Set your kids on the task of solving the mystery of what was until recently the much-debated subject as to which building is Salem's tallest. The main contenders are Oregon's State Capitol building, the First United Methodist Church and the Capitol Center Office Building. Tell the kids they cannot use a computer and must provide evidence to prove which building is tallest. Offer a mystery prize for the first kid to solve the mystery and determine that the First United Methodist Church is the tallest building. This will test their ingenuity, as well as teach them a little local history. If you have the time to devise one, this could become part of a round-town treasure hunt.
Designated an American Treasure by the National Park Service, the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, which was operational between 1889 and 1962, is now home to the Willamette Heritage Center and Mission Mill Museum. The museum provides a fascinating window into the past and, according to its website, features "mission houses, an Oregon Trail settler's house, a historic church and the structures, equipment and original water-powered turbine of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill with related artifacts." The museum works with the local school district to provide online curriculum guides to help educate children prior to school trips to the facility. Additionally, the center organizes Family Fun Saturdays and other regular events to encourage families to visit and provide kids with stimulating and educational fun activities.
Located in Salem's Riverfront Park, A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village is a nonprofit children's museum that offers hands-on indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits and activities that educate kids through the art of play and toys. Gilbert was an Olympic gold-medal pole vaulter and the creator of the erector set. In his lifetime he held 150 patents for his inventions, and his curiosity for learning lead to the development of this 20,000-square-foot center, which is the largest outdoor science center west of the Rockies.
There is plenty to keep kids occupied at Ecola State Park. Whale watching, surfing at Indian Beach, exploring tidepools and following the historic trail of Captain William Clark are just some of the activities that kids can enjoy. You can even stay overnight at the park's primitive cabins at Tillamook Head.
An innovative program of the Salem YWCA is Rollercoasters, a workshop for young children whose parents are separating or divorcing. The program provides fun games and activities to help kids, ages 6 to 11, through the difficult transition period when their parents separate or divorce.
