Families enjoy unique programming at Ottawa museums over holiday break

Young children may be off school for winter break, but museums in Ottawa are still offering a chance for kids to learn in new and fun ways.

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The Canada Science and Technology Museum and the Aviation and Space Museum are running their Winter Wonders program, which offers kids hands-on learning and activities.

Eight-year-old Deslie Ndifor was at the aviation museum and learned all about drones, including flying safety and what they can be used for in the Drone's 101 program.

Using the technology for the first time, she's already a fan.

"I think it's really cool – and now I want a drone," she said in an interview on Saturday.

Deslie's uncle Manny Makia says it's a great way for kids to apply things they have already learned.

"It mirrors a lot of what they do as far as video games and things like that and so they already have some of the skills that are necessary. And it's good to learn how to apply those skills beyond just playing video games, how those skills are applied in real life," Makia said.

The museum also has a tour called The Kuujjuaq Christmas Candy Drop where kids can learn about life in Nunavik, in Quebec's far north, as well as a unique holiday tradition of dropping candy from a bush plane.

It's based on the story of a real pilot named Johnny May, which was written into a book. Stephanie Beaudette says it's a great way to teach kids at a young age.

"They don't really know a ton about the north, so that was really interesting for them to actually learn it in a fun way, because they're a stuffed animals involved and you learn pretty much anything when there's a stuffed animal involved," Beaudette said.

The Canada Science and Technology Museum has its own Winter Wonders programming, featuring sound and music.

Visitors like Maddie Bechorner can put skills to the test, playing music on PVC pipes, which the museum says helps kids understand that music can come from many different places, even with every day materials.

"I like playing the music because I play some piano," she said. "It makes different sounds than the piano, but the same music."

There are also antique music boxes and demonstrations on at various times.

Dad Lawson LeBlanc says coming here let's his 15-month-old daughter try new things, even at a young age.

"It's just a great environment," he said.

"Lots of space for the kids to run around and be able to kind of get rid of their energy and then fall asleep on the way home."

The winter programming at the museums will run until Jan. 5.