KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter for the Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro Area |
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Fri, Mar 27: Lumberjack Days 2026 at DNR Outdoor
Adventure Center
Fri, Mar 27: Spring Egg Hunt at Troy Historic Village
Sat, Mar 28: Blake's Backyard
(Almont) A Hoppin' Good Time
Sun, Mar 29: Everything Eggs at Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve
Sun, Mar 29: Spring Festival at Kensington Metropark
Fri, Apr 3: World Aquatic Animal Day Hike at Wayne County Parks
Crosswinds Marsh
Fri, Apr 3: Bunnyville at Detroit Zoo
Sat, Apr 4: Spring Fest Egg Hunt at Tefft Park
Sat, Apr 4: Canterbury Eggstravaganza 2026
Fri, Apr 10: FoolMoon 2026: Fools of a Feather
Sun, Apr 12: FestiFools 2026: Back to the FOOLture! at FestiFools Studio
Fri, Apr 24: Grand Rapids Lantern Festival | John Ball Zoo |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: The first time I can remember having to take a public stand on anything was in eighth grade English. We were assigned an essay on a controversial topic and told we’d present our arguments to the class. When he handed back our papers, Mr. Schmidt added a twist: no reading. We’d speak from notes. I was horrified. After school, I tried to negotiate my way out of it. “This
makes me really uncomfortable,” I told him, hoping for mercy. He looked at me over his glasses. “That’s the whole point,” he said. “To get stuff done, you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Don’t worry, you’ll live.” Mr. Schmidt was right. I didn’t die. And more important, I learned something that stuck: Discomfort isn’t a stop sign, it’s just part of the road, and all roads are bumpy. That lesson shaped how I've raised my kids, too. Karate helped
Madison and Ella distinguish between effort and injury. Long car rides taught them to rely on their own imaginations. Theater nudged them to stand however close to the spotlight they could manage, even when they’d rather disappear. And summer camps—those muddy, unpredictable, gloriously imperfect experiences—gave them countless chances to try something new and realize I can do this without the stigma that can accompany failing in other contexts. Growth rarely happens
inside the comfort zone, which is why I’m such a believer in giving kids opportunities to stretch beyond what feels easy. Summer programs are perfect for this, so that's why during "summer camp search season" we focus on showcasing the wide variety of camps and programs available in each area we serve. Here's the link to the portal page. These days, as we approach the 25th anniversary of KidsOutAndAbout.com in June, I see that same principle playing out: The technology has changed, the business climate has changed, but the equation hasn’t. Discomfort still shows up right before something meaningful. And I still hear Mr. Schmidt’s voice in my head: Don’t worry, you’ll live.
—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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Attention party animals: Celebrate your birthday at the Humane Society of Huron Valley for $50 off!
Our party program for ages 6-12 includes a shelter tour, a craft for the animals, and a meet-and-greet with the adoptable animals. Plus, the birthday kid gets to name a shelter animal! Use code **WINTER26** to get $50 off of a party booked for January, February or March. (But don’t wait – spots for Saturdays and Sundays fill before you know it!)
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Join us for summer fun at the JCC's Camp Raanana and Camp Globetrotters!
Located at the Cedar Lake Outdoor Center in Chelsea, Camp Raanana features old forest paths for nature walks and outdoor sports, an archery range and, of course, the famous waterfront right on Little Cedar Lake where campers can swim, kayak, fish and more.
We're also excited to introduce Camp Globetrotters this summer! This camp will take place at the JCC facility and offers two different programs to choose from - sports and cooking!
Though our camps have Jewish roots, all are welcome, regardless of faith or background.
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Let us help your kids have the BEST. SUMMER. EVER!
At Launch, we pack every day with awesome activities, interactive games, and creative crafts into an action-filled 4–8 hour experience your child will love. We do more than just jump — our camp builds teamwork, kindness, confidence, and positive manners in a fun, supportive environment.
Kids enjoy free play time, plus interactive activities and games that blend entertainment and learning.
Camp is open to children ages 5–13.
All counselors pass background certification and maintain a 10:1 camper ratio with a dedicated camp director.
Learn more about our camps and register here: https://launchfamilyentertainment.com/annarbor/camp/
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Over 2,000 animals and more animal touching exhibits than any other zoo in Michigan; tigers, petting corral, wallabies, camels and butterflies. Chimpanzees – lions – grizzly bear – otters – snow leopards – – and many large and small primates. Indoor and
outdoor viewing. Full concessions and gift shop. Featuring 300-foot ZIPline with return line, 4-story Ropes Adventure Course, and a Funicular (tram) that leads to a state-of-the-art Bissell Treehouse for events and rentals.
