KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Jun 30: Creative Movement Class - Tuesdays
Wed, Jul 1: Free Wednesday Evenings - The Mint Museum Uptown
Thu, Jul 2: Gastonia Ghost Peppers Home Game
Fri, Jul 3: 2026
Free Entrance Days in the National Parks
Fri, Jul 3: Town of Harrisburg 2026 July 4th Celebration
Fri, Jul 3: Eagle
Extravaganza on the Raptor Trail
Sat, Jul 4: Harrisburg July 4th Parade
Thu, Jul 9: Miles for Museums Summer Passport
Program
Fri, Jul 10: Closer Look: Making A Statement
Sat, Jul 11: Reed Gold Mine Mining In Society Merit Badge
Mon, Jul
13: Black Rocket - Pokémon® Masters: Designers & 3D Makers Unite!
Fri, Jul 17: Stary Party - Lake
Norman State Park
Sat, Jul 18: Charlotte Black Pride Festival 2026
Fri, Jul 24: Learning for Littles - Daniel Stowe
Botanical Garden
Sun, Jul 26: Kids Jellyfish Terrarium Workshop at PlantHouse
Fri, Jul 31: Wild Discoveries Summer Camp with Carolina Waterfowl Rescue and the CWR Learning Center
Fri, Jul 31: Summerween at Museum of York County |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The summer I was 5, my parents took our family to Cape Cod for a week. In Provincetown, we bought a kite, then headed to the dunes in North Truro, where my sister and I spent hours running full-tilt up and down the bare white hills. We’d scramble to the top, turn, and launch ourselves downward, legs windmilling, hair flying, lungs full of salt air and triumph. Invariably, we’d
fall, slap into the soft, sun-warmed sand, pop back up, and do it again. Tumbling down the dunes was gravity. Sand was friction. The kite tugging on our arms was air on the move. We didn't have words to describe these phenomena—we were little kids, not tiny physicists with notebooks. A decade later, my calculus teacher would give me the words and symbols to process motion conceptually, but experiences like this had already taught my body that I was an actor in the physics of
the world. My body understood. Summer is the perfect time for kids to learn motion from the inside out. Motion is in amusement park rides, in waves bobbing ducks and inner tubes up and down at the lake, in trains pulling you forward in one dimension and airplanes moving you through three. It’s in bikes and swings and Frisbees and trampolines and slip-and-slides, in tumbling through the days without realizing that learning is happening. As tour guides to our
kids’ universe, we can point gently: Feel how the swing slows at the top? Notice how the wave lifts you before it lets you down? See how leaning changes the bike’s path? But the point is not to turn summer into physics class. The point is to help kids notice how the world feels as they move through it. The equations can come later; now is the time for motion, and for the emotion that accompanies it. Summer’s gift is the body’s memory: wind, water, speed, balance, falling, landing, and getting up
to run again.
—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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This summer, help your child go from game player to game maker. Camp Playmaker is a hands-on game design camp in Charlotte for students ages 12–17. Campers create original game ideas, build paper prototypes, playtest with peers, receive feedback, and begin turning their concepts into playable digital games. No coding experience is required, and laptops are provided. Camp runs July 6–24, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, at Do Greater Charlotte. Free lunch is included each day. Give your child a creative summer where imagination becomes something they can build.
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Rooted Rhythm Concert Series returns Thursday evenings, May through July! Enjoy live music in the great outdoors! Food and beverages will be available for purchase from the Greenway Canteen’s food truck. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the music. No glass, tents or outside alcohol is allowed. Bags and coolers will be checked. Well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome to attend; please remember to Leave No Trace.
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Follow the Yellow Brick Road as Sigmon Theatrical proudly presents THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ – a smash-hit production for the entire family! Join Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion on a journey to the Emerald City, where you become part of the adventure. With dazzling music, immersive storytelling, and unexpected twists, this live experience invites audiences of all ages to become part of the classic tale that will transport you “somewhere over the rainbow! Doors open at 10:30am with the show starting at 11:00am. All ages are encouraged to join us! All those under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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Over 80 live outdoor concerts are offered every year as a part of the River Jam concert series. River Jam runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from May through September and at many of Whitewater’s festivals. The series features local and national touring bands highlighting Americana, Roots, Soul and R&B sounds.
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The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission is loaning Lake Norman State Park their Oasis Spaces traveling exhibit. To continue the celebrate Juneteenth all month long, stop by our auditorium to learn all about The Negro Motorist Green Book. Each display panel highlights a North Carolina business owner and traveler.
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Back for it's 4th year, the Charlotte African American Book Festival celebrates African Americans contributions to literature, books, literacy, and the literary culture. It will be held Saturday, June 27, from 11 am to 4 pm in the historic Second Ward Gymnasium/Brooklyn Village. The African American Book Festival was built to give the cemented and newly emerging authors, bookstores, and publishers of our culture a platform to spread the messages that are embedded in the pages of their iconography. With one goal in mind, we want to educate, entertain, and impact the Charlotte community through African American literature, by shining light on the stories told in their books.
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Join us on the Living History Farm for a fun filled day. Enjoy a variety of local food & craft vendors as well as a blacksmith demonstration. Take a self guided tour of the Living History Farm. Additional parking will be available adjacent to the farm, just follow the additional signs. This event is free with daily admission or annual park passport.
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Enjoy a night of family fun at the N.C. Transportation Museum for Fireworks Over Historic Spencer Shops on Saturday, June 27! The Museum will close at 5:00 p.m. with limited buildings and exhibits remaining open until the fireworks begin. Museum grounds reopen with FREE children’s activities starting at 6:00 p.m. and wrap up with a glorious fireworks show celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary beginning at 9:15 p.m. In the event of severe weather, fireworks show timing may be adjusted.
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Unleash your true colors and join us as we celebrate love, equality, and unity at Pride in the Park! By attending you're not only joining a celebration but also making a statement - a statement that champions love, acceptance, and equality for all. Together, we can create a world where everyone can live authentically and without fear of judgment. Pride in the Park is more than just a party; it's an extraordinary celebration of diversity, equality, and acceptance. We invite you to immerse yourself in a day filled with music, art, performances, and an incredible sense of community. Whether you're a member of the LGBTQ+ community, an ally, or someone who believes in the power of inclusivity, this event is for you. Let's come together and unite in our support for the LGBTQ+ community.…
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Join us for this Living History Saturday to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary! Experience how Independence Day was celebrated in the Carolina Piedmont during the 1850s. There will be 19th-century refreshments and “libations” (drinks), 19th-century toys and games, and writing with quill pens all day!
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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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The Charlotte Area's Pick-Your-Own Fruit Listed below are farms in and near Charlotte that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. And... to make the most of your experience, check out
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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