Winter Break Holiday Programs
December 9th 2025 - January 3rd 2026
About Holiday Programs
at Christianne’s Lyceum
Celebrating traditions of the past, present, and future
The good things in life are recounting memories and creating experiences, and this is what the holiday season is all about. As we continue to grow traditions in the Lyceum’s new home, we look forward to an exciting new chapter in our twentieth year of operation. Let’s celebrate together!
About Christianne’s Lyceum
Christianne’s Lyceum is a centre that celebrates literature and art and puts it at the heart of family and community life. Through programs that emphasise making connections between literature and what’s going on in the outside world, the Lyceum encourages young people to see themselves as readers, writers and artists, as they engage with abstract ideas and reflect on their place in society. Armed with these experiences, students begin to seek possibilities and explore ways that they can use their voices and actions to participate in their communities.
The Lyceum is a cozy living room, a specialized library, a well-equipped studio and a whimsical art gallery bound up in one. It’s a place that brings together writers, illustrators, educators and families to share diverse ways of making meaning, different schools of thought, and the richness of story in its many forms.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions for our programs are guidelines only. If your child is interested in a program that is aimed at a slightly older or slightly younger age group, please give us a call to discuss if this class would be a good fit.
Program Details
In each holiday program children will be invited to decorate a gluten-free homemade cookie and delight in stories from Christianne's extraordinary holiday book collection.
The Twelve Days of Christmas:
Piggyback carol and book making
Ages: 3 to 5
Cost: $158.5 (2 mornings, 3 hours each)
Monday, December 15th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Wednesday, December 17th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 AM
If you have a preschooler who is looking to get in on the holiday merriment, we’re offering a two day drop-in option during the last week of the fall term Preschool Literature and Art class. We’ll be rifting off The Twelve Days of Christmas to create brand new lyrics written and illustrated by your preschoolers.
On Monday we'll write funny lines (scribed of course) and start our canvas board illustrations and on Wednesday we will finish and begin printing. Coil-bound copies will be available for pick up on Friday in time for the holidays. We guarantee that you will want to order a few copies for the grandparents!
Bringing Back the Light:
How cultures bring light to winter darkness
Ages: 5 to 14
Time: Tuesday, December 9th, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Cost: $158.5 + GST (6 hours)
Around the world cultures have developed ways to hold back the dark and herald the cheer that comes with light. Let’s envelop ourselves in festive cheer, shared traditions and stories while we work to forge something truly unique. In the run up to winter solstice, campers will make their own twinkle light centrepieces that will wow guests sitting around any holiday dining table. We’ll start with a strong wire foundation around which we’ll wrap rich and fragrant greenery, before weaving in fairy lights and glowing orbs.
After refuelling with a spot of lunch, campers will use natural beeswax to roll their own candles and embellished tapers for nestling amongst the leaves. Whether presented as a gift to the host of a family holiday gathering, or enjoyed each day over the festive period, these adorable mindings cheer the darkest of spaces.
Gift and Gab:
A teen circle for chatting and crafting
Ages: 10++
Time: Friday, December 12, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $74.5 + GST (3 hours)
This year we launched a monthly craft and chat series on Friday evenings. The aim was to create a safe space for teens to gather and enjoy vibrant conversation while they craft. We’re dedicating the December session to gift making! It will be an opportunity for teens to share their rants, excitements and anxieties around the holidays, while creating gifts for others.
We’ll have 4 stations: felting, beading, tiny prints and embroidery. Students are invited to choose whichever one(s) sparks joy for what they’d like to work on in the allotted time. Fear not, there will also be opportunities to take materials home for finishing if your teen’s creative eyes are bigger than their crafting bellies
Whether it’s for a friend’s birthday, a token for a family member to let them know they’re special, or a memento of your time spent at the Lyceum, the possibilities are endless.
Collage Cards and Gift Tags
Ages: 6++
Time: Saturday, December 13th, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $123.5 + GST (5 hours)
Sometimes it feels like the art of letter writing is all but gone. Commiserations and well wishes are shared through a multitude of texts and emails. This session we’d like to take it back to the beginning by creating one-of-kind cards that won’t be seen anywhere else this holiday season. We’ll start by searching for and cutting out beautiful images from recycled cards and the rich collage collection at the Lyceum.
The finished piece of art will be scanned, and then a set of six holiday or gift cards printed to write in and give to family and friends. We’ll take breaks for story and a winter walk to the park for lunch, before moving on to our gift tags.
