KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Mon, Feb 16: Bug Olympics: Rosie's Discovery at Butterfly Pavilion
Tue, Feb 17: Afternoon Activity: Paper Lanterns | Aurora Public Library
Wed, Feb 18: Black History Month - Cleo Parker Robinson Dance at
Colorado Folk Arts Council
Wed, Feb 18: Sensory Friendly Afternoon at Butterfly Pavilion
Sat, Feb 21: Kids Zone: A Hobby for All! at Edward C. Rochette Money Museum
Sun, Feb 22: Art Crawl: Into the Archives at Clyfford Still Museum
Wed, Feb 25: Nintendo Switch Club at Aurora Public Library
Fri, Feb 27: DGMG Jewelry, Gem & Mineral Show at Denver Gem & Mineral Guild
Fri, Feb 27: MEGA Children's Consignment Sale at Just Between Friends - Broomfield/Brighton
Sun, Mar 1: Peppa Pig: My First Concert | Colorado Symphony |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Next week, my husband and I are heading to a Valentine's Evening behind-the-scenes tour of the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo, New York. It’s the same Frank Lloyd Wright museum we’ve visited
several times, but this version is fancily dressed for the holiday: candlelight, champagne, treats, and a fresh perspective on something familiar. That’s the real magic of Valentine’s Day: It’s one of those perfectly made-up holidays, constructed out of paper hearts, glitter, and good intentions... and it manages magically to transform our spaces, our schedules, and our spirits. As publisher, I've had a 25-year front row seat to communities
around the country who turn nothing into something every February. This year, visitors can say "I Love Thee" in a Victorian mansion in Riverside, CA while a re-enactor in a top hat explains the romantic origin of the Hershey’s Kiss. Frying Pan Farm Park in Virginia will
help kids say "I Love MOO!" with farm animal puns. The Oregon Rail Heritage Center invites everyone on a Valentine's
Express Steam Train ride that is more light-hearted than steamy. And next Saturday, biologists at the California Academy of Sciences will hand out heart-shaped valentines to their African penguins—who will then present them to their mates to help line their nests. Not
all Valentine’s Day celebrations require you to get out and about, though; just muster some creativity and apply it to stuff you already have lying around the house. Cut hearts from red paper and tape them to the door. Dress in scarlet or rose or salmon pink. Light a candle at dinner while you're eating heart-shaped cheese, toast, bacon, or lasagna (here are 25 fun recipes from Food Network). When you and your kids dress up your world together, you’re not just celebrating love, you’re celebrating creativity. And they're learning the life skill of transforming ordinary stuff around them into something special. It only takes one step beyond the good intention to make it so. Love can be grand, indeed. But it doesn’t have to be grand to be great.
—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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Passionate: 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. At Joe Shoemaker School, kindergarten educators Annie Holyfield and Donnie Staggs create joyful, magical classrooms that help students fall in love with learning. They build curiosity, confidence and skills that go beyond academics, empowering students to believe anything is possible. Read and watch the Shoe Crew story. Learn more about SchoolChoice and how to enroll. SchoolChoice
Round 2 opens on March 10! |
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Register today for Wings Over the Rockies® Air & Space Camp! Wings’ in-person, weekday summer camp combines the power of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) with hands-on activities designed to ignite curiosity and creativity.
Campers ages 8-12 will be immersed in a week-long aerospace experience that includes exciting adventures tailored to inspire young minds. Campers will gain new skills, make friends, and take their love of science to new heights. Whether launching rockets, coding drones, taking part in robotics, 3D printing or discovering the mysteries of the cosmos, your child’s summer will be powered by learning and fueled with fun! Spaces are limited—reserve your spot today!
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Children’s Art Classes Aurora offers a one-of-a-kind 9-month fine art curriculum designed to grow with your child, ages 3 and up. Parents love that it’s more than crafts—it’s real skill-building in drawing, painting, clay, and more. Classes meet once a week
after school or on Saturdays, perfect for busy families. Bonus? We offer fun, skill-building camps too. Whether your child dreams in color or just needs a creative outlet, this is a place they’ll thrive, and you’ll see their confidence soar. Limited spots each year.
Learn more at childrensartclasses.com/location/aurora-co
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Your preschooler’s brain is developing more rapidly than it ever will again. The experiences, values, and relationships they form now help shape who they become tomorrow. That’s why nurturing compassion, curiosity, and confidence during these early years
matters so much. At Primrose, learning and fun go hand in hand every day. As one parent shared, “We love Primrose! The entire staff truly cares for the kiddos. Our kids are excited to go to school and tell us about all the fun things they did. The program is great and balances learning with fun.”
Save your space today and make the most of your child’s first five years. Enroll by March 1 and mention this ad to receive waived registration, a $250 savings.
