KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sun, Feb 1: Model Railroad Club 2026 Open House at Model Railroad Club of
Buffalo Sun, Feb 1: St. Benedict School Open House Fri, Feb 6: Shostakovich No. 5 With the BPO
Sat, Feb 7: Storytime at the Botanical Gardens Sat, Feb 14: The Winter Warriors at Old Fort Niagara
Sat, Feb 14: Winter Break: Arty Party Time! at Corning Museum of Glass
Sat, Feb 14: BPO Little Kids With the BPO Mon, Feb 16: Aviation Exploration February School Break Camp - EAST AMHERST at Stutelage Innovations
Mon, Feb 16: 2026 Polar Bear Days at the Buffalo Zoo
Fri, Feb 20: Kindergarten Readiness
Series at Parent Network of WNY
Sat, Feb 21: Get Outside This Winter: Orienteering at Cazenovia Park
Sun, Feb 22: Monster Jam Freestyle Mania at the Keybank Center Mon, Feb 23: FREE Kid's Theatre Classes by 2nd Generation Theatre Academy
at Isaias Gonzalez-Soto Branch Library
Wed, Feb 25: Online Japanese for Teens: Shopping & Travel at Japan Society
Fri, Feb 27: DIY Birdhouses at Niagara Falls State Park
Sat, Feb 28: Williamsville Soup Stroll at Garrison Park
Sat, Feb 28: Contra Dance - Let's dance the Winter Away! at Queen City Contra Dancers |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
My first job out of college was as the managing editor at a small medical publishing company in New York City. I worked alongside Steve, our associate editor. My strength was structure and rhythm; his was medical accuracy and detail. We made a good team. One day, Steve walked into my office waving some printed pages. “Deb, can you do that thing you
do, so I can check out the science?” “What thing?” I asked. “You know,” he said, “that magic you work where the writing comes in muddy and you turn it into something clear, logical, and even fun to read.” I’ve never forgotten that moment. Not just because it felt great to be seen, but because of what it taught me about leadership. We’re surrounded by people with unique strengths. As parents, friends, or leaders, one of the most powerful things
we can do is notice those strengths and say them out loud. When we do, people rise. Kids rise. They lean into what they’re good at, and their futures get brighter. It’s not magic—it’s just the natural result of being seen and valued—but it feels like it. Over the years, as I raised kids, built a business team, and worked within various communities, I kept returning to that lesson: Leadership isn’t about having a title, it’s about paying attention. You can’t run a
family or a business unless you know who you’re with and what makes them shine. And once you start validating others (“You know that thing you do? Please do that!”) you become a leader. Even if you're just leading someone to be more themselves. So today, find a reason to start a conversation: “You know that thing you do?...” You won't see it right away, but trust me: Their horizon will glow.
—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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Charlotte 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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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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Open to ages 10 and up, this Make Your Own Glass experience introduces you to the basics of flameworking and offers a focused experience with hot glass by creating a single pendant from start to finish.
To create your pendant, you will melt glass rods in a torch under the supervision and guidance of our professional glass artists. You begin by choosing a design and shape from the options provided. Then you will choose up to three colors to create the design. After your pendant is designed, you will be dressed in provided safety gear and seated at a work station. Our professional glass artists will guide you through the process of melting and shaping
colored rods of glass in a flame to create your pendant.
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We’re hosting our first-ever family sleepover on January 30, 2026! Register today to spend a night at the museum. We’ll have exclusive playtime and fun activities! Check-In: 6:30 pm | Lights Out: 10 pm | Check-Out: 9 am. The Low Bridge Café will be open
6:30pm-8pm on Friday and 7:30 - 9 am on Saturday. You will also be able to enjoy a complimentary pretzel snack Friday night courtesy of Hofbräuhaus Buffalo.
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It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing! Inspired by Harlem's famed musical hot spots like The Cotton Club and The Savoy, this swingin' night of musical sensations focuses on Harlem's heyday when Duke Ellington's orchestra was the house band, and
Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ethel Waters showcased the classics of the Great American Songbook.
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Experience the winter season with a guided snowshoe trek on the forested trails. If conditions permit, we will see Lake Erie ice volcanoes!
Meet at the Evangola State Park Bath House, Warm Up Room. Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the program. Registration is required for all programs.
