Spring Break Literary Workshops
Full Day Literature & Art Programs
children and youth, ages 5 to 14
March 18th to 29th, 2024
Our spring break camps are warm and welcoming spaces where storytelling and art merge into dream spaces. At the Lyceum, staying in Vancouver for a spring break "staycation" becomes an opportunity for literary travel to destinations near and far.
Maybe you found the map in a mysterious-looking trunk in your great aunt’s attic. Maybe a wizard knocked on your door one evening and gave it to you. Maybe you inherited it from an elderly uncle you always suspected was a pirate. However you got it, it’s yellow and faded. You squint in the dim light, trying to read its markings. The words that reveal themselves are familiar - The Spider-verse, Pacific West Coastline, Hogwarts (of course) - and beside each, a special pin acts as a passport stamp. Collect one or all ten limited edition pins (a pin for each destination camp).
Treasure!
At the Lyceum we believe that every book contains treasure. Whether it’s an unforgettable character who feels like a new friend, or an idea you never would have thought of on your own, stories glitter with riches beyond our wildest dreams. During our Spring Break programs, we’ll be treating classic works of literature as the exciting locations of this buried treasure, adventuring into them to see what glittering hoards we’re able to uncover. Each day of our Spring Break program is devoted to one book, allowing us plenty of time to read selections, and use these readings as the jumping off points for exciting artistic creations, and adventurous outdoor forays. Children don’t need to have read these books before attending the Lyceum - our program is designed to work both as an introduction for newcomers, and a celebration for those who have visited these pages before.
​
Our program schedule is customizable. Your child can come for a day or two of our programming, join us for a week, or join us for the entire two weeks. Each day stands alone, but also links thematically to all the other days. This makes it easy to drop in for a day of Harry Potter magic, or Pratchett escapism, but it also means that those joining us for longer benefit from a rich and layered experience.
Programs
Ages: 5 to 14
​
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Early drop-off and late pick up can be arranged for $10 + GST per half hour.
Cost:
One day: $142 + GST
Sleepover: $165 + GST
​
Any 5 days: $639 + GST (50% Off 1 Day)
All 10 days: $1278 + GST (100% Off 1 Day)
​
​
​
TO REGISTER or for more information, please email us at lyceum@christiannehayward.com, give us a call at 604 733 1356, or visit us at 4433 West 10th Avenue!
​
Harry Potter
MONDAY, MARCH 18th, 2024
9:00 AM TO 4:30 PM
AGES 5 TO 14
$142 + GST
Destination: Flourish and Blotts
A Wolf Called Wander
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20th, 2024
9:00 AM TO 4:30 PM
AGES 5 TO 14
$142 + GST
Destination: Pacific Coastal Rainforests
Kensuke’s Kingdom
FRIDAY, MARCH 22nd, 2024
9:00 AM TO 4:30 PM
AGES 5 TO 14
$142 + GST
Destination: The Peanut-Shaped Island
The Borrowers/The Secret World of Arrietty
MONDAY, MARCH 25th, 2023
9:00 AM TO 4:30 PM
AGES 5 TO 14
$142 + GST
Destination: Koganei
Spiderman Comics/Across the Spider-Verse
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27th, 2024
9:00 AM TO 4:30 PM
AGES 5 TO 14
$142 + GST
Destination: The Spider-Verse
For All Ages!
FRIDAY, MARCH 29th, 2024
9:00 AM TO 4:30 PM
AGES 5 TO 14
$142 + GST
Destination: Pysanky Eggs
Get The Faeries Ready for the Vernal Equinox
TUESDAY, MARCH 19th, 2024
9:00 AM TO 4:30 PM
AGES 5 TO 14
$142 + GST
Destination: Faery Equinox Garden
Twelfth Night
THURSDAY, MARCH 21st, 2024
9:00 AM TO 4:30 PM
AGES 5 TO 14
$142 + GST
Destination: Illyria
Percy Jackson and the Olympians SLEEPOVER!
