Eggciting Easter for Nailsea People

School's out on Friday, March 22, for the Easter holidays.

As well as chocolate Easter eggs, cheepy chicks and big-eared bunnies there is a host of activities on offer for young people.

From the Grand Pier to the seafront water park at Weston to walks along the coastline and filling buckets of sand on the beach; to a cinema treat or trips to the advernture playground North Somerset offers lots for young people to see and do on our doorstep.

Some of the bigger attractions include Noah's Ark zoo farm, Tyntesfield stately home, Clevedon Pier and Puxton Park but there are also museums, libraries and leisure pools.

With children not going back until Monday, April 8, Local People takes a look at some of what is on offer in North Somerset to keep youngsters occupied in the next few weeks.

BACKWELL

• Backwell School has four exciting courses for students and families during the Easter break. For active children, Bristol City Soccer School will be running skills, training and fun sessions from Monday to Thursday, March 25-28. The school is also offering sugarcraft and pizza making classes for those aged 10 plus and Easter card workshops for families with secondary aged children. For further information contact enrichment and community co-ordinator Marie Davis by calling 01275 465942, email mdavis@backwellschool.net or visit the school's website by clicking HERE. 

• Calling all would be Cap'n Jack Sparrow's, Elizabeth Swann's and Inspector Clouseau's! Solve the clues and bag the dabloons on Backwell's 2013 Treasure Hunt. Starts at 10am on Sunday, April 14, from the WI hall. Once you have explored the village and cracked the riddles, join other hunters for refreshments, raffle and games back at the hall. Ideal for family teams or groups of friends - £7 for advance bookings, £10 on the day - all proceeds go to Oxfam.  Contact Paul on 0787 061 2135 or email paulshand35@gmail.com for further details.

• Clevedon School sports centre runs its regular childrens holiday club, Creative Chaos, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the Easter break. Boys and girls aged six to 11 years  can come along and enjoy dance, arts and crafts, games and competitions. To book call 01275 877182 or email cssc@clevedon.n-somerset.sch.uk.
• Pre-school children aged two to five years can enjoy an Easter play experience on Thursday, March 28, from 1-3pm at The Barn. Exploring shapes is the theme with round Easter chicks and oval Easter eggs. Booking is essential - call Marian Armitage on 01934 426440 to reserve your place. It costs £2 for the two hour session.

• Youth Music Theatre Academy at Nailsea School is a three day workshop with West End star Jo Parsons. For young people aged 11-18 it offers the ultimate theatre experience from Monday to Wednesday, March 25-27 from 10am-4pm. It costs £60. Call 0787 041 4511 for more details or email youthmusictheatreacademy@gmail.com. Other sessions at The Link include The Rock Project on Mondays, a trampoline club, mini tennis coaching and Korean karate and kickboxing. For more information contact  Adam Morris or Steve Williamson on 01275 866787 or email thelink@nailseaschool.com.
• The Crown Glass Shopping Centre at Nailsea has lined up a series of fun events this Easter. An Easter egg hunt will be staged from Monday to Friday, March 25-29. To take part simply spot the colour of the hidden egg that will be on display in eight shops in the town centre and the High Street. For each picture you find you'll get a mini egg – so happy hunting. In addition, all Easter egg hunt entries will go into a prize draw on Easter Saturday, March 30. 
• On Easter Saturday, March 30, The Blue Room arts and craft shop at Crown Glass Place will be hosting an Easter bonnet making and Easter egg decorating workshops from 10am-noon. Local artist Diana Figueiredo will help children make bonnets and decorate eggs. Decorating materials will be available but children can bring along any materials they might like to use - and also their own egg if they wish. Everything made will be entered into a competition, with two age categories of up to seven years and eight-13 years. Entries presented by 1pm on the day will be judged by a panel of local people and the winners announced at 2pm. Face painting for youngsters and games of giant Connect 4, quoits and noughts and crosses on Easter Saturday will add to the springtime fun.
• There is no Morning Break for pre-school children at Holy Trinity church during Easter. before we have 2 weeks off for Easter. The Little People team will be back leading an interactive story and singing time, followed by a simple craft activity, and party food, toys and tea and coffee in Trinity House on Tuesday, March 30.
• There will be an Easter egg hunt on Thursday, March 28, from 11am-3pm organised by Friends of Trendlewood Park and North Somerset Council. The plan is to have a marquee on the park adjacent to St Francis school grounds and near the two play areas. Families are invited to bring a picnic to eat on the 'rainbow' tables. FoTP have devised a circular route through the wood and around the grassy areas with clues at regular intervals. The clues will relate to the park and its wildlife. Easter eggs will be given out at the end of the hunt. There will be some craft and other activities on offer. The event is free and family friendly. Children can come along if accompanied by parent(s) or adult carers.
• On Fridays at Nailsea Youth House 10-11.30am National Childbirth Trust in partnership with the Nailsea and Backwell Childrens Centre run a Bumps To Toddlers Group, for more information contact Sarah Davies on 0779 226 0633 or email bumpsandbabiesnailsea@gmail.com. This group is for expecting mothers and new parents to build a network of friends in an informal and relaxed setting. £1 donation is suggested to help with running costs but this is voluntary only.
• On Tuesdays at Nailsea Youth House 1.30-3pm, Nailsea and Backwell Childrens Centre run a Young Parents Group for all parents under 25 years of age, this group is a stay and play session where people can come and meet other parents and children and learn how you can help your child develop and grow. A £1 donation is suggested to help with running costs but this is voluntary.

