Spring Break

C M Y K Page 3 C M Y K Winnipeg Free press - sATUrDAY, MArCH 7, 2015 B oredom isn't part of the equation for this year's spring break. Instead, kids can spring into action with a long list of activities designed to keep them active and entertained. To start, families are sure to treasure the experience of visiting the Manitoba Museum for the Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship exhibit. On display for the first time in Canada, the exhibit details the decades- long excavation of the Whydah ship, which launched in London in 1715. The display includes weapons, personal items and real pirate treasure. "What makes this exhibit so amazing is that it was the first authentic pirate ship found off the coast of the U.S. If you come to the exhibit, the 200 artifacts you'll see were all recovered from the ocean floor, having been there for nearly 300 years. It's astounding," says marketing and communications manager Greg Klassen. "When you're in this exhibit, you learn about the process of concretion. This occurs when something lands on the ocean floor and it's immediately covered with sand and dirt. It becomes almost like a cement that protects this stuff. When you're looking at this exhibit, you wonder how the artifacts can be in such fantastic condition. It's almost unbelievable. It's a really, really interesting exhibit." Guided tours are available Tuesday to Friday at 2 p.m. in English and at 2:15 p.m. in French until the exhibit closes on April 19. And while you're at the Manitoba Museum, be sure to check out Buccaneer Bay in the Festival Hall, where kids can keep busy with a craft corner and pirate-themed tickle trunk. They'll also have the chance to dig for pirate treasure and choose a personalized pirate name. No admission is required for this fun-filled area. As well, it's worth a visit to the museum's Science Gallery, which will host pirate ship races for kids with a focus on buoyancy and hydrodynamics. The Science Gallery also showcases the Lake Winnipeg: Shared Solutions exhibit, which features an interactive video simulator that allows you to question your role in saving Lake Winnipeg. Another must-see museum exhibit is The Old Plesiosaur and the Sea: Fossil Vertebrates from the Manitoba Escarpment, which highlights plesiosaurs and fossils from amateur collectors in the Brandon area. Meanwhile, in the planetarium, you can kick back and enjoy three different shows: One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure; Wonders of the Universe; and Attack of the Space Pirates. For another exciting adventure, head down to The Forks for the 15th annual Festival of Fools. The jam-packed schedule includes free workshops and performances from March 28 to April 3. The festivities take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily in The Forks Market Centre Circus Circle. "Festival of Fools is a collection of circus artists from all over the world that are in town as part of our circus camp program that runs concurrently with it," says Neal Rempel, executive producer of the Winnipeg International Children's Festival that organizes the Festival of Fools. "It's a free public festival for families during spring break, which is offering up a chance for parents and kids to get out of the house, see some shows and have some fun." On opening weekend, kids will have the chance to fly high in swinging trapeze workshops between shows. With a true circus feel, the event also offers craft activities, face painting and balloon making, as well as juggling and hula-hooping workshops. By Jennifer McFee For the Free Press Pirates and plenty more to keep kids busy . TREASURE TROVE Photo by Darcy Finley Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship continues until April 19 at the Manitoba Museum. Photo by Darcy Finley Photo by Darcy Finley continued next page

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