Although Spring Break may seem like a long ways away, it really isn’t. With March 18 the first day of the two-week school holiday, it’s time for families with school-age children to be thinking about how they’re going to spend the break.

For children, there is a selection of day camps in Pemberton. Could be a good idea to register now for the best selection of days. World Day of Prayer is also just around the corner, and a free movie screening is coming up. In other spring things, the days are getting longer, birds that have been away for the winter are now making their way back to our valley, below-zero weather in the valley is on the decline, and it seems time for a reminder of the dog and horse variety. Read on for details and welcome spring!

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The Rotary Club of Pemberton invites everyone to a free screening of the movie Pushing the Elephant as part of Rotary’s year long Peace Project.

Pushing the Elephant is the story of how Rose Mapendo lost her family and home to the violence that engulfed the Democratic Republic of Congo in the late 1990s. She emerged advocating forgiveness and reconciliation. In a country where ethnic violence has created seemingly irreparable rifts among Tutsis, Hutus and other Congolese, this remarkable woman is a vital voice in her beleaguered nation’s search for peace.

Pushing the Elephant screens on Thursday, February 28, 7 p.m. at the Pemberton Library.

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The annual World Day of Prayer service is being hosted by St. David’s Church this year at 7:30 p.m. next Friday (March 1). Everyone is welcome to attend.

World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions, who welcome all to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday of March.

In Pemberton, it has been a tradition to rotate hosting the service among the churches — St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, the Christian Fellowship Church and St. David’s.

Although it is a women’s organization that plans the service, it is intended that the service be for all to come together to observe a common day of prayer.

Refreshments will be served after the service.

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Sleeping Beauty Ballet Camp at the Pemberton Community Centre is a full-day camp for aspiring ballerinas using Charles Perrault’s Sleeping Beauty. Participants will explore music, movement and storytelling, and make crafts, learn dance and more with the guidance of instructor Anna Kroupina.

Camp dates are March 18 to 22 (Monday to Friday), 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily for children five to 12 years. Cost is $275 for the week or $65 per day.

Spring gymnastics camp is on from March 25 to 28 (Monday to Thursday), 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for children from five to 12 years. Youngest participants must be in kindergarten. Cost is $275 for four days or $75 per day.

To find out more or to register for either camp, visit the Pemberton Community Centre, or call 604-894-2340.

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Stewardship Pemberton is offering a Grow with Nature Spring Break Camp where children from five to 10 years can experience, explore and discover nature. Stewardship Pemberton says the main goal of the camp is for children to connect to nature and learn simple and fun ways to take care of our planet — perhaps something we can all keep in mind on a day-to-day basis. Camp days will be filled with nature walks, planting, crafts, games and more. Rachelle Sereda is the returning teacher.

Camp dates are March 18 to 22 and March 25 to 29. Days are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $40 per day ($37 per day for registration before March 4). Early drop-off may be arranged. Contact rsereda8@hotmail.com for more information or to register.

Visit www.steardshippemberton.com for more information about Stewardship Pemberton.

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Dog owners of Pemberton, please scoop your pooch’s poop! I think everyone who walks anywhere in the village is strongly reminded by the sight of dog poop everywhere that much as we love our dogs, we don’t love looking at, smelling, and, if we are really unlucky, stepping in, poop. And dare I say the same could be said of the piles of horse manure that are beginning to collect on certain streets in the village.

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Send comments and event listing ideas to itsmegrace@hotmail.com. The next Pemberton column will appear March 7.