KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The February my daughter Ella was 1, she caught a cold that lingered for months. There were short stretches of relief, but mostly there was congestion, disrupted sleep, and a level of crankiness that turned my sunny baby into someone I barely recognized. The clouds around her felt constant, and one day, I caught myself labeling her in my head as “the crabby one.” But of course,
if I had a perpetually runny nose and no way to manage it, I’d be irritable, too! I needed to remember this wasn’t her personality, it was a season. What we needed to get through it was distraction: something fun to do "right now" and also fun things to anticipate. Aside from those who live in paradise pockets like San Diego, most of our readers are in the thick of a particularly dreary winter. The world feels heavy and gray, energy runs low, and
it’s easy to fixate on how dispirited we feel. But we need to remember that this isn't our personality, it's a season. What we need to get through it is distraction in the moment and also something positive we can place on our horizon. My family is counting down to the March 20 release of Project Hail
Mary, which stars Ryan Gosling. The movie is based on the novel by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian. You don't have to be a science nerd to love Weir's books (although science nerds DO love Weir's
books), because in all of them, the real hero is human ingenuity—curiosity, flexible thinking, doing what needs to be done even in extreme circumstances. When things are going awry, the answer isn’t despair, it’s problem-solving, and I always emerge from a Weir book feeling spiritually lighter. While I immerse myself in Weir and Gosling, you, of course, should do YOU! Let the art or sport that grabs you and your kids be your launch ticket to optimism now, and lift you to fun
in the future. We're glad to provide the fuel!
—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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Experience the beauty and solitude of the lower Connecticut River during this wonderful time of year! It is so different than it is any other time of the year. There are no other vessels on the water, and with no leaves on the trees, our wildlife viewing is
easy and fun. RiverQuest has a heated cabin, but we suggest that you dress in warm layers since the best views will be from the open decks. Don’t forget your camera and binoculars! …No binoculars? No worries, we have plenty on board for you to borrow! We will also provide complimentary coffee and tea.
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Journey out onto Long Island Sound in hopes of seeing some of the seals and waterfowl that spend the winter just off our shores during our Seal-Spotting & Birding Cruises. These invigorating two-hour cruises seek out some of the harbor seals and gray
seals that come into the Sound each winter. Aquarium educators will point out these federally protected marine mammals and talk about their natural histories. They’ll also help identify such winter waterfowl as buffleheads, mergansers and long-tailed ducks.
Passengers must be over 42 inches tall and if under 18 accompanied by an adult.
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We’re celebrating Maple Sugaring Season with three Sundays of family festival fun this winter! Join us for our annual First County Bank Maple Sugar Fest Sundays as we make our very own line of maple syrup from the 200+ mature maple trees found right here on
our 118-acre campus. We’re one of only two official maple sugar producers in Fairfield County! Each Sunday we’ll open our site at 10 am with added attractions, enhanced programming, fun seasonal offerings, free giveaways, and traditional favorites like Native American, Colonial and Modern sugaring demonstrations until 2 pm*. All our Fests are Rain or Shine, so we'll always have a rain plan for a great day. And of course access to our museum and current exhibition on view is always
included!
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Get ready to make a splash!
Join us on Saturday, February 28th at the Madison Surf Club for a refreshingly bold start to your weekend! We’re thrilled to celebrate the 4th Annual Frosty Shamrocks Plunge for the Parade—a chilly, cheerful tradition that helps support the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Whether you’re gearing up to take the plunge or planning to cheer loudly from the shore, we can’t wait to have you with us! Participation is just $35, and plungers can
boost their contribution by rallying family and friends to sponsor their brave (and slightly frosty) leap. Let’s make a splash for the Parade!
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The popular annual Cabin Fever Charity Chowder Cook Off returns to Olde Mistick Village on Saturday, February 28th, 2026 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm
Olde Mistick Village will once again host its signature annual charity event, the 20th annual Cabin Fever Charity Chowder Cook-Off. It will take place on Saturday, February 28, from 12 noon to 4pm. Awards and check presentation ceremony will be at 5pm. This four-hour event will bring nearly10,000 patrons to Olde Mistick Village where they will enjoy dozens of delicious, savory, and hearty chowders from many local restaurants and eateries. Over 26,000
cups of chowder will be served!
All proceeds for this event benefit Always Home, a non-profit agency dedicated to preventing family homelessness throughout Southeastern CT. For the past 25 years, Always Home has provided case management services and emergency housing assistance to local families with minor children that are at risk of becoming homeless. Each year Always Home assists over 400…
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Celebrate the Year of the Horse with Connecticut’s vibrant Asian American Pacific Islander community! Let’s unite as friends, neighbors, and supporters to welcome prosperity and good fortune in the year ahead. Enjoy food, crafts, live performances, and more
at this family friendly event. Free and open to all! Note: This event will be held at CT State Community College.
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For many at Old Sturbridge Village, the first whiff of spring isn't the aroma of spring flowers - it's the smell of wood smoke and maple syrup, a sure sign that the sap is rising and spring is on the way. Join us for “Maple Days” on select dates in February
and March, when the Village’s working sugar camp demonstrates maple sugaring as it was done in early 19th-century New England.
See the entire sugar-making process, from tapping the trees to "sugaring off," and learn why maple sugar was more commonly used than maple syrup in early New England. Costumed historians will also cook period foods made with maple products and the tinner and cooper will make maple-related items.
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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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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Hartford area 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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- Family Programs - Yale Peabody Museum - New Haven, Friday, 02/26/2026 to Sunday, 02/28/2026, See website for specific program times
- Little Red Barn Live Music - Bishop's Orchards - Guilford, Friday, 02/27/2026 to Saturday, 02/28/2026, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Celebrate Lunar New Year - Connecticut Historical Society - Manchester, Saturday, 02/28/2026, 10 am - 4 pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Hartford 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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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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Hartford 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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Hartford 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 Hartford Kids, as voted by KidsOutAndAbout.com readers! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Favorite Arts Educator, Favorite Sports Educator, and Favorite STEM
Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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