KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Mar 20: Encanto in Concert", March 20-21 at Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Fri, Mar 20: Baker's Delight Camp | Lil' Chef / Tween Chef (Ages 5-12) - Flour Power Cooking Studios Charlotte Rea Farms
Sat, Mar 21: Charlotte Checkers Home Game
Fri, Mar 27: Charlotte Independence Home Game at American Legion Memorial Stadium
Sat,
Mar 28: Easter Bunny Express at N.C. Transportation Museum
Sat, Mar 28: Dino Egg Hunt at Catawba Science Center
Tue, Mar 31: Tasty Tuesdays at Matthews United Methodist
Sun, Apr 12: Spring 2026 FLAG FOOTBALL at Carolina Panthers NFL Flag
Sat, Apr 18: Disney's Frozen the Broadway Musical at Children's Theatre of Charlotte
Sat, Apr 18: Earth Day Celebration - Town of Waxhaw |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: The first time I can remember having to take a public stand on anything was in eighth grade English. We were assigned an essay on a controversial topic and told we’d present our arguments to the class. When he handed back our papers, Mr. Schmidt added a twist: no reading. We’d speak from notes. I was horrified. After school, I tried to negotiate my way out of it. “This
makes me really uncomfortable,” I told him, hoping for mercy. He looked at me over his glasses. “That’s the whole point,” he said. “To get stuff done, you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Don’t worry, you’ll live.” Mr. Schmidt was right. I didn’t die. And more important, I learned something that stuck: Discomfort isn’t a stop sign, it’s just part of the road, and all roads are bumpy. That lesson shaped how I've raised my kids, too. Karate helped
Madison and Ella distinguish between effort and injury. Long car rides taught them to rely on their own imaginations. Theater nudged them to stand however close to the spotlight they could manage, even when they’d rather disappear. And summer camps—those muddy, unpredictable, gloriously imperfect experiences—gave them countless chances to try something new and realize I can do this without the stigma that can accompany failing in other contexts. Growth rarely happens
inside the comfort zone, which is why I’m such a believer in giving kids opportunities to stretch beyond what feels easy. Summer programs are perfect for this, so that's why during "summer camp search season" we focus on showcasing the wide variety of camps and programs available in each area we serve. Here's the link
to the portal page. These days, as we approach the 25th anniversary of KidsOutAndAbout.com in June, I see that same principle playing out: The technology has changed, the business climate has changed, but the equation hasn’t. Discomfort still shows up right before something meaningful. And I still hear Mr. Schmidt’s voice in my head: Don’t worry, you’ll live.
—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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Welcome to Family Madrigal! Join the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra for a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience at Encanto in Concert on March 20 & 21. Telling the tale of an extraordinary family living in a magical house in the mountains of Colombia, the
entire feature-length Disney movie plays on the big screen at Belk Theater while the CSO performs the score live on stage.
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Matthews Playhouse Summer Camp offers children and teens ages 4-18 a unique opportunity to explore the performing arts, enhance creative skills, and build lasting friendships. With engaging, themed camps that blend acting, singing, and dancing, participants
enjoy a well-rounded, immersive experience for all skill levels. DISCOVER NEW CAMPS LIKE KPOP DEMON hunters, WICKED, The bad guys, Super Mario, Harry Potter, Grease, Stranger Things, Taylor Swift, AND MORE! Half-day camps are also available!
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Skip the glitter glue—this is real art camp. Small Hands Big Art Summer Camps give kids a true fine-art experience—not a one-size-fits-all craft camp. In our Mixed Media Art Camps, young artists explore painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking,
collage, and pastels while learning how artists think, experiment, and bring ideas to life. In our Pottery Camps, kids build, shape, and spin real clay using handbuilding techniques (and even try the pottery wheel at our Waverly studio!). Every project is thoughtfully guided by experienced art educators and designed to build confidence, creativity, and independence. Choose half-day Art or Pottery camps, or our popular full-day Art + Pottery combo. Ages 4–12.
Small Hands Big Art - Waverly
Small Hands Big Art - Fort Mill
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Join us for a powerful day dedicated to the women who shaped our nation across the centuries. Through immersive living-history demonstrations, presentations, and exhibits, you’ll meet the trailblazers, the unsung heroes, and the women whose courage changed
the course of history.
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Hop on over to Veterans Park for “Donuts with the Duck and Bunny” on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Enjoy delicious donuts by “Your Mom’s Donuts” and craft while you wait for your Bunny & Duck photo. Pre-Registration is required as space is limited to only
30 tables per time slot. There are 3 reservation times to choose from: 9 am, 10 am, & 11 am. Registration will include a 45-minute table reservation, 1 donut and 1 craft per person.
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Join us for a picturesque seasonal adventure surrounded by breathtaking orchard blooms—peach or apple—paired with cuddles from adorable baby Highland cows visiting from our friends at Cellar Creek Farms and a special meet-and-greet with the Easter Bunny.
Soak in the beauty of the season and create meaningful spring memories with family and friends as we welcome spring at the Orchard! Reservations are required and space is limited.
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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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- Discovery Day at Montreat College! - Montreat College, Montreat College,
Friday, March 20, 2026, 8:30AM
- SCNP: International Day of Forests Family Hike - Stevens Creek Nature Preserve, 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227, Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10:30am to 11:30am
- Summer Circuits Open House
& Mini Robot Build - Summer Circuits, Pit Stop Court Northwest, Concord, NC, Saturday, March 21, 2026, 11:00am-1:00pm
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Charlotte - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, Saturday, March 21, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, See link for times
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Charlotte 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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CSAs are becoming more popular each year! Farm-to-table fresh weekly produce is a wonderful option for families, to connect kids with what they eat and the wider community.This is KidsOutAndAbout's big list of local community-supported agriculture.
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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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Charlotte 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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Charlotte 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 Charlotte 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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