What to do this March Break 2022

With different activities included in general admission every day, join us at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum for March Break Madness! Solve a museum mystery one day, only to extract DNA from strawberries the next! Uncover real fish fossils, and then return to enjoy the Intensely Irish dance troupe! Build a fire with your family to survive outdoors on the weekend, and meet live hornworms on a Friday! What are you waiting for? Book today!

Purchase tickets here!

March 12, 2022:

Mystery at the Museum Someone has taken a priceless artifact from the museum! Was it Curator Carlos? Manager Maya? Or Designer Drew? Crack the codes, use the clues, and solve the mystery! You will solve Morse code, hexadecimal code, and a scrambled letters hunt to get three clues. Putting these clues together, figure out who took the artifact! Don’t forget to try “I Spy” in our Maple Leaf/Schneider gallery, and do a detective craft in the foyer. Join us for our timed activities too!

12:00 p.m. Detective Training:

Put your skills to the test, and complete a detective obstacle course outside!

1:00 p.m. Powers of Observation:

You can’t always trust what you see! Join us in the Christie Theatre to try some optical illusions.

2:00 p.m. William “Bill” Tutte, Second World War Code Breaker:

Learn about William “Bill” Tutte, a former professor at the University of Waterloo, and his work at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.

3:00 p.m. Powers of Observation:

You can’t always trust what you see! Join us in the Christie Theatre to try some optical illusions.

Sunday, March 13, 2022:

Wilderness Survival Do you have what it takes to survive? Test your compass skills on our 60-acre orienteering course. Then, try your hand at knot tying, and challenge yourself with building a campfire. Don’t forget to try “I Spy” and a picture scavenger hunt in our Maple Leaf/Schneider gallery! Check out our nature craft in the foyer, too!

12:00 p.m. Orienteering:

Instead of spinning around in circles, let our staff show you how to read a compass. Then, complete our orienteering course on our 60-acre site!

1:00 p.m. Fire Building:

Learn the basics of fire building, and then build your own fire! Ready for the added challenge? Try to burn through a rope suspended above it!

2:00 p.m. Knot Tying:

Overhand, reef, and figure-8; what do they all have in common? They are all different types of knots! Join our staff to learn how to tie some basic knots.

3:00 p.m. Orienteering:

Instead of spinning around in circles, let our staff show you how to read a compass. Then, complete our orienteering course on our 60-acre site!

Monday, March 14, 2022:

Wacky Science with Professor Beaker Calling all scientists! Design a way to protect your egg when it falls from a height, make your own take-home slime, and extract DNA from strawberries! Don’t forget to try “I Spy” and a picture scavenger hunt in our Maple Leaf/Schneider gallery! Check out our science craft in the foyer, too!

12:00 p.m. Egg Drop:

We’re not talking about soup! Using different materials, try to design a structure to protect your egg when it’s dropped from a height!

1:00 p.m. Make your own Slime:

It’s goopy, it’s squishy; it’s SLIME! Make your own take-home slime with our team!

2:00 p.m. Strawberry DNA Extraction:

Join us in the Christie Theatre and help Professor Beaker extract DNA from strawberries! Did you know strawberry DNA looks like white mucus?

3:00 p.m. Egg Drop:

We’re not talking about soup! Using different materials, try to design a structure to protect your egg when it’s dropped from a height!

Tuesday, March 15, 2022:

3…2…1…Blast Off! Journey to Space Houston, do you copy? Explore the night sky during the daytime, learn how rockets blast off using a simple chemical reaction, and challenge yourself to a Martian-style obstacle course! Don’t forget to try “I Spy” and a picture scavenger hunt in our Maple Leaf/Schneider gallery! Check out our constellation craft in the foyer, too!

12:00 p.m. In the Night Sky:

Let us show you the night sky; in the daytime! Explore the night sky and constellations on the big screen, in the Christie Theatre!

1:00 p.m. How do Rockets Blast Off?:

Using balloons, join us to see a simple chemical reaction and make your balloon fly around the theatre!

2:00 p.m. Rover Mission:

Watch NASA’s Mars Rover simulation in the Christie Theatre, and then try a Martian-style obstacle course!

3:00 p.m. In the Night Sky:

Let us show you the night sky; in the daytime! Explore the night sky and constellations on the big screen, in the Christie Theatre!

Wednesday, March 16, 2022:

Uncover real fish fossils, test your knowledge at dinosaur trivia, and meet birds of prey from Wild Ontario! Don’t forget to try “I Spy” and a picture scavenger hunt in our Maple Leaf/Schneider gallery! Check out our dinosaur craft in the foyer, too!

12:00 p.m. Dinosaur Trivia: 

Score some points for your team and try our dinosaur trivia!

1:30 p.m. Birds of Prey by Wild Ontario: 

Have a close-up encounter with birds from Wild Ontario! Giving non-releasable birds a new life and purpose, Wild Ontario works to raise awareness about human impact on nature and wildlife.

2:30 p.m. Fossil Fish: 

Always wanted to find a fossil? Help us uncover real fish fossils from shale!

3:00 p.m. Dinosaur Trivia: 

Score some points for your team and try our dinosaur trivia!

Thursday, March 17, 2022:

St. Patrick’s Day Watch the Intensely Irish dance troupe perform, explore the science behind rainbows, and learn the basics of beat and rhythm in Irish music! Don’t forget to try “I Spy” and a picture scavenger hunt in our Maple Leaf/Schneider gallery! Check out our shamrock craft in the foyer, too!

12:00 p.m. Rainbows 101:

How is a rainbow made? Learn about the science of light, prisms, and rainbows!

