KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Mar 17: Fitness at the Plaza - Empire State Plaza at West Capitol Park
Sat, Mar 21: Maple Weekends at Wild Hill Maple in Salem
Sat, Mar 21: Women of Science at the New York State Museum
Sat, Mar 21: Special Visitor Storytime: The Leprechaun Who Stayed for the Day at Castleton Public Library
Sat, Mar 28: Glow for Galactosemia- Silent Disco Fundraiser at The Arts Center of the Capital Region
Sun, Mar 29: Anything That Floats at Mechanicville Area Community Services Center
Fri, Apr 10: April Break STEM Lab - Ink Squad: Minecraft, Coding & Robotics at STEAMwhiz - The STEM Learning Lab
Mon, Apr 13: Bluegrass Jam at Old Songs
Sat, Apr 18: Tulips
& Tours at the Ten Broeck Mansion
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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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Unlock the ultimate birthday party or summer adventure at VDO Gaming & Esports Education Center in the Capital Region.
Birthday Parties: Host an unforgettable gaming bash! We provide the latest games, high-spec PCs, consoles, and dedicated staff to ensure a fun, stress-free celebration for all ages.
Summer Programs: Our immersive summer programs offer a unique blend of competitive gaming, skill development, and educational workshops. Learn strategies, improve gameplay, understand game design, and explore career paths in the booming esports industry. From beginner to pro, there's a program for every aspiring gamer!
Special Events: You have an idea for a personalized gaming event? Contact us, and we will make it happen.
Build Skills, Foster Teamwork, Have Fun!
Visit us at www.vdogaming.com for more information!
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Let’s Sing Taylor - A Live Band Experience - the ultimate tribute to the music of Taylor Swift. Coming to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on March 28th! We can show you incredible things, including the most faithful and lively covers of Queen
Taylor’s expansive and sacred catalog. Taking the country by storm, we’re bringing the communal experience of celebrating Taylor’s music in a live setting to Swifties near and far.
So, let the games begin. Calling all Swifties to sing your hearts out and sport your Taylor- inspired attire. You can show up at our party any time.
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Experience the sweetest weekends of the year! Maple Open House Weekends invite you to step onto the farm, explore New York’s rich sugarmaking traditions, and taste pure maple syrup in all its delicious forms, fresh from the source. Visit verified maple
producers on March 21-22 & March 28-29, 2026, and see firsthand how maple sap transforms into liquid gold. Don’t miss this chance to savor the region’s freshest maple delights! Click here to find participating producers.
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April Break (Ages 6-8) is Here & Summer is Selling Out!
Need plans for April 6th–10th? Our April Spring Break Camp still has spots open for our Beginner (Ages 6-8) "Robotics & Minecraft Engineering (Jr. Edition)" track! (Note: Intermediate/Advanced is fully sold out). Your child will build hands-on robotics and design incredible Minecraft theme parks.
Looking ahead to Summer? Please do not wait. Our 2026 STEAM camps are booking at record speed, and our most popular weeks are already on waitlist status.
Secure your child's April and Summer schedules right now to avoid going on the waitlist and missing out on the fun!
Register now: steamwhiz.com/summer2026/
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April 6-10: The PRINCESS and the ... DRAGON? A fractured fairy tale comedy with zany twists & turns.June 29-July 3: VACATION EARTH. Space visitors come to Earth to observe the local wildlife (us).
Students learn blacklight puppetry, stagecraft, illusion and special effects, using fluorescent costumes and props on a darkened stage to create a magical blacklight show at camp's end. No prior experience needed. Programs run Monday-Friday 9 AM to 3 PM in Dreamlights Studio at Viaport Mall, Schenectady). More information at https://Eidolon.Theater
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Discover what makes Saratoga Independent School special at our Spring Tour Days, March 16–20! Designed for prospective families, these tours offer a meaningful peek inside our vibrant learning community, serving students in PreK through 8th grade.
You’ll explore our classrooms, learn about our strong academic program, and experience the caring culture at SIS. Visit our 60 acre campus, see students engaged in learning, and have your questions answered in a welcoming, relaxed setting. Whether you’re just beginning to explore options or ready to make a change, we invite you to come see SIS in action. Registration is required. We look forward to welcoming you!
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Grab your greenest garb and head to downtown Albany for the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 14, at 2 pm! The Albany St. Patrick’s day parade is one of the longest running parades in the United States. The parade attracts hundreds of people from
throughout New York’s Capital Region. This family-friendly event is focused on Irish culture and heritage and features some of the region’s finest pipe bands, Irish step dancers and floats created by local Irish groups.
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Bring your favorite doll to meet the real American girls of Clermont State Historic Site! Crafted by local seamstress and costume designer Adrienne Westmore, these dolls represent 12 real girls who once called Clermont home, illustrating members of the
Livingston family, the people who served them, and the indigenous people of the Hudson Valley. Kids and their grownups will take a first-floor tour of the mansion and meet the dolls, then head up to our Visitor Center to make a doll-sized craft to take home! Light instruction is offered, creativity is encouraged. Please note: This is a Family Program; all children must be accompanied by an adult and all adults must be accompanied by a child.
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Thurman Maple Days returns for three weekends of sweet traditions, farm fun, and all things maple. Nestled in the Adirondacks, this beloved event invites you to explore 10 unique stops, including 5 working maple farms. Whether it’s your first visit or an
annual tradition, Maple Days is worth the drive. Bring the family, bring your appetite, and bring your love for maple!
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Have you ever heard a coyote howl? Do you wonder where they are going or what they might be doing? Come find answers to these questions and more at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center. We will start inside with a short talk about the history and biology
of the eastern coyote then continue outside for an approximately 1-mile walk in the Preserve to find signs of eastern coyotes, one of the smartest, most elusive animals in the Pine Bush. Please remember to wear sturdy walking shoes, light-colored long pants and bring drinking water. This program will meet inside the Discovery Center. Suitable for ages 6+.
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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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- Barbie™: A Cultural Icon Exhibition at the New York State Museum - New York State Museum, 222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230, Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8, 10 am - 2 pm
- Birding Walks - Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, Scout Road, Gansevoort, NY, Saturday, March 7, 8:00 AM
- Reading with Greta at Troy
Public Library - Troy Public Library, 100 2nd Street, Troy, NY 12180, Saturday, March 7, 11 am to 12 pm
- America 250: The Livingstons of Clermont in 1776 at Clermont - Clermont State Historic Site, Clermont Avenue, Germantown, NY, Saturday, March 7, 3 pm
- Saturday Story Time - Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065, Saturday, March 7,
10:00AM-10:30AM
- Hannaford Kidz Expo - New York State Office of General Services, Albany, NY, Saturday, March 7,
10 am to 4 pm
- Discover the Pine Bush at Karner Barrens - New Karner Road, Albany, NY,
Saturday, March 7, 11 am
- Sunday School - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 85 Elm Ave, Delmar, NY 12054, Sunday, March 8, 9:45
am
- Free Buddhist Temple Tours Upstate New York in Sullivan County Catskills - Kadampa Meditation Center New York, Sweeney Rd, Glen Spey, NY, Saturday, March 7 to Sunday, March 8, 1:30PM
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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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2025's best places to take kids in the Capital District as voted by New York parents! Parents vote, we do the math, and the result is the Top 20 Places to Take Kids! But there is LOTS more to do in Albany than even just this wonderful list: visit
KidsOutAndAbout.com to see our events calendar, find seasonal activities, get ideas for the perfect day trip and MORE.
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Have a wonderful weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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