FRIDAY, MARCH 22nd, to SATURDAY, MARCH 23rd
5:30 PM TO 10:30 AM
AGES 9 TO 14
$165 + GST
Destination: Camp Half-Blood
Wonder
TUESDAY, MARCH 26th, 2024
9:00 AM TO 4:30 PM
AGES 5 TO 14
$142 + GST
Destination: North River Heights
Kendra Kandlestar
THURSDAY, MARCH 28th, 2024
9:00 AM TO 4:30 PM
AGES 5 TO 14
$142 + GST
Destination: The Land of Een
Program Details
Monday, March 18th
Destination: Flourish and Blotts
Harry Potter
You want to set the tone, start the course well, and jump in with the right intentions. Coming from a place of joy is our guarantee that you’ll experience the best Spring Break so far. We thought there was no better way to do this than by reaffirming our love of J.K. Rowling’s immersive literary world.
​
Christianne will immediately enthrall campers with a reading of key passages from Jim Kay’s illustrated version of the book before enticing even more with a walk through of the day’s craft. Students will be making as many miniature books as they can conceptualize, for their very own Harry Potter library. They’ll be able to put volumes on a small wooden shelf, before creating a Sculpey guardian to stand watch. Whether it’s a Cornish Pixie or a scaled down Nagini, no invisibility cloak will be able to sneak past these watchful eyes. These tiny books will be the “eye candy” at the tills of Flourish and Blotts this spring!
​
We’ll of course still make time for a game of quidditch (numbers and weather permitting), but make room in your closet as each camper will be returning home with a one-of-a-kind broom in hand.
Tuesday, March 19th
Destination: Faery Equinox Garden
Get the Faeries Ready for the Vernal Equinox
There is always something invigorating about seeing the first buds break ground and bloom; it shows great fortitude that these seedlings have survived a sometimes harsher than expected winter. Of course, the Fae are always in tune with the rhythms of the natural world, and it is the “vernal” equinox that acts as a signal that brighter days are coming. If you’ve never taken part in a Lyceum faerie camp before, you’re in for a treat. If you are unfamiliar with the lore, Christianne will begin by regaling the group with the most up to date activities in the now well-established Lyceum faerie garden. We'll get an update on how each miniature member of the community is settling in.
After tea and some delectable treats (faerie sized of course), students will start work on their own bountiful terrariums. Using large mason jars as our impenetrable walls, we’ll fill them with mosses and sedum, not forgetting a resting spot with a stone path to guide the way, adding shells for a West Coast flair. Participants are encouraged to use as many embellishments as their hearts desire, taking the saying that ‘you can’t have too much of a good thing’ quite literally.
Wednesday, March 20th
Destination: Pacific Coastal Rainforests
A Wolf Called Wander
Inspired by a true story, A Wolf Called Wander has undoubtedly captured the hearts of many since its release in 2019. One of its biggest fans is long-time Lyceum attendee, Ellyse, who also happens to be the creative behind this camp.
Rosanne Parry’s emotive novel touches the core of why humans and animals can have such depth of connection. Christianne will guide the group through Swift’s journey as he becomes separated from the pack. Hungry and alone, he searches for the courage to survive by himself.
We’ll also take a sneak peek behind the story, as Parry gives the audience tips on how best to protect the natural habitat of the animals we care so much about. After becoming immersed in the story, students will work on a triptych of watercolour paintings. The first panel will be a study of the raven, representing the importance of its relationship with the wolves. The second will look at our protagonist, the wolf, focusing on just how difficult it can be for them to survive amidst tough competition and unpredictable environmental conditions. Last but not least, we’ll round out our set of three with a stunning west coast landscape.
Thursday, March 21st
Destination: Illyria
Twelfth Night
The idea that Shakespeare is timeless sometimes falls on deaf ears. Whilst the setting, attire, and language can lean towards the antiquated, the characters that Shakespeare has so carefully crafted are undeniably timeless. We will forever be able to relate to feeling as though we can’t always be ourselves. Like Shakespeare’s wonderfully flawed characters in Twelfth Night, we give way to feelings of jealousy, envy, and betrayal as we abandon higher callings to show gratitude and embrace positive attitudes. Shakespeare masterfully uses humour to help us see our folly, and to connect us with what is really important.
