KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Thu, May 28: Elmo's Got The Moves at Artpark - Tickets On Sale Now
Sat, May 30: Butterfly Release at the Botanical Gardens
Sat, Jun 6: SpringFest at Trillium Nature Center
Sat, Jun 6: Family Workshop: Dinosaur Deep Dive
Sun, Jun 7: Come Enjoy The Day at Backyard Barnyard! Fri, Jun 12: Friendship Bracelet Night with Fireworks at Sahlen Field Buffalo Bisons vs. Syracuse Mets
Sat, Jun 13: Unearth a Story: Adopt-a-Dino Scavenger Hunt!
Sat, Jun 13: Royal Princess Train at the Arcade & Attica Railroad
Sun, Jun 14: Camp Kenan Open House - Bikes, Bows & Arrows Fri, Jun 19: Juneteenth Junior History Buffs
Sat, Jun 20: Dinos! Hands-on Fossils with Penn Dixie
Sat, Jun 20: Kid's Country Fair
Sat, Jun 20: Thunder of Niagara Air Show!
Sun, Jun 21: Men's Vintage Baseball Game
Sun, Jun 21: Family Wilderness Survival Challenge
Tue, Jun 30: Buffalo
Zoo Summer Camp
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: A tumble is not a verdict; it's information. And kids are natural data analysts. That's what a mom half a generation older than me told me when I was getting ready to have kids, and I took it to heart. So I was secretly a little thrilled the summer my daughter Madison was almost 4, when she took her first big splash off a slippery log into a
creek. Here's why: To succeed in life, everyone needs to learn to stretch to the edge of their abilities... to gather courage from their toes, to calculate, to balance, to wobble, to slide... and eventually to succeed. Kids can learn this early if the grownups in their orbit help them see the mud and bruises that come from a tumble as badges to be worn proudly: a fail-until-we-succeed philosophy in action. That's how personal fulfillment happens, and it's how human progress happens,
too. Summer is childhood's best laboratory, where sensory experiences stick as lifelong learning. School has grades and rubrics and consequences; summer has grass stains and do-overs. An amusement park ride can teach the difference between fear and danger. A hands-on museum can teach that when your tower collapses, you simply vow to rebuild it taller. A farm can teach that maybe you don’t like strawberries from the grocery store, but
you do like the ones you picked yourself, still warm from the sun. A climbing gym can teach your muscles that “I can’t” really means “I can’t yet.” And summer camps are entire worlds built around trying something new with no transcript following you home. Last week, the KidsOutAndAbout.com team launched our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey. It's a way to thank the people who make your community a great place to raise kids. Equally important, it’s a giant menu of local opportunities for your kids to stretch their legs, their minds, and their bravery this summer. Use it to create your summer bucket list! Then step back and set your family’s summer dial to “safe to fail.” Watch your kids climb, build, stumble, and try again.
Let them splash.
—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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Hidden Valley Animal Adventure in Varysburg is open Memorial Day weekend, including Monday, May 25. Take a safari adventure and come face-to-face with majestic wildlife from around the world. From towering bison and graceful elk to camels, zebras and other exotic species, this one-of-a-kind day trip blends excitement, discovery, and the joy of connecting with wildlife hands-on. Take a guided safari bus or self-drive thru tour of the 63-acre park. Select a COMBO package to include a discounted visit to the Small Animal Adventure petting zoo. Perfect for all ages, the adventure is closer than you think! Reservations recommended. Order tickets online at www. hiddenvalleyadventure.com.
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Join us at the Buffalo Zoo this summer for a wild camp experience designed for curious kids of all ages. With six themed sessions for ages 6–12 and our all-new Cub Camp for ages 4–6, there’s something for every camper to enjoy. The Zoo also offers single-day camps, a fun and flexible way to make the most of days off from school. All Buffalo Zoo camps feature unique themes and hands-on learning through animal exhibit visits, up-close animal encounters, crafts, art projects, nature play, and interactive activities that spark creativity and a love for wildlife.
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Lewiston's beloved Summer Kickoff Festival is back at the Griffon Brewery & Gastropub! Celebrate summer with family, friends, and the community. Ticket Highlights Include: Deep-Fried Smelt Sampling: Only $5, compliments of DiMino's Lewiston Tops & The Griffon Brewery Gastropub! Delicious Eats: The Griffon Brewery Gastropub will serve up crowd-favorite dishes and beverages for all to enjoy. 50/50 Raffle: Hosted by the Niagara River Anglers- try your luck! Enjoy all this while listening to live music! Join us for a night of food, fun, and festivities to kick off the summer season!
