KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a teenager, I had a teacher who became a mentor without ever knowing he was one. He was aware I’d been going through some difficult times, and was glad to hear I was almost on the other side. “Some people aren't lucky enough to have dealt with hard things when they're young,” he told me. Then he added the phrase that has echoed in my head for decades: “Remember the
rocks.” Life, he explained, was always going to toss boulders into my path. The trick was to recognize, early, that even if it was painful or scary, I was capable of getting around, or over, or through them. Remembering how I’d managed would help me trust myself more when the next, bigger ones appeared. As a parent, I think about that often, about how the only way to become someone who does hard things is… to do hard things. It’s tempting
to rush in and smooth every unpleasant obstacle our kids encounter. When we email the teacher, mend the friendship, rescue the forgotten homework, eliminate every discomfort, we may feel helpful in the moment, but in fact we’re quietly removing the practice stones they need. Resilience doesn’t come from being told “You’re strong”; it comes from evidence that only they can gather, from working through manageable challenges and thinking, That was hard. And I handled it. We don’t need to
manufacture their challenges—being a kid is difficult enough. And we don’t abandon them to do it all on their own, either. We just learn to pause, to weigh advice against intervention, and to let them see what they can manage. The goal is that later in life, when something truly difficult lands in our children's path, they won’t just hope they can manage it, they’ll know. Now, many years later, when I encounter something daunting, I think back to my mentor and
remember the rocks. "I do hard things," I tell myself. And it works.
—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. |
Discover the Best of Texas & Beyond Want to stay in the know on the best places to go, things to do, and experiences worth exploring? The Lone Star Low Down from Texas Lifestyle Magazine highlights top
travel destinations, family-friendly outings, local events, dining, and exclusive giveaways. Whether you’re planning weekend adventures, road trips, or looking for inspiration close to home, this is your go-to source for discovering the best of Texas and beyond. Sign up here to receive
the Lone Star Low Down. |
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The AISD Spring Break is March 16 to 20 this year - and it is high time to start planning for spring break activities for you kids!
Our friends at Fantastic Magic Camp offer a spring Camp in north central Austin, (Crestview) this year - and Summer Camps both in South Plugerville, (Mt Playmore), and in north central Austin, (Crestview) - in a safe, supervised and caring environment.
This Camp is a fully inclusive day camp for children between 5 and 12 and in addition to magic, campers will enjoy juggling, puppetry, comedy improvisation, craft options, outdoor games and an amazing magic show at the end of every day. Campers are taught to respect and care for themselves and others. The number one rule is "Have fun and help other Have fun".
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Train-A-Palooza #12 model train show will be held at the Grapevine Convention Center located at 1209 S. Main St., Grapevine, Texas March 14 & 15, 2026. Model train layouts will display various gauges of trains.
Choo Choo Express trackless train will be providing train rides in the parking lot.
Admission is for both days and the Lone Star Hi-Railers huge three rail O guage model railroad layout inside an actual 70-foot-long baggage car, located in the historic Grapevine Railyard area. Show hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Grapevine Shuttle for attendees is free.
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Creator Camp is heading back to Austin for an incredible Summer 2026! As seen on Shark Tank, we bring world-class digital arts education to the ATX creative community. Our weekly camps cover everything from professional filmmaking and YouTube strategy to
game design and music production. We provide a space where kids can collaborate, innovate, and master the technology they use every day. With industry-standard equipment and a high-energy atmosphere, it’s the ultimate summer destination for aspiring creators. Join us in Austin this summer and help your child transform from a viewer into a visionary!
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Ballet Austin Academy – Summer Camps & Classes
Ages 15 months – 12 years
Since 1956, Ballet Austin Academy has inspired young dancers with creativity, movement, and a love for dance. This summer, your child can take center stage in a fun, supportive environment designed to spark imagination and build confidence.
Our Summer Children’s Program offers classes and camps for ages 15 months to 12 years. Dancers can start in the Young Children’s Division, a gentle introduction to dance, move to the Pre-Ballet Division for formal ballet prep, or continue in the Elementary Division, where ballet training begins. In Broadway Kids Camp, kids celebrate what makes them unique through song, dance, and a special performance for family and friends.
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Celebrate everything feathered, furred, smooth and scaled at Texas Science & Natural History Museum! Learn about Texas wildlife and participate in hands-on activities led by local nature groups and the museum’s education team. Get up close with live
animals like raptors, turtles, snakes and more, brought to you by WILDcenter! Plus, get 20% off select merchandise in the Museum Store. All Texas Wildlife Day activities take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are free with the purchase of museum admission.
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UMLAUF Family Day- Spring Forward invites families to celebrate the return of longer days and brighter light in the Sculpture Garden. Inspired by the shift of daylight-saving time and our Torchbearer sculptures, this seasonal gathering explores how sunlight
moves through nature, sparks scientific discovery, and fuels creativity.
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Join us on the second Sunday of every month for Family Yoga! Family classes are a playful and inspiring way to connect with other families in your community. Stretch, breathe, connect, relax, and have fun! This lighthearted class includes partner poses,
whimsical music, and mindful moments as you connect with nature. No experience is required.
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Museums don’t always have to be hands-off!
One Sunday out of the month, the Neill-Cochran House Museum opens its doors to feature hands-on activities, scavenger hunts, self-paced tours, and (weather permitting) lawn games with space to picnic in the shade. Looking for that extra little bit of weekend time to come out and see something new?
