children with bubbles

Enjoy a variety of experiences and activities with family and friends during seasonal times. Check this page frequently for community challenges, holiday and seasonal fun.  The Parks, Recreation and Culture staff are continually coming up with creative activities to keep you active and engaged during this pandemic.

Ontario is in Step 3 of the Reopening Roadmap, with COVID-19 public health measures in effect for all Ontarians. All Municipal administrative buildings remain closed to the public, but outdoor recreation facilities and select indoor recreation programs are open for use, with modifications.

Visit the COVID-19 page for details. 

Registration is open for Summer Day Camp, Aquatic Leadership courses and Outdoor Fitness.   Reservations are currently open for Swimming and  Pickleball reservations opens July 22.

Colorful Speech bubble Parks Pop Up Program

This summer watch for our talented Parks, Recreation and Culture staff who are planning interactive games, dances, crafts, positive messages and more for you to enjoy at our parks, trails, beaches and neighbourhoods.

Don't forget to check out our schedule of activities for all the details. 

 

Sidewalk chalking

Our staff are busy making the town beautiful and engaging with some fun sidewalk games, hop scotches and learning games. 

 

Photo Gallery: Sidewalk Chalking will appear here on the public site.

Schedule of activities 

We are excited to offer a variety of free activities at parks throughout Port Hope.  We hope you can join us.  Registration is not required but we can only accommodate 10 people at a time and we will offer activities on a first come first serve basis with a designated safe waiting area.  All COVID procedures will be followed to ensure the safety of everyone.

Activities
DateTimeLocationActivity type
Tuesday July 6 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Town Agriculture Park

Coffee Filter Crafts
Thursday July 8 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Memorial Park

Hula Hoop Games
Wednesday July 14 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Optimist Park

Painted Walking Sticks Craft
Thursday July 15 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wladyka Park

Water Games
Tuesday July 20 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Welcome Park

Bird Feeders Craft
Thursday July 22 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Young St Park

Playground Games
Wednesday July 28 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. West Beach Windsocks and Chimes Craft
Thursday July 29 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Town Agriculture Park Fun with Fitness
Tuesday August 3 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Trefusis Park Pinecone Owls Craft
Thursday August 5 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Memorial Park Sing Songs
Friday August 6 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. West Beach Ladybug Rock Craft
Wednesday August 11 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wladyka Park Rain Shakers/Sticks Craft
Thursday August 12 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Kings Field Cooperative Games
Tuesday August 17 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Welcome Park Painted Walking Sticks Craft
Thursday August 19 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. West Beach Obstacles and Challenges 
Friday August 20 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Memorial Park Twig String Craft
Wednesday August 25 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Optimist Park Beads Craft
Thursday August 26 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Town Agriculture Park Dancing In the Park

picture of the cover of the activity booklet

Summer Activity Booklet

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture has developed an activity booklet with fun, creative activities for everyone all related to Port Hope.

This booklet is full of fun activities and information about Parks, Recreation and Culture and what to look forward to in the coming months such as: events, Free Pop up Parks program, Free Fitness Series and more.  Continue to watch our recreation page on a regular basis to keep informed on all of our updates.

Download the Summer Activity Booklet

Summer activity booklet content

Activities included in this booklet are listed below

Fitness Tips and challenges

Pyramid Challenge

Can you work your way down and back up the pyramid again?
  1. Run on the spot for 1 minute
  2. Do 2 wall push ups
  3. Do 3 squats
  4. Hop on each foot 4 times
  5. Do 5 jumping jacks
  6. Do 6 kicks with each leg
  7. Do 7 star jumps
  8. Do 8 hip circles
  9. Do 9 arm circles
  10. Do 10 skips

Fitness Challenge

Start with 10 stomach crunches. Do 5 more each day for the next 30 days. By the end of the 30 days you will have completed 2,475 crunches.
Try to drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water (8oz/cup) a day, add some flavour to your water with this recipe...

