Paisley, PA3 4DW 07896 689816 www. thedianemitchellmusicschool.com Your kids will be entertained and learn music at the Diane Mitchell Music School this Summer! 10am 3pm each day / £30 - £85 7 July Dance Nation Academies Dance Camps 2015 Cambuslang Institute, Greenlees Road, Cambuslang, Glasgow, G72 8DT 0141 646 1738 www.utd-sports.co.uk Over the summer we will be running camps for Dance at locations throughout Glasgow and Lanarkshire. 10am - 3pm / From £12

14

July/August 2015

Totie Tuesdays Come along to Low Parks Museum for Totie Tuesdays fun filled sessions are aimed at the under 3s! Every 2 weeks on Tuesdays between 03 March 2015 and 31 December 2015.10.30am - 11am Low Parks Museum, Hamilton Call 01698328232 Our songs, rhymes and stories will introduce the children and their families to the museum environment and our collections.

7 July Whitelee Stroller Striders Whitlee Windfarm, Moor Road, Eaglesham, Glasgow, G76 OQQ 0141 6140851 www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk A free weekly parent and baby walking group. 10am - 12pm Every Tue from 7 July 8 July Boggie Beasties - Tree Day Whitlee Windfarm, Moor Road, Eaglesham, Glasgow, G76 OQQ 0141 6140851 www.whiteleewindfarm.co.uk Get up close and ‘meet a tree’ or maybe give it a hug during this craft inspired activity.

10.30am-12pm 9 July Scavenger Hunt Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Follow the signs to find the answers. Prizes for completing the course. 1 - 3pm Every other Thurs from 9 July to 28 July 12 July Teddy Bears Picnic Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Every Sunday from 12 July join the Rangers and Tickles the clown celebrating all things teddy bear.

14 July Bug Box making Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Join our Rangers and make fun bug boxes for your garden.

1 - 3pm

Families Glasgow

18 July

18 July Wild Night Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk The Finlaystone overnight camp. 5pm - 8am / Adults £7.50 Children £5.00.

Ben & Hollys Little Kingdom Kings Theatre, 297-335 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JN 01355 258669 www.atgtickets.com The BAFTA award-winning television animation, Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, comes to the Kings Theatre stage!

1pm & 4pm / Tickets £16.40 £33.40 plus £2.85 transaction fee 16 July Monkey F.A.C.E. (Fun Active Children’s Events) presents Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road, Nr Milngavie, Glasgow, G62 8EL 0141 956 6100 www.mugdock-country-park. org.uk Solve clues and follow the trail to find Alice and her friends in a Wonderland Adventure 11am‚ 1.30pm / £9.50 per child, £2 per adult and under 1yrs 16 July Nature Walk Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk A Ranger guided walk through the forest. Bring boots and coats.

1 - 3pm 17 July Willow Wonders Whitlee Windfarm, Moor Road, Eaglesham, Glasgow, G76 OQQ 0141 6140851 www.whiteleewindfarm.co.uk Come and try the ancient craft of willow weaving with the rangers and take your creations home to show off afterwards! 10am - 2pm 18 July Bird Ringing Demonstration Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663 www.rspb.org.uk Here is a rare chance to see birds up close at the RSPB Lochwinnoch bird ringing demonstration. 7am to 10am / £5 adults non member £3 children non member £3 adult members £2 child member

20 July - 24 July PS Waverley and Towering Ailsa Craig Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow, G51 1EA 0141 420 5000 www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk Join a full day of cruising aboard the PS Waverley and enjoy the splendour of the Ayrshire Coast and Ailsa Craig! 10am - 8pm / £33 20 July - 24 August Palacerigg Golf Club Summer Camp Palacerigg Golf Club, Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld, Glasgow, G67 3HU 01236 734969 www.palaceriggjuniors.co.uk Palacerigg Golf Club is running a five-day ClubGolf Summer Camp for boys and girls aged between 9 and 13! 10.00pm - 2.00pm / £25 21 July Woodland Art Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Make your very own “Art Attack” out of materials you find in our wonderful forest. 1 - 3pm 22 July Boggy Beasties - Birds Whitlee Windfarm, Moor Road, Eaglesham, Glasgow, G76 OQQ 0141 6140851 www.whiteleewindfarm.co.uk Learn about birds and help the rangers while gaining skills such as how to tell a raven from a raptor. Could you even spot your own ‘mockingjay’? 10.30am-12pm 23 July Butterfly Hunt Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Help our Rangers find those elusive butterflies and contribute to our species identification.

1 - 3pm

What’s On? 25 July

31 July

4 August

Tree Fu Tom Motherwell Concert Hall And Theatre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell, ML1 1AB 01698 403120 www.culturenl.co.uk Join Cbeebies star Tree Fu Tom, as he takes to the stage in his first nationwide ‘live’ tour! 1pm / £12 ( £10 Concession) (£42 family of four)

Dog Awards Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Bring your perfect pooch for some fun and games at the Finlaystone obstacle course.

