KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jan 16: Home School Days at Old Sturbridge Village
Sat, Jan 17: Squirrel Appreciation Day at Ansonia Nature Center
Wed, Jan 21: St. Mary School, OPEN HOUSE
Sat, Jan 24: Gabby's Dollhouse at Stamford Center for the Arts’ Palace Theatre
Thu, Jan 29: Evening for
Educators at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Sat, Jan 31: Owl Moon Night Hike at New Canaan Nature Center
Sat, Jan 31: SeaClass: Letterpress Valentine’s Day Card Workshop at Mystic Seaport Museum
Thu, Feb 5: George Washington Carver
and Friends at The Bushnell
Sat, Feb 7: Black History Month Pop-Up Display at the Fairfield Museum Research Library
Sat, Feb 14: Valentine's Day at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Fri, Feb 20: Winter Passport Week at Grace Farms
Sun, Mar 15: Puppet Festival Mississauga at Crane Creations Theatre Company
Sat, Mar 21: Mystic Seaport Ship Modelers Model Tugboat Show |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
I'm in Phoenix this week for a meeting of the American Astronomical Society, where I'm giving a talk about my new book, The Eclipse Effect. One of the best parts of being here is getting to attend the other presentations, too, which is how I found myself Monday night inside under the Dorrance Planetarium Dome at the Arizona Science Center, gazing up at a sky unlike any I’ve ever seen. Thanks to cutting-edge LED projection technology and the first imagery from the nearly-complete Rubin Observatory in Chile, the dome became a portal into the depths of our galaxy and beyond,
rendered in light so vivid and detailed it felt like we could fall in. The room was full of astronomers, researchers, educators—professionals who have dedicated their careers to explaining the universe. These were the very people who helped build the tools, who'd worked the math, who’d waited decades to see the science take shape... and even they were astonished: Their faces were lit up with the kind of awe you usually only see in children. It was a reminder that at its
heart, science is about connection. Connecting those points of light above my head, yes; connecting the dots, sure... but also connecting people—to each other, to wonder, and to what’s possible. If you want your kids to connect deeply with science—or history, or nature, or culture, or space—you don’t need a telescope on a mountain, you just need a person. So go to the museum, walk the trail, step into the planetarium. But don’t stop at the
exhibit signs: Find the people! Ask them questions. They want to talk to you! These docents, tour guides, librarians, explainers, and educators are the ones who turn information into illumination. They are the lens your kids can look through to see what their future might be. So seek the sky painters. Then stand next to your kids, look up, and be amazed together.
—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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The Darien Arts Center has opened registration for its Winter/Spring 2025 semester, offering classes in dance, music, visual arts, and acting for students of all ages. This season includes returning favorites and new offerings such as Workshop Wednesdays, youth and adult visual arts classes, expanded on-camera acting programs, and a wide range of dance styles, including Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Broadway Theater Jazz. With opportunities for beginners through advanced students, the DAC provides a supportive environment for creativity and skill-building. Register online at darienarts.org or call 203-655-8683 to learn more. Please visit our website for more information.
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Summer fun starts at the YMCA of Greenwich—and registration is now open for our 2026 Summer Camps! With spots filling quickly, now is the time to plan a season of adventure, learning, and connection. This year, we’re excited to introduce all-new outdoor camps at Camp Seton, offering a nature-rich experience with hiking, archery, water activities, and more. We offer camps for every age, from infants and preschoolers to school-age kids, middle schoolers, and high schoolers. Tweens and teens can build leadership skills through specialty programs and work toward future employment opportunities at the Y. Plus, families love our one-week specialty camps, perfect for kids who want to dive into a favorite interest like coding, archery, or creative technology. There’s truly something for everyone this summer at the Y!
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Weather Alert: heavy snowfall has arrived at Stepping Stones! During this “Season of Fun”, experience enchanting indoor blizzards* plus shovel-ready “snow,” “ice forts” for playful snowball fights, sled-pulling adventures and more snowy surprises all winter long. Grab your coat and mittens – the frosty fun is about to begin (minus the chill)!
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Stop by the Mystic Seaport Ship Modelers Model Train Show, on display January 10–11 in the Pilalas Lobby of the Museum's North Entrance. See the Narragansett Bay Railway & Navigation Co., a 1:48-scale model railroad winding through marshes, dunes, and coastal ports inspired by Southern New England’s maritime landscape.
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Artist and train enthusiast Steve Cryan unveils a new model train layout every fall, signaling the holiday season at the Connecticut River Museum. Each year his intricate miniature world of trains enthralls the crowds of people who make a visit to the “train show” an annual family tradition.
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Night in the Museum is an overnight experience designed for scouts, schools and other youth groups of up to 80 participants. With only a map and a tattered journal at their side, young historians will travel back in time and take part in a mysterious, candlelit adventure through the 1830s. The quest will exercise their detective skills as they hunt for clues, conduct experiments, and investigate the past. Back at our hands-on learning laboratory, we will experiment with historic crafts to learn more about 19th-century life.
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Hobbies help us express ourselves, explore our interests, and see the world in new ways. Paint, build, design, and discover your next favorite pastime right here in the inspiring surroundings of the museum. Join our friends from ConnLUG and use LEGO® bricks to recreate a work of art. Grab a complimentary bag of popcorn and stay for a free screening of Hugo at 2pm.
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- Little Red Barn Live Music at Bishop's Orchards - 1355 Boston Post Road, Guilford, CT, Friday, January 9, 2026, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- New STEAM Makerspace Open House!! - 1897 Post Road, Darien, CT, Friday, January 9, 2026, 3:30 pm - 7:00 pm
- Family Programs at Yale Peabody Museum - 170 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT, Saturday, January 10, 2026, See website for specific program times
- Open Day
at New Pond Farm Education Center! - 101 Marchant Road, Redding, CT, Saturday, January 10, 2026, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Second Saturdays for Families: Hands-on Hobbies at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art - 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT, Saturday, January 10, 2026, 11 am–2 pm
- FILM: Hugo at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art - 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT, Saturday, January 10, 2026, 2 pm
- Family Programs at Yale Peabody Museum -
170 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT, Sunday, January 11, 2026, See website for specific program times
- Little Red Barn Live Music at Bishop's Orchards - 1355 Boston Post Road, Guilford, CT, Sunday, January 10, 2026, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
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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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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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Fairfield County 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 Fairfield County Kids: Once again, our readers have spoken! Thousands of parents voted in the KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners
in special categories like favorite spot for indoor play, favorite nature center, favorite museum, and much more!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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