KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter for the Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro Area |
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Sat, Apr 11: GreenFest 2026 at the Detroit Zoo
Sun, Apr 12: Owl Fest at Lake St. Clair Metropark
Sun, Apr 19: Ann Arbor’s Earth Day Festival 2026 at Ann Arbor
Hands-On Museum
Wed, Apr 22: Earth Day Story Time with Mother Nature at Romulus Public Library
Sat, Apr 25: Season Finale: Holst’s The Planets at Hill Auditorium
Sat, Apr 25: Trails Expo at DNR Outdoor Adventure Center
Sun, May 10: Mother's Day Buffet at Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Lodge
Sun, May 10: CHIHULY at Meijer Gardens
Sat, May 16: Chesterfield Township Mom to Mom Sale
Sat, May 23: 2026 USL Detroit City FC Women's League Games |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
One of the best things about spring is that it turns all of us into treasure hunters. After a long winter, we adults start scanning the world for signs that life is returning: We notice the first mist of green in a forest's understory, the first brave crocus, the first daffodil. If we point out loud, kids catch on quickly, drawn by the thrill of seeking what
winter was hiding even just a few weeks ago, and they're ready to find magic behind every tree. Of course, in our part of North America, spring can be stingy in early April: The calendar may insist it’s here, but the yard is still beige, the trees are still bare, and the only things blooming outside are spreading patches of mud. But there’s no rule that says spring surprises have to come only from Mother Nature! That’s one reason I’m such a fan of egg
hunts. Last year, I wrote an extremely popular step-by-step article showing how to Turn Easter Into a Treasure Hunt, complete with a printable PDF of rhyming clues. It’s right there waiting for you, ready to make you look like a genius with practically zero effort. And if you want to kick it up a notch and invite a crowd, our article Easter Egg Hunts: Tips and Tricks for a Great Party lays out
the strategies for what may be the easiest, fastest, best-bang-for-the-buck kids’ party on Earth. Sure, egg hunts feature prominently in our culture's Easter traditions, but they needn't belong only to Easter, they're a wonderful diversion anytime, in any context. Spring is a season that proves there’s treasure everywhere. Sometimes the universe provides the fun for us. And sometimes we create it ourselves.
—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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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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World Aquatic Animal Day focuses on raising awareness about aquatic animals, their roles in our ecosystem and why we should protect them. Frogs, fish, fairy shrimp... do you have a favorite aquatic animal? Join us for a hike to see what we can find.
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A blizzard of twenty thousand marshmallows will fill the sky as they tumble from the Easter Bunny’s helicopter!
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The most thrilling Easter egg hunt in Metro Detroit is BACK! Canterbury Eggstravaganza will be held on Saturday & Sunday, March 28-29 and Friday & Saturday, April 3-4. We don’t just look for eggs hiding in a field at this event – we watch them rain from the sky! The Easter Bunny’s helicopter flies overhead and drops eggs for children to scoop up. Children can collect up to 10 bunny eggs from the drop zone and redeem them for prizes!
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Put on your old English D and get ready to root for the home team! Get your tickets today for Detroit Tigers home games.
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Hop into spring with our Spring Fest Egg Hunt! Kids will be divided into age groups for an egg-citing hunt for eggs scattered in the woods behind the Rec Center. A few lucky eggs will have a prize ticket inside. Everyone will receive a goody bag. This event will take place outside rain, shine or snow. Don't be late, your hunt will be starting promptly on time. Meet by the north play structure behind the Rec Center at 11:30 am so don't be late!
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It’s an old-fashioned egg hunt in the Exploration Garden at For-Mar. Hunt the Garden for Easter eggs, cabbage, and onions?!?! That’s right. We put on a hunt for unique garden items that we can dye our eggs with. Dress for mess and the weather.
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Join us for our Annual Toddler Time Easter Egg Hunt at Launch Ann Arbor! It's quite a sight to see 800 eggs disappear into the kids hands in less than 5 minutes!
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Join us for a free and fun walk around the loop at Gallup Park (3000 Fuller Road). Free but you must register in advance to attend. Participants can bring a basket and travel the path, stopping along the way to meet volunteers dressed as different animals. Each volunteer will invite participants to complete a quick, playful challenge, such as hopping like a bunny, twirling in a circle, or trying a short hula hoop spin. After completing the task, participants will receive a small treat or toy before continuing along the route. When participants finish the loop, they can enjoy a simple craft activity, take a photo with Hopps the Bunny and visit with real bunnies on site. Environmental Education staff will also host a bunny-themed story time from 10-11 a.m. Volunteers will be needed.
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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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Celebrate your family’s special moments with Shoott’s FREE 30-minute outdoor photo sessions! Whether it’s spring photos, family portraits, birthday milestones, or simply capturing everyday joy, our talented local photographers make the experience easy and fun. You only pay for the photos you love, with no upfront cost or sitting fee. Receive a gallery of beautifully edited images within days and choose your favorites. Book your session at shoott.com and create lasting memories!
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Come cheer on the Red Wings at home!
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Everyone is welcome to experience the magic of Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming! Our sensory-friendly hours are designed specifically for guests with disabilities who need a supported experience. On April 6, 8, and 9, 2026, from 6–8 pm, Meijer Gardens will limit guest capacity to offer a calm, supportive environment.
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iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech! Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
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- Marshmallow Drop – Wayne County Parks, 33175 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland, MI, Friday, April 3, 2026, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
- World Aquatic Animal Day Hike – Crosswinds Marsh, 27600 Haggerty Rd, New Boston, MI, Friday, April 3, 2026, 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
- Free
Visits With The Easter Bunny At The Village of Rochester Hills! – The Village Of Rochester Hills, North Adams Road, Rochester Hills, MI, Friday, April 3, 2026 and Saturday, April 4, 2026, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! –
Saturday, April 4, 2026 and Sunday, April 5, 2026, See link for times
- Hop, Skip, Spring walk at Gallup Park – Ann Arbor Lost & Found, 301 E Huron St, Ann Arbor, MI, Saturday, April 4, 2026, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
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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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