After cutting out your desired shapes, students will carve lino stamps to print gift tags for adorning presents of their choosing. They’ll come complete with ribbons and recipients will be wowed just as much by the tag as what lies beneath the wrapping. Rest assured there’ll be hot cocoa and cookies for sustenance and if there’s time, you can even start writing your messages of holiday cheer.
Dungeons & Dragons:
A Solstice Adventure
Ages: 9+
Time: Sunday, December 14th, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $148.5 + GST (6 hours )
The holidays are the time of year when we stop long enough to share stories of the year past. This season the Lyceum invites you to share a story through the lens of Dungeons and Dragons. Join our resident DM and explore a story yet untold for a full day.
As the solstice draws closer, the veil between worlds grows thin allowing for any number of odd sorts to cross over. Fae, ghosts, or even ancient gods may have their chance for chaos and only our heroes can bar the gate.
This game will be split over two sessions with an intermission of sorts to shake out the pins and needles before returning with rapt attention. While D&D is for everyone, due to the time limitations of this program, we are calling for experienced players. By this, we mean players who are familiar with the rules of the game and who have already created their own character. This will help smooth out the start of the day and allow us more time to play.
Winter Bird Song (Felting Ornaments)
Ages: 9++
Time: Monday, December 15th, 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $74.5 + GST (3 hours)
The birds that stay behind in the winter months colour our days with a little cheer. A Hayward family tradition is reading The Happy Prince during the solstice and this year Christianne will concentrate on the swallow’s voice while campers felt.
The art of felting is both meditative and grounding; focusing on minuscule movements to sculpt and shape, this practice is calming in all the right ways. During what is often perceived to be the busiest time of the year for both parent and child, take the opportunity to slow down, relax, and reboot before revelling in the joy of being with family again. Students will choose little birds they’d like to perch on the branches of their tree, before settling down to select wool colours.
Rifling through a multitude of natural hues and textures, we’ll see sparks of inspiration take flight, just like our feathered friends, and no doubt, these beautiful birds will bring song to any Christmas tree.
Holiday Harmony
Ages: 5 to 14
Time: Tuesday, December 16th, 10:00 AM to 4:00PM
Cost: $148.5 + GST (6 hours)
There are many cultural traditions celebrated as one year transfers to the next. It adds richness to the holiday season, knowing how others are choosing to find meaning in customs that are significant to them. As we spend the day together, Christianne will llead discussions about these different cultures as we look to represent how we have more in common than not.
Students will take what they’ve learned through the literature of the Lyceum and represent this in mosaic coaster tiles. Capturing the same image in varied colour palettes will mirror how different cultures celebrate the changes in their environment and seasons with different traditions.
Meditative in its qualities, learning how to cut, place and grout tile allows space for deep thinking and even deeper discussions to take place between learners. You may choose to take home your creations as treasured keepsakes, or gift them as hand crafted representations of how much you care.
Designing Sustainable Gift Bags
Ages: 8++
Time: Tuesday, December 16th, 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Cost: $99 + GST (4 hours)
It’s safe to say that by now we are used to hearing the refrain of reduce, reuse and recycle. When we shop, we are more mindful of where our products have come from, who helped make them and whether we’ll fulfill their lifespan. This camp is a chance for us to ‘get tactile’ sifting through the Lyceum’s rich collection of materials, and using our sense of touch to guide us to the right ones.
Students can either hand sew or take a spin on our machines to stitch together beautiful drawstring gift bags. Imagine the surprise on a loved one's face when they’re taken aback not by the gift alone, but also by the vessel it comes in.
We’ll take regular breaks for Christianne to regale the group with stories that highlight the joy of gift-giving, and there may even be a blank canvas cookie just waiting to be decorated.
A Wreathful of joy:
Woven grape vines from Saturna with local greens
Ages: All ages/family
Time: Wednesday, December 17th, 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Cost: $116.5 + GST (4.5 hours)
Over the course of the evening, participants will be guided through the intricate process of wreath making. Using locally sourced and natural materials including grape vine cuttings from the Sage Hayward vineyard on Saturna Island, campers will insert scotch pine, fir, cedar and hemlock with special attention paid to the olfactory senses. Students will intersperse their boughs with cinnamon sticks, sliced and dried oranges, nutmeg, potpourri and a feathered bird ornament before adding festive ribbon to ensure easy hanging
.