1:00 p.m. Intensely Irish Dance Troupe:

Enjoy a performance by the Intensely Irish dance troupe!

2:00 p.m. Intensely Irish Dance Troupe:

Enjoy a performance by the Intensely Irish dance troupe!

3:00 p.m. Beat and Rhythm:

What’s the difference between beat and rhythm? Try a vocal activity to find out!

Friday, March 18, 2022:

Incredible Insects Do you like insects? We sure do! Meet some hornworms, learn how insects see with their compound eyes, and explore the wonders of metamorphosis! Don’t forget to try “I Spy” and a picture scavenger hunt in our Maple Leaf/Schneider gallery! Check out our insect craft in the foyer, too!

12:00 p.m. Compound Eyes:

How do insects see? Learn about compound eyes and the way their lenses work.

1:00 p.m. Hornworms:

Learn about hornworms, their role in our ecosystem, and get to meet some up close!

2:00 p.m. Metamorphosis:

How does metamorphosis work? Explore the basics, and try to match the larvae to the adult!

3:00 p.m. Hornworms:

Learn about hornworms, their role in our ecosystem, and get to meet some up close!

Saturday, March 19, 2022:

Wilderness Survival Do you have what it takes to survive? Test your compass skills on our 60-acre orienteering course. Then, try your hand at knot tying, and challenge yourself with building a campfire. Don’t forget to try “I Spy” and a picture scavenger hunt in our Maple Leaf/Schneider gallery! Check out our nature craft in the foyer, too!

12:00 p.m. Orienteering:

Instead of spinning around in circles, let our staff show you how to read a compass. Then, complete our orienteering course on our 60-acre site!

1:00 p.m. Fire Building:

Learn the basics of fire building, and then build your own fire! Ready for the added challenge? Try to burn through a rope suspended above it!

2:00 p.m. Knot Tying:

Overhand, reef, and figure-8; what do they all have in common? They are all different types of knots! Join our staff to learn how to tie some basic knots.

3:00 p.m. Orienteering:

Instead of spinning around in circles, let our staff show you how to read a compass. Then, complete our orienteering course on our 60-acre site!

Sunday, March 20, 2022:

Mystery at the Museum Someone has taken a priceless artifact from the museum! Was it Curator Carlos? Manager Maya? Or Designer Drew? Crack the codes, use the clues, and solve the mystery! You will solve Morse code, hexadecimal code, and a scrambled letters hunt to get three clues. Putting these clues together, figure out who took the artifact! Don’t forget to try “I Spy” in our Maple Leaf/Schneider gallery, and do a detective craft in the foyer. Join us for our timed activities too!

12:00 p.m. Detective Training:

Put your skills to the test, and complete a detective obstacle course outside!

1:00 p.m. Powers of Observation:

You can’t always trust what you see! Join us in the Christie Theatre to try some optical illusions.

2:00 p.m. William “Bill” Tutte, Second World War Code Breaker:

Learn about William “Bill” Tutte, a former professor at the University of Waterloo, and his work at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.

3:00 p.m. Powers of Observation:

You can’t always trust what you see! Join us in the Christie Theatre to try some optical illusions.

While Schneider Haus National Historic Site has previously focused on one year of the history of the site we are currently working on a long process of researching and working with community members to expand the narrative and accurately reflect the history of our site and its many untold stories. Come on out and see what's new as these new stories unfold! 

The following activities are included in general admission.

Purchase tickets here!

Saturday March 12 and Sunday March 13, 2022:

Ring in Spring!

Bring the outdoors in by creating your own noisemaker that sounds like rain! Visit us Friday March 12th and 13th to learn about precipitation, spring planting folklore and make your very own noisemaker to ring in spring. Suited for ages 6 and up! 

Monday March 14, 2022:

Spring Chicken Pin Cushions

Spring is just around the corner which means we have chickens on the brain! Join us Monday March 14th to explore the historic handicraft of sewing by creating your very own spring chicken pincushion. This craft will give our young visitors an introduction to sewing and use large blunt needles and felt, perfect for keeping little hands safe! Suited for ages 6 and up! 

Tuesday March 15, 2022:

Snow Science!

Join us Tuesday March 15th for an afternoon of outdoor snow exploration! Kids will get a chance to inspect the properties of snow under a microscope, conduct a science experiment using salt and snow and use snow as an art medium! Suited for ages 6 and up! 

Wednesday March 16, 2022:

Test Pilot

Ever wondered how things take flight? Well you’re in luck! Visit our aerodynamics lab on Wednesday March 16th to learn about the three basic forces of aerodynamics and test your knowledge by engineering your very own paper airplane. Suited for ages 6 and up! 

Thursday March 17, 2022:

Fairy Scavenger Hunt

Some cheeky little Celtic fairies have visited Schneider Haus for St. Patrick’s day! Take a tour through the historic house and try to find all the fairies getting into mischief! If you help our staff find all the fairies of the rainbow you may just end up with a bit of chocolate gold! Suited for ages 6 and up!

Friday March 18, 2022:

Ring in Spring!

Bring the outdoors in by creating your own noisemaker that sounds like rain! Visit us Friday March 18th to learn about precipitation, spring planting folklore and make your very own noisemaker to ring in spring. Suited for ages 6 and up!

Saturday March 19 and Sunday March 20, 2022

Schneider Haus Matrix!

Flex your mental muscles this weekend at Schneider Haus. Join us for puzzles, mysteries, riddles, and code breaking activities both inside and out that are sure to keep you guessing. All ages welcome!

Friday, March 18, 2022:

Resiliency: Shared Stories of Strength and Survival opens at the Cottage! Tickets coming soon!