​
For this class, Christianne will spend the day guiding students through the very human aspects of Shakespeare’s work in Twelfth Night. We’ll use Bruce Coville’s “faithful and buoyant” adaptation to explore the story before jumping into our craft. Taking inspiration from Tim Raglin’s rousing illustrations, we’ll set up to paint our own ceramic teapot and cup. Whether you’re a seasoned Shakespeare fan, or using this as your introduction, we’ll ensure that you can always have a warm pot of tea before getting lost in another one of his worlds.
Kensuke's Kingdom
Destination: The Peanut-Shapted Island
Friday, March 22nd
Michael Morpurgo is a legend when it comes to children’s literature. At the Lyceum, we have discussed his novels in our bookclubs more times than we could count. Christianne will select her favourite passages from Kensuke’s Kingdom, and guide the group through the pivotal moments that make this story so magical.
Abundant in inspiration, we’ll be sure to harness this in our craft as each student is invited to make a mixed media sailboat. We’ll start by sketching out the structure of our vessel to ensure it can survive the most perilous of voyages, before bringing it to life with strong, yet flexible cardboard bones. The joy will then be in the decoration as paint is swept across bow and stern and canvas sails are raised to capture the constant movement of an open ocean landscape.
Whilst yachts are docked and drying, students are invited to make as many miniature Sculpey items as possible that they’d like to take on board. Think survival and sustenance, but also joy…spending that much time at sea needs to bring happiness as well as the drive to explore.
Friday, March 22nd to Saturday, March 23rd
Destination: Camp Half-Blood
Percy Jackson and the Olympians SLEEPOVER!
If you don’t want the fun to end, this sleepover will extend seamlessly into the first weekend of spring break. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series has amassed a cult following, spawning both two films and television series of the same name.
​
We’ll spend the evening diving into the series as we pepper it with snacks, crafts and all the fantasy conversation you can handle. After getting settled and choosing our spot for the evening (the most comfortable one of course), Christianne will show the group how to make handheld Medusa mirrors using Sculpey to fashion snakes, adding an extra dimension that will make anyone do a double take.
​
Bedding down, but who knows for how long, we’ll immerse ourselves in another world until it becomes impossible to keep our eyes open.
​
We’ll send campers home, after a signature Lyceum waffle breakfast (not forgetting the berries and whipped cream), with a full tummy and tall tales of their evening spent in another realm.
Monday, March 25th
Destination: Koganei
The Borrowers/The Secret World of Arrietty
Winner of the 1952 Carnegie Medal, the Borrowers is a truly beguiling tale, and in 2010 Studio Ghibli gave the enchanting plot an anime twist. The story takes place in western Tokyo’s neighbourhood of Koganei and follows just how much life changes for the Clock family when their teenage daughter has to navigate through being ‘seen’ by a human boy.
This class will harness the whimsy of a beloved children’s fantasy novel while at the same time exploring a different cultural interpretation. Participants will be invited to craft a shadow box using stylistic inspiration from either telling. We will start with a solid wooden frame foundation, adding a backdrop of choice (be it paint, sketches, or wallpaper swatches), before working on hand-crafted miniature sculptures of the things that Borrowers may have helped themselves to and sourcing real items to embellish their diorama.
Children will be encouraged to ‘borrow’ ahead of time and come with ideas/items that could have been hoarded by Arrietty herself. This particular craft will be more than just a static scene; it will capture a moment in time to preserve for generations to come.
Tuesday, March 26th
Destination: North River Heights
Wonder
R. J. Palacio’s novel Wonder is a story about many things; the complexities of childhood friendships, navigating our constantly evolving emotions, and coming to terms with the fact that sometimes the world around us isn’t fair.
