KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Jul 14: Gem Theatre: $2 Summer Matinees
Thu, Jul 16: Black Rocket - Pokémon® Masters: Designers & 3D Makers Unite!
Thu, Jul 16: ArtBreak - The Mint Museum Uptown
Fri, Jul 17: Shark Dive
Fri, Jul 17: Indoor Movie Series at the Statesville Event Center
Sat, Jul 18: Concerts @ the
Circles
Sun, Jul 19: Whimsical Nature Crafts
Wed, Jul 22: Charlotte FC Home Game
Fri, Jul 24: Hickory Crawdads Home Game
Fri, Jul 24: Museum Yard Sale - Museum of the Waxhaws
Sat, Jul 25: Glorious Gravity at Museum of York County
Sat, Jul 25: Free Intro to Girls Flag Rugby Clinic
Wed, Jul 29: Wild Discoveries Summer Camp with Carolina Waterfowl Rescue and the CWR Learning Center
Sat, Aug 1: Miles for Museums
Summer Passport Program |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
In last week's column, I wrote about the Humble Abode, the kids-only hideout my sister and I created behind the giant azalea bush in our backyard. We dragged in chairs and treasures and made a little home in the hollowed-out
branches. At the time, I thought of it as something we had built. But of course, we didn’t create it from nothing. We were makers, yes, but we were making inside a world that was already alive. Summer is the perfect time for kids to experience that lesson up close and personal, with all their senses. The world is warm, green, buzzing, blooming, squelching, chirping, dripping, and growing almost too fast to track. Kids can smell lake water and tomato leaves, feel bark and moss
and mud, watch ants organize themselves with alarming competence, and notice that the same trail looks different after rain. Nature doesn’t need a lesson plan. It offers immediacy first: I am here. This is real. Pay attention. And then, quietly, it offers perspective. A child is legitimately the center of his or her own universe; we all are, from the inside. But Nature gently complicates that story. The robin is not singing for us. The creek does not hurry because we
are late. The sunflower turns toward the sun whether or not anyone remembers to admire it. Clouds, tides, weeds, and weather all proceed with their ancient business, reminding us that we belong to a world much larger than our schedules and preferences. That perspective should not make us feel small in a bad way, but instead help us feel rightly-sized. Humans have the wonderful ability to create, repair, improve, and beautify our little corners of the universe. But we do it
best when we understand the nature of the world we’re working within. So use this summer to include as much Outside Green Time as you can, looking up and around and in. Poke gently. Nature will do the rest.
—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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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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Join us all summer as we make a mess! During the month of June, we will be focusing our crafts on famous artists. Be inspired by the art of Claude Monet, Jackson Pollock, Vincent van Gogh, and Georgia O’Keefe! Each week we will create our own art inspired by these artists using paint and other materials. This is a drop-in program and is included with general admission.
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Dinosaurs come to life in this action-packed, interactive stage show for the whole family. Travel back to a prehistoric world filled with realistic dinosaur puppets, exciting adventures, and audience participation that puts you right in the middle of the action. Stay after the show for a special meet-and-greet and photo opportunity with one of the incredible dinosaurs.
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Stowe invites you and your toddlers to join our free, outdoor nature-themed learning experience, including a read-aloud story, puppets and an activity for children ages 0-4 and their caregivers. These learning experiences will be held 9-9:45 a.m. on alternating Wednesdays and Fridays from March-October. No registration is necessary; just join us for 45 minutes of fun outside of The Trailhead Store. In cases of inclement weather, we will move into The Trailhead Store porch.
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Enjoy a FREE family-friendly movie under the stars with the Movies in the Park summer series. Bring your lawn chairs or picnic blankets for a fun movie night at Huntersville parks. Arrive to the park early to enjoy fun themed games and activities, raffles, and free popcorn. The movie will start at dusk. Click the links below to view the Common Sense Media review and content warnings for each movie. All movies are family-friendly and rated PG.
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Registered Scouts will have the opportunity to complete all requirements needed to earn the “Mining in Society” merit badge at Reed Gold Mine’s merit badge workshop. The workshop begins with a PowerPoint presentation and class time to finish the sections of the “Mining in Society” merit badge workbook. After completing the in-class portion, Scouts will be taken on a guided tour of the underground mine and learn about Reed Gold Mine’s history and learn more about the gold mining process. Following that, weather permitting, Scouts will be able to pan for gold in the outdoor panning area.
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Discover the best of local shopping at the Birkdale Village Commons Market, happening every second Sunday from March through October! Curated by Shop Local QC, this lively open-air market showcases a diverse mix of vendors, offering boutique fashion, handmade jewelry, vintage treasures, home decor, baked goods, and more. Each month, we’ll feature a rotating selection of new vendors alongside returning favorites, ensuring there’s always something fresh to explore!
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We are the largest, most diverse producer-only farmers' market in the greater Charlotte area. All market products, except fish, are grown, raised or made within 60 miles of Matthews. Fish is caught on the NC coast and brought to market by the fisherman. Buying directly from the local producer allows you to know the source of your food and build a relationship with the person or farm family who grows it. You'll find freshly harvested produce, naturally-raised meats, local honey, plants, artisan foods and hand-crafted items. We are also proud to be a lively community gathering place in Downtown Matthews to shop, nibble, relax and meet your neighbors. Come enjoy all we have to offer on Saturday mornings, including live music, cooking demonstrations, food trucks, fun contests and more!
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2026'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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Nothing says SUMMER like an amusement park! Charlotte parents have lots of options! If there is a resource that we have missed, please email us to let us know, and we'll add it promptly. Thank you!
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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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