Between our spacious lawn and kid-friendly activities, we’re in it to offer a museum experience to folks of all ages and, (ahem!) attention spans. Don’t let the 21st century get you down! Come out and learn something new about how we got to where we are now!
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Dive into color at our Rainbow Splash Bash! Warm family swim, rainbow vibes, and splashy fun for the whole family!
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The Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award celebrates its 30th anniversary!
The day starts off with a children’s parade from City Park, starting at 9:00 am. The fair at the Library will begin at 10:00 am and will include presentations by 13 award-winning authors and illustrators, performances by local school children, hands-on literacy and art activities for children and youth, and book giveaways. Fun for the whole family! All events are free and open to the public; some workshops will have limited capacity.
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Join the Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy team for a day of mulching in the Oak Grove. The Oak Grove is our most popular picnic area for school tours. Volunteers are encouraged to enjoy the rest of the Garden after their shift and to visit one of the
many sponsors around town for volunteer rewards and local freebies. Please wear clothing suitable for working outdoors (eg. long sleeves, long pants, closed toed shoes) and bring a water bottle, hat and sunscreen. We’ll provide tools and gloves. Parking is available in the Volunteer Lot, located directly off the main parking lot, down an unpaved road marked by orange cones. Register via GivePulse at the link below!
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Celebrate everything feathered, furred, smooth and scaled at Texas Science & Natural History Museum!
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Celebrate Spring with Buda Public Library! The whole family will enjoy this event filled with art activities, seed starting projects, and outdoor storytimes.
1:30-2:00 pm is sensory-sensitive time. The goal of this time is to reduce and remove overstimulating elements of events including music, bubbles, and lights while providing springtime activities. Please note that this event does take place outside and we may experience some road noise during the program.
This event takes place rain or shine! In case of poor weather, we can move all activities into the lobby.
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Jump into the fun! Kids are invited to stop by our Children’s Area for open Nintendo Switch gaming. Play popular titles, team up with friends, challenge other players, or try something new — it’s all about friendly competition and having a great time.
All skill levels are welcome. Drop in, grab a controller, and let the games begin!
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Party in Your Park takes place four times each year from 5-8 PM. We bring the party to you by visiting various neighborhood parks. Each free event features family-friendly fun, including yard games, music, refreshments and more!
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This week we are celebrating the joy of Reading! We are recognizing Dr.Seuss's "Read Across America" Day, which is May 2nd. Come in and put together your own Cat In The Hat Craft. Which book will you be reading?
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Baby/Toddler Story Time offers babies and toddlers infant to approximately 24 months opportunities to interact with each other and their care takers through fun stories, movement, and songs. Special attention is given to the Every Child Ready to Read early
literacy practices: singing, talking, reading, and playing. A short free play session will follow the reading portion of the event if space allows.
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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 protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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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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- Baby Lapsit (0-18 months) - 405 East Loop Street, Buda, TX 78610, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:30-11 am
- Open Gaming- Nintendo switch fun! - 501 Sportsplex Dr, Dripping Springs, TX 78620, Friday, March 6, 2026, 4:30-5:30 pm
- Music/ Movement Storytime -
Main Street, Liberty Hill, TX, Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:15 - 11 am
- Texas America250 Reading
Challenge - 1201 Brazos St, Austin, Texas 78701, Friday, March 6, 2026, all day
- Baby Toddler Story Time - 500 W Live Oak St, Hutto, TX 78634, Friday, March 6, 2026, 11 am
- Live Music on Lake Travis - JB Elwood - Farm to Market Road 2769, Leander, TX, Friday, March 6, 2026, 7PM - 9PM
- Party in Your Park - City of San Marcos - 630 E. Hopkins, San Marcos, TX 78666, Friday, March 6, 2026, 5-8 pm
- Coltman Chamber Music Competition - Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 9:30 AM–5:30
PM
- Read with Ruby the Therapy Dog! - 501 Sportsplex Dr, Dripping Springs, TX
78620, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10:30 am- 12 pm
- Pokémon Club - East Liberty Avenue, Round Rock,
TX, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 9-10:30 am
- Family Storytime - East Liberty Avenue, Round Rock,
TX, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 11-11:30 am
- Live Music on Lake Travis - Bartley - Farm to Market Road 2769, Leander, TX, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 7PM - 9PM
- Spring Fling - 405 East Loop Street, Buda, TX 78610, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 2-3:30 pm
- Carmela Full of Wishes - 405 W 22nd St, Austin, TX 78705, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 1pm
- Mason Heritage Days - South Bagdad
Road, Leander, TX, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10 am- 4 pm
- It's My Park Day – Dia de mi Parque! - 2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 9 am- 12 pm
- Conectando Corazones Bilingual
Storytime - 603 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10:30-11 am
- Tomás Rivera Award 30th Anniversary Literature Fair - 625 E Hopkins St, San Marcos, TX 78666, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10 am
- Sunday Funday- Neill-Cochran House Museum - 2310 San Gabriel St, Austin, TX 78705, Sunday, March 8, 2026, 11 am- 2
pm
- Carmela Full of Wishes - 405 W 22nd St, Austin, TX 78705, Sunday, March 8, 2026, 1pm
- Family Day- Spring Forward - Azie Morton Road, Austin, TX 78704, Sunday, March 8, 2026, 11
am- 4 pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Austin 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 Austin 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Austin area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues 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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Planning a kids birthday party in the Austin area? Here are lots of ideas for where to have it! If there is a resource that we have missed, please email us to let us know, and we'll add it promptly.
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Enjoy the weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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