KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sun, Apr 26: Nesting Paint & Sip Event
Mon, Apr 27: Parenting with
Pride Support Group - Saratoga Pride
Tue, Apr 28: Sensory Friendly Day - Via Aquarium
Sat, May 2: Camp Kenan Open House - Healthy Kids
Day
Sat, May 2: Hudson Children's Book Festival 2026
Mon, May 4: Lupine Walk - Albany Pine Bush Preserve &
Discovery Center
Sat, May 9: Spring Fling Craft Fair! - Walker's Farm, Home, & Tack
Sat, May 16: Wildflower Walk
Sat, May 23: Bookganza - Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Sat, May 23: Pinkster Celebration at Schuyler Mansion
Sat, May
30: Muscle Cars at the Museum - Saratoga Automobile Museum |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When my kids were little, one of our favorite nature activities was also one of the simplest: We’d head out onto a trail, stop among the trees, and play the Listening Game. The rules were easy: Close your eyes. The first time you hear a sound, any sound at all, put up one finger. Then add another for each new sound you notice. After a minute or two, someone says,
“Open your eyes,” and everyone compares fingers and talks about what they heard. It’s a small exercise in attention, but it changes how kids experience the world. The invisible becomes visible... not to the eyes, exactly, but to the mind. Things that were just out of range suddenly move onto our radar. Nature is full of motion and music, and this game helps us tune ourselves to it. The free Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology takes that magic one step further: Tap Sound ID, and suddenly the songs around you appear on your screen as a voiceprint and a bird name and an image that shows you what to look for. And what a moment ago was only background atmosphere becomes a Carolina Wren, or an Eastern Whip-poor-will, or the Common Yellowthroat pictured above,
singing his heart out for a girl with a camera. That’s one of the great tasks of childhood, and of the adults who love children: to help hidden things come into view. Before we know something, it is almost as if it isn’t there. But once it is named, we have a new way to see. There are suddenly new dimensions to our universe, helping us transform even more mysteries into things that are ours. And we never really experience the woods—or the field, or the river, or
the ocean, or the city, or our backyard—the same way 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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Come see a dozen of the world’s most talented four-legged performers, in an uproariously funny, comedy dog spectacular that is leaving audiences everywhere howling for more! The all-star lineup includes a Guinness World Record holder, and an America’s Got Talent fan favorite, and a host of amazing rescue dogs that will dance, prance, flip, and skip their way right into your heart. Deemed “A must see” by The Washington Post, Mutts Gone Nuts Unleashed is sure to win Best in Show! Reserve your tickets today!
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This summer, give your child a space to explore, experiment, and create at the Arts Center! Our Summer Art Camps offer an immersive experience for young artists ages 6–12. Each weekly session is a new adventure—from "Mixed Media Magic" to "Sculpture Secrets"—guided by professional instructors who prioritize curiosity over perfection. Campers will dive into hands-on projects, learn new techniques, and build confidence through visual storytelling. Each week culminates in a Friday "Mini-Gallery" show for family and friends. Space is limited, so register early to ensure a summer filled with color and discovery!
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Calling all night owls! The Albany Area Amateur Astronomers will have telescopes to give you a tour of the night sky during this free program held at the Deerfield Pavilion. No preregistration required. Enter via the main entrance and follow the signs to program-- first left off main entrance road. Please drive slowly in the park at night. No charge.
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A lively puppet show from Up in Arms! Melvin the monster is another year older but still not old enough for his license to scream. His birthday wish changes that and the Division for Monster Screams grants his wish on the condition of passing his test.
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Join The Big Top Group for an unforgettable afternoon celebrating contemporary circus, movement, and theatrical storytelling at one of New York State’s most iconic venues. World Circus Day brings together nationally recognized artists and regional innovators for a dynamic, multi-generational experience that highlights circus as a vibrant contemporary art form.
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Celebrate International Day for Monuments and Sites with a simple, fun art activity for kids! Choose a woman from history who inspires you, create a colorful pedestal to honor her, and share your artwork with the community. A hands-on way to learn, create, and celebrate women who helped shape the past.
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We are fortunate to have tons of free, wonderful, family-friendly programs around Albany, Schenectady, and Troy that are only available during the summer! Concerts, free films, fitness programs, festivals, and kid-friendly activities abound!
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It's spring, and that means some of our favorite places to go are opening for the season! Check out our list of amusement parks, ice cream shops, adventure parks, and more! Hooray for spring!
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- Wiggly Wanderers 9:30am - Moreau Lake State Park, Old Saratoga Road, Gansevoort, NY, Friday, 04/17/2026, 9:30 AM
- Star Party! - Grafton Lakes State Park - Grafton Lakes State Park, 254 Grafton Lakes State Park Way, Grafton, NY, Friday, 04/17/2026, 8 pm
- Meet
the Scientist: Barry Dale - New York State Museum - New York State Museum, 222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230, Friday, 04/17/2026, 12 pm
- Free Buddhist Temple Tours Upstate New York in Sullivan County Catskills - Kadampa Meditation Center New York,
Sweeney Rd, Glen Spey, NY, Friday, 04/17/2026 to Sunday, 04/19/2026, 1:30PM
- Spring Bird Walk at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park - Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park; Office Location, Scout Road, Gansevoort, NY, Saturday, 04/18/2026, 8 am
- Visit Historic Cornell Fire Tower - 80 Scout Road, Gansevoort, NY, Saturday, 04/18/2026 to Sunday, 04/19/2026, 10 am - 3 pm
- Tri-Village Nursery School Community Garage Sale - Tri-Village Nursery School, 428 Kenwood Ave, Delmar, NY 12054, Saturday, 04/18/2026, 8:00-2:00
- Star Party - April 18 - Landis Arboretum, Lape Road, Esperance, NY, Saturday, 04/18/2026, 8:30PM
- Pitch in for Parks - Thacher State Park - Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct, 87 Nature Center Way, Voorheesville, NY 12186, Saturday, 04/18/2026, 11 am - 2 pm
- Fairy House Workshop - Grafton Lakes State Park - Grafton Lakes State Park, 254 Grafton Lakes State Park Way, Grafton, NY 12082, Saturday, 04/18/2026, 1 pm - 3 pm
- Put Her on a Pedestal: Kids’ Art &
History Activity - New York State Museum - New York State Museum, 222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230, Saturday, 04/18/2026, 10:30 am
- Kid's Day - Peebles Island State Park, Delaware Avenue, Cohoes, NY, Saturday, 04/18/2026, 9:00 Am- 12:00 PM
- Sunday School - Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Delmar, NY, 85 Elm Ave, Delmar, NY 12054, Sunday, 04/19/2026, 9:45 am
- Moss Hike - Grafton Lakes State Park - Grafton Lakes
State Park, 254 Grafton Lakes State Park Way, Grafton, NY 12082, Sunday, 04/19/2026, 10 am - 12 pm
- Revolutionary Ties: The Dutch Impact on Early America - New York State Museum - New York State Museum, 222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230, Sunday, 04/19/2026, 11 am
- 12 pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Albany 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 Charlotte 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 Capital Region? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues, unlock secrets, 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 Albany 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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Have a wonderful weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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