Please dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear. Snowshoes and Ice Volcanos, snow permitting. This program is intended for ages 8+ and adults 18+.
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Enjoy a leisurely walk with your dog and a Park Naturalist around Goat Island. It is not necessary to have a dog to participate. It is not necessary to have a dog to participate, however, all dogs in attendance must be up-to-date on immunizations, leashed,
and under control. 6 foot non-retractable leashes. Meet at parking lot 3 on Goat Island inside Niagara Falls State Park. Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the program. Registration is required for all programs.
Programs are free. Parking is limited and parking fees may apply.
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Hop on a reemerging fashion trend and learn about our reptile neighbors in this family-oriented workshop mixing museum collections with a fun, take-home beaded lizard craft.
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Join us for an indoor family night out conducting simple, sometimes messy, but always fun science experiments and hands-on activities for young scientists like elephant toothpaste, snap circuits, and a custom K'nex car to sail across the room!
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Looking for a low-key activity to add to your Saturday? Gather your family and friends, unplug from your devices, and rediscover the timeless joy of board games! Games for all ages available and no registration is necessary.
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Discover the difference at St. Benedict Elementary School! Attend our Open House to learn about our faith-based education, dedicated faculty, and strong academic programs that nurture both the mind and spirit. Join us and see how we cultivate a community of
compassion, excellence, and growth.
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- Holiday Wrapping Paper Donation Drive at Kenmore Library - Kenmore Branch Library, Delaware Road, Kenmore, NY, USA, Jan 30-Feb 1, all day
- Family Game Night at Great Escape Adventures - Great Escape Adventures - Walden
Galleria, Walden Galleria, Buffalo, NY, USA, Jan 30-Feb 1, varies, see below
- Coats & Cans
Drive at Explore & More - Explore & More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum, 130 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202, Jan 30-Feb 1, during regular hours
- AP Gorny: Different from the Rest - Buffalo & Erie County Public Library – Central Library, 1 Lafayette Square,
Buffalo, NY, USA, Jan 30-Feb 1, Central Library's hours
- Free Outdoor Ice Skating at Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza - Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza, Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY, USA, Jan 30-Feb 1, varies, see below
- Toddler Time - Lackawanna Public Library, Ridge Road, Buffalo, NY, USA, Jan 30, 10:30 AM
- Free Community Art Classes - Locust Street Art, 138 Locust St, Buffalo, NY 14204, Jan 31, Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-6:30pm, Saturday 1-5pm
- Sensory Storytime - Lackawanna Public Library, Ridge Road, Buffalo, NY, USA, Jan 31, 11:30 AM
- Pint-Sized Picassos at the Central Library - Buffalo
& Erie County Public Library, Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY, USA, Jan 31, 1:30 - 2:30 pm
- Family Board Game Day at Kenmore Library - Kenmore Branch Library, Delaware Road, Kenmore, NY, USA, Jan 31, 9:30 am - 5 pm
- Snowshoe & Ice Volcano Walk at Evangola State Park - Evangola State Park, 10191 Old Lake Shore Road, Irving, NY
14081, Jan 31, 1 - 2:30 pm
- Follow the Snowprints at DeVeaux Woods State Park - De Veaux Woods State Park, De Veaux Woods Drive East, Niagara Falls, NY, USA, Jan 31, 10 am
- Woofs and Waterfalls at Niagara Falls State Park - Niagara Falls State Park, 332 Prospect St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303, Jan 31, 2 pm
- Admissions Story Hour at Elmwood Franklin School -
Elmwood Franklin School, 104 New Amsterdam Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216, Jan 31, 10 - 11 am
- 1st Sunday Kite Fly at Gratwick Park - Great Lakes Kitefliers Society, 1200 River Road, N. Tonawanda, NY 14150, Feb 1, 12 - 4 pm
- St. Benedict School Open House - St Benedict's School, 3980 Main Street, Buffalo, Amherst, NY 14226, Feb 1, 11 am-1
pm
- St. John's School Open House - St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church - RECTORY OFFICE, Englewood Avenue, Tonawanda, NY, USA, Feb 1, 12 - 2 pm
- Open House at Trinity Christian School - Trinity Christian School, 146 Reserve Road, West Seneca, NY 14224, Feb 1, 12 - 3 pm
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Buffalo 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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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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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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