KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One of the best things about spring is that it turns all of us into treasure hunters. After a long winter, we adults start scanning the world for signs that life is returning: We notice the first mist of green in a forest's understory, the first brave crocus, the first daffodil. If we point out loud, kids catch on quickly, drawn by the thrill of seeking what
winter was hiding even just a few weeks ago, and they're ready to find magic behind every tree. Of course, in our part of North America, spring can be stingy in early April: The calendar may insist it’s here, but the yard is still beige, the trees are still bare, and the only things blooming outside are spreading patches of mud. But there’s no rule that says spring surprises have to come only from Mother Nature! That’s one reason I’m such a fan of egg
hunts. Last year, I wrote an extremely popular step-by-step article showing how to Turn Easter Into a Treasure Hunt, complete with a printable PDF of rhyming clues. It’s right there waiting for you, ready to make you look like a genius with practically zero effort. And if you want to kick it up a notch and invite a crowd, our article Easter Egg Hunts: Tips and Tricks for a Great Party lays out the
strategies for what may be the easiest, fastest, best-bang-for-the-buck kids’ party on Earth. Sure, egg hunts feature prominently in our culture's Easter traditions, but they needn't belong only to Easter, they're a wonderful diversion anytime, in any context. Spring is a season that proves there’s treasure everywhere. Sometimes the universe provides the fun for us. And sometimes we create it ourselves.
—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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Creator Camp is excited to return to the DMV for Summer 2026! Featured on Shark Tank, our camps are designed to inspire the next generation of digital innovators in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We offer specialized tracks in filmmaking, YouTube content creation, animation, and game design. Our hands-on approach ensures that every camper leaves with a project they are proud of and skills that last a lifetime. With weekly sessions running from June to August, there’s no better place for your child to explore the intersection of art and technology. Sign up now for a summer of creation!
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The Hylton Performing Arts Center believes that children should experience the arts early and often. That's why we offer performances designed for children, offer half-price Hylton Presents tickets for kids, and designate the performances most suitable for all ages as family friendly. Our Hylton 2025-26 Family Series features Click, Clack, Moo, and much more. Join us!
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Spark Creativity All Summer Long! Children’s Art Classes Alexandria opens this June—and our Summer 2026 Art Workshops are now open for registration! Designed for young artists ages 3–18, our workshops explore drawing, painting, clay, watercolor, anime/manga, mixed media, and even specialty themes like Pokémon Artistic Academy. Our award winning curriculum builds confidence, creativity, and real artistic skills in a fun, supportive studio environment. Workshops run June 29–August 14 Alexandria, VA Register today: va-alexandria.childrensartclasses.com Spaces are limited—save your child’s spot for a colorful and inspiring summer!
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These 30-minute story times on Fridays are designed to be enjoyed by all ages. Promoting early literacy skills through books, songs, rhymes, and movement, Family Story Time is a great way to further your child’s lifelong love of reading and learning. The whole family is encouraged to participate!
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Hop over to the B&O for an egg-stra special day! Designed with every bunny in mind, you’re invited to a sensory-friendly Easter event around the Roundhouse! Hop on over for some springtime fun! Arrive by 9:15 AM for an egg hunt around (location), suited for our neurodivergent friends. Don’t forget your camera to snap a photo with the Easter Bunny himself!
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After a long cold winter, nothing chases away the chill like a visit to the farm! The Easter Bunny has hidden some eggs filled with treats to enchant the children, and we need you to help us find them! Be sure to get advance tickets as our Egg Hunts Sell out every year! Come see our spring chicks and baby animals, take a wagon ride, and rejoice that it is spring! Our annual Easter Egg Hunt is a $7.99 add-on per child with your paid farm admission.
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Bunnyland is Butler's Orchard's festival dedicated to all things SPRING! Bunnyland features acres of Farm Park Fun, including baby animals, egg hunts, hayrides, the jump pads, mini diggers, and so much more!
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Meet animals up-close this Spring during Animal Encounters! Learn about and interact with the wildlife that call Potomac Overlook home. Stop by the nature center between 1:30-3:30pm, where a NOVA Parks Roving Naturalist and critters look forward to meeting you! All ages are welcome.
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Celebrate spring at Petalpalooza®, for a full day of live music and engaging activities! This day-long all-ages spring streety party brings art, music, and play to multiple outdoor stages, interactive art installations, a cashless beverage garden, family-friendly hands-on activities, roaming entertainers, and more, all along the banks of the Anacostia River. The evening is capped by the dazzling choreographed Official National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks show set to music starting at 8:30 PM.
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Looking for something made locally by artists and craftspeople who care about their products? Check out one of our many markets held throughout the year. From jewelry to honey, everything is handmade, homemade, or homegrown with love! BUY LOCAL!
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Come visit the museum during Spring Break! Drop in between 10:00am-12:00pm to learn about different types of rocks and minerals through our hands-on rock sorting activity, get your hands dirty with our sandbox archaeology dig, and create your own field journal to document your finds!
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iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech! Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - DC Metro area - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 04/03/2026 to 04/05/2026, See link for times
- 34th Annual Strathmore Juried Exhibition: STEEPED - The Mansion at Strathmore, Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, USA, 04/01/2026 to 04/05/2026, Tue–Fri: 12–4pm / Sat: 10am–3pm
- First Fridays in Manassas - 9027 Center Street, Manassas, VA, USA, 04/03/2026, 6 pm - 9 pm
- Observe the Sun with Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum - Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, Jefferson
Drive Southwest, Washington, DC, USA, 04/03/2026 to 04/04/2026, 12 pm - 3 pm
- Petalpalooza at Navy Yard - 1022 O St SE, Washington, DC 20374, USA, 04/04/2026, 1 pm - 9 pm
- Farmers Market SW at District Wharf - 735 Water Street Southwest, Washington, DC 20024, United States, 04/04/2026, 9 am - 1 pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the DMV 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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the DMV 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 DMV 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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2025's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Detroit Metro 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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