KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The summer I was 5, my parents took our family to Cape Cod for a week. In Provincetown, we bought a kite, then headed to the dunes in North Truro, where my sister and I spent hours running full-tilt up and down the bare white hills. We’d scramble to the top, turn, and launch ourselves downward, legs windmilling, hair flying, lungs full of salt air and triumph. Invariably, we’d
fall, slap into the soft, sun-warmed sand, pop back up, and do it again. Tumbling down the dunes was gravity. Sand was friction. The kite tugging on our arms was air on the move. We didn't have words to describe these phenomena—we were little kids, not tiny physicists with notebooks. A decade later, my calculus teacher would give me the words and symbols to process motion conceptually, but experiences like this had already taught my body that I was an actor in the physics of
the world. My body understood. Summer is the perfect time for kids to learn motion from the inside out. Motion is in amusement park rides, in waves bobbing ducks and inner tubes up and down at the lake, in trains pulling you forward in one dimension and airplanes moving you through three. It’s in bikes and swings and Frisbees and trampolines and slip-and-slides, in tumbling through the days without realizing that learning is happening. As tour guides to our
kids’ universe, we can point gently: Feel how the swing slows at the top? Notice how the wave lifts you before it lets you down? See how leaning changes the bike’s path? But the point is not to turn summer into physics class. The point is to help kids notice how the world feels as they move through it. The equations can come later; now is the time for motion, and for the emotion that accompanies it. Summer’s gift is the body’s memory: wind, water, speed, balance, falling, landing, and getting up
to run again.
—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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Head over to Lyman Orchards for JCSNE's 52nd Annual Concours d'Elegance Car Show! Free for Spectators! If you are not entering a car, this show is open to the public and free of charge.
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Join us as we kick off Pollinator Week at the Zoo! Stop by our tabletop presentations, where Zoo Educators will share fascinating facts about pollinators and why they are essential to our ecosystems. Learn how you can support these vital creatures—right in your own backyard!
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The WoodenBoat Show, hosted in partnership with WoodenBoat Publications, offers something for all wooden boat enthusiasts and maritime history buffs. More than 100 traditional and classic wooden boats of every type will be on display, from handcrafted kayaks to mahogany runabouts, and classic daysailers to schooners.
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Explore historic properties and try hands-on activities on the Museum Commons. More than 400 years of diverse stories can be found in the Victorian Barn, Sun Tavern, and Victorian Cottage, which has a dedicated early childhood space.
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The Town of Cromwell Farmers Market is held on Friday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m. at Riverport Park beginning on Friday, June 5 and running through Friday, September 4. The beautiful Riverport Park is conveniently located on the Connecticut River at the junction of Route 9. The Town of Cromwell Farmers Market aims to support the local economy, enrich the quality of life in our Town, and promote the public health and environmental benefits of eating local.
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Please join us for our annual “All Families, All Pride” This family friendly community gathering will feature live music from UBC Coffee House, yoga with Vanessa, a book reading with Gaia Cornwall, bracelet making, crafts, a bake sale, bounce house fun, and more. Drag performer Miss Isa Vibe will also be joining the celebration with performances and a special coloring table for guests. Let’s gather together to celebrate, support, and uplift our local youth LGBTQIA+ community!
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Calling all Trainers! Pokémon Day is taking over the Connecticut Science Center for one unforgettable day of science, surprises, and Pokémon fun! Explore the Science Center while searching for hidden Pokémon, trade cards with fellow fans, enjoy electrifying LIVE science demos, and strike a pose with everyone’s favorite yellow superstar. Costumes are encouraged, so come dressed as your favorite Pokémon or Trainer and show off your Poké-style! From future Pokémon Masters to first-time Trainers, this event is packed with fun for all ages. Grab your friends, bring your family, and get ready to catch ’em all!
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The town of Sturbridge is celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence with a full day of community spirit, history, and fun! The celebration kicks off at 10:30 a.m. on June 27, 2026, with a parade starting at the intersection of Stallion Hill Road and Route 20. The parade will proceed east on Route 20 and down Route 131 to the Sturbridge town common (across from the Publick House). Following the parade, the public is invited to a festival on the Sturbridge town common from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. featuring historical reenactors, live entertainment, patriotic music, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, family-friendly activities, and more. Please note that this celebration is on the Sturbridge town common on Route 131, not the Old Sturbridge Village Common.
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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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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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It's almost time for fruit picking! Fruit picking is a great activity to do together as a family. It helps little ones understand where their food actually comes from, and it's a fun tradition to share every year right through the teens.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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