When I found the Gingerbread Gala listed on the Ottawa Museum Network website back in October, it seemed clear. Gingerbread House. Decorate. Done. Sounded like a nice morning out and a great way to keep my little ones entertained.
What I didn't know was that this event was open to kids of all ages and it coincided with a PD Day for the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. This made much more sense after they suggested you pre-register on their flyer. I actually did contact the museum in advance to be sure there was space. My kids are only 3 years and 18 months old and I was planning to attend with them, so registration wasn't required. The older children who were registered attended without their parents. Their registration ensured enough staff support.
There were a couple things that shocked me before even arriving at the museum. First, the location of the Nepean Museum, 16 Rowley Avenue, in the heart of suburbia, and the size of the museum itself, to be perfectly honest.
I have travelled in and out of that neighbourhood in the past to visit a former client and had no idea that the museum even existed. In fact, in the 10 years I've lived in Ottawa I had never even heard of the Nepean Museum. My first impression: a nice small neighbourhood museum. Their website goes into greater detail, but they have a nice little set up of various regionally based exhibits. There was a play area set up for this event, which was a good way to entertain the kids before the gala started.
Pulling into the parking lot, there were 2, maybe 3 other vehicles and I knew one was a fellow KOHORT member. I thought for sure we were in for a very intimate gingerbread house making experience.
SURPRISE!!! within moments...kids galore! Really, not a crazy amount, maybe 20-30, but overwhelming at first to say the least. I had no idea it was a PD day. However, the staff had everything ALL. UNDER. CONTROL. Thank goodness. I have to give credit where it is due, Andrea, the program coordinator was absolutely amazing. Proof of that, several neighbourhood kids, who obviously attended programs here before, were hanging on her every word and her very well planned agenda.
Remember when I thought it was going to be a "house" decorating event only. Look what else we were getting for our $7/child fee. Totally worth it in my eyes (especially for the parents who were able to drop their older children off).
Andrea and the staff started off with a puppet show, then onto craft time making a house plan and creating fun gingerbread pencils (top photo). Everyone was then shuffled from the main room down to the lower floor for juice and crackers before being given a prepared house to decorate. The room was a bit squishy for some of us parents/staff, but there was a chair and work station for all the children. Each child received their own bag of icing to use as the candy glue, and there was more than enough candy to decorate every house and probably a dozen more if needed. Here's some work in progress:
When all the children were done decorating, they just left their houses to dry on the table, headed back upstairs and had the option to either continue colouring an assorted selection of gingerbread themed pictures, have free play with toys available, or play a staff prepared game.
The reason this event was better than expected is because a) we got our money's worth with more activity than planned, b) the staff were excellent, c) there were smiles on everyones faces the whole time, and d) now we have a nice centre piece for our Christmas entertaining. I will certainly keep watch for future programs at the Nepean Museum.
