KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Mar 17: Curiosity Day Camp at Museum of Science Industry: Art Techo
Tue, Mar 17: Spring into Science with Big Marsh
Thu, Mar 19: Discover Daystar Academy Open House
Fri, Mar 20: Frog Watch USA Training at Cosley Zoo (ages 8+)
Fri, Mar 20: Glow Wild at the Brookfield Zoo
Sat, Mar 21: Classical Elements With the CSO
Sat, Mar 21: Illinois Boating Safety Certification Class at St. James Farm
Sun, Mar 22: Public Skate at Fifth Third Arena - Blackhawks Community Ice Rink
Mon, Mar 23: Spring Break Camp at Movement Climbing - Lincoln Park
Sat,
Mar 28: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark – Live In Concert with the Chicago Philharmonic
Sat, Mar 28: Bunny Trolley Hop at the Illinois Railway Museum
Wed, Apr 1: Favorite Animal Day at the Chicago Children's Museum
Wed, Apr 1: Spring Break at Chasers Laser Tag
Fri, Apr 3: Pajama Day at the Chicago Children's Museum
Sat, Apr 4: 2026 Spring Egg-Stravaganza at Lincoln Park Zoo
Sun, Apr 5: Brunch with the Bunny at the Brookfield Zoo! Fri, Apr 10: April Dozin' with the Dinos at the Field Museum
Sat, Apr 11: Glow Wild at the Brookfield Zoo
Sun, Apr 12: Goodnight Moon at Chicago Children’s Theatre
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: For much of the country this year, March simultaneously is bringing hope that spring may in fact return to North America AND the awareness that every car is at risk for the foreseeable future. All winter long, water seeps into asphalt cracks, freezes, expands, melts, and freezes again, and bit by bit the driving experience becomes a game called Avoid the
Crater. But lately I’ve started seeing the repair trucks out there again, their bright-vested workers moving methodically from hole to hole with their shovels. Every time I pass them, it gives me a lift, not just because it means someday soon I'll start seeing flowers out in the real world, but also because potholes are one of those perfect reminders of what humans do. Playrooms, projects, and paperwork start out neat, but over time, weather, wear, gravity, and
procrastination take their toll. No matter how strict the system, order gradually slides toward chaos. And then humans step in and make it right again. I saw the cycle in action at the KidsOutAndAbout office last week: Our storage room had slowly become a museum of random supplies, half-filled bins, and Christmas decorations that had been tossed in with a hopeful Future Us will deal with this someday. Fortunately, my colleague Michelle, who works in our data department,
is also a genius organizer. A few hours after Future Michelle stepped in and applied logic and elbow grease, the little room had transformed from a cluttered cave into a serene space. The quickening of the seasons seems to bring that same energy into our homes: Closets get sorted, garages get swept, junk drawers finally meet their match. It feels good, not just because the space looks better, but because fixing things reminds us of something important: Disorder is normal, but
it’s not permanent. Humans can step in and bring brightness back. So here’s to spring cleaning, organized shelves, and freshly patched roads. Our tires, and our spirits, roll much more smoothly because humans fill potholes.
—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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Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring live in concert. Experience the epic motion picture and Howard Shore’s Academy Award-winning score performed by 238 musicians, including symphony orchestra, chorus and
soloists, beneath a 60-foot screen.
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Kids deserve a night out too! Drop your child off for an evening of supervised fun, crafts, Exploritorium playtime and a movie. Snacks will be provided. Please be sure to eat dinner before you come. For children aged 4-10 years old. Children must be fully
toilet trained. Fee per child: $22/$27 (resident/non-resident) Pre-registration is required. Contact Alyssa at (847)929-7710 or amergler@skokieparks.org with any questions.
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Watch out as you explore the Conservatory – you may run into a Budding Botanist! On Saturdays and Sundays from 11:000am to 3:00pm, Nature Educators will provide activities for kids of all ages at our Budding Botanists stations. This program is included in
all reservations to visit the Conservatory. You can stop by and interact with the materials at the station for as long as you want to. Budding Botanists station will be posted in different areas of the Conservatory on different days. Ask where we are at the front desk! These stations are interactive and are all about scientific exploration, to help your family to see plants in new ways. Adults and young ones of all ages can stop by and let the learning begin! These programs are drop in and no
preregistration is required.
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Enjoy this Easter tradition at Color Me Mine! Join us to paint 3 large ceramic eggs! (2.75W x 3.75H) Try out some new techniques - we can show you - lace, alcohol, sponging, specialty glazes, and MORE! You will have tons of fun! *Kids 7 and up may be
dropped off. Kids under 5 must be accompanied by an adult. Please note how many in your party during checkout.
Kids ages 7 and over may be dropped off.
Younger kids are welcome to attend with a parent.
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Want to climb with our staff handling the ropes? Book a Climb is a one-hour, small-group session where our instructors manage the ropes while you scale our tall walls and experience the thrill of climbing. No experience? No problem! This session is great
for beginners, families, and anyone looking for a fun, hassle-free way to climb.
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Join our friends at Brain to Belly Kids Yoga for a cozy storybook yoga class with your family! This imaginative yoga class will flow through a sequence of fun and creative poses that embody the story; bringing literature to life. BBKY is a mobile yoga +
mindfulness company founded by educators and dedicated to nurturing kids’ innate desire for movement and play. This class provides a medium for families to unplug and bond in the most playful of ways. Children and their grown-ups will interact through moving, breathing, and connecting. This class is designed for children ages 2-8 years; however, all ages are most welcome! All children must be accompanied by a guardian. Space is limited. BYO Mat. Must register online in advance; no drop-ins.
Ticket includes access to all museum exhibits.
Family registrations strongly encouraged.
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- Jewels of Spring Spring Flower Show at the Lincoln Park Conservatory - Lincoln Park Conservatory & Gardens, North Stockton Drive, Chicago, IL, March 13-15, 10:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Join the Mall Walker Club at North Riverside Park
Mall - North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 West Cermak Road, North Riverside, IL, March 13-14, Monday – Saturday 9AM – 8PM; Sundays 10AM – 6PM
- Family Days at the MCA: March - Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, March 14, 11 am - 3 pm
- Edgewater Indoor Market 2026 - Broadway Armory Park, North Broadway, Edgewater, Chicago, IL, March 14,
10 am - 2 pm
- March Free Museum Day at the American Writers Museum - American Writers Museum, Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, March 15, 10 am - 5 pm, check the schedule for special events throughout the day
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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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Chicago area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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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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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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2025's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Chicago Area, as voted by thousands of parents! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM
Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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