• An exciting programme of tennis, archery, multi-sports and Bristol City football coaching is at Gordano Sports Centre. Click HERE for more details. 
• If you are need of childcare during the Easter holidays then Portishead Youth Centre may be able to help. It is hoping to run a holiday scheme for children aged eight plus from Monday to Friday, March 25-April 5 excluding the Easter weekend, 9am-5pm at its Harbour Road base. Activities planned include sports, arts and crafts, dance, music and cooking. There will be a charge of £20 per day or £23 per day to include lunch which will be prepared and cooked by those attending.  There will be an additional charge of £1 for any child who will be staying for Junior Youth Club on Tuesdays, March 26 or April 2. To book call 01275 842461 or email portishead.y.c@btconnect.com.

• Tickenham Golf Club is offering free taster lessons at Easter. Juniors can sign up for one hour sessions on 10.30-11.30am or 11.30am-12.30pm on Tuesday, March 26; 2.30-3.30pm on Wednesday, March 27 or 11am-noon on Thursday, March 28 with the option of a second lesson @ £5 from 12.30-1.30pm on Tuesday, April 2. To download an application form click HERE or call 01275 856626.  www.tickenhamgolf.co.uk/freef.pdf  Young golfers should be aged four to 17 years and will be taught in groups of up to 12 juniors.

