KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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 Thu, Jun 25: Lincoln Square Summer Concert!
Fri, Jun 26: Zoo Fiesta at Lincoln Park Zoo
Sat, Jun 27: Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert with the CSO
Sun, Jun 28: U-505 In-Depth Experience at Museum of Science Industry Chicago
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One summer afternoon during a family camping trip in New Jersey when I was about 6 or 7 years old, a horse fly suddenly appeared next to my ear and started following me everywhere I went. I’m sure that, from its own perspective, it was just going about its business doing ordinary horse fly things, but to me it felt enormous, ominous, and purposeful. I can't remember if it
actually bit me, but I can still summon the hot panic of not being able to get away from its threatening buzz. To my small self, that fly wasn't a little distraction, it was a crisis with wings. The memory surfaced recently when my daughter Ella sent me the above photo, taken in Quintana Beach County Park, near Houston. The point was clear: Proceed, and you will be under attack, and not by any adorable Northeastern bugs you might be used to. No, these bugs were born in Texas. Beware. Sometimes that is exactly
how challenges feel, especially to kids: Problems loom much larger to them than they do to adults with decades of experience. A broken toy, a skinned knee, a mistake in front of the class, or a slight misunderstanding with a friend may be a fly in the ointment to us, but a Texas-sized monster to a child. The trick is to validate the feeling without validating helplessness. We stand beside them and say, Yes, I know, this feels huge. The bugs, even if they're not as large as they
think, are real. They watch us shoo them away and learn gradually to do it for themselves. If I had seen the sign above, my first instinct would have been to flee back to the safety of the car. And Ella said it was not exaggerating, at least not by much: The moment she stepped onto the property, giant mosquitoes descended, and they were hungry; even leggings soaked with OFF Deep Woods did not deter them. She assures me that the photo she got of the Bay-breasted Warbler was
worth all the bites on the backs of her knees. She knew better than to show me the damage. Clearly, the script has flipped.
—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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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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Pokémon Fossil Museum, the Japanese special exhibition that compares fossil Pokémon from the popular Pokémon video game series with ancient life forms found in real-world fossils, will be debuting for the first time outside of Japan at the Field Museum! Real fossils of dinosaurs and other ancient life forms, plus scientific casts of Field Museum icons like SUE the T. rex and the Chicago Archaeopteryx, will be displayed next to similar fossil Pokémon, including Tyrantrum and Archeops. Visitors of all ages will discover how fossils are found and studied in the Pokémon world and our real world.
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Join us for an immersive falconry experience that you will remember for a lifetime! As part of this class, you’ll learn about the ancient sport of falconry and the biology and history of the many different types of raptors used in the hunt (including hawks, buzzards, falcons and owls). Participants (Ages 9+) will learn the art and history of falconry, raptor ecology and conservation while gaining HANDS ON EXPERIENCE. All Participants will hold a bird on a gloved hand, fly and call a hawk and feed a bird of prey.
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Join us for our Kite Festival. Bring your favorite kite, a picnic basket, and chair as we come together for a day of community fun!
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This musical based on Margaret Wise Brown’s beloved children’s book is drenched in primary colors that pay homage to Clement Hurd’s vivid illustrations in an all-new, immersive setting. Catchy songs, delightful dancing, a technicolor set, the quiet poetry of the original tale, and the humorous antics of one very nocturnal bunny all play a part in this fun, family-friendly celebration of one of the most iconic children’s books of all time.
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The Full Moon Jams are volunteer-run, free-to-attend performance gatherings that take place throughout the summer between sunset and 10pm. The Jam brings together artists and dancers by providing a safe and inclusive space for fire performers and drummers to gather and share their creative gifts on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. Set to the percussive beats of local musicians under a full Moon, this unique event is truly a marvel to behold! Grab a blanket and join us for a magical evening of radiant rhythms and fire dancing! **Event will be held near 5100 N Simonds Dr, Chicago, IL 60640.**
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Our Illinois Resident Free Hours include access to all exhibits and seasonal Stingray Touch. Take a deeper look at our current available exhibits here. We offer several reservation options for Free Hours. For those who prefer to plan ahead, online ticket reservations are available with a $5 convenience fee per order. Alternatively, you can reserve tickets by phone with no convenience fee by calling 312-939-2438 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Central Time (CT). We also provide free walk-up reservations; however, these are subject to availability and typically sell out quickly. Advance reservations are highly recommended due to the high demand for tickets.
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Chicago - Broadway, New York, NY, USA - Friday, May 29, 2026 through Sunday, May 31, 2026, see link for times
- Early Bird Walks at NPV - North Park Village Nature Center Park, 5801 North Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL, USA - Saturday, May 30, 2026, 8 - 10 am
- Kite Festival at Douglass
Park - Chicago, IL, USA - Saturday, May 30, 2026, 12 - 4 pm
- Summer Fireworks at the Navy Pier 2026 - Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, United States - Saturday, May 30, 2026, 10 pm - 10:10 pm
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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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