What to Do in Tulsa For Kids This Spring Break

Spring is about to, well, spring. You know what that means: Spring Break is upon us.

It's been said that Spring Break is the black hole of parenting. Not only do you have to find things for a house full of spring-feverish kids to do all day long for an entire week, but a lot of times, you have to pay out the wazoo to do it, too.

Not this Spring Break. Read below for a list of things for kids to do in Tulsa this Spring Break that won't break the bank.

I've also included a few of the best Spring Break camps available in the Tulsa area as well, and though you'll certainly need more skrill for these than what you spend putting them on a school bus every day for a week, each holds the opportunity for the teaching of invaluable life skills - we're talking everything art appreciation to that all-important exercise habit to perhaps best of all for parents, how to cook dinner, eggshells not included.

Be sure to check in over at Ttownmoms.com for even more ideas about how to stay busy in northeast Oklahoma this Spring Break, including a new craft to make with your kids every day of the break, starting Monday.

Drop-Ins and One-Time Parties

Spring Fling at Tulsa Zoo
When: Friday, March 12, 4-7pm
Where: Tulsa Zoo, 5701 E. 36th Street North
Looking for inflatables, a wall for rock climbing, arts and crafts, a dance floor and animal friends to kick off Spring Break this year? Look no further than Tulsa Zoo on the very day the kids are released from school and into the wild. Plus, look for food from 20 of Tulsa's family-friendly restaurants. Cost is $12, or $10 for members. Kids under 2 get in free.

Spring Break Drop-In Workshops
When: Tuesday, March 16; Wednesday, March 17 Thursday, March 18, 1-4pm
Where: Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Ave.
Why not spend your spring break at Philbrook? Tour the galleries and create art with your family in one of these drop-in workshops. Pick a day and pop in or stay the entire time for some free family fun. Yes, I said free. Free!

Bradini the Illusionist at Tulsa Air and Space Museum
When: 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm Monday, March 15-Friday, March 19
Where: Tulsa Air and Space Museum, 3624 North 74th East Avenue
Be amazed by the science-based illusions by Bradini. Illusions, comedy, live animals and audience participation make this a go-to place for fun this Spring Break. Look for Bradini in the Planetarium.

Tulsa Festival de Films: A Town Called Panic
When: Friday, March 19-March 25
Where: Circle Cinema, 12 S. Lewis Ave.
The madcap misadventures of Cowboy, Indian and Horse continue in this feature film from the creators of the Belgian TV series of the same name. The first stop-motion film event to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival, a lighthearted and wacky romp, it is sure to entertain the child in (and with) each of us.


All Week Long

Chandler Park Community Center Spring Break Camp (Ages 6-12)
When: Monday-Friday, March 15-19
Where: Chandler Park, 6500 W. 21st Street
Nestled in my old stomping grounds, Chandler Park features 192 acres of wooded area with open space, great natural beauty and panoramic views of Tulsa and Sand Springs. Plus, there's tons of fun for kids. Cost is $30. Before and after care are available for an extra fee. PER DAY? CALL CHANDLER, 591-6053

Spring Break Camp: Stories in Art (Ages K-2nd Grade)
When: Monday-Friday, March 15-19, 9am-4:30pm
Where: Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Road
Each object in the Gilcrease collection has a story. Students will visit several different galleries in the museum to learn about these stories before making their own art work based on what they've seen, from ceramic masks to Milagro charm bracelets to beadwork and puppet making. Cost is $125, or $100 for members. Extended hours are available for an extra charge.

Spring Break Camp: The Making of Gilcrease (Ages 3rd-5th Grade)
When: Monday-Friday, March 15-19, 9am-4:30pm
Where: Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Road
Have you ever wondered about the stories behind the place, the things and the people at Gilcrease Museum? Set your kids free to explore the makings of this world-class museum as they create storybooks, sculptures, stamps and more. Cost is $125, or $100 for members. Extended hours are available for an extra charge.

Spring Break Soccer Camp
When: March 15-19, 10am-noon
Where: SoccerCity, 5817 S. 118th E. Ave.
Spring Break isn't an excuse to veg out in front of Spongebob for an entire week. Get the kids moving at SoccerCity. Cost is $95 for the week and kids aged 4 to 15 are welcome. Call (918) 249-0044.

