We finally got around to visiting the YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre, and we had a fantastic time! It's one of the few places we've visited that feels like it's been designed with kids of all ages and even adults in mind; so is perfect for a family outing. Considering it's free to visit, we were blown away by how much we enjoyed it, so much so that we've included it on our list of the 40 Best Things to do in Calgary.
GETTING TO THE YOUTHLINK CENTRE
The Youthlink Centre is a little out of the way (it's located up near the airport), but perhaps that's why it's not more popular? We visited on a cold Saturday in February, when I'm sure many of the other indoor attractions in Calgary were jam packed, but we hardly saw anyone there.
When you pull into the parking lot, just turn right and follow the signs to 'YouthLink,' which are displayed in bright colors on the boards and the main building. We had no trouble finding a spot - there was plenty of free parking available.
The centre is open only on Fridays and Saturdays from September to June, which can limit your visit options. However, itās open Tuesday through Saturday in July and August. Itās recommended to book your visit online. While donations are appreciated (with $5 per person suggested), theyāre not mandatory. We chose to make a cash donation afterward because we felt it was definitely worth it.
YOUTHLINK INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS
The YouthLink Police Museum is definitely bigger than it appears at first glance, with extra rooms and spaces that arenāt visible from the entrance. One of the 'blue jacket' helpers greeted us at the entrance and asked if we had visited before. They explained the three different scavenger hunts available - our kids opted for the picture hunt.
First, we stopped at a section where you could try on police gear. It was surprising how heavy and awkward the equipment felt. No wonder police officers arenāt always the quickest at chasing down suspects!
The next exhibit focused on the RCMP '10' codes used on the radio (for example, 10-4 means 'okay'), as well as the phonetic alphabet (think 'Alpha, Bravo, Charlie'). Thereās a live radio playing 24-7, so if anything were to happen, you'd actually hear the communication in real time, which is pretty cool.
Next up was a station all about the helicopter air watch, complete with a massive helicopter suspended from the ceiling!
There was a really interesting video where a helicopter pilot narrated a video of a real-life chase of a suspect, and explained how they assist police on the ground to capture the suspect.
There was a whole room dedicated to forensic investigating....
There was even a section where you could take your fingerprints and try to figure out which 'type' of fingerprint that you have (each finger can be a different type).
There was an exhibit all about police snipers, where you could look through a sniper scope. Theyāve added a small number on the bottom right corner of the window frame in the picture below, and the kids were challenged with trying to read it through the sniper scope.
As dog owners we particularly enjoyed the canine section. Each dog had a little biography and a video on the iPad showing some of the daily tasks that they perform. Some of the dogs could jump incredibly high!
Next up was the riot gear station, where you could get your photo taken in full riot gear!
I'M LOCKED UP, THEY WON'T LET ME OUT
I apologize for the Akon reference (my kids had no-one what I was singing). They did enjoy being locked up in the jail though! There were several videos on the TV screen, but they were more geared toward an older audience. They focused on some of the challenges faced by youths, including issues like drugs and violence.
This was also the part that talked about gangs and drugs. It probably would have gone over my kids head to be honest, but we skipped most of this section as Jess is just getting to the age where she might have taken it in and it might have upset her a bit. I did have a quick walk through and I'm sure most older kids would find it really interesting.
There was a section all about the mounted unit....
They then had the chance to sit on a real police bike.
The bike was fun, but the girls' favorite part was definitely sitting in a real police car! It was equipped with pretty much everything youād expect - laptop, radio, and even real lights. Of course, they had disabled the siren for obvious reasons! You could also sit in the prisoner compartment, where the windows had bars and the doors didnāt open from the inside. Iāll admit, I was tempted to leave the kids there for a while...!
Our last stop before leaving was the craft section. It's almost a little hidden away and I got the impression our girls might have been the only ones to do the craft that day as the helper had to go and find some glue and scissors.
THE GIFT SHOP & WASHROOMS
We wrapped up our day with a quick visit to the gift shop. The staff gave the girls some prizes for turning in their scavenger hunt, including stickers, a tattoo, and even a sheriff's badge.
The gift shop had some fun items, and it was pretty typical of most gift shops - they had a mix of quality items and a few, letās say, less-than-quality ones!
It's not very often I mention the bathrooms of a place we've visited, but it's worth going, even if you don't 'need to go'!
TIPS FOR VISITING THE YOUTHLINK POLICE CENTRE
September - June Opening Hours
Friday & Saturday from 10.00 am to 4 pm;
July & August Opening Hours
Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 4 pm;
Admission:
Free (although donations are appreciated).
Parking is free, with plenty of parking spots
We really enjoyed our visit, and I honestly came away with the feeling of 'why did I not hear about this place before?'. Highly recommend visiting if you have kids (of any age) as there are parts of the centre that will appeals to everyone.
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