[ ] The "Power Down" Hour: Pick one evening this week to unplug all electronics (phones included!) and play board games by natural light or candlelight.

[ ] Master the Green Bin: Spend 5 minutes reviewing the City of Ottawa’s Green Bin list to ensure no food scraps are heading to the landfill.

[ ] Eat a "Zero-Waste" Meal: Challenge the family to cook a meal using local ingredients from the Parkdale or ByWard Market with no single-use plastic packaging.

[ ] The 2°C Challenge: Lower the thermostat by 2 degrees and grab your favorite cozy hoodies instead.

[ ] Inventory Check: Before heading to the store, have the kids "shop" the pantry to see what you already have to avoid over-buying.

[ ] Active Commute: Walk, bike, or take the O-Train for one trip where you would normally drive.

[ ] E-Waste Round-up: Collect old batteries and dead electronics. Drop them off at the Canadian Museum of Nature recycling event (April 22–29).

[ ] Backyard Bio-Blitz: Use a free app like iNaturalist to identify 5 local plants or insects in your neighborhood or the Greenbelt.

[ ] Spring Cleaning for Good: Gather outgrown clothes or toys and donate them to a local Ottawa charity like HighJinx or St. Vincent de Paul.

[ ] Cleaning the Capital: Grab some gloves and a bag to pick up 10 pieces of litter in your local park or schoolyard.

[ ] Westboro Cleanup: If you're near Richmond Road on April 22, join the Westboro Earth Day Cleanup at 10 AM.

[ ] Plant for Pollinators: Pick up a packet of native wildflower seeds to plant in a window box or garden to help Ottawa’s bees.

[ ] Support the Grassroots: Attend a workshop at the Ottawa Grassroots Festival (April 23–26) to learn about local environmental initiatives.

What it is: Free drop-in swimming, skating, and gymnasium sports every Saturday.

Who it’s for: Children and youth (17 and under) and their accompanying adults.

How to do it: Check the City of Ottawa website for specific schedules at your local community center (like Nepean Centrepointe, Richcraft, or Minto).

The Senate of Canada Building: Located in the old train station, it’s stunning and very "Harry Potter" for kids.

House of Commons (West Block): See where the laws are made.

Note: You must reserve your free tickets online in advance at visit.parl.ca.

Location: 30 Bank Street.

Why it’s great: It is always free. It’s highly interactive—kids can design their own digital "avatar" on a wristband and play games that teach them about money in a way that feels like a video game arcade.