Of course you won’t spend the time in silence, as Christianne regales the group with some lesser known holiday stories to accompany the Lyceum’s famous hot chocolate, marshmallows and shortbread.
*We invite you to bring a tupperware of supper to nibble on across the evening.
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
Ages: 3 to 5
Time: Thursday, December 18th, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Cost: $74.5 + GST (3 hours)
He may not be everyone’s favourite, but he’s definitely the one you remember. Rudolph has been, is, and always will be iconic, so we wanted to celebrate him even more at this time of the year. Christianne will read The Reindeer’s Christmas by Atsuko Morozumo and The Night Before Christmas, before we dive into making different versions of Rudolph
Students will create at least three reindeer characters: one with hand prints, one with corks and one with clothes pins. They’ll also have access to natural materials found in the coastal forests including cross sections of local branches...perfect for a round Rudolph face and antlers. There will be paint, pom poms and glitter galore to adorn them, bring them to life and make them truly shine.
Snap, Cracker, Pop!
Holiday crackers for the family table
Ages: 8++
Time: Thursday, December 18th, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $109 + GST (4 hours)
The gifts nestled inside today’s crackers are at most an inexpensive plastic figure, a paper hat and a joke. As things become more expensive, we want to return to the days of old and elevate the humble, but enduring Christmas cracker. Kicking things up a notch, we’ll spend the evening making our very own handmade gifts using treasures found in the extensive resource bank of the Lyceum. This could be anything from a miniature sculpted character from your camper’s favourite book, a piece of beach glass transformed into jewellery, or a tiny story rolled in a teeny tiny bottle. Of course we’ll nestle in hats, fortunes and a snapper!
We’ll decorate our vessels (maximum of 8 crackers) in whatever way you’d like, with the only limitation being your creativity. These are best shared around a festive table with loved ones!
Stories and Gifts from the Heart
Ages: All ages
Time: Friday, December 19th, 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Cost: $111.5 + GST (4.5 hours)
The joy of the holidays is contagious, it’s one of the most magical aspects of childhood, something that keeps that light burning when the frost settles and the nights draw in. This camp is the fast infusion of festive cheer you crave all year long. Master storyteller, Christianne will regale participants with her favourite traditional holiday stories from different cultures -- all you have to do is cradle a hot cranberry cider, nibble on a shortbread cookie and settle in for the evening.
Students can choose from several gift making options, exploring everything from glycerin soap with a small treasure embedded inside, sculpey figurines, brownies in a mason jar, and several varieties of ornaments. We will also have a holiday hamper started, that we can add to as the evening progresses and have something truly heartfelt to donate to a family in need. This has been a tradition for several Lyceum families and a favourite way to start off the holiday season: creating new memories together.
Help the Faeries Get Ready for Solstice:
Sparkles and Twinkles Abound
Ages: 6 to 12
Time: Saturday, December 21st, 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Cost: $145 + GST (6 hours)
There will always be a special space reserved for the Lyceum’s resident Fae in our holiday camp roster. It seems even more significant after last year’s big move, but our loyal followers made sure that no Fae were left behind, creating pathways of moon lights and tiny maps on hedge tops that led to the new, and now beautifully established, moss garden.
Over the course of the day, we will experience an abundance of enthusiasm, as well as some expert insight into recent activity in the Lyceum’s faerie garden. Stories of our resident Fae is a “Christianne specialty.” Campers will craft a show-stopping Solstice resting circle mounted on ceramic tile. Each camper will make an embellished pillar candle, from local beeswax to nestle inside a safety votive as the centre of this gathering spot Next we will create woven garlands from cedar cuttings and twinkle lights to create an outside ring of light.
Stopping for lunch (and a spot of tea) students will swap creative ideas, perhaps taking inspiration from the group for those carefully considered finishing touches and faerie furniture.
There is something so heartwarming about renewing our commitment to honouring imagination that is so deeply woven throughout both our city, and our Lyceum community.
Ocean Ornaments
Ages: 5 to 12
Time: Sunday, December 21st, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Cost: $99 + GST (4 hours)
We’re not sure if you’ve ever looked closely at the smooth pearlescent grooves of an oyster shell, but if you haven’t, fear not…it’s not a prerequisite for this camp. We’ll be using shells, sans seafood, to create holiday angels and hanging decoupage ornaments that will make your tree the talk of the town. Christianne will take you through the materials provided to fashion the head, legs and wings of your angel. Making sure your vision comes to life, you’ll be able to use trinkets and treasures to adorn miniature outfits and create something that will be passed down through the generations. A uniquely West Coast ornament!