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Spend a day with us at The Robot Garage where your child will have so much fun they won't even realize how much they're learning! Campers will engage in a variety of STEAM workshops tailored to their age group to unlock their creativity and problem-solving
skills. With the help of our friendly expert staff, campers can design, build, code, and experiment with robots & our enormous LEGO collection. All project materials are provided by The Robot Garage. By the end of the day your child will be one step closer to becoming an engineer and/or LEGO Master!
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Get ready for the event that will change everything you thought you knew about freestyle! Monster Jam brings their Freestyle Mania show to Van Andel Arena (Grand Rapids) with 5 shows March 20-22, 2026. Introducing Monster Jam Freestyle Mania presented by
Spin Master. For the first time ever, Monster Jam trucks team up with Freestyle Motorcross bikes to deliver gravity-defying skills and thrills.
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Sign up for one of our two festival time slots and experience the sweet process of making maple syrup firsthand! From tapping the trees to flipping flapjacks, you'll see it all. Our knowledgeable For-Mar staff will guide you through maple sugaring
techniques and teach you how to identify winter trees. For all ages and abilities.
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Hop through the festively decorated Wild Wonders Wildlife Park for an EGGciting Easter adventure! Join us for Easter egg hunts, games, and presentations by our wildlife EGGsperts! After strolling through the park, hop over for a special photo with the
Easter Bunny!
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The Easter Bunny is coming to Brandenburg Park! New for 2026 — the Easter Bunny Candy Drop! Watch as the Chesterfield Fire Department releases candy from high above. Collect candy and enjoy some fun surprises along the bunny trail, including a take home
goodie bag. Bring your camera and grab a photo with the Easter Bunny inside the Shoreline Clubhouse.
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Children will experience a variety of exciting Easter activities including hunting for Easter eggs, playing mini games for prizes, seeing adorable farm animals, and more at this special event. The Easter Bunny will also be joining us for family pictures, so
don't forget to bring your camera! Please dress for the weather, because the entire event is held outdoors. Parents, grandparents, and infants under 12 months old are free and will not receive any goodies.
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It’s that time of year again, maple syrup season! Come join us to learn about the crop rich in history and flavor! Take a short hike to our sugar shack where you will see our wood-fired evaporator in action and discover how to turn sap into the sweet treat
we all know and love, syrup! Along the way discover interactive videos that weave together the sweet story of maple syrup-from its’ rich history to the process of tapping, bottling, and perfecting your favorite golden treat. Maple items will be available for purchase at the Farm Center Office.
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Put on your luckiest green garb and come create your very own Leprechaun Trap! We will provide the supplies (and the gold), you bring your creativity. We will start with a very short Storytime and then go right into crafting our traps!
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Join us for this FREE & fun Easter event! Create & customize your own easter basket, then fill it with any toys you like! Whatever you can fit in your basket will be 15% off that day only (excluding LEGO). Guess how many mini bunnies are in the
train display for a chance to win a prize, and search around the store to find our plush Peep for a piece of candy!
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Join us for our 8th mega kids’ resale event, JBF Oakland County! Our Spring sale is a great place to shop for everything your growing kiddos need at 50-90% off retail. You’ll find items at the sale for ages Newborn-18 plus Juniors and Maternity sections.
We’ll have all the deals on clothes, shoes, books, toys, sports, gear, baby equipment, and more.
When you shop with JBF Oakland County, you help other local families selling their outgrown items. You also get to shop sustainably, keeping perfectly good kids’ items out of the landfill. And the best part? 50-90% off retail!
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The Village of Rochester Hills invites families to celebrate the Easter season with FREE outdoor visits with the Easter Bunny this spring!
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Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. This is Disney’s The Lion King, making its triumphant return to the Detroit Opera House!
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of entrepreneurship, uncover the power…
January 27, 2026
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Ann Arbor - Detroit 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…
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Families purchase shares (or half-shares, or bimonthly shares) of produce that is either picked up or delivered to them, fresh from the farm, each week during the growing season. Some farms encourage pick-your-own, in some you get to help out on the farm.
What a great field-to-table lesson for the whole family!
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Dallas 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 great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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