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Come celebrate Spring with us! Rides, family friendly games & much awaited carnival food. $5 off coupon on our Facebook page and a contest to win 4 free wristbands.
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Pack up the kids and head to Olcott. Olcott Beach Carousel Park is open! Open Sat., Sun. & Mon., from 12 - 6 pm Memorial Day Weekend. All rides are still 25 cents!
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This timeline of military history traces the development of uniforms, weaponry, rations and camp life from medieval times through the present.
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Visit our Botanical Gardens on select dates for a unique art-making experience inspired by the lush greenery and vibrant plant life of our conservatory. Through themed art activities, immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and textures of the Botanical Gardens while crafting your own botanical-inspired craft. Bring your imagination to life, all needed materials are provided. Join us for a relaxing, fun-filled day of art, nature, and creativity.
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Get up close with our butterflies in a truly special way! New this year, join us for a live Butterfly Release on select Saturday mornings during the Butterfly Experience! Enjoy exclusive early access to the Botanical Gardens and our Butterfly Experience before we open to the public. Participants will learn about our butterflies, including their life cycle, their behavior, and their role in our ecosystem, before helping to release a butterfly into our exhibit! Regular admission for the day is included, so you can explore the conservatory after the release! This special encounter is limited to 15 people per experience. All tickets must be purchased ahead of time online. Every person must have a ticket!
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Welcome aboard the train to yesterday…Step back in time aboard one of the last operating steam train excursion in New York State. We are an authentic operating short line railroad. We hold the distinction of being one of the last “common carriers” — running freight and passenger trains weekly. Enjoy listening to the click of the rails and the steam whistle echoing off the rural hillsides on this little journey into the past. May it revive pleasant memories of by-gone days for you and give to today’s generation, many of whom have never seen a steam locomotive, a window into transportation history.
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Experience a dynamic living history presentation featuring a first-person portrayal of Carl Ey of the 74th New York Regiment (Eagle Zouaves). Learn how these striking soldiers—known for their colorful uniforms, acrobatic drills, and fearless reputation—fought in major battles from Bull Run to Gettysburg and beyond.
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Memorial Day Weekend Festival on Old Falls Street - 101 Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY, USA, May 22, 2026 to May 24, 2026, 12:00 PM Free Community Art Classes - Locust Street Art, 138 Locust St, Buffalo, NY 14204, May 23, 2026, Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-6:30pm, Saturday 1-5pm Comics
and Illustration: Tech Arts for Girls (Spring) - Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center, Main Street, Buffalo, NY, May 23, 2026, 10:00AM Scavenger Hunt - Isaías González-Soto Branch Library (formerly Niagara Branch), 280 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14201, May 23, 2026, Library Open Hours Take and Make Craft - Isaías González-Soto Branch Library (formerly Niagara Branch), 280 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14201, May 23, 2026, Open Hours Kids Crocheting at Anna Reinstein - Reinstein Memorial Library, 2580 Harlem Rd, Cheektowaga, NY 14225, May 23, 2026, 10:30 - 11:30 am Tune the Tale - Lackawanna Public Library, Ridge Road, Buffalo, NY, May 23, 2026, 11:00 AM Peaceful Playtime at the Central Library - Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY, May 23, 2026, 3 - 4 pm Beyond Blue and Gray: The Bold Legacy of the Civil War Zouaves - Concordia Cemetery, 438 Walden Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14211, May 23, 2026, 10:00 AM Dungeons & Dragons: Underwood - Isaías González-Soto Branch Library (formerly Niagara Branch), 280 Porter Avenue,
Buffalo, NY 14201, May 23, 2026, 1:00PM-5:00PM Monthly Model Rocket Launching - 3489 Big Tree Lane, Geneseo, NY 14454, May 23, 2026 to May 25, 2026, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Guess How Many Contest! - Isaías González-Soto Branch Library (formerly Niagara Branch), 280 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14201, May 24, 2026, Open hours National Memorial Day Concert Live Stream - ONLINE ONLY, May 24, 2026,
8pm EDT / 7pm CDT / 6pm MDT / 5pm PDT / 4pm AKDT |
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Buffalo and WNY 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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