KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a teenager, I had a teacher who became a mentor without ever knowing he was one. He was aware I’d been going through some difficult times, and was glad to hear I was almost on the other side. “Some people aren't lucky enough to have dealt with hard things when they're young,” he told me. Then he added the phrase that has echoed in my head
for decades: “Remember the rocks.” Life, he explained, was always going to toss boulders into my path. The trick was to recognize, early, that even if it was painful or scary, I was capable of getting around, or over, or through them. Remembering how I’d managed would help me trust myself more when the next, bigger ones appeared. As a parent, I think about
that often, about how the only way to become someone who does hard things is… to do hard things. It’s tempting to rush in and smooth every unpleasant obstacle our kids encounter. When we email the teacher, mend the friendship, rescue the forgotten homework, eliminate every discomfort, we may feel helpful in the moment, but in fact we’re quietly removing the practice stones they need. Resilience doesn’t come from being told
“You’re strong”; it comes from evidence that only they can gather, from working through manageable challenges and thinking, That was hard. And I handled it. We don’t need to manufacture their challenges—being a kid is difficult enough. And we don’t abandon them to do it all on their own, either. We just learn to pause, to weigh advice against intervention, and to let them see what they can manage. The goal is that later
in life, when something truly difficult lands in our children's path, they won’t just hope they can manage it, they’ll know. Now, many years later, when I encounter something daunting, I think back to my mentor and remember the rocks. "I do hard things," I tell myself. And it works.
—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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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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Camp Hidden Meadows is an all-gender sleepaway camp for ages 7–16, offering flexible one- and two-week sessions. Our program blends independent exploration with a strong sense of community, guided by our core values: Adventure, Community, Confidence, and Respect. With 40+ activities and out-of-camp trips across West Virginia, campers grow through hands-on, unplugged experiences in a nurturing environment where they can be themselves and try new things!
Older campers unlock new adventures: Earth Expeditions outdoor adventure program (Finishing 7th - 8th grade), our Counselor-In-Training program (Finishing 10th grade), and for the first time in Summer 2026, an International Earth Expeditions trip to Iceland (Finishing 9th - 10th grade)!
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Camp Twin Creeks is where friendships flourish, childhood thrives, and independence grows. During two weeks of traditional overnight camp, children become part of a lifelong community. By unplugging from technology and everyday distractions, campers connect
with new friends and mentors, try new things, and develop confidence and independence.
Camp Twin Creeks has a stunning location in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. Our carefully selected staff provides endless opportunities for fun experiences. Activities span four program areas: Land Sports, Water Sports, Arts, and Adventure.
For over 25 summers, our camp has been led by husband-and-wife directors. Programming, staff training, and all endeavors are guided by the four pillars of our Youth Development Philosophy.
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As a parent, nothing matters more than your child’s safety — especially around water. Pool days, beach vacations, and backyard parties should be filled with fun, not fear. That’s why Maryland families vote Goldfish Swim School Best Swim Lessons year
after year. Goldfish offers engaging, effective swim lessons designed specifically for children ages 4 months to 12 years old.
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Experience the magic of Historic Downtown Manassas every First Friday from February through November. From 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. our streets transform into one big block party filled with live music, family-friendly activities, special events, and exclusive
promotions from Downtown shops and restaurants. Sip, stroll, and enjoy local flavor as you explore!
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Celebrate strength and imagination at She’s A Hero Day at Funbox Bowie on Saturday, March 6 from 6–8 PM. Create your own superhero cape or mask, enjoy balloon twisting and pizza, meet a Super Girl character, and march in our Girls’ Hero Parade. A
high-energy, confidence-building evening in honor of International Women’s Day. $5 event add-on. Regular admission required. 3861 Evergreen Pkwy, Bowie, MD.
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Bring the kids out for a hands-on, animal-filled afternoon at Shipgarten’s Petting Zoo!
Little ones will love meeting friendly farm animals up close in a safe, interactive setting designed for curiosity, smiles, and unforgettable memories. This relaxed, family-friendly event is perfect for animal lovers of all ages. While kids enjoy the petting zoo experience, parents can kick back with great food and drinks in our spacious outdoor biergarten.
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Read and craft with your friends on the Carlyle House front lawn for Family Fun Day on the first Saturday of the month from March-November! From 12-3, you can sit in on story time and participate in crafts and other activities that relate to the theme of
the month. Please note that there is no Family Fun Day in July. This program is for all ages, though some of the crafts might be challenging for guests under 4. There is no fee to join this program, but donations are welcome
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The Ballyshaners 43rd Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Saturday, March 7th, 2026 at 12pm. Residents and tourists are encouraged to come early to enjoy the events at one of the DC area’s finest parades. All events are free to the
public.
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Each month, join us for a fun and relaxed experience featuring art making, films, and a variety of special pop-up activities. All activities are free, and most first come, first served. Some activities require registration.
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Join us at Audi field to cheer on the Black and Red! D.C. United fans provide an unrivaled stadium experience at Audi Field on matchday. With leading chants from the Chico Stand filling the stadium as the team plays on, everyone in attendance is part of a
unique D.C. experience.
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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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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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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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school options - we've got you covered.
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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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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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