• Weston Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) Partnership has put together a programme to keep young people busy during the holidays throughout the centre. The fun starts on Monday, April 1 with world famous buccaneer and capturer of exotic animals Sir Aurelios Jones, who will be bringing Epico the Dragon for people to meet at the town square. On Tuesday, April 2, Saucy Sid the Seaside Snapper will be photographing the people of Weston for his new range of postcards. Saucy Sid will feature his 'models' on the Weston Bid facebook page and the most liked photograph by Sunday, April 7, at 5pm will win £100 worth of prizes from the shops and stores of Weston. On Saturday, April 6 from noon there will be a display by Bruce Airhead and his 6ft balloon and on Sunday, April 7 the Mad Hatter will return for afternoon sessions of tricks, riddles and nonsensical poetry with shows at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm.
• Children across North Somerset are invited to get more active and show off their creative side this Easter. The Winter Gardens is hosting Easter Sunday Celebrations on Sunday, March 31, with Easter egg hunt and egg colouring in. Children are encouraged to put pen to paper and draw a picture of the Easter bunny beforehand in his favourite place in order to win a family carvery on the day. General manager Peter Undery said: "Children love celebrating Easter and we have a relaxed family day planned to mark the occasion. We know that many families are struggling in the region due to the tough economic times we are experiencing and we would therefore like to reward one family with an Easter Sunday Carvery." Easter bunny entries must be sent to The Winter Gardens clearly labelled Easter Bunny Competition with child's name and a contact telephone number on the back by Sunday, March 24, and one winner will be selected and notified. On Easter Sunday children can also take part an Easter egg hunt competition for the chance to win four tickets to the next family performance, Sid's Show, at The Playhouse Theatre on Sunday, April 28. For further information click HERE. 
• The Campus at Locking Castle has a new all-day holiday club opening this Easter. The popular football fun days are back, running from 9am-3pm each weekday excluding Good Friday and Easter Monday for children aged five to 11 years old. The cost is £11 per child per day. There will be street-dance sessions on Wednesdays, March 27 and April 3, from 9.30am-2.30pm for children aged eight to 14, costing £11 per child per day. Following its successful debut in the February half term, balloon modelling will be back – by popular demand! There will another session from 10am-noon on Wednesday, April 3, for children aged five to 12 years old and the cost will be £6 per child. And, as if that wasn't enough, for the first time ever Castle Kids Club will be running an Ofsted-registered holiday club providing all-day childcare at The Campus.  The club will run every weekday except Good Friday and Easter Monday from 8am-6pm and the cost will be £22 per child per day which includes breakfast, lunch and snacks.  Or if you prefer you can book half days from 8am-1pm or 1-6pm for just £12.50 per child per session. The club will be for children aged four to 14 years old and parent/carers will need to complete a registration form if their child is not already registered with Castle Kids Club.  Activities must be booked and paid for in advance.  For more details about any of the activities call 01934 427 427 or click HERE where you can download The Campus Easter Holiday leaflet and Castle Kids Holiday Club information. 
• Lights, camera, action! Weston Sand Sculpture Festival 2013 opens on Friday, March 29 for the summer season. The theme this year is Hollywood. Look out for the famous film stars, marvel at your favourite movies and become part of the iconic scenes from the last century. This year, the Weston Sand Sculpture Festival also gives you the chance to become the paparazzi, so don't forget your camera, The show (with increased security and CCTV) opens daily 11am-5pm with last admission 5pm and park closes at 5.30pm. Tickets £ 3.50, concessions for senior citizens and students £3, with u13s £2 and u3s free. A family ticket of two adults plus two children £10.

• Sidcot School in Winscombe is opening its doors to children in the local community who enjoy all things sporty and creative over the Easter break. Sidcot Shipmates Holiday Club offers arts, crafts, activities and games and its sports centre is catering for more sports-orientated fans. Sidcot community events manager Emma Davis said: "We are an inclusive, caring school keen to share our lovely facilities with the wider community." The multi-sports academy is for seven to 12-year-olds and takes place from Monday to Friday, March 25-29, and Wednesday to Friday, April 3-5, from 9am-4pm. Activities include hockey, football, cricket, rugby, rounders, volleyball and basketball.  For those wanting extra confidence in the water there's intensive swimming lessons and inflatable fun swim sessions. Shipmates Holiday Club is for children aged five to 12 years old. It costs £19 per day from 8.30am to 4pm with an extended hours option to 5.30pm costing £26. It opens on Monday to Thursday, March 25-28; Tuesday to Friday, April 2-5; and Monday to Friday, April 8-12. Inflatable fun swim sessions cost £4 and must be pre-booked. Sports days cost £20 from 9am-4pm. The first 20 to book a full week will have one day free. Early drop off and late pick up times are available. For more information on the sports events contact Lewis De Gelas at lewis.degelas@sidcot.org.uk or telephone 01934 845255. To find out more about Shipmates Holiday Club contact Emma Davis on 01934 845299. 

• Ahoy there all pirates. From Saturday to Sunday, March 23-April 3, people of all ages are invited to the Shiver Me Timbers! treasure trail at Tyntesfield daily from 10am-5pm with the last trail at 3.30pm. Shipshape fancy dress recommended for all lads, lassies and young scallywags. It costs £2.50 per person. 
• From 10am-3pm at the Sawmill Education Centre, Tyntesfield, from Tuesday to Thursday, March 26-28, a Treasure Island holiday workshop. Don't be missin' the chance to join in and tell a tale of treasure and treachery on the high seas. There'll be plotting pirates, potty parrots and you'll have lots of help from the captain and crew from the Cambridge Touring Theatre. Children will be in charge of directing, stage management, acting, singing, dancing and publicity. There will be a performance at the end of the three days at 2pm at Failand village hall, For children aged seven to 11-year the costs is £90.
• On Saturday and Sunday, March 30-31, there are a series of one hour workshops for accompanied children at Pirate School. Sessions which cost £5 per child run from 11am-noon, noon-1pm, 2-3pm or 3-4pm.