KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
As I write this column, three Americans and one Canadian are hurtling home from a trip around the Moon, inside a machine that had better do exactly what it’s supposed to do. For years, every person involved in the mission obsessed over every detail at every stage until as little as possible was left to chance. “Failure is not an option,” an ethos long associated with our quest to
explore outer space, makes perfect sense when we're talking about Artemis II. But decades ago, the attitude leaked out of the space program and into everyday life, and that was a mixed blessing. When I was a teenager, “failure is not an option” might as well have been tattooed on my brain: For me, not only was failure not an option, but anything below an A grade wasn’t an option, either. I was so afraid of not being perfect that if I felt unprepared for a test, I’d stay home
“sick.” I looked successful from the outside, but because I was working so hard to avoid mistakes, I played it safe. So I didn't actually accomplish much aside from some sharp-looking letters on a report card. It took me years out in the real world to realize that real accomplishment usually looks less like gliding and more like bumping into things until you find the way through. So these days, failure and I are best buddies: I've replaced "failure is not an option" with
"nothing ventured, nothing gained" as I inch toward and away from success each day. Even writing my column each week is an act of resilience: I add and then murder my words until they say what I mean, and I'm always aware in the end that it could be better. One of my goals when I was homeschooling Madison and Ella was to make failure safe and ordinary... cheerful, even... a sign of progress. Kids need chances to try things that might flop: recipes that taste weird, projects
that collapse, math problems they have to redo, conversations they wish they’d handled better. I wanted them to understand that when the stakes are low, failure is not a tragedy, it’s just how learning works. It doesn't usually feel fun, or comfortable. But it's the only way to fly.
—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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All Aboard the Rocky Mountain Train Show - April 11th and 12th 2026! Visit the largest model train show west of the Mississippi River at the National Western Complex. Make it a day or a weekend of Family Fun with 3 acres of model, toy trains of all scales, with more than 30 operating train layouts including three large LEGO displays, more than 60 vendors and 16 plus manufacturers. FREE kids activities, Kids Hands-On Layouts, Railroad Story Time, Kid-In-A-Cab, and free ride-on-train rides. Tickets are good for both days!
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“Brick Planet: A magical journey made with LEGO® bricks” takes you on an imaginative journey around the world through the lens of artist Sean Kenney’s sculptures built with LEGO® bricks. Explore our planet’s unique ecosystems, brought to life through colorful, playful environments where nature provides the building blocks for creative inspiration and scientific discovery. From towering polar bears and coral reefs to bustling cities and African savannas, you will feel a renewed sense of wonder for the rich balance of life that binds ecosystems and their inhabitants. Enjoy plenty of hands-on opportunities, from building LEGO® brick creations to sketching journals and playing a magnetized game. Free with Museum admission, the exhibition’s content is bilingual in English and Spanish.
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Every Friday at Bounce Empire, we turn the stress off and the energy up. Your ticket includes an Ultimate Bounce Pass plus all-you-can-eat food and drinks from 6 PM to 9 PM. No cooking. No cleanup. No rushing anyone out the door. Families can dive into games and challenges, explore 50,000 square feet of high-energy attractions, and stay all the way until midnight. Kids are welcome until midnight, because fun should not have a curfew.
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During FARMFEST public hours, you will be able to have direct contact with all of your favorite farm animals and meet our baby lambs and goats!! Free roaming chickens, peacocks and ducks dance among visitors. During Farmfest you will discover an old airplane, sandboxes, bicycles, tree houses, playhouses, swings and John Deere Tractors. We will be open in light rain and snow, and if there is enough snow, you can sled ride on sled hill! Please be aware: we do not serve food, only water and marshmallows for toasting at our bonfire are for sale. Marshmallow toasting will only happen if there is no fire ban from Boulder County and it’s not too windy. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy out on the farm!
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Dazzle @ the Arts Complex presents family entertainment every Saturday at noon. With a great menu of both adult and kid friendly snacks, and a wide variety of musical and theatrical showcases, this proves to be fun for the whole family.
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Denver - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 04/10/2026 to 04/12/2026, See link for times
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Boulder - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 04/10/2026 to 04/12/2026, See link for times
- Playtime
Storytime at Meadows Library - Meadows Library - Boulder Public Library District, Boulder, CO, 04/10/2026, 10:15 am
- Thornton 70th Anniversary History Exhibit - Thornton Arts & Culture Center, Thornton, CO, 04/10/2026, 10 am - 5 pm
- 2nd Saturday at CSU Spur - CSU Spur, Denver, CO, 04/11/2026, 10am-12pm
- YouthBiz Marketplace Success Strategies - Young Americans Center for
Financial Education - Cherry Creek, Denver, CO, 04/11/2026, 10:15 AM - 12:00 PM
- Foothills Art Market 2026 - Foothills Fieldhouse, Denver, CO, 04/11/2026, 9 am - 5 pm
- Marine Biologist for a Day - Downtown Aquarium, Denver, CO, 04/11/2026, 9am - 2pm
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KidsOutAndAbout's Denver-area 2026 summer camp guide for kids! Pick the dates you want to explore on our calendar and see what summer camps are available. Hundreds of local summer camps: day camps, overnight camps, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts &
crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more!
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Denver? 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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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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