KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For 25 years, one of my core missions with KidsOutAndAbout has been to make invisible things visible, to celebrate what local communities offer families. Everyone is busy, and local treasures are easy to miss. Our job is to point, spotlight, nudge, and say Look here. Try this. Bring the kids. But there’s another kind of invisibility worth fixing:
The people who create these experiences rarely get to see their full impact. They track tickets sold and kids enrolled, but may never hear that your child talked about their field trip for six months, found courage on their stage, or simply felt welcome exactly when they needed it. That’s why our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey matters. Each summer, we ask readers to vote for their favorite local places to take kids.
The results help families see what other families love. The ranking and comments help local organizations see that their work matters. So your three minutes becomes both a recommendation and a thank-you. The survey is simple: Click on your three favorite local destinations. Then also, optionally, nominate favorites in special categories—like arts, sports, and STEM education—and leave comments that we’ll pass along to the people who make these experiences
happen. So please click here to vote in the 2026 edition of the survey. Help families find the places they’ll love, and help the people behind those places know they’re making a difference. The survey will be open until June 20.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
P.S. If you're interested, check out the 2025 list here to see
who won last year. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
If you've been thinking about getting your children into music education, why not try a summer class at The Music Studio? Summer is a wonderful time to try new things, without the pressure of a crowded school-year schedule. And The Music Studio, which regularly tops KOAA's list of Arts Education favorites, has been teaching area children to love, understand, and make music for almost 50 years! This summer, they are offering four-week classes for children ages 2–7, with a perfect balance of active fun and satisfying skill acquisition, taught by highly experienced faculty, and limited to just 8 students per class. Grab your child's spot now!
|
|
|
|
Unplug. Connect. Embrace Summer at Pok-O-MacCready. Our small, co-ed, overnight camp in the Adirondacks gives children opportunities for success, challenge, and growth by giving them the independence to choose their classes and be active members of our community. This child-centered approach encourages campers with a variety of interests and personalities to find their niche in our 400-acre, screen-free environment. Whether they gravitate towards sports like basketball, street hockey, and volleyball, or creative arts programs like ceramics, theater, and blacksmithing, there are multiple avenues for success and joy each day. Join us for a 2, 3, 4, or even 7-week session!
|
|
|
|
The Waterford Canal Festival celebrates the history, culture and community spirit of the Erie and Champlain Canal lock system gateway and is one of the Capital Region’s signature canal-based celebrations. Visitors enjoy children's programs, live music, boating, kayaking, bicycling, fishing, sightseeing and more. It is also a great support to our local businesses, retailers, artisans, musicians and food & drink vendors.
|
|
|
|
Come to Rothermel Park in Kinderhook on Saturday, May 16 from 2pm-5pm to celebrate Pinkster. Sponsored by African American Archive of Columbia County, this family-friendly afternoon is fun and educational for one and all. Rain or shine, enjoy this great opportunity to share an important celebration with others from the community.
|
|
|
|
Join us at the farm for a day of community and learn how locally grown food is making a difference to many across the Capital Region and beyond! - Guided tour of Patroon Land Farm - Presentation on how the Farm helps our partner pantries and neighbors in need. - Decorate a pot and plant vegetables to take home and add to your own garden Morning Session: 10:00am-12:00pm Afternoon Session: 1:00pm-3:00pm Tickets are $5 per person, per session
|
|
|
|
Sing in the Streets is Caffè Lena’s free community music festival in downtown Saratoga Springs, bringing together 23 performers across 10 stages for a day of live music, discovery, and community. Join us on Sunday, May 17, 2026 for performances throughout downtown in a festive, walkable setting. 23 Acts on 10 Stages | Family-Friendly | Free | Rain or Shine! The streets surrounding Caffè Lena will come alive with music as the historic venue presents its 5th Annual Sing in the Streets Festival. This free, family-friendly celebration marks 66 years of live music at America's longest-running folk music venue.
