KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Wed, Jun 3: A Year With Frog and Toad
Fri, Jun 5: 11th Annual Field & Forest
5K
Sat, Jun 6: Free First Saturday at Lyman Allyn Art Museum - June
Sat, Jun 6: Car-nival at Lutz Children's
Museum
Sat, Jun 13: Juneteenth Festival and Community Celebration at Hempsted Houses
Sat, Jun 13: Shore Line Trolley Museum CT Open House Day
Sat, Jun 13: Magic Wings Grand Re-opening Celebration - Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens
Fri, Jun 19: Juneteenth at Old Sturbridge Village
Sat, Jun 20: Family Matinee at the Ballet - Connecticut Ballet, June 20
Sun, Jun 21: Father's Day "A LEGO Brickumentary" Screening - at Mystic Seaport Museum
Tue, Jun 23: Sensory-Friendly
Trolley Rides at the Shore Line Trolley Museum!
Fri, Jun 26: 2026 Wooden Boat Show at Mystic Seaport Museum
Sun, Jun 28: Sesame Street
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: A tumble is not a verdict; it's information. And kids are natural data analysts. That's what a mom half a generation older than me told me when I was getting ready to have kids, and I took it to heart. So I was secretly a little thrilled the summer my daughter Madison was almost 4, when she took her first big splash off a slippery log into a
creek. Here's why: To succeed in life, everyone needs to learn to stretch to the edge of their abilities... to gather courage from their toes, to calculate, to balance, to wobble, to slide... and eventually to succeed. Kids can learn this early if the grownups in their orbit help them see the mud and bruises that come from a tumble as badges to be worn proudly: a fail-until-we-succeed philosophy in action. That's how personal fulfillment happens, and it's how human progress happens,
too. Summer is childhood's best laboratory, where sensory experiences stick as lifelong learning. School has grades and rubrics and consequences; summer has grass stains and do-overs. An amusement park ride can teach the difference between fear and danger. A hands-on museum can teach that when your tower collapses, you simply vow to rebuild it taller. A farm can teach that maybe you don’t like strawberries from the grocery store, but
you do like the ones you picked yourself, still warm from the sun. A climbing gym can teach your muscles that “I can’t” really means “I can’t yet.” And summer camps are entire worlds built around trying something new with no transcript following you home. Last week, the KidsOutAndAbout.com team launched our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey. It's a way to thank the people who make your community a great place to raise kids. Equally important, it’s a giant menu of local opportunities for your kids to stretch their legs, their minds, and their bravery this summer. Use it to create your summer bucket list! Then step back and set your family’s summer dial to “safe to fail.” Watch your kids climb, build, stumble, and try again.
Let them splash.
—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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Connecticut Ballet’s June 20th 2:00pm: FAMILY MATINEE AT THE BALLET is a perfect opportunity to introduce your family to the magical world of professional ballet. Narrated by Artistic Director Brett Raphael and patterