KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Thu, Jun 4: Juneteenth Celebration and Storywalk© - Lake Norman State Park
Fri, Jun 5: Battle of the Waxhaws: American Revolution Weekend - Museum of the Waxhaws
Fri, Jun 5: Collectors Jam
Sat, Jun 6: Art in the Park 2026
Mon, Jun 8: Fruity Pickin' Storytime: Blackberries - Millstone Creek Orchards
Wed, Jun 10: LGBTQ+ Teen Talks - ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center
Fri, Jun 12: Oasis Spaces: Navigating Jim Crow Traveling Exhibit -
Lake Norman State Park
Sat, Jun 13: The Land Before Time- Family Movie Night
Fri, Jun 19: Juneteenth - Town of Indian Trail
Sat, Jun
20: Free Village Park Concert Series
Sat, Jun 20: Dinos, Donuts and Dads
Sun, Jun 21: Hollywood Hits - Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Mon, Jun 22: Fruity Pickin' Storytime: Blueberries & Blackberries - Millstone Creek
Orchards
Tue, Jun 23: Sensory-Friendly Evening - Main Street Children’s Museum
Sun, Jun 28: Celebrate America - Charlotte Symphony Orchestra |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One summer afternoon during a family camping trip in New Jersey when I was about 6 or 7 years old, a horse fly suddenly appeared next to my ear and started following me everywhere I went. I’m sure that, from its own perspective, it was just going about its business doing ordinary horse fly things, but to me it felt enormous, ominous, and purposeful. I can't remember if it
actually bit me, but I can still summon the hot panic of not being able to get away from its threatening buzz. To my small self, that fly wasn't a little distraction, it was a crisis with wings. The memory surfaced recently when my daughter Ella sent me the above photo, taken in Quintana Beach County Park, near Houston. The point was clear: Proceed, and you will be under attack, and not by any adorable Northeastern bugs you might be used to. No, these bugs were born in Texas. Beware. Sometimes that is exactly
how challenges feel, especially to kids: Problems loom much larger to them than they do to adults with decades of experience. A broken toy, a skinned knee, a mistake in front of the class, or a slight misunderstanding with a friend may be a fly in the ointment to us, but a Texas-sized monster to a child. The trick is to validate the feeling without validating helplessness. We stand beside them and say, Yes, I know, this feels huge. The bugs, even if they're not as large as they
think, are real. They watch us shoo them away and learn gradually to do it for themselves. If I had seen the sign above, my first instinct would have been to flee back to the safety of the car. And Ella said it was not exaggerating, at least not by much: The moment she stepped onto the property, giant mosquitoes descended, and they were hungry; even leggings soaked with OFF Deep Woods did not deter them. She assures me that the photo she got of the Bay-breasted Warbler was
worth all the bites on the backs of her knees. She knew better than to show me the damage. Clearly, the script has flipped.
—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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In the Naturally Creative Summer Camp, elementary students explore a variety of fun arts and music activities, with a nature theme, including: - Art through sculpture, drawing, painting and other creative forms.- Music through drumming, chimes, ukulele, and choir. This is a camp for all campers who are interested in music or art: with or without prior experience. The camp is held June 22 – 26th, concluding with a showcase of the campers’ artwork and musical performances on Friday afternoon. The Steele Creek location is at 9401 South Tryon Street, Charlotte. For more information, email Director Joni Turner at [email protected] |
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MAY 30, 2026 • 12:00pm - 6:00pm • Misty Meadows Farm Weddington, NC • 455 Providence Rd. S. at Ennis Rd. 28173 Join our 20th anniversary celebration of drumming to BEAT cancer. A free, family friendly facilitated interactive drum circle supporting Survivorship + Health & Humanitarian needs globally. https://www.facebook.com/share/1CsF98ddN1/
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Come out and soak up the fun at the Sunny Day Markets Mocksville Food + Brews Festival in Mocksville, NC! Join us for a full day of food, shopping, and community fun for the whole family in downtown Mocksville. Expect delicious food trucks, unique local vendors, local & regional breweries, fun kids activities, plus even more exciting additions!
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Longest-running science fiction and fantasy convention in the Carolinas! We are a multi-fandom event, with panels, workshops, gaming, costuming, galas, entertainment, and more! Come meet authors, filmmakers, artists, content creators, and other creatives from the realm of science fiction and fantasy!
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- Free Museum Admission for Active Duty Military Families - NC Museum of Dolls, Toys & Miniatures - 440 South Salisbury Avenue, Spencer, NC 28159, May 28, 2026 to May 30, 2026, 10:00AM to
04:00PM
- Free Village Park Movie Series - Village Park - West C Street, Kannapolis, NC, USA, May 29, 2026, 8:45 p.m.
- Gastonia Farmers Market - Gastonia Farmers Market - 410 East Long Avenue, Gastonia, NC 28054, United States, May 30, 2026, 7:30 am - 12:30 pm
- DRUMSTRONG 20th Annual Charity Rhythm Fest - 1510 Twiford Pl, Charlotte, NC 28207, United States - May 30,
2026, 12:00pm to 6:00pm
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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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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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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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