Spring Break Seacamp
When: March 15-19, 9am-4pm
Where: Oklahoma Aquarium, 300 Aquarium Drive
Give boredom the wave this Spring Break with the SeaCamp at Oklahoma Aquarium. Learn how animals adapt and change to survive and thrive in their environments - you know, just like the Transformers. For kids in K-5th grades. Cost is $250 per child. Extended care is available for an extra charge. Call (918) 528-1508 for more and to register.

Spring Break Camp at Tulsa Zoo
When: March 15-19, 9am-2pm
Where: Tulsa Zoo, 5701 E. 36th Street North
This spring your child will learn about animal babies, animal behavior and the exciting field of zoo keeping! With fun activities, games, crafts for the younger kids as well as animal encounters and exclusive behind the scenes opportunities for all! Zoo Camp is the perfect place to spend spring break! Please provide a sack lunch for your camper. Cost is $135, or $120 and under for Zoo members. Extended care is available for an extra charge.

Spring Break Cooking Camp
When: March 15-19, 8am-noon; March 15-19, 1-5pm
Where: Sage Culinary Studio, 3746 S. Peoria Ave.
Is your child always asking to help with dinner? First, lucky you. Second, get him or her to Sage to hone those cooking skills this Spring Break. Campers will learn cooking hygiene and how to read and follow recipes. Campers will prepare 3-5 recipes per day, and the kiddos get to keep the recipe cards. Cooking camps are for kids aged 7-11. Cost is $275 for each camp. Visit Sage on the Web to register.

Create and Bounce Spring Art and Craft Camp
Where: Bounce U Tulsa, 8922 S. Memorial Drive
When: March 16-18, 9am-noon
Studies have shown that physical activity cultivates creativity. What better way to get active than to bounce? The kids can do that and more at this Spring Break camp, which combines exercise with time for arts and crafts. Cost is $65 for all three days, or $25 per day. Ages 4 and up are welcome.


Old Reliables

Any Tulsa City-County Library Location, Any Time
When: 24/7
Where: All over the Tulsa area
On any given day one can open the Tulsa Library Web site and find more classes and storytimes and activities for kids of a variety of ages than there's time for. The best way to get a list of these events is to visit the event guide at TulsaLibrary.org. I'm not here to reinvent the wheel, I just want to point you to it.

Tulsa Air and Space Museum
When: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday, 1-5pm
Where: 3624 N. 74th E. Avenue
Tulsa Air and Space Museum knows how to do Spring Break right. See the new Rocket Racing League Exhibit, a military aircraft fly-in, a science-based illusions show (see the bit about Bradini above), a mechanical physics exhibit and a mobile science museum. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for kids aged 4-12 and free for those three and under.

Purple Glaze, 3303 S. Peoria Ave. and 6528 E. 91st Street. What's more fun than making a mess with your kids? Making a mess with your kids that you don't have to clean up, duh. Head to Purple Glaze to pick out your favorite ceramic. Spend the afternoon painting or tiling it, just the way you like. Leave it behind until after the weekend and, voila, a one-of-a-kind commemoration of the day it was too cool for school. Hours are 11am-9pm Thursday and Friday, with the Brookside location staying open until 10pm Friday night. Studio fee is $6; pottery prices include the ceramic, paints, glaze and firing.

Kaleidoscope Children's Museum, 6202 S. Sheridan Road. If you couldn't get your kids not to touch delicate pieces of art to save your life, Kaleidoscope just might be the place for you. It's a hands-on kind of museum, with plenty of encouragement for your kids to do some learning about art and science. Who said a day off from school has to mean a day off from learning? Hours are 10am-3pm. Admission is $5, and kids under 2 get in free.

Gardner's Used Books, 4221 S. Mingo Road. Have I mentioned that I love this place? Yes? Well, I'm going to say it again. This is one of our favorite spots when the weather doesn't permit our craziness outdoors. There's plenty of space for young kids to toddle, tons of books, music, comics and toys to keep older kids busy, and no one really cares if your brood gets a little rambunctious. Plus, there are two great restaurants right next door, including Gatsby's Grill. Yum.

Lunch. If while you're out and about when those little tummies start to growl, feel free to use my short list of indie lunch spots that are welcoming to young kids and their families (several of these even offer toys to keep the kids happy while the food's a cookin'): Joe Mommas downtown (complete with old-school video games); Cosmo Cafe on Brookside; Elote Cafe & Catering; Brewburger; Crusty Croissant; Dilly Deli; Kupcakz (maybe for dessert - or, if you're like me, maybe for lunch); The Brook (both Midtown and South); and Hideaway Pizza.