Things to Do in Waterloo

The mission of The Art Studios goes beyond pottery and paints. Put plainly, they "aim to encourage and support each individual as they express their creativity, build confidence, and strengthen their relationships through artistic expression." In camps, classes, team-building sessions, and parties, groups gather to use both their creative brains and their social skills as they paint and chat, talking excitedly to their decorative plates and scrawling "#1 Mom" on their neighbour's foreheads. In addition to painting pottery, students can sculpt with clay or fuse glass to create functional works of art they can tote home.

Initially, beading for Marja Veldhoen was just a hobby. The then-graphic designer started sliding down the slippery crafting slope more than a decade ago after discovering Cindy Jenkins' book How to Make Glass Beads. Soon, she was hooked. Marja shares her zeal for unusual looking beads and jewellery that springs from nature's influence with students through courses teaching the art of inventing handmade wearables from semi-precious stones, pearls, and glass. Her Bead blog keeps crafters abreast of events and promotions, which can include trunk shows, tax-free offers, and workshops on installing chic beaded garage doors.

Adventurist Frederick Schuett launched One Axe Pursuits in 2001 to use outdoor adventure as a vehicle to promote active lifestyles. He sliced the company into three divisions: recreational programs, corporate team building, and filmmaking. The outdoor-adventure company specializes in recreational programs that send clients zip-lining over the Elora gorge, climbing up frozen waterfalls, and rappelling down limestone cliffs. The corporate team-building division helps create cohesiveness among groups, and film-industry services—such as stunt work and training—keeps movie stars and the cardboard cut-outs they use as stunt doubles safe and intact.

“Work hard. Play hard. Give back,” is the motto of the Kin Club of Woolwich, a social club that aims to help members of the community connect with and support each other through events for the whole family. At the annual Family Fun Weekend, kids try for prizes in carnival games and disguise themselves as jungle animals or kitchen appliances with face painting. Families can opt to camp alongside the Grand River and its historic covered bridge, and compete in the Grand River Amazing Race. This hybrid of Amazing Race and Survivor has two- to three-person teams competing in a series of challenges that could include canoeing, hauling wood, or playing patty cake with their feet. These events, as well as raffles, with prizes such as the gift certificates from Pamper Yourself for a Year, benefit area organizations such as Women’s Crisis Services.