KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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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Give your kids something to get excited about and start them on Music Lessons (In-Person or Online) with the International School of Music! Voted best for Music Lessons, International School of Music has a team of nurturing and patient instructors who will customize lessons to students’ goals so each child can progress at their own pace and learn the music they love! From the Early Childhood Music Program to private Music Lesson Program, the International School of Music offers an award-winning instruction in all instruments and voice whether they play classical, rock, pop, jazz, or folk! ISM’s fun, engaging and personalized lessons help students bring structure into their lives, confidence, concentration, and self-expression that last beyond the music lessons! Call/Text: 301-396-7497 or contact them here to schedule YOUR music lessons today and save 50% off registration by 6/15! LEARN MORE: https://ismw.org/
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Get ready for the ultimate summer engineering adventure with Challenge Island Montgomery County! Challenge Island is the world’s #1 S.T.E.A.M. program! Kids ages 6–12 will love our action-packed, screen-free camps in Bethesda and Germantown, where imagination and engineering come to life. In STEM Structures, campers design towering skyscrapers, bridges, and gravity-defying creations through hands-on building challenges. In Crazy Carnival Adventures, kids become carnival engineers as they build exciting games, roller coasters and more! Every day is filled with creativity, problem-solving and nonstop fun that kids love. Plus, campers can keep the fun going all day with our awesome afternoon slime camps. Summer’s never been this exciting! REGISTER NOW on our website!
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Engaging exhibits for all at the Weston History & Culture Center this Spring & Summer! Buy tickets at the door: Cash, Credit Card and Check accepted. WHCC Members: FREE Any child 4 and under: FREE General Admission: Adults $5.00 General Admission: Child 5 - 17 $3.00
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Come and cheer for Washington Mystics Home Games!
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The Annapolis Irish Festival is back in 2026! Join us Friday night for an all-ages event featuring two incredible bands, then return Saturday for a full day of Irish fun for all ages. Enjoy great live music, delicious food and drinks, and exciting Irish-themed vendors and activities.
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We’re thrilled to welcome the Farmers Market SW to The Wharf! Starting Saturday, April 4, support local farmers offering fresh and locally sourced food. The market will be located at M Street Landing, outside of Pitango, Philippe Chow, and Fish Shop and will operate weekly on Saturdays through November from 9 AM – 1 PM.
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Join us for the annual strawberry festival at Great Country Farms in Loudoun County Virginia. To celebrate the royal strawberry, our Jubilee is packed with live music, farm contests, wagon rides, great food and fun games for the whole family! Great Food abounds at our Roosteraunt Concession Stand, Knead It Bakery and Henway Hard Cider by the pond. Savor Cider Donuts, Strawberry Lemonade, hand-dipped ice cream and baked goods including strawberry rhubarb pies.
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Join us for our annual Grand Birthday Bash as we celebrate our animals on May 30th from 11 am to 1 pm! We will sing to the herd and share birthday cupcakes and watermelons. Bring a watermelon to smash (the animals love them!) or send us an item from our Amazon Wish list.
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Ahoy there! Join us for an unforgettable treasure hunt on the Potomac River with Boomerang Boat Tours! Come aboard our infamous pirate ship for a family-friendly adventure where you and your children can live the pirate’s life for a day complete with water cannon battles, incredible views of the city, and of course, pirates!
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - DC Metro area - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Friday, May 29, 2026 to Sunday, May 31, 2026; see link for times
- Observe the Sun with Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum - Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, Jefferson Drive Southwest, Washington, DC, USA, Friday, May 29, 2026 and Saturday, May 30, 2026, 12 pm - 3 pm
- Farmers Market SW at District Wharf - District Wharf - 735 Water Street Southwest, Washington, DC 20024, United States, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm
- DC
Bird Alliance Raptor Presentation at The Parks - DC Bird Alliance - The Parks Historic Walter Reed, 12th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, USA, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 12:00PM
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Dallas 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 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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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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