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Looking to boost your child's confidence in the water before spring break? SwimLabs in Littleton, CO offers swim lessons that really work—no guesswork, just results. Their warm, indoor 90° pool and tech-enhanced instruction set them apart, with certified
instructors providing real-time video feedback so kids understand how and why they’re improving. Whether your child is struggling at another swim school or just starting out, SwimLabs specializes in small-group and private lessons tailored to each swimmer’s needs. Focused on stroke correction, water safety, and building confidence, SwimLabs is a proven choice for progress. Book your FREE session today and see the difference!
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Creator Camp is launching in the Mile High City for the very first time this Summer 2026! Our Shark Tank-featured summer programs are coming to Denver to help kids master the world of digital media. From filmmaking and animation to coding and YouTube
production, we offer a diverse range of creative tracks. Our camps emphasize collaboration and real-world skills using professional-grade software. Whether your child is a budding director or a future game developer, our Denver camps provide the tools and inspiration they need to succeed. Join us for this inaugural summer and see why Creator Camp is the ultimate destination for young creators!
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Audacious Immersive Summer Camps are more than your usual acting camp. We teach children how to build and explore imaginary worlds. Our Fairytale Creation Camp is an opportunity for creative kids to build an immersive fairytale show from the ground up –
from storytelling and game design to prop making and costume design and everything in between. Our Junior Monster Hunter camp lives inside a magical universe of folklore and myths, where they’ll explore a world full of fantasy creatures, and how to approach them with curiosity and compassion. Fairytale Creation Camp (ages 6–12) and Junior Monster Hunter (ages 8–14) welcome beginners and bold creators alike.
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Kroger Delivery helps busy families reclaim time and reduce stress by delivering fresh groceries and household essentials straight to the doorstep, within the one-hour timeframe that fits your busy schedule. Conveniently shop from your phone to add favorite
items, reorder past products, and save with digital coupons. A Boost membership provides fee-free delivery on qualifying orders and extra fuel rewards, to keep costs predictable. Refrigerated trucks preserve freshness for produce, dairy, and frozen items, while professional drivers handle everything right to your doorstep. Visit Kroger.com to enjoy the convenience of delivery without sacrificing quality for fresh, making weeknight dinners, packed lunches and healthy snacks quick and
easy.
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Explore the Clyfford Still Museum for as little as one penny during the First Friday Pay-What-You-Wish Day. Enjoy free mini-tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on each PWYW Day. Online reservations are recommended, and walk-ins are welcome. Online registration
opens approximately one week before the Pay-What-You-Wish Day.
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Somewhere in our community, a mailbox waits quietly.
This winter, you can be the reason it feels full.
Now in its 6th year, the Love Letter Project invites you to help spread a little warmth where it matters most. We’re asking our community to create and share handwritten Valentine’s cards for neighbors served by Nourish Meals on Wheels and Meals on Wheels recipients across the Denver metro area.
These cards are delivered by hand before Valentine’s Day, each one a small reminder that someone is thinking of them.
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Nothing compares to the one and only Monster Jam®. With awesome trucks, amazing stunts and action-packed excitement, it's the definition of fun for everyone! You'll be close to the action watching the world's best drivers tear up the dirt and show off crazy
skills and all-out racing in fierce head-to-head battles of speed and skill. See the world's most popular trucks like Grave Digger®, El Toro Loco®, Sparkle Smash®, and more only at Monster Jam. You can't get this kind of wow just anywhere. Once you experience Monster Jam live, you'll become a fan for life!
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Tall tales and heroic feats abound as we rediscover the stories of Paul Bunyan and his beloved Babe the Blue Ox and explore Americana through the stuff of legends!
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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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- Discover Through Play - Ages 2-5 - Aurora Public Library - 14949 East Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012, Friday, February 6, 2026, 10:45am - 11:30am
- Playtime Storytime at
Meadows Library - 4800 Baseline Road, Boulder, CO 80303, Friday, February 6, 2026, 10:15 am
- Teen Laser Tag & Pizza | Fort Lupton Public & School Library - 370 South Rollie Avenue, Fort Lupton, CO, Friday, February 6, 2026, See
website
- Stuffed Animal Sleepover (Presented by Teen Library Connections) | DCL Roxborough - North Rampart Range Road, Littleton, CO, Friday, February 6, 2026 - Saturday, February 7, 2026, See website
- Death by Chocolate - A Valentine RPG | Erie Community Library - 400 Powers St, Erie, CO 80516, Saturday, February 7, 2026, 2 pm - 4 pm
- Luvin Arms Presents: Maybell's Kissing Booth - 3470 County Road 7, Erie, CO 80516, Sunday, February 8, 2026, 1 pm - 3
pm
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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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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 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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