Prize for best and most obedient pooch. 1 - 3pm

26 July Butterfly Net Workshop and Minibeast Hunt Falls Of Clyde Wildlife Reserve, New Lanark World Heritage Site, South Lanarkshire, ML11 9DB www.newlanark.org Join the rangers for an afternoon making your own butterfly sweep net to catch butterflies and other flying insects! 1pm - 3pm / £8 per net 26 July - 30 August Space Hopper Football Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Join the Rangers in the mayhem that is Finlaystone Space Hopper Football 1 - 3pm 27 July Camp Indy - Summer Camp in Glasgow Kelvinside Academy, 33 Kirklee Road, Glasgow, G12 0SW 0141 357 3376 www.kelvinsideacademy.org.uk Camp Indy at Kelvinside Academy is an outstanding summer day camp for campers aged 6-14! 8.30am/9.00am 3.45pm/4.00pm / £150 Per Week / £35 Per Day 30 July The Basil Brush Show Motherwell Concert Hall And Theatre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell, ML1 1AB 01698 403120 www.culturenl.co.uk Meet Britain’s most loveable fox, Basil Brush, when he brings his new show to Motherwell Theatre.

11am & 2pm / £14.00 ( £12.00 Concessions) 30 July Duck Race Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Pick your lucky duck and follow it down the stream to see who wins.

1 - 3pm

19 August

6 August Bugsy Malone The Theatre Royal Glasgow, 282 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 3QA www.atgtickets.com Set in 1929 in New York’s criminal underworld, the muchloved smash hit musical Bugsy Malone is brought to life with a young cast of bright, local talent. 7pm & 2pm Saturday Matinee / £16.90 - £32.90 plus £2.85 transaction fee

Whitecraigs August Rugby Camp Whitecraigs Rugby Club, Aurs Road, Newton Mearns, Glasgow, G77 6BD 0141 616 3337 www.whitecraigs.org Whitecraigs Holiday Camp is open to anyone willing to give rugby a try in a fun and safe environment 10am - 3pm / £12 for a day, £30 for 3 days

In The Night Garden ... Live Queens Park, 520 Langside Road, Queens Park, Glasgow, G42 0141 2761476 www.glasgow.gov.uk Step into the magical world of In the Night Garden and see all your favourite characters live at Glasgow’s Queens Park!

7 August

28 August

2 August

Is There A Tiger in your Garden Dams To Darnley Country Park, Nitshill Road, Glasgow, G78 2SG 0141 577 4053 www.damstodarnley.org Come along and see some of the magical moths we have in Dams to Darnley Country Park and possibly your garden! 7.30pm 9.30pm

Falconry Day Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Watch birds of prey hunt and fly.

1 - 3pm

9 August

3 August

Pirate Day Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Dress as a scurvy buccaneer and practice your best Arrg! Drama and shouting a plenty. Prize for best dressed pirate.

1 - 3pm

Creative Writing Summer Camp (Primary) University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond Street, Glasgow, G1 1XQ 0141 276 1614 www.strath.ac.uk Creative writing summer camp for 8 to 11 year olds. 10am - 12.30pm / £70

14 August

3 - 10 August Zippos Circus at Woodhead Park Woodhead Park, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, G66 3BQ 0141 578 8222 www.zippos.co.uk Zippos Circus returns to Woodhead Park, Kirkintilloch with their spectacular OMG! Tour!

World Pipe Band Championships Glasgow Green, Greendykes Street, The Saltmarket, Glasgow, G1 5DB 0141 287 5064 www.glasgowlife.org The world’s biggest pipe band championships.

Bat and Moth Night Rspb Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF 01505842663 www.rspb.org.uk Join RSPB Lochwinnoch staff as they delve into the nocturnal world of moths & bats. 8 pm to late (bats) Friday 10 am to 12 noon (moths) Saturday / £5 adult £3 child non member £3 £2 members 30 August Dance Show Live Secc, Exhibition Way, Glasgow, G3 8YW 0141 2483000 www.secc.co.uk Dance Show Live is Scotland’s biggest ever dance festival. 9am 7pm / £16.50 30 August Get Wet and Wild Finlaystone Country Park, Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ 01475 540505 www.finlaystone.co.uk Come along with your best wet gear and join in the games. 1 3pm

ER

UMM THIS S

have taken over from Saturday 27th June

Find us at North Queensferry, Fife KY11 1JR. By the Forth Rail Bridge, just 20 minutes from Edinburgh

www.deepseaworld.com

BUY TICKETS ONLINE

Find us on

& SAVE MONEY

Open daily from 10am 01383 411880 Families Glasgow

July/August 2015

15

LAST SEEN ON EARTH OVER 75 MILLION YEARS AGO...

UNTIL NOW!

INTRODUCING

Edmontonia AT EDINBURGH ZOO 3rd April -1st November 2015

www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/DinosaursReturn

#DinosaursReturn

Maths & English tuition centre For 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities • Courses mapped to the Curriculum for Excellence.

• Adapts to the individual needs of your child.

• Vibrant learning environment that children enjoy.

• Convenient for families - Open 7 days a week.

• Award-winning tuition - Education Investor Supplementary Education Provider of the Year.

Free trial session - book today!

Darnley

0141 404 1049

East Kilbride

01355 587 220

or book online at www.explorelearning.co.uk

16

July/August 2015

Families Glasgow