KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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: World Ocean Day at Aquarium of Niagara
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! Sat, Jun 20: Artpark Fairy House Festival
Sun, Jun 21: Summer Carnival on Old Falls Street
Fri, Jun 26: Friday Night Concerts on Old Falls Street
Sat, Jun 27: LEGO Contest
Sun, Jun 28: Radio Control Model Airplane Air Show
Mon, Jul
6: Buffalo Zoo Summer Camp
Mon, Jul 6: Kav Summer Players present High School Musical: 3-Week Musical Theatre
Camp
Mon, Jul 20-Fri, Jul 24: Fashion Lab NY Summer Fashion Camp: Fashion History & Sewing for Teens
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was homeschooling Madison and Ella, one of my favorite sanity-saving tools was the Theme of the Week. If the theme was "Birds," then yes, we'd go on a bird walk. But we'd also read my favorite-ever children's book, talk about the physics of flying and of colors, and probably also do some math and logic involving eggs and
baskets. The theme made ordinary learning feel like an adventure, but more important, it gave us a focusing tool: It helped the girls connect with what they were seeing and doing, and it helped me feel that we weren’t wandering randomly through our days. Summer planning can benefit from that same kind of gentle structure. Last week, I wrote about how summer is not supposed to be a guilt-inducing race to cram in every concert, splash pad, festival, hike,
camp, road trip, library program, ice cream stand, and sunset before the school buses roll again. Trying to grab everything is a good way to miss the point; instead, to plan the summer without overstuffing it, we need to consider the kinds of experiences that make our family feel more awake, connected, and alive. The five summer lenses I keep coming back to are: music, motion, making,
nature, and food. Music helps kids hear the world differently and live what they love. Motion lets bodies teach what words cannot. Making reminds us that we can bring something new into the universe. Nature offers perspective and wonder. And food connects us to place, culture, and each other. Over the next
few weeks, I’ll address these one at a time—not as assignments, but as invitations. Even as the days fly by, a summer seen through some useful lenses can still be lazy, loose, spontaneous, and wonderfully imperfect.
—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. |
Please click through to our 2026 survey to vote for your top 3 places to take kids... it will be used to compile our 2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Buffalo area. Voting is live through June 20; believe me, winning a place on the Top 20 list matters to the people who
create amazing family-friendly experiences. Take 3 minutes to choose your favorites as your way of saying thank you... and use the list to build your summer bucket list at the same time! |
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Are you ready for summer? Summer starts in just a few weeks, and Stutelage camps are kicking off an exciting season of learning, creativity, and fun! With flexible half-day options, families can mix and match camps to fit their schedules while kids explore engaging themes like STEM, art, cooking, and more. Our programs are led by certified teachers and professional educators who know how to keep kids both happy and challenged in a safe, supportive environment. Whether your child loves building, creating, experimenting, or making new friends, there’s something for everyone. Spots are filling quickly, so now is the perfect time to finalize your plans and get ready for an unforgettable summer! Check us out in East Amherst, Clarence Center, Williamsville, Kenmore, Grand Island, Lancaster, Orchard Park, and Hamburg. Register Here: bit.ly/campregistrations
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Celebrate our incredible oceans at the Aquarium of Niagara. Swim over on Sunday, June 14 for marine merriment. Meet the Island Princess! Get your photo taken and sing along with the beloved character before she sets sail across the ocean. Take action for our blue planet while engaging in fun, educational stations and games. Discover how the Aquarium of Niagara is involved in various AZA SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) programs. You can even make up-cycled crafts!
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The must-attend event of the summer. Join us for Star Wars Night Episode XVII with Fan Costumers, Specialty Jerseys, Laser Swords, in-game videos and of course, a postgame battle and Fireworks Show. More details are to be announced!
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Saturday, June 13th - Sunday, June 14th, 2026 at Martin Luther King Jr Park: The Buffalo Juneteenth celebration has grown tremendously, with the mission to actively preserve and promote the broad spectrum of African American heritage through educational and cultural activities that will benefit the community as a whole.
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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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The Heart of Music Festival 2026 returns this summer to East Aurora, New York, for another unforgettable celebration of live music, community, and charity. Building on over a decade of generosity and local support, this beloved festival brings together music lovers, local venues, and performers from across the region with a shared purpose: to give back. The event is produced by a nonprofit organization rooted in the tradition of East Aurora’s long-running MusicFest and has donated over $1 million to local charities focused on youth, the arts, and community well-being.
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From the Scottish Highlands, Emerald Isles, and rugged Welsh coastline to the Genesee Valley, Celtic traditions and roots run deep. Explore this rich culture at our pan-Celtic celebration of heritage music, dance, and authentic food and drink. Shop specialty vendors, see artisan demos, watch exciting Highland games, explore the Historic Village, find out about your family history at the clan booths, explore tartans in the John L. Wehle Gallery, and so much more.
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Miss Lexi is now offering FREE trial private lessons. Curious to see if your dancer would enjoy and benefit from a one-on-one lesson This is the perfect opportunity! Schedule NOW! ✨
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If you know a current college undergraduate who was born in the US and has at least one immigrant parent, please invite them to participate in the research study of Wiljar Ojuro, 2026 doctoral candidate at the University of Rochester. The purpose of this study is to examine mental health and academic outcomes among these students, with the goal of informing higher education practices related to student retention and counseling center support services. Students who choose to participate click the survey link, review the information sheet, and complete the survey. After finishing, they will have the option to enter a drawing for a $100 Amazon electronic gift card through a separate link.
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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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