KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jun 26: Fun Fridays at the Shell: Scribble Monster
Sun, Jul 5: Sawyer
Sunday Fun Day at the Forge
Tue, Jul 7: Dance along with Wiggleworms (and a movie!) at Gallagher Way
Fri, Jul 10: A Year
with Frog and Toad at Marriott Theatre
Sat, Jul 11: Bristol Renaissance Faire 2026
Sat, Jul 11: Origami Open House at the Garfield
Conservatory
Sat, Jul 18: 2026 Forge Fest
Sat, Jul 18: U-505 In-Depth Experience at Museum of Science Industry Chicago -
July
Sat, Jul 18: Backyard Fest
Mon, Jul 20: Movie Mondays at the Forge: How to Train Your Dragon
Tue, Jul 21: Parent-Tot Yoga at the Exploritorium
Fri, Jul 24: Fun Fridays at the Shell: Mary Macaroni
Sat, Jul 25: Taco & Art Fest
Sun, Jul 26: Bristol Renaissance Faire 2026
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The summer I was 5, my parents took our family to Cape Cod for a week. In Provincetown, we bought a kite, then headed to the dunes in North Truro, where my sister and I spent hours running full-tilt up and down the bare white hills. We’d scramble to the top, turn, and launch ourselves downward, legs windmilling, hair flying, lungs full of salt air and triumph. Invariably, we’d
fall, slap into the soft, sun-warmed sand, pop back up, and do it again. Tumbling down the dunes was gravity. Sand was friction. The kite tugging on our arms was air on the move. We didn't have words to describe these phenomena—we were little kids, not tiny physicists with notebooks. A decade later, my calculus teacher would give me the words and symbols to process motion conceptually, but experiences like this had already taught my body that I was an actor in the physics of
the world. My body understood. Summer is the perfect time for kids to learn motion from the inside out. Motion is in amusement park rides, in waves bobbing ducks and inner tubes up and down at the lake, in trains pulling you forward in one dimension and airplanes moving you through three. It’s in bikes and swings and Frisbees and trampolines and slip-and-slides, in tumbling through the days without realizing that learning is happening. As tour guides to our
kids’ universe, we can point gently: Feel how the swing slows at the top? Notice how the wave lifts you before it lets you down? See how leaning changes the bike’s path? But the point is not to turn summer into physics class. The point is to help kids notice how the world feels as they move through it. The equations can come later; now is the time for motion, and for the emotion that accompanies it. Summer’s gift is the body’s memory: wind, water, speed, balance, falling, landing, and getting up
to run again.
—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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Embark on an epic adventure to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: A New Hope! Experience the iconic film like never before as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ legendary Oscar-winning score live. From the triumphant opening fanfare to Princess Leia’s ethereal theme, relive the magic of this cinematic masterpiece on the big screen at Symphony Center.
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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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The Great Lakes have hosted many ships over the centuries, and some are claimed forever. Join us at Rosewood Interpretive Center to learn about some of the amazing stories of Ships lost at sea in Lake Michigan, and learn about what happens to a ship after it sinks to the bottom of the lake. Pre-registration required. All participants, children and adults, must register for the program. Children must be accompanied by a paid registered adult. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather.
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Zoo Fiesta is “su fiesta” and you’re invited! Enjoy a family-friendly event celebrating Latine cultures and communities with live music, culinary delights, cultural performances, and animal chats that highlight the biodiversity of Latin America.
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Head to the DuPage Fairgrounds for the Markets for Makers West Chicago Summer Market — a weekend full of handmade treasures, creative energy, and community! Browse 90+ makers, get crafty at our free DIY station, and strike a pose at our photo walls. Every ticket includes a free market tote! VIP tickets unlock our exclusive Saturday Preview Hour (10am–11am), dedicated VIP entry, and a special edition cotton tote. Available online only — limited quantities! Kids under 12 are FREE. Get your tickets today!
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Play at Heller and learn a thing or two about nature. Participate in a MESSY themed activities and a self-guided hike. Afterward, bring a picnic lunch, play in Wander Woods – our outdoor nature play space. Dress in clothes you don’t mind getting messy. Activities may include mud, Oobleck, and other hands-on fun.
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Carload Fireworks Night at Wilmot Raceway promises an exciting evening of racing and a spectacular fireworks show scheduled for approximately 9:00 to 9:30PM. The night features Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints, Winged 604 Sprints, Street Stocks, and Bandits. Pits open at 3PM, grandstands at 5PM, hot laps begin at 5:45PM, and racing starts at 6:45PM. Tickets are available at the gate on race day or online through the My Race Pass link above. Guests with a June 30th birthday receive free general or pit admission with valid photo ID, and military members and veterans receive five dollars off general admission at the gate. Event photo by Charlie Lancour.
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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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