KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter for the Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro Area |
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Sat, Mar 7: American Girl Tea Party - Saline Recreation Center
Thu, Mar 12: HOME SCHOOL MAPLE SUGAR AND LUMBERJACKS at Wayne County Parks
Sat, Mar 14: Imagined Worlds:
Debussy, Chin & Mahler at Hill Auditorium
Tue, Mar 24: Marsh Clean Up at Wayne County Parks Crosswinds Marsh
Fri, Apr 3: World Aquatic Animal Day Hike
Sat, Apr 11: Eggstravaganza at Maybury Farm
Sun, Apr 12: FestiFools 2026: Back to the FOOLture!
Wed, Apr 22: Desert Foothills Land Trust 35th Anniversary Dinner
Sat, Apr 25: Season Finale: Holst’s The Planets at Hill Auditorium
Sat, May 9: Pink & Teal Challenge at Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester
Sat, May 23: Camp Kenan Open House: Paint-a-Palooza |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The February my daughter Ella was 1, she caught a cold that lingered for months. There were short stretches of relief, but mostly there was congestion, disrupted sleep, and a level of crankiness that turned my sunny baby into someone I barely recognized. The clouds around her felt constant, and one day, I caught myself labeling her in my head as “the
crabby one.” But of course, if I had a perpetually runny nose and no way to manage it, I’d be irritable, too! I needed to remember this wasn’t her personality, it was a season. What we needed to get through it was distraction: something fun to do "right now" and also fun things to anticipate. Aside from those who live in paradise pockets like San Diego, most of our readers are in the thick of a particularly dreary winter. The world feels heavy
and gray, energy runs low, and it’s easy to fixate on how dispirited we feel. But we need to remember that this isn't our personality, it's a season. What we need to get through it is distraction in the moment and also something positive we can place on our horizon. My family is counting down to the March 20 release of Project Hail Mary, which stars Ryan Gosling. The movie is based on the novel by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian. You don't have to be a science nerd to love Weir's books
(although science nerds DO love Weir's books), because in all of them, the real hero is human ingenuity—curiosity, flexible thinking, doing what needs to be done even in extreme circumstances. When things are going awry, the answer isn’t despair, it’s problem-solving, and I always emerge from a Weir book feeling spiritually lighter. While I immerse myself in Weir and Gosling, you, of course, should do YOU! Let the art or sport that grabs you and your kids be your launch ticket
to optimism now, and lift you to fun in the future. We're glad to provide the fuel!
—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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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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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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Bring your Nerf blaster and gear up for the ultimate showdown at our award-winning Nerf Wars event! Join us for an evening filled with fun, friendly competition, and adrenaline-pumping action. Whether you're a seasoned Nerf warrior or a first-time
participant, this event promises excitement for everyone! Do not bring darts, we have plenty!
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Join us at FestiFools Studio for our Saturday Volunteer Days! If you already love FestiFools and FoolMoon, or maybe you just want to learn more about these wacky events AND HOW THEY ARE CREATED, we’d like to invite you to JOIN US in the warm and cozy
FestiFools Studio in Ann Arbor. Get creative with papier-mâché application, making mini gobos, building drums, and other fun stuff! All ages are welcome.
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Watch as beautiful works of art are carved in real time. This year's theme? Winter games! Carvings representing classic games of the season will be on display. Check out pre-carved designs and watch as these icy works of art are chipped, cut, and chiseled.
We'll also have plenty of photo ops with interactive sculptures. This family event has games for the kiddos, and the young at heart. Can you sink a disc golf putt in winter weather? Or, you can try your luck at curling - a classic winter game!
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Every Saturday and Sunday includes Sledding with free sleds to borrow in the Sled Shed, Oversized bonfires and marshmallow roasters (lit 12-7 p.m.), Curling, Board Games inside the Shed, Riverfront Ambassadors with free activity pages, hand warmers, and
gloves, Drinks and s’mores at the Valade Shed Bar (12-8 p.m.), and Food from Smokey G’s (12-7 p.m.)
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The Detroit Autorama is a massive annual indoor custom car show at Huntington Place (formerly Cobo Hall) in Detroit, showcasing hundreds of unique hot rods, trucks, muscle cars, and motorcycles, highlighted by the prestigious Ridler Award for the best new
custom build and featuring live entertainment, pinstriping, and family activities, attracting tens of thousands of enthusiasts.
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The Michigan Nordic Fire Festival was created in 2016 to celebrate winter, fire, family and fun. As the days start to get longer and days start to warm, we created an opportunity to get outside, throw spears, and try some of the wonderful beers and meads
produced in the area. Remember, most of the festival will be OUTDOORS. Dress warmly! Festival grounds could be muddy and/or icy.
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Back by popular demand, we are bringing some fun and sun to the cold month of February! Grab your summer/beachy attire and join the party with DJ Big Mike of Totally Focused Entertainment Company! Kids music, games and activities with local organizations!
Light concessions for purchase.
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Hear fun, imaginative, and interactive performances designed for children ages 2-6. Enjoy up-close and personal performances in the DSO’s Cube as audiences sing, dance, and enjoy a morning full of musical fun—all before naptime!
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Discover, connect and learn at the Detroit Zoo’s monthly Animal Day Celebrations!
Each month, we will spotlight a featured animal or topic with an in-person celebration full of fun and discovery. Included with Zoo admission, these events offer opportunities to learn from our animal care team, enjoy hands-on activities and collect exclusive Animal Day Passport Cards unique to each event. Join us and explore the wonders of the animal kingdom!
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Join us for the City of Warren’s Black History Month Celebration as we come together to honor a century of Black history, culture, and achievements. This special event will feature local vendors and opportunities to reflect and celebrate the lasting
contributions that have shaped our community.
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Celebrate Hinamatsuri (Japanese Girls’ Day) at the DIA. Enjoy beloved traditions such as a tea ceremony, a display of hina dolls, ikebana flower arrangements, and soothing koto music, along with new programs for 2026.
Hinamatsuri at the DIA is organized by Japan Cultural Development, a nonprofit organization that fosters friendship between local and Japanese communities through cultural demonstrations in Detroit. The event is supported by the Japan Business Society of Detroit, the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, the DIA’s auxiliary Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures, and many other organizations.
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Join For-Mar Naturalists for this out-and-back hike to Bluegill Boat Launch. This paved pathway will take you through wooded areas along Mott Lake. Gather and input data into iNaturalist. This hike focuses on identifying and documenting observations of
Michigan’s Maples. This walk is about 2 miles.
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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 of…
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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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- Open Skate at The Rink at Stine Community Park - Troy, Fri-Sun, Feb 27-Mar 1, Mon–Thu: 3–8 pm | Fri: 3–9 pm | Sat: 11 am–9 pm | Sun: 11 am–8 pm
- 2026 Ice Carving Festival at County Farm Park - Ann Arbor, Sat, Feb 28, 12pm-4pm
- City of Warren Black History Month Celebration - Warren, Sat, Feb 28, 12pm - 3pm
- Fool U! FoolMoon Luminary Making Workshop Series - Hathaway's Hideaway - Ann Arbor, Sun, Mar 1, 10-4PM
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Ann Arbor-Detroit 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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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school options - we've got you covered.
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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 fingertips!
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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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2025's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Detroit Metro Area, as voted by thousands of parents! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM
Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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