After reading through some of the key passages as a group and sparking important discussions about how we treat the people around us, we will make a unique and multi-layered portrait. Using a black-and-white photograph of themselves (employing as much artistic license as they would like - think alternative angles and abstract representation), students will then accent their image with paint or metallic markers. We’ll add depth to this by overlaying another painting depicting the passions of each participant. A band of fabric will join both pieces together; an altered portrait and the inner passions that make us who we are.
Christianne will be on hand to offer guidance on technique or content, but as always your child will be given free reign to express themselves in whatever way they wish.
As a special treat, participants will have the chance to meet some of the cast from Lionsgate’s production of Wonder. They can answer the many burning questions you may have about life on the set of a full scale production.
Wednesday, March 27th
Destination: The Spider-Verse
Spiderman Comics/Across the Spider-Verse
Spiderman belongs to an expansive universe and is as multifaceted as the world he inhabits. He has overcome adversity simply by existing through the trauma of losing his beloved uncle to the villains he now tries to protect the world against. Whether you think of him as Peter Parker, or the hero who swings from one gargantuan skyscraper to the next, or the martyr who dies trying to save the world from Kingpin’s evil designs, we promise to snag you into his web of adventure.
We’ll watch portions of Into the Spider-Verse (the first animated Spiderman film), and acquaint ourselves with the history of the Spiderman lore, complete with lessons in drawing the character himself.
Traversing parallel universes of the Spider-Verse, students are invited to design their own Spidersona caricature before representing them on a specially designed broadsheet scene. Each person will be encouraged to visually map out what a universe of their design would look like, what their superpower would be, and how they came by it. It’ll be a unique opportunity to let your imagination run wild, and harness the powers you dream of having!
Kendra Kandlestar
Destination: The Land of Een
Thursday, March 28th
Lee Edward Fodi is somewhat of a Lyceum legend! He has been kind enough to grace us with his presence at bookclub on numerous occasions and his sense of humour, endless stories and artistic talent make each visit a resounding success.
During this camp, we’ll spend the day exploring the Kendra Kandlestar series along with the magic it contains. Lee has generously offered to spend part of the day with us and read some of his favourite sections. Next he will guide us through how to make the most realistic pieces of dragon memorabilia. Students and Lee will then begin work on a one-of-a-kind mobile. We’ll use myriad art mediums to make unique and varied dragon scales, adding on ribbing with hot glue guns before painting and highlighting in shimmering gold. Then, we'll attach them to a gold circlet to suspend from somewhere up high.
We’ll also make sure there are themed snacks to tantalize your taste-buds so that your creative juices can flow freely throughout the day.
Friday, March 29th
Destination: Pysanky Eggs
For All Ages!
If you’ve never come across these mesmerizing creations before, then we’re sure you’ll look completely enchanted by their incredibly intricate patterns. The origins of Pysanky are sometimes hard to pin down, with different stories pertaining to the year it began. Regardless of exact dating, we are grateful for their existence in the modern world.
In Ukraine, the symbolism of the egg continues long after Easter with some people in rural areas putting the shells in cattle feed to make them stronger for the coming year. Others choose to place one egg in each of the four corners of their house to bring good luck. We leave all of these options open to you!
During our final day of Spring Break, we invite you to story, design and colour your own pysanky eggs. This class is designed in the spirit of family togetherness, so if you have the day off work, you are welcome to make it a family affair and attend with your child as a guest at no charge!
We’ll take regular breaks to share traditional stories and take inspiration from the designs of others and if there’s time, Christianne will show you how to make miniature beeswax candles. This class will revel in the beauty of tradition; make sure you’re here to enjoy it with us!
Ages: 5 to 14
​
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Early drop-off and late pick up can be arranged for $10 + GST per half hour.
Cost:
One day: $142 + GST
Sleepover: $165 + GST
​
Any 5 days: $639 + GST (50% Off 1 Day)
All 10 days: $1278 + GST (100% Off 1 Day)
​
​
​
TO REGISTER or for more information, please email us at lyceum@christiannehayward.com, give us a call at 604 733 1356, or visit us at 4433 West 10th Avenue!
