Win 4 Tickets to Bike the Night (CONTEST ENDED)

Do you bike in the dark very often? I really love riding at night. The hum of the city--particularly vehicle engines & construction noise--is reduced to a whisper. It's great with friends too. We can easily have a conversation as we glide through the cool air.

So obviously, I'm really looking forward to Bike the Night. We went to last year's event & had a blast. Have you heard of it? Here's the deets:

Bike the Night, presented by MEC, happens Saturday, September 16th. HUB Cycling is gathering thousands of cyclists for Vancouver’s only official night ride on city streets!

Experience the beauty & energy of nocturnal Vancouver at its best--by bike. Take in the city skyline as we cruise through car-free Vancouver streets & over the iconic Burrard Bridge. Come at 6pm for a bike festival, the ride leaves at 8pm.

Tickets only $10 for HUB Members ($15 for non-members) until September 1st! Youth and children under 16 are free.

Registration Includes:

• Entry to win a grand prize from MEC
• Ride bib/sticker
• Invitation to the pre-party at 6pm including:
• Free giveaways
• Free bike inspection & basic bike maintenance
• Live DJ - Rennie Foster!
• Bike decorating station
• Relay races and games
• On-road support (mechanical & first aid volunteers)

Join us for #Bikethenight presented by @mec -  an epic night time #bikeride through car-free @cityofvancouver streets on Sept 16 - Sign Up bikethenight.ca (link in bio) Experience the beauty and energy of nocturnal #Vancouver at its best - by #bike. Start at #olympicvillage, cruise around #falsecreek  and over the iconic #burrardbridge Kick off party starts at 6pm and ride begins at 8pm.

A post shared by HUB Cycling (@hubcycling) on Aug 15, 2017 at 10:23am PDT

HUB's Tips for an Awesome Ride:

• Decked out bikes: Find great lights at MEC and other local bike shops. There will also be free bike decorating for participants at the start location.
• Costumes: Need creative inspiration? HUB has been brainstorming for you. Find some HERE.
• Music: Bring your favourite playlist along! Portable bluetooth speakers are great.

Now that you have an idea of how fun it's going to be, here's the best part: you could win four tickets to Bike the Night here on Spokesmama! You can enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. Contest ends on Sunday, August 20, at 11:59pm. The winner will be notified via email, so please make sure you check the email address you registered with Rafflecopter! I'll choose another winner if I don't hear back within 24 hours of sending the email. GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow Spokesmama here too:

We Saw Firsthand Where Our Water Comes From

Last weekend we went on a free guided tour of the Seymour Watershed, hosted by Metro Vancouver. It was specifically designed for families with a relaxed pace, not too much walking & lots of time for questions. Along the short hike, we used all our senses to experience the watershed: we stood silent for a minute & listened to the life around us, we touched soft leaves & learned which ones NOT to touch, we squeezed water out of a nurse log, we tasted licorice fern rhizome, we smelled the clean damp air of the forest.

Here are some photos from the day:

Learning where our water comes from.

The kids' first time on a school bus!

Playing while our guides Erica & Hanna told us about the reservoir.

"Flying" back to the school bus.

The view south from on top of the dam.

Checking out the salmon in the fish hatchery.

I've really missed the hiking trails of the North Shore!

Feeling the watershed with all my senses & all my toes.

Lower left: best bush toilet paper (thimbleberry). Upper right: rashes for days (devil's club)

Looking at the Seymour River.

A great place to skip rocks!

One tired toddler.

I think this kind of experience--actually seeing where our water comes from firsthand--is vital to teaching kids & even adults what an amazing natural gift we have in Metro Vancouver, why we really need to protect the watershed & conserve water.

The Seymour Watershed Tours for children are all booked up for the season, but there are still spaces available for the Coquitlam Watershed Tours. You can register for free here.

If you'd like more information on the Metro Vancouver Watershed Tours, visit their website for more details. 

Follow Spokesmama here too:

Vancity Member Perk: Visit Science World FREE

Did you know that Earth Day is happening in just a few days? This year, two of my favourite things are coming together to celebrate--Vancity & Science World. In honour of Earth Day (4/22), on Saturday, May 2nd, the first 422 Vancity members will receive free admission to Science World. Additional members & their guests will receive 50% off admission (that's a savings of $11.25 on adult admission!).

Vancity is making Science World even more awesome that it already is--they will be onsite throughout the day with fun games & prizes, of course. Just show your Vancity member debit card or Vancity enviro Visa (or some other form of membership verification) at Science World's Guest Services desk to get in.

Go green to Vancity's Earth Day celebration at Science World: take transit or ride your bike! If you arrive on two wheels, the Bicycle Valet will be on hand to park your bike & provide basic tuneups too. Both for free!

For more information, visit Vancity.com

Follow Spokesmama here too:

ArtStarts Free Arts Workshop for Families: Christian Swenson

ArtStarts presents free monthly workshops for kids and families
Christian Swenson

Look, up on the stage!!
It's a dancer... a singer!
It's a bubble... a dinosaur!

It’s MORPHOMAN!!

Seattle-based performer Christian Swenson has toured the world enchanting young and old alike. Morphing into characters, dinosaurs, aliens and "body music" on the spot. He is a living, breathing, moving, singing, dancing, transforming machine. The result is fascinating, inspirational and highly entertaining. Audience members are invited to join him to "Act Like Water", create stories, music and enact "word improvisations".


VANCOUVER: Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 11am and 1pm (2 sessions) at ArtStarts Gallery, 808 Richards St, Vancouver (map)

NEW WESTMINSTER: Sunday, January 26, 2014 at 11am and 1pm (2 sessions) at River Market at Westminster Quay, 810 Quayside Drive, New Westminster (map)

Learn more about ArtStarts on Saturdays and ArtStarts at River Market.

Admission is free. No registration necessary, but please come early as this is a popular program. Ideal for ages 5 and up, but all are welcome.

Follow Spokesmama here too: