KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Wed, Dec 31: Noon Years Celebration | The Shops at Northfield
Wed, Dec 31: Party Animals: Choose your Favorite | Painting with a Twist Lakewood
Wed, Dec 31: Noon Year's Eve | Children's Museum of Denver Marsico Campus
Mon, Jan 5: BALTO: A History of Humans, Huskies & Health in Alaska at Arapahoe Libraries
Thu, Jan 8: Nature Storytime at Meadows Library
Mon, Jan 12: DIY Stamp Making | Eloise May Library
Thu, Jan 15: Kids Create at Smiley Branch Library
Sun, Jan 18: Polar Bear 5K | HAL Sports at Denver City Park
Sat, Jan 24: GVA North: Lunar New Year Celebration at Global Village Academy
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: This Sunday marks the Winter Solstice—Robert Frost’s “darkest evening of the year.” It’s when we in the Northern Hemisphere most appreciate human inventiveness: We flip a switch, and light floods the room. It feels like magic, but it’s not. It’s the result of generations of curious, determined humans trying to make life better, brighter, safer. That’s why my
family celebrates Lightbulb Day every December 21. It’s our homegrown holiday honoring the inventors and problem-solvers whose insights fuel our lives. We toast our favorite technologies, learn some history, imagine the future. Past years’ MVPs include contact lenses, antibiotics, the internet, veterinary science,
and the Covid vaccine. This year’s front-runner: artificial intelligence. Last weekend, I had breakfast with a friend and her 13-year-old daughter, Lily. Lily said she loves math and science but struggles with how her teachers approach the humanities, especially writing. When I showed her how AI can help her learn in the way she learns best, her face lit up. So I went home and wrote a how-to article for Lily, her mom, and any of you with kids in middle school or older: How Students Can Use AI to Learn to Write (Without Giving Away their Brains). AI isn’t here to think for us. It’s here to help us think more effectively with our own minds. That’s a message worth repeating, especially to our kids. In this new AI age, the real danger isn’t
the technology itself, it’s the temptation to hand our brains over to it and say, “Here, you do all the work.” So this Lightbulb Day, I’m raising an Erlenmeyer flask, not just to the great inventors of the past, but to Lily, and to every young person learning to think with tools rather than letting tools do the thinking. Because the real magic isn’t flipping the switch; it’s understanding where the current comes from, and imagining what we’ll power with it in the
future.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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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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I'm thrilled to announce that my new book The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities (co-authored with Jamie Carter) is now published and shipping across North America! It’s packed with inspiring, true stories of everyday leaders who stepped up during the 2024 eclipse to bring people together, spark change, and strengthen their communities. Told with warmth and insight, this book makes a perfect holiday gift for the visionary, organizer, or community-builder in your life. Click the graphic to order from Amazon on print or Kindle; for other ordering options (including educator and bulk orders), or to see an annotated table of contents and the introduction, head to https://theeclipseeffect.com.
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Curious how your AI know-how compares to other parents? We surveyed over 300 of you, and the results are in! The big takeaway? You aren't alone in feeling overwhelmed. While most parents have a basic grasp of the technology, over 52% feel unequipped to actually guide their kids through it. The number one thing you requested help with was "Digital Defense"—specifically, how to spot misinformation and fake news. You can read the full, fascinating report at kidsoutandabout.com/research. Ready for round two? Help us dive deeper by taking our new, quick 13-question survey here: https://forms.gle/1nTsaG384SW8cUpL7.
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The Powerful Impact of Denver Public Schools Every day at Denver Public Schools, the DPS experience comes to life through our students, educators, families and community. Through passionate learning,
personalized support, powerful impact, prestigious achievement and being proud of who we are, these stories celebrate what it means to be part of the DPS experience. As a Student Support Liaison at Hamilton Middle School, Liza Alvarez creates meaningful connections
with students and families, working to remove barriers that stand in the way of learning. Through her compassion and guidance, she empowers students to make positive choices and inspires a culture of care and growth. Learn more about how her powerful approach inspires lasting change
across the school community. Read Liza’s story and other stories of the DPS experience. DPS is now enrolling students for the 2026-27 school year, learn more about SchoolChoice and enroll today. |
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Camp isn't just for summer! Dream BIG Day Camp is bringing the fun indoors (and outdoors, weather permitting) this winter break with a fantastic lineup of activities including basketball, martial arts, “Coolinary,” yoga, art, and more. Kids in PreK–6th grade rotate through eight exciting activity blocks each day, with equipment, snacks, and caring staff all provided. Campers should bring lunch, water, and wear play-ready clothes. Join the fun at the Montessori School of Denver, 9am–3pm on Dec 22–23 and Dec 29–31. It’s a Winter Wonderland they won’t want to miss!
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A storied holiday classic returns with a freshly enriched design to experience the beloved masterpiece, Messiah. This innovative presentation is newly organized to present the narrative clearly while still maintaining the great musical traditions of this noble work. A Chamber Chorus of the Colorado Symphony Chorus will join the soloists on stage to bring more immediacy to the narrative while the full forces of the Symphony Chorus continue to thrill with their exciting and exacting choral sound, presenting Handel’s masterpiece in an enhanced dramatic context that this story-telling composer would have appreciated.
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Enjoy the annual display of holiday lights on the historic Austrian homestead. Schweiger Ranch participates in the Colorado tradition of displaying holiday lights through the end of the National Western Stock Show. Enjoy the lights beginning the evening of November 27th through January 25th. The lights can be viewed from the warmth and comfort of your car from the parking lot and along Havana street. If you’re up for a winter evening walk, get a closer view by using the East West Trail.
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Enter “The Secret World of Elephants” to discover the remarkable science behind nature’s most lovable giants. How do elephants “hear” with their feet? What animals are their closest-living relatives? How have elephants and humans coexisted for thousands of years? Through hands-on interactions, you will feel the low-frequency rumbles elephants use to communicate, explore how they reshape their environments, and come face-to-face with some of their ancestors, including dwarf elephants. From the ancient Ice Age to the African savanna, get ready to be amazed by elephants’ incredible intelligence and fascinating history — and inspired to help protect their future. All exhibition content is bilingual in English and Spanish.
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Join us Saturday, December 20 in The Plaza. Ice carvers will transform (3) six foot high blocks of ice into three holiday scenes starting at 12:30 PM. Stay for the live carving competition from 5–7 PM, where artists go head-to-head creating dazzling mini masterpieces! Enjoy live music, caroling, character meet & greets, and cozy up with hot cocoa and s’mores (courtesy of Rumble Boxing) while supplies last. These stunning sculptures will remain on display until they melt. Don’t miss this magical winter spectacle before it disappears!
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- Wildlife Rescue - An Augmented Reality Experience at Gaylord Rockies Resort - Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard, Aurora, CO, December 19-21, Self-Guided Tour: Anytime
- 2025 Free
General Admission Days at Four Mile Historic Park - Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest Street, Denver, CO, December 19, 10am - 4pm
- Sun Valley Mobile Food Pantry - 1260 Decatur Street, Denver, CO, December 19, 9 am
- Denver Christkindlmarket 2025 - Auraria Campus, Tivoli Quad 1000 Larimer St, Denver, CO, December 19-21, See website
- Family Nature Adventure Days | Bluff Lake Nature Center - Bluff Lake Nature Center, 11255
E Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Denver, CO, December 20, Times vary--see website
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Denver - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, December 20-21, See link for times
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Boulder - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, December 20-21, See link for times
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Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Holiday Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
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Ring in the New Year with a little help from KidsOutAndAbout! Our Big List of family-Friendly celebrations is just what you need to find ball drops, fireworks displays, NOON Year's Eve fun, activities, parties and more! If your favorite isn't on the list be
sure to send us an email and we'll add it pronto.
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions. Here are local organizations that offer memberships.
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The Denver area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and engaging in festive
activities.
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KidsOutAndAbout's 2025 holiday events list for Denver is somewhat shorter this year than our traditional 101 ideas for local holiday fun, but there are still ways to make the holidays special in our area for 2024. Christmas concerts, lights, trees,
nativities, and more. . . plus activities for…
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Denver 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 winners in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Denver area. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in the special categories: 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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