Spring break starts on Monday, April 1, for most schools in our area. Here are some events to keep kids and parents from going stir-crazy. Also, check out this list of places for kids to play when the weather is gross.
Library events
Forensic Detective Academy for Kids: The Arlington Library offers a different activity each day at 1 p.m. April 1 through 5 for school-age children and teens: fingerprinting, chromatography and handwriting analysis, casting tread patterns, spitball ballistics and blood splatter analysis.
Attend at least one session and be invited to the Supersecret Clue Pizza Party on April 5. For more information call 360-435-3033.
Something to crow about: Learn all about those noisy black and intelligent birds. 1 p.m. Monday at Monroe Library, and 2 p.m. April 3 at Snohomish Library.
Flit off to fairy land: Hear about fairy lore, and make and take a fairy house. 10:30 a.m. Monday at Marysville Library, 2 p.m. April 1 at Snohomish Library, 11 a.m. April 2 at Sultan Library and 1 p.m. April 2 at Monroe Library.
Puppet play: Stories about and with puppets for ages 5 and up, and puppet-making workshop. 1 p.m April 2 at Granite Falls Library, 1 p.m. April 3 at Monroe Library, 2:30 p.m. April 3 at Stanwood Library and 11 a.m. April 4 at Marysville Library.
Otis’ birthday: Celebrate the little otter’s big day by inventing an adventure for Otis, the star of Muriel Miller’s “The Search for Otis Otter.” Kids can write their Otis stories in his journal or take a photo of someplace he could go. 1 p.m. April 5 at Monroe Library.
Froggy frolics: Ribbiting stories, songs and crafts. 2:30 p.m. April 3 at Lynnwood Library, 1 p.m. April 4 at Granite Falls Library and 1 p.m. April 6 at Monroe Library.
Science sense: The Pacific Science Center teaches kids freezing, foaming and fizzing fun projects at 1 p.m. April 3 at Granite Falls Library.
Feature creatures: Imaginations can run to the wild with creature crafts. 11 a.m. April 1 at Sultan Library, 11:15 a.m. April 2 at Lake Stevens Library, 2 p.m. April 2 at Snohomish Library, 2 p.m. April 3 at Darrington Library. and 2 p.m. April 6 at Brier Library.
Raptor rapture: The Sarvey Wildlife Care Center teaches all about birds of prey, such as hawks, owls and eagles. Presentation for all ages at 2 p.m. April 2 at Darrington Library and 2 p.m. April 5 at Snohomish Library.
Foodie facts: Stories, activities and songs about food for ages 6 to 11. 2 p.m. April 1 at Edmonds Library, 2 p.m April 2 at Brier Library, 2 p.m. April 3 at Mukilteo Library, 2 p.m. April 4 at Mill Creek Library and 1 p.m. April 5 at Mountlake Terrace Library.
Get on board: Teens gather for Game Day, 3:30 p.m. April 2 at Brier Library Library.
Book it: Kids, ages 6 to 11, learn to make a book using recycled materials. 2 p.m. April 1 at Mukilteo Library, 2 p.m. April 2 at Edmonds Library, 2 p.m. April 3 at Mill Creek Library, 2:30 April 4 at Lynnwood Library and 2 p.m. April 5 at Brier Library.
All abuzz: Learn about native pollinators: bumblebees and butterflies. 11 a.m. April 6 at Brier Library.
Making connections: The Lynnwood Library supplies the materials — K’nex, Legos and Connectors — for a building spree for ages 6 to 11 at 2 p.m. April 2.
Strings attached: Marionettes entertain kids of all ages in a theater-in-the-round show at 11:15 a.m. April 3 at Lake Stevens Library.
Attractive poetry: Teens create their own magnetic poetry at 4 p.m. April 3 at Mill Creek Library.
Stepping up: School-age children make a garden stepping stone at 2 p.m. April 5 at Darrington Library.
Junior Monroe Wednesday Writers: Budding teen writers, sixth- through 12th grades, can practice the craft in sessions led by author Bernadette Pajer and teen librarian Lindsay Hanson. 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Monroe Library.
The following events at the Stanwood Library require registration by calling 360-629-3132 or online at www.sno-isle.org:
Origami art: Learn to fold a dodecahedron at 3:30 p.m. April 2 at the Stanwood Library’s Origami Cool Zone.
Me and my shadow: School-age children learn the history of shadow puppets and make their own. 2:30 p.m. April 3.
More frog fun: School-age kids can make and race origami frogs at 6 p.m. April 3.
Dome building: School-age teams can study then build a geodesic dome big enough to get inside at 2:30 p.m. April 5.
Story times and reading:
The Sno-Isle libraries offer story times for toddlers and young children, and reading sessions with furry friends every week. See the Sno-Isle calendar of events at www.sno-isle.org for times and places, or call your local library.
April Pools days
Get ready for spring boating, fishing and swimming season. This is a fun, interactive water safety day for the whole family 9 to 11 a.m. April 6 at the Lynnwood Recreation Center. Free recreation swim included. Children 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the water. The center is at 18900 44th Ave. W.
The Mountlake Terrace pool also offers a free family water safety event including a free swim from 9 a.m. to noon April 6. Also includes lifejacket test drives, lifejacket drawing, water safety and first-aid information. Margaret Hoelzer, 2004 and 2008 Olympian and three-time medalist, will be there from 10 to 11 a.m. The pool is at 5303 228th St. SW.
Free movies
The Everett Public Library Evergreen branch, 9512 Evergreen Way, is offering a Spring Break Family Film Fest of PG-rated movies at 1 p.m. beginning April 1 (no fooling) and continuing every day next week:
April 1: “Wreck It Ralph”
April 2: “Frankenweenie”
April 3: “ParaNorman”
April 4: “Brave”
April 5: “Madagascar 3”
For more information, call 425-257-8250.
Some Sno-Isle libraries are also showing kid-friendly movies this week:
April 3: “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” 5:30 p.m. at Coupeville Library, 788 NW Alexander St., 360-678-4911.
April 4: “Rise of the Guardians,” (mildly scary) 4 p.m. at Edmonds Library, 650 Main St. 425-771-1933.
April 4: “ParaNorman,” 2 p.m. at Mukilteo Library, 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd., 425-493-8202.
April 6: “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” 11 a.m. at Darrington Library, 1005 Cascade St., 360-436-1600.
April 6: “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” 2 p.m. at Oak Harbor Library, 1000 SE Regatta Drive, 360-675-5115.
Where they are
- Arlington Library: 135 N. Washington Ave.
- Brier: 23303 Brier Road
- Darrington: 1005 Cascade St.
- Edmonds: 650 Main St.
- Granite Falls: 815 E Galena St.
- Lake Stevens: 1804 Main St.
- Lynnwood:19200 44th Ave. W.
- Marysville: 6120 Grove St.
- Mill Creek: 15429 Bothell Everett Highway
- Monroe: 1070 Village Way
- Mountlake Terrace: 23300 58th Ave. W.
- Mukilteo: 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd.
- Snohomish: 311 Maple Ave.
- Stanwood: 9701 271st St. NW
- Sultan: 319 Main St., No. 100
Even more ideas
Go hiking: Read about trails that are great for early season hikes here and here.
Go biking: Read here for ideas for family-friendly rides.
Wildlife walk: Visit Spencer Island for some wildlife viewing and walking.
See the flowers: It’s mostly daffodils now, but it’s still a fun trip to the Tulip Festival. Click here for details.
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