To make sure that your angel doesn’t go home alone, each participant will also be invited to craft holiday images on shells, complete with pearls and gold gilded edges.. Give as gifts, or use them to add to an incredibly festive hearth, tree or windowsill.
Granny Blake’s Toffee:
A 170 year old tradition
Ages: 10++
Time: Saturday, December 21st, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $99 + GST (4 hours)
Loved by all and attended by many over the years, this camp allows participants to delve into the annals of Lyceum tradition. The secret recipe for Granny Blake’s toffee was brought to Canada 116 years ago by Christianne’s great grandmother, Amy Chappel, and has been made by her family ever since. Amy’s mother learned to make the delectable sweet from her grandmother.
Now’s your chance to join us for a camp that our students beg to attend every year. With an hour to stir, an hour to cut and an hour to wrap, there’s still plenty of time to hear a story. We’ll also package our confection in small portions ready for you to give when the spirit takes you. Tastes have the ability to transform, taking us back to the moment we experienced them for the first time. We hope that each piece of toffee melts away the bad, and welcomes in the good.
(Shhhh...you also get to take home the coveted recipe.)
The Night Tree:
An enduring Lyceum tradition
Ages: All ages/family
Time: Monday, December 22nd , 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Cost: $161 + GST (6.5 hours)
A Lyceum institution, the Night Tree activity is one we have practised every year since we opened our doors!
Have you ever counted the number of holiday tree stories? Christianne has 37 in her personal collection, from all faiths and from all over the world. She’ll share a selection of these throughout the day, beginning with Night Tree by Eve Bunting, and The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco, both stories of selfless giving during the holidays.
We’ll spend the morning making our own special ornaments to adorn trees at home and after
a break to nibble on lunch while listening to festive tunes, we’ll move on to something equally exciting. We’ll create edible ornaments for our forest creature friends and finally journey down to a hidden nook in Trimble park. Here we’ll end the day by decorating the tree with tasty morsels for birds. squirrels and mice and begin singing carols by candlelight (including a Lyceum themed jingle).
*A wonderful way to wind down with loved ones, before things get really busy.
Back to Hogwarts Sleepover
AGES: 10+
Time: Friday, January 2nd to Saturday, January 3rd, 2026
January 2rd 5:00 PM to 4th 10:30 AM
Cost: $175 + GST (17.5 hours of sleep over for you)
What could be better than getting together with a group of people who are just as fanatical about Harry Potter as you are?! There is something truly magical about shared experiences like these, and we feel passionately that they’re not to be missed.
You can drop your witch or wizard off as the clock strikes 5:30 PM, then officially switch into ‘do not disturb mode’. We’ll make sure there’s enough food to feast on (with intermittent treat breaks as the night progresses), and enough materials to build castle nooks that would rival the ones in Hogwarts. Each camper will be invited to make their own broom, complete with flashlight, for an epic game of night Quidditch if numbers permit or we’ll practise night spells with giant sparklers..
We have all the movies and will prioritise showing the ones favoured by campers.
In the morning, bleary eyed, but still in possession of their powers, we’ll invite campers to tuck into a berry waffle breakfast before handing them back to you.
Time Capsules:
Stop time to create memories
Ages: 6++
Time: Saturday, January 3rd, 2025, 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Cost: $121.5 + GST (4.5 hours)
Heralding in the new year always brings with it a mixture of feelings. Naturally, we spend time reflecting on our achievements, losses and gains, taking stock of what we’re grateful for. We also look to move forward, stepping into opportunities that are yet to present themselves. There’s no better way to spend one of the first days in the new year, than by compiling your very own time capsule. Christianne will read Small Beauties to set the tone for the afternoon white campers make lists of what they watch to capture in their capsules.
Whether you choose to lock it in the attic or bury it in the yard, we’ll provide the box, the lock, and tiny glass tiles to decorate the boxes in ways that reflect individual personalities. Students will then write a letter to their future selves detailing current passions and advice they’d like to share. We’ll include a few current event clips, chosen photos (scaled down) and a tiny glass figurine of their choice. Time will be set aside for painting miniature canvases for future dorm rooms and family homes.
Of course we’ll leave the boxes unlocked so that participants can share with their families before closing them up and sealing in their power.
