KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: A tumble is not a verdict; it's information. And kids are natural data analysts. That's what a mom half a generation older than me told me when I was getting ready to have kids, and I took it to heart. So I was secretly a little thrilled the summer my daughter Madison was almost 4, when she took her first big splash off a slippery log into a
creek. Here's why: To succeed in life, everyone needs to learn to stretch to the edge of their abilities... to gather courage from their toes, to calculate, to balance, to wobble, to slide... and eventually to succeed. Kids can learn this early if the grownups in their orbit help them see the mud and bruises that come from a tumble as badges to be worn proudly: a fail-until-we-succeed philosophy in action. That's how personal fulfillment happens, and it's how human progress happens,
too. Summer is childhood's best laboratory, where sensory experiences stick as lifelong learning. School has grades and rubrics and consequences; summer has grass stains and do-overs. An amusement park ride can teach the difference between fear and danger. A hands-on museum can teach that when your tower collapses, you simply vow to rebuild it taller. A farm can teach that maybe you don’t like strawberries from the grocery store, but
you do like the ones you picked yourself, still warm from the sun. A climbing gym can teach your muscles that “I can’t” really means “I can’t yet.” And summer camps are entire worlds built around trying something new with no transcript following you home. Last week, the KidsOutAndAbout.com team launched our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey. It's a way to thank the people who make your community a great place to raise kids. Equally important, it’s a giant menu of local opportunities for your kids to stretch their legs, their minds, and their bravery this summer. Use it to create your summer bucket list! Then step back and set your family’s summer dial to “safe to fail.” Watch your kids climb, build, stumble, and try again.
Let them splash.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes
from Deb" section of our site. |
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Travel through 300 years of history on this fun and interactive tour of Boston's Freedom Trail. Designed for families with children 6-12 years old, this tour encourages discovery and exploration.
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Shell-e-brate World Turtle Day at Southwick’s Zoo! Join us at Southwick’s Zoo for a special day dedicated to celebrating some of the most fascinating reptiles in the animal kingdom. Spend the day learning about our various species of turtles and tortoises, discover what makes each unique, and gain a deeper appreciation for these incredible animals. From slow and steady land dwellers to aquatic species adapted for life in the water, Turtle Day is the perfect opportunity for reptile enthusiasts and curious visitors alike to explore and learn
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Have you ever seen a muskrat swimming or a beaver slapping its tail in alarm? We'll look for these elusive mammals while canoeing along the Ipswich River at dusk. Discover some of the clues—such as chewed trees, lodges, or burrows on the riverbank--that they leave behind as we paddle. Before launching the boats in the water, our certified instructors will provide basic canoeing instruction.
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Calling All Woodland Fairies and Gnomes! The Fruitlands Fairy Forest is back! While living at Fruitlands, 10-year-old Louisa May Alcott wrote in her diary that she “had a lovely time in the woods with Anna and Lizzie. We were fairies, and made gowns and paper wings. I ‘flied’ the highest of all.” Don your wings, grab your crowns, and come play in the Fruitlands woods as Louisa and her sisters once played. We encourage all visitors to our grounds and trails to build fairy and gnome houses around the Willard Archeological site along the yellow trail at Fruitlands Museum. Collect natural materials and build a house for the Fruitlands fairies and gnomes then leave your house for the sprites to enjoy and other guests to see as the fairy forest grows.
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Get ready for big adventure as a tiny explorer in A Bug’s World, a new exhibit open from April 11 – August 9. This immersive, hands-on exhibit brings the busy world of backyard bugs to life while showing how these tiny creatures play a big role in our environment and how we can help protect them.
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Want to know what you're playing for? Join us at Fenway Park for Survivor 50th Season Day on Saturday, May 23, as Fenway transforms into an island of competition — inspired by one of the most iconic and influential reality competition shows of all time. Fans who purchase tickets through this special offer will receive an exclusive Survivor x Red Sox neck gator, just don't drop it! In addition, a limited number of VIP Reward Challenge packages are available for fans looking to elevate their Survivor 50th Season Day experience. Those who secure this exclusive upgrade will unlock early entrance to the event, receive the Survivor x Red Sox neck gator, and the limited-edition Survivor x Red Sox hat.
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- 2026 Copley Square Farmers Market - 240 Beaver St, Waltham, MA 02452, United States - Friday, May 22, 2026, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Free Open Houses at the Betsey Williams Cottage - Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI, USA - Friday, May 22, 2026, 10:00 am - 3:00pm
- Friday Storytime At Mill Cafe - The Mill Cafe, 14 Mill St, Arlington, MA 02476, United States - Friday, May 22, 2026, 3:30 - 4:15 pm
- Music Production with Hamstank: Beats, Recording, Mixing, & Mastering
(Ages13-18) at the Central Library in Copely Square - Boston Public Library - Central Library, Boylston Street, Boston, MA, USA - Friday, May 22, 2026, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Visit the Annual Memorial Day Flag Garden - Soldiers and Sailors Monument, 139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02109,
USA - Wednesday, May 20, 2026 through Monday, May 25, 2026, 24/7
- National Memorial Day Concert Live Stream - ONLINE ONLY - Sunday, May 24, 2026, 8pm EDT / 7pm CDT / 6pm MDT / 5pm PDT / 4pm AKDT
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Boston area. From Arcades to Ziplines our Big List will help you think outside the box and plan the party of your kids' dreams. KidsOutAndAbout has dozens (and dozens) of ideas!
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View our local Boston area 2026 summer camp guide for kids! Pick the dates you want to explore on our calendar and see what summer camps are available. Hundreds of local summer camps: day camps, overnight camps, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts &
crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more!
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Boston area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues and complete your mission-all before time runs out! Whether you're escaping a
spooky cabin, cracking a high-stakes heist,…
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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