Vacation Care sparks imagination

March 17, 2026

When OSHC Coordinator Sarah received several requests from children for space-themed activities, she knew it was time to bring something truly special to MacKillop College vacation care – Starr’s Planetarium. Using its cutting edge 360° immersive theatre and surround sound, the planetarium gave children the experience of travelling through space while exploring the wonders of the universe. Meanwhile, at St John the Baptist Woy Woy, the children were whisked away to the enchanting world of The Wizard of Oz for a day filled with creative crafts and imaginative play. Both events, held during the April 2025 school holidays, were inspired by the children’s interests, aiming to make the holidays a time of fun, learning and endless imagination.

“When we plan our vacation care programs, we aim to offer experiences that children can’t get elsewhere,” Sarah explains. “We also ensure our activities connect with areas of developmental need or cultural significance. The decision to bring Starr’s Planetarium into the program was based on the children’s interests and planning started 12 weeks before the event.” 

At the planetarium, Gary, the presenter, guided the children through a captivating exploration of the night sky, teaching them about stars, planets and the Earth’s rotation. One revelation that sparked the children’s curiosity was the idea that the sun and stars don’t actually move – the Earth does! The children were fascinated and eagerly shared their new knowledge. 

The experience also included a cultural dimension, as the children listened to an Aboriginal Dreamtime story from the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land. The story of Walu, the Sun woman, who lights a fire each morning to create dawn, helped the children understand the connection between the Earth and the sun, adding a rich layer to their cosmic adventure. The session wrapped up with a fun, educational mini-movie, Tycho Goes to Mars, where a space loving dog travels to the Moon and Mars to learn about water on the red planet. 

Back at St John the Baptist Woy Woy, the children embraced the whimsical world of The Wizard of Oz with a day full of craft, creativity and play. The highlight was the “house” craft, where children designed their own versions of Dorothy’s house using colourful materials. Their creations featured yellow brick roads, swirling tornadoes, and vibrant bushes, with the kids proudly admiring their detailed work. 

The creative fun continued with sparkle bottles filled with rainbow glitter and rainbow pens made with sand, giving the children the chance to create unique, colourful items. And for a sweet touch, the children decorated cookies to look like the melting Wicked Witch. 

True to the spirit of imaginative play, educators dressed as iconic characters from The Wizard of Oz, including Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Wicked Witch and the Cowardly Lion. The children loved interacting with the characters and had a blast at the photo booth, capturing memories with their favourite fantasy figures. 

CatholicCare’s vacation care programs focus on play based learning and align with My Time, Our Place, the national learning framework. “We aim to provide a well balanced program with a focus on getting the kids to develop social and emotional skills,” Sarah says.  

Through both these experiences, the children had their curiosities sparked and their imaginations expanded, turning the school holidays into a time of exploration, creativity and memorable adventures.