|
|
|
|
Join fellow wildlife enthusiasts to discover the fascinating world of the raptors that rely on our local grasslands. We will take a deep dive into their remarkable adaptations, the challenges they face, and the irreplaceable habitat that will vanish — and along with it the birds — if we don’t protect it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
Dodi & Diana at theREP A fictional couple collides with an infamous story of fame. “A tense,
engrossing, and astute study of the mysteries of a marriage.” —The New Yorker “A needed corrective to a sexist fairytale.”—Theatremania The marriage of Jason and Samira has hit a crisis. He’s a white Wall Street banker and she’s a budding actress of Egyptian descent. After Samira plays a cringe-inducing role as a terrorist on a television show, she may finally break out as a star. But Jason fears their relationship will be burned by the glare of the spotlight. A smart, steamy dance of
power and intimacy ensues as the lovers await a cosmic convergence that will illuminate their fate. |
- Not So Common Players present "Some Enchanted Evening" - Clifton Common, 14 Clifton Common Ct, Clifton Park, NY, Friday, 05/15/2026 to Sunday, 05/17/2026, Thursday - Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 2:00
p.m
- Family Fun Night - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area, 21 Delaware Avenue, Albany, NY, Friday, 05/15/2026, 6:00PM
- Total
Teen Takeover - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area, 21 Delaware Ave, Albany, NY, Friday, 05/15/2026, 4:00PM-8:30pm
- Star Party - Deerfield Pavilion, Grafton Lakes State Park Way, Cropseyville, NY, Friday, 05/15/2026, 8:30PM
- Dodi & Diana at theREP - 111 N Pearl St, Albany, NY, Friday, 05/15/2026, times vary; click link
- Wiggly Wanderers 9:30am - Moreau Lake State Park, Old Saratoga Road,
Gansevoort, NY, Friday, 05/15/2026, 9:30 AM
- Visit Historic Cornell Fire Tower - 80 Scout Road, Gansevoort, NY, Saturday, 05/16/2026 to Sunday, 05/17/2026, 10 am - 3 pm
- Orra Phelps Preserve Wildflower Walk - Orra Phelps Nature Preserve, Parkhurst Rd, Wilton, NY, Saturday, 05/16/2026, See website for details
- Niska-Day 45 - Town Of
Niskayuna, Niskayuna Circle, Niskayuna, NY, Saturday, 05/16/2026, See website for details
- Landis 2026 Signature Spring Plant, Book, and Bake Sale - Landis Arboretum, 174 Lape Road, Esperance, NY, Saturday, 05/16/2026 to Sunday, 05/17/2026, 10 am - 4 pm
- Star Party - May 16 - Landis Arboretum, Lape Road, Esperance, NY, Saturday, 05/16/2026, 9PM
- Mineral Springs Tour - Saratoga Spa State
Park, Creekside Classroom, Geyser Loop Rd, Saratoga Springs, NY, Saturday, 05/16/2026 to Sunday, 05/17/2026, 11:00 AM
- Mineral Springs Tour - Saratoga Spa State Park, Creekside Classroom, Geyser Loop Rd, Saratoga Springs, NY, Saturday, 05/16/2026 to Sunday, 05/17/2026, 1:00 PM
- Open House - Pok-O-MacCready Camps, 1391 Reber Road North, Willsboro, NY, Saturday, 05/16/2026, 10:30 AM
- Maker May Balloon Blowout - FASNY Museum of
Firefighting, Harry Howard Avenue, Hudson, NY, Saturday, 05/16/2026, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
- Free Buddhist Temple Tours Upstate New York in Sullivan County Catskills - Kadampa Meditation Center New York, Sweeney Rd, Glen Spey, NY, Saturday, 05/16/2026 to Sunday,
05/17/2026, 1:30PM
- Camp Weona Open House - Camp Clue Quest - YMCA Camp Weona, Poplar Tree Road, Gainesville, NY, Sunday, 05/17/2026, 1:00pm to 4:00pm
- Sunday School - Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Delmar, NY, 85 Elm Ave, Delmar, NY, Sunday, 05/17/2026, 9:45 am
- Free Community Carnival - Union College, Union Street, Schenectady, NY, Sunday, 05/17/2026, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- Read + Hike Book Club - Eldridge Research Center, The Huyck Preserve, Pond Hill Road, Rensselaerville, NY, Sunday, 05/17/2026, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
- Sing in
the Streets - Downtown Saratoga Springs, Sunday, 05/17/2026, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- History Stroll - Park Office at 19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs, NY, Sunday, 05/17/2026, 12:00 PM
- Bilingual Story Hour - Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct, Nature Center Way, Voorheesville, NY, Sunday, 05/17/2026, 10:30 AM-11:30 PM
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Have a wonderful weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
