Activities aplenty to stay warm these winter holidays

Young Sydneysiders can learn to ride a bike, create their own robots, join in hip hop dance workshops and go ice skating, as part of a wide range of activities on offer these school holidays.

The City of Sydney's winter school holidays program runs from Saturday 6 to Sunday 21 July and offers classes, group activities and family outing ideas for children and young people aged 5-18.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City's school holidays programs are a great way for young people to make new friends in their area, learn new skills and have fun.

"From excursions and creative arts workshops to fun sports and recreational programs - there is something in the city for children of all ages to enjoy," the Lord Mayor said.

"Our staff have developed programs to keep young ones and teenagers entertained during the holidays - something for everyone that will suit every budget."

The City's libraries will offer free workshops for children aged 5-12 years exploring motion, electronics and robotics. Designed to encourage learning through play and inspire inventive and creative thinking, children just need to bring their imagination.

NAIDOC in the City will feature music, food and art in Hyde Park on Saturday 13 July. Active kids will enjoy traditional and hip hop dance workshops and sports including Indigenous games, basketball, netball and hockey. More crafty kids can take part in face painting, paperbark canoe making, weaving and visual art sessions. Kids can also meet and learn about Australian animals and learn songs and dance from local cultural educators.

Free balance bike classes at Sydney Park will help 3 to 8 year olds master bike riding and progress to pedals without training wheels. Balance bikes are a fun way for young children to develop a love of riding, and instructors will also help parents teach their kids the basics of riding. Bikes and helmets are available, or you can bring your own. Bookings not essential - just turn up on the day.

At Pine Street Creative Arts Centre, young people aged 6-17, can take part in both half day and full day creative workshops. Creative workshops in ceramics, painting, drawing, collage and printmaking are available for young artists to explore their creativity under the guidance of specialised tutors. New program highlights include ceramic finger puppets, ceramic animal hanging planters, solar plate etching and designing a futuristic cityscape. Bookings are essential.

Teenagers can participate in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, from laser tag and ice skating to trampolining at Skyzone and a day of sports at Peter Forsyth Auditorium in Glebe.

As part of the winter vacation care, primary school children aged 5-12 can join a local children's program that offers excursions and indoor activities.

Below are highlights from each school holiday program with links for bookings.

Pine Street Creative Arts Centre

Painting: watercolour and self-portraits 6-8 years - 8, 10 July Watercolour painting: tiny worlds 9-12 years - 8, 18 July Ceramics: Air plant sea creatures 6-8 and 9-12 years - 8, 15 July Printmaking: Fluorescent animal portraits 9-12 years - 9, 16 July Drawing & painting: Faces & Figures 12-17 years - 9 July Drawing: Futuristic cityscapes 6-8 years - 9, 10 July Painting and drawing: Monsters ink 6-8 years - 9, 12 July Ceramics: Intensive 10-13 years - 10 July Printmaking: Solar plate etching 9-12 years - 11 July Drawing and collage: Animal portraits 6-8 years - 12, 16 July Ceramics: Wall hanging planters 9-12 years - 12 July Painting and drawing: Cartoon headscapes 9-12 years - 15 July Painting and drawing: Watercolour headscapes 6-8 years - 15 July Painting & drawing: Abstract human figure 6-8 years - 16 July Ceramics: Intensive for teenagers 12-17 years - 16 July Painting: Watercolour animal portraits 9-12 years - 17 July Ceramics: Animal finger puppets 6-8 and 9-12 years - 17 July Painting: Watercolour animal portraits 6-8 years - 17 July Stop Frame Animation: Surrealist film 12-17 years - 18 July Drawing: Make your own tools to draw with ink 6-8 years - 18 July Painting: Watercolour self-portraits 9-12 years - 19 July Printmaking: Solar plate etching 12-17 years - 19 July Ceramics: Wall hanging planters 6-8 years - 19 July Painting & drawing: Abstract human figure 6-8 years - 19 July

Youth in the City - excursions for young people aged 13-18 include:

Laser tag and bowling - 8 July Sports Day at Peter Forsythe Auditorium - 9 July Escape room - 10 July Rock art photography and bush walk - 11 July NAIDOC celebrations at National Centre of Indigenous Excellence - 12 July Sea Life and Sydney Aquarium - 15 July Movies at Fox Studios - 16 July Ice skating - 17 July Skyzone - 18 July Oztag gala - 19 July

City of Sydney libraries

Junk bots, 5-8 years, Green Square - 8 July Makedo making, 8-12 years, Kings Cross - 9 July Marble run, 8-12 years, Customs House - 9 July Edison robots, 5-8 years, Surry Hills - 10 July LittleBits, 8-12 years, Ultimo - 11 July Junk bots, 5-8 years, Newtown - 18 July Marble run, 8-12 years, Waterloo - 19 July

Sydney Cycleways

Sydney Park Cycling Centre, Sydney Park Road, St Peters from 11am-2pm

Monday - 9 and 16 July Tuesday - 10 and 17 July Wednesday - 11 and 18 July

NAIDOC in the City

Saturday 13 July at Hyde Park from 11am-3pm

Winter Vacation Care

Pyrmont Children's Program Redfern Children's Program The Rocks Children's Program Ultimo Children's Program Woolloomooloo Children's Program

For full details on the City's school holiday and youth programs, visit whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/posts/what-to-do-in-sydney-these-school-holidays

For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Advisor Elaine Kelly. Phone 0477 362 550 or email [email protected]