Essex County: This Is Where The Fun Stuff Happens
Summer, the much-awaited season of sun-drenched days and boundless energy, beckons kids to embark on unforgettable adventures and create cherished memories.
In a world that sometimes seems to be dominated by screens and gadgets, the months of July and August present the perfect opportunity for parents to reconnect with their children and jump in the car for a family outing to experience the real world.
In this installment of The Parenting Biz, we offer suggestions of fun things to do with the kids this summer, along with activities they can do on their own, such as day camps, around Windsor and Essex County.
Taking The Ferry To Pelee Island
Looking for a fun day trip or even a quick getaway with the family? Hop on a ferry and head over to Pelee Island!
The Owen Sound Transportation Company Ltd. (OSTC) operates ferries from Kingsville and Leamington to Pelee Island, all summer long. These include the M.V. Pelee Islander (holds 295 passengers and 16 cars) and M.V. Pelee Islander II, which holds 400 passengers and 34 cars (or 16 cars and four semi-trucks).
The company was founded in 1921 by the Hay brothers before being bought by the Ontario government in 1974 when they built and launched the Chi Cheemaun (Big Canoe) for the Manitoulin service. Today the OSTC manages the Pelee Island Transportation Service on behalf of the Government of Ontario and they have over 150 employees seasonally and five vessels in total.
“OSTC is a ferry corporation that carries passengers and vehicles to and from Tobermory-Manitoulin, Kingsville and Leamington to Pelee Island and Sandusky, Ohio, and Moosonee to Moose Factory Island off James Bay,” explains Carl Kuhnke, President and CEO of the OSTC. “We are passionate about servicing Ontarians who have no other method of accessing the full services and goods of larger populations.”
The OSTC operates scheduled voyages to Pelee Island all summer and fall through to mid December (depending on the weather).
Once you arrive on the island there are plenty of things to do, such as tours, day trips, outdoor activities, dining and shopping.
When you’re there you can pay a visit to the Pelee Island Winery (see cover story of this issue for more details), Fish Point Nature Reserve, The Pelee Island Heritage Centre, Lighthouse Point Provincial Nature Reserve, and/or Sunset Beach.
No space for your car on the ferry? No problem! With Pelee Island Adventures you can book your golf cart or e-bike rental online ahead of time and everything will be waiting for you when you arrive.
They also offer everything from individual tours of Vin Villa (Canada’s first commercial winery) and the Butterfly Sanctuary (new this year), to half-day and full-day All-Inclusive Experiences that include lunch, tours and on-island transportation.
Accommodations on the island include a mix of charming and modern places such as The Wandering Dog Inn and the Pelee Lake Muse Cottage Rental & Guest Suite and family camping at the East Park Campground.
If you’re in the mood for good food, check out the Westview Tavern, Pelee Island Coneheads and Stone House 1891 Craft Kitchen and Bar that features the largest lakefront deck on Pelee Island and locally sourced hand-made dishes. They have everything from fresh fish, delicious handhelds, craft pizzas cooked to perfection in their wood burning oven, homemade desserts and a Little Pebbles menu just for the kiddos.
To read more information on everything the island has to offer, check: Pelee.org/tourism
The Crafty Nest Studio, Kingsville
Opened in March 2019, The Crafty Nest Studio —14 Division Street South in Kingsville — specializes in creative classes, workshops and parties for children and adults.
“We take pride that we have created a comfortable and non-judgmental space where individuals can truly express their artistic and creative feelings,” states Lisa Armer, Owner and Craft Instructor of The Crafty Nest Studio. “We are here to support our guests’ creative journey and cheer them on! Our small group classes offer personalized attention to our guests to complete their projects from idea to physical creation; it is also important to us to use everyday items in our creations and upcycling otherwise garbage into beautiful creations.”
Their summer schedule includes a Saturday Morning Makers class from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for ages five and up. This is a drop-off class with a different theme every week with each artist taking home an amazing finished project.
They also have Teen Nights on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. for ages 13 to 17, where there is a different craft each week. It’s a great way for teens to express themselves through creativity and meet new friends.
“Our weekends are always busy with children’s birthday parties,” Armer adds. “We usually host two to five parties per weekend and we love hearing the birthday child express that they’ve had the best party ever!”
However, The Crafty Nest Studio’s staff of three is really looking forward to their summer camps for 2023, where they are offering a mix of full-week camps and mix-and-match day camps.
“We have designed our camps with two things in mind — imagination and fun,” she explains. “They are built to inspire and develop creative confidence and freedom in our campers. We use a hands-on approach to the projects using mixed media and different tools; this encourages campers to think outside the box and turn their wildest idea into a physical art piece.”
Their full week camps not only allow kids to express themselves artistically, while they engage their minds by learning skills involving planning and execution, measuring, creative problem solving, ingenuity, and collaboration. Full-week camps are Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for kids seven and up (early drop off and late pickup available).
If your child has an entrepreneurial spirit, they might like the Business + Design Camp where kids can setup their own mobile business out of an adorable vintage trailer.
“We will be constructing a large vintage travel trailer using papier mâché,” says Armer. “This is the blank canvas for your child’s business of their dreams. We will create a design plan and mood boards for our trailer, products, and services.”
Once the planning is done, campers will execute their ideas and start decorating their trailers. They will also create their products and design a logo for their business along with a wood mannequin to run the operation.
If your child is interested in planning and designing spaces, they might enjoy the Architecture + Design Camp. Here each child receives a plain, four room, wood building that they will turn into their own unique space.
“I am the instructor for this week-long camp and I took interior design in college, so this camp is full of learning too,” Armer points out. “Your child will learn all about the elements and principles of design, how to create a mood board and how to draw a floor plan.”
Once everything is planned out, the kids will be painting, creating their own furniture, custom wallpaper, flooring, rugs, pillows, and other accessories.
Individual day camps are a great option for parents who would like their kids to have some fun experiences this summer, without the commitment of a full-week camp.
Day camps are for kids aged six and up and run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. These include theme days, beach days, pampered pet days, rock star days, Lego lab days and more.
During the town’s Open Streets (select Saturdays, see: Kingsville.ca/openstreets) there are drop-in classes coordinated with the theme of the night and there is a Mini Maker Market where their young customers sell their handmade goods.
There is also a retail space with an eclectic mix of products. As well as grab and go craft kits, wood signs, wreaths, revamped furniture and pre-loved treasures.