Lemon and Lime Water recipe

Add 1 sliced lemon, 3 sliced limes, ice cubes, and water to a pitcher. Leave in the fridge to chill.

Summer bingo

Try out these summer activities

  • Build a sandcastle
  • Skip some stones at the river or beach
  • Go to a new park
  • Find 3 different flowers
  • Visit the Port Hope East or West beach
  • Ride a bike
  • Visit the A.K. Sculthorpe Marsh
  • Go for a walk or hike
  • Do something nice for a friend
  • Look for butterflies
  • Colour or draw a picture
  • Wear some sunscreen or a long-sleeved shirt
  • Stack 4 rocks
  • Wear a hat
  • Play a board game
  • Go to a splash pad
  • Take a reusable water bottle with you outside
  • Have an ice cream
  • Play a sport
  • Find some shapes in the clouds
  • Read a book
  • Go swimming
  • Play with bubbles
  • Do a summer craft

S'mores dip and fireworks in a jar

S’mores Dip recipe

Have yummy s’mores without the campfire!
Ingredients:
  • 1 bag of chocolate chips
  • 1 bag of large marshmallows
  • Graham crackers, animal crackers, cookies, or fruit for dipping
Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees F.
  2. Pour chocolate chips into an 8 or 9-inch cast iron pan or a pie dish will work.
  3. Place marshmallows on the top of the chocolate chips. Bake in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes or until marshmallows are brown.
  4. Serve immediately with your choice of cracker or fruit for dipping.
Note: Adult assistance will be needed to use oven. Dip will be hot when coming out of the oven.

Canada Day Fireworks in a Jar

A fun and exciting way to celebrate Canada Day from the safety of your home. Celebrate the whole month of July.
Supplies:
  • 1 mason jar
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • Any colour of food colouring
  • Any colour of glitter
  • Fork
  • Water
  • Small bowl
Instructions:
  1. Fill mason jar with ¾ of water to the top.
  2. Pour 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil into the empty bowl.
  3. Add 3 drops of any colour of food colouring into the bowl containing the vegetable oil.
  4. Add a small amount of glitter to the vegetable oil and food colouring.
  5. Use the fork to stir the glitter, food colouring, and vegetable oil.
  6. Slowly pour all the contents from the bowl into the mason jar.
  7. Now watch your very own fireworks!
  8. Repeat with different colours of food colouring and glitter.

Summer word scrambler and answers

Below are some words to unscramble that represent summer

  • PAMCIGN
  • SNU CRENES
  • FTRETYUBL
  • ASDN LCETSAS
  • WMIMGSIN
  • CNIPCI
  • GFINHSI
  • EICMCAER

 Answers to the above scrambled words

  • CAMPING
  • SUN SCREEN
  • BUTTERFLY
  • SAND CASTLES
  • SWIMMING
  • PICNIC
  • FISHING
  • ICECREAM

Summer water safety reminders and fun

Summer Water Safety Reminders

Stay safe this summer and enjoy the water.
  • Learn how to swim
  • Learn water safety skills and knowledge
  • Swim with a buddy and/or in areas supervised by lifeguards
  • Follow all posted rules

Other fun ways to stay cool this summer

Keep cool and have fun this summer!
Splash Pad - Visit the Splash Pad - Now Open for the summer!
The splash pad is located at Wladyka Park and boasts 15 impressive spray features. Have you been over to check it out? The pad is enclosed in a fenced area beside our newly renovated washrooms, brand new play structure, and a sun shelter. Summer fun awaits!

Sprinkler Fun - Enjoy your sprinkler this summer and stay same in your own backyard. Enjoy cooling off while keeping your grass green!
Water Games - Don’t have a sprinkler? Have some fun with a hose, water balloons, or bucket of water. Water can be so much fun and cool you down from the heat in safe manner.

Make sure you visit our Event Calendar and Community Events page for other fun activities happening around the Community.