KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Mon, May 25: Kid's Kitchen: Hands-On Fresh Pasta-Making 101 at Eataly Chicago
Fri, May 29: Backyard Adventure at Blackberry Farm
Sat, May 30: Summer Fireworks at the Navy Pier 2026
Sun, May 31: Falconry
at the Forge Mon, Jun 1: Movie Mondays at the Forge: Jurassic Park
Fri, Jun 5: Summer Bash at Chasers Laser Tag
Fri, Jun 5: Kickoff to Summer Picnic at Museum of Science Industry Chicago Mon, Jun 8: Paws in the Park at Cantigny
Thu, Jun 11: Lincoln Square Summer Concert!
Fri, Jun 12: June Family Fun Fur-iday at Lincoln Park Zoo
Sat, Jun 13: Origami Open House at the Garfield Conservatory Sat, Jun 13: Hello Summer Fest
Wed, Jun 17: Party in the Park at The Hub's Playground in Berens Park
Thu, Jun 18: Lincoln Square Summer Concert!
Fri, Jun 19: Movie in the Park at Wilder Park
Sun, Jun 21: Father's Day at Brookfield Zoo
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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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Sunshine season starts here! Celebrate the start of warmer weather and sunnier days at Lincoln Park Zoo’s Summer Kickoff, a free and family-friendly celebration on Memorial Day weekend. During this four-day weekend, guests can enjoy special rides and attractions, including the Ferris Wheel and Giant Fun Slide—plus free programming for guests of all ages.
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Dinosaurs Have Taken Over the Zoo! Come face-to-face with life-size dinosaurs throughout the Zoo. Journey through a massive rib-cage tunnel, climb on a giant fossil, dig for ancient discoveries, snap epic photo, and find the prehistoric pals stationed along the Dino Trail. Dinos! stomp into the Zoo through the summer and fall. Best of all? Dinos! is FREE with Zoo admission or membership!
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The Nature Center trails are open early for a morning hike and bird watching during the migration season. Binoculars and field guides are available for free use upon request once the Nature Center opens at 9 am. Join a group of birders, led by J'orge Garcia of Windy City Bird Lab, or enjoy a self-guided walk. Beginners are welcome. Co-sponsored with Chicago Bird Alliance. No registration necessary, parking and entry are free!
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For this special class, we are inviting junior chefs (children ages 6 to 12) and their guardians (18+) to our classroom!Join us as the Chef of La Scuola showcases the true art of Pizza alla Palla. Our chef will demonstrate how to make the initial dough before each child and adult gets to shape and top their own pizza. The chef will then whisk these away to our oven before you get to enjoy your very own pizza creation. Each participant will receive a beverage pairing (wine and prosecco available for adults 21+) to enjoy with their pizza.
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- Summer Kickoff at Lincoln Park Zoo at Lincoln Park Zoo - 2400 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614, Friday, May 22, 2026 to Sunday, May 24, 2026, all day, beginning at 10 am
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Chicago - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Friday, May 22, 2026 to Sunday, May 24, 2026, See link for times
- Early Bird Walks at NPV - North Park Village Nature Center Park, 5801 North Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL, Saturday, May 23, 2026, 8 - 10 am
- Meet the Birds at Little Red School House Nature Center - Little Red
Schoolhouse Nature Center, 9800 Willow Springs Rd, Willow Springs, IL 60480, Saturday, May 23, 2026, 2 pm
- 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 Chicago 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 of ideas!
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Chicago area is back! You can search by date, age, or categories like day/overnight, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more. Our
guide puts summer fun right at your fingertips!
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Chicago 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, or breaking a magical curse, escape rooms offer exciting, screen-free fun for kids, teens, and adults.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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