COEUR D'ALENE INSIDER

GIZMO-CDA

NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE CAMPUS

Hedlund Building

283 Hubbard Ave., Ste. 102, CdA

208-929-4029

 

GIZMO-CDA is Coeur d'Alene's community makerspace for ages pre-K & older. It is a place where art, design, technology & tools join together the hands & minds of participants. 

 

FREE programs for local students include:

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• "CS (Computer Science) Saturdays" - K-12 students to learn coding, design, robotics & electronics. Advanced registration is required ($5 fee).

• "Tinker Time" - a weekly after-school program for ages 8-13. Sign-ups are required. 

• "Home School at Gizmo" - monthly (3rd Friday) program for homeschooling families where children ages 6-13 & their parents/caregivers work side-by-side on STEAM projects. (Cost is $10 per LINK session, which includes supplies).

• Fee waivers may be available. 

• Learn more about Gizmo-CdA HERE.

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COEUR D'ALENE LIBRARY

702 E. Front Ave., CdA

208-769-2315

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SPECIAL CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS include:​​

• "Paws to Read" (all ages); TBA (W), 3:30-5 pm

• "Saturday With the Symphony" (geared to ages 3+); Jan 21 (Sat), 11 am. RSVP to 208-769-2315.

• "READY! for Kindergarten workshops;  call 208-769-2315, ext 651 for schedule.

 

WEEKLY CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS include:

• "Baby Storytime" (0-18 mo), Tuedays, 10 am

• "Toddler Storytime" (ages 18 mo-3), Wednesdays, 10 am

• "Pre-School Storytime" (ages 3-5), Fridays, 10 am

• "4-H Outside of the Box - Art Program" (ages 8-13), Wednesdays, 1 pm, thru Feb 22

For more info on children's programs, contact Youth Services Librarian, at 208-769-2315, ext 439; or email showard@cdalibrary.org. Some require pre-registration. 

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TEEN PROGRAMMING includes:​​

• Teen Zone Take-Out Kits & Book Boxes

• eSports Club (F), 4 pm

• Idaho Teen Reading Challenge

• Silent Book Club (W), 4-4:30 pm

For teen programs, contact Angela Flock, Young Adult Coordinator at 208-769-2315, ext 463; or email aflock@cdalibrary.org

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COEUR D'ALENE CAROUSEL

439 W. Fort Grounds Dr., Coeur d'Alene

208-666-4879

2023

 

Not quite FREE, but well worth $2.50 to ride the original Playland Pier Carousel (aka Coeur d'Alene Carousel). Children under 42" tall ride with an adult (one token for both). Weight limits apply. Operates noon-5 pm. 

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Hand-carved by the Herschell-Spillman Engineering Co. in New York (1922), the carousel has 20 ponies & 2 chariots. Click HERE for carousel history. 

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SPLASH PADS IN AREA PARKS

Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls & Rathdrum

PUBLIC PARKS - FREE

Seasonal

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• McEuen Park, 420 E. Front Ave., CdA

• Landings, 3849 Long Meadow Dr., CdA

• Bluegrass, 6071 N. Courcelles Parkway, CdA

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• Syringa, 2975 N. Bunchgrass Dr., PF

• Tullamore, E. Bogie Dr., PF

• Beck, 2610 Howell Rd., PF

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• Majestic, 5750 W. Majestic Ave., Rathdrum

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COMMUNITY LIBRARY NETWORK​

Click link above for event schedules at these libraries: 

• Post Falls Library, 821 N. Spokane St.,  208-773-1506

• Rathdrum Library, 16320 Hwy 41, 208-687-1029​

• Hayden Library, 8385 N. Gov't Way,  208-772-5612

• Athol Library, 30399 Third St., 208-683-2979​

• Spirit Lake Library, 32575 N. 5th St., 208-623-5353

• Harrison Library, 111 Coeur d'Alene Ave., 208-689-3976

• Pinehurst Library, 107 Main St., 208-682-3483

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Click HERE for an awesome display of FREE monthly activities for children, teens & adults.

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Ask about "Library of Things" which are collections/kits which can be borrowed for home use. Examples are: candy-making, Christmas stamps, egg incubator, telescope, felting, birdwatching, quilting, knitting, rock tumbler, cake decorating, crocheting, jewelry making/repair, dog cookie cutters, flora & fauna stamps, Chromebooks, Viewmaster & vintage reels, digital film scanner & Kodak 8 mm film projector.

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Explorer kits include: foraging, hiking, insects, wildflowers, trees & shrubs, rocks/gems & animal tracks. More info - email roxannek@communitylibrary.net. 

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Can't travel to the library? Let the full-service library-on-wheels come to you. Check out books & audiovisual materials for all ages. View the Bookmobile's schedule HERE.

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HOMESCHOOL RESOURCES

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To empower learning at home, COMMUNITY LIBRARY NETWORK has launched a new website focusing on resources for home-schooling. See it HERE.

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• Help Getting Started

• Libratory

• Groups/Co-ops

• Curriculum

• Printables

• Blogs

• Educational You-Tube Channels/Podcasts

• Field Trips (Local & Virtual)

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SUNSET BOWLING CENTER

202 W. Sunset Ave., CdA

208-667-2605

See ya in 2023!

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• FREE bowling for kids (ages 2-18)

• All participants must wear bowling shoes. Standard rental fees apply.

• Times vary

• Online registration HERE

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These businesses offer activities, workshops & special events for children, FREE of charge (or for a minimal fee), on various dates.

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Explore! Have fun! (Note: Parent/adult must accompany children to classes.) Click links for event dates, details & registration.

HOME DEPOT

220 W. Kathleen Ave., CdA

208-676-1441

LOWE'S

901 W. Appleway Ave., CdA

208-665-1313

SERIGHT'S ACE HARDWARE STORES

1604 E. Seltice Way, Post Falls

14236 N. Hwy 41, Rathdrum

1217 N. 4th St., CdA 

208-667-9466

PILGRIM'S MARKET

1316 N. 4th St., Coeur d'Alene

208-676-9730

MICHAEL'S

Silver Lake Plaza, 225 W. Canfield Ave., CdA

208-772-6333

CABELA'S

101 N. Cabela Way, Post Falls

208-777-6300

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REAL LIFE MINISTRIES

1860 N. Cecil Rd., Post Falls

208-777-7325, Ext. 7159

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REAL LIFE MINISTRIES invites kids in the community to "The Training Ground", an indoor play structure!  Hours are: 9 am-1:30 pm, Sun; 10 am-2 pm, Mon; 11:30 am-2 pm, Tues & Wed; & 3:30-7:30 pm, Thurs.

 

It is recommended for ages 2-12 years & is FREE! Don't worry - the playground is cleaned every day. :-) 

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CITY OF COEUR D'ALENE

"Woody McEvers Skate Park"

607 Northwest Blvd., CdA

 

This exciting skate park serves as a regional draw for skaters & experiences a large amount of use.

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FREE & open to the public! More info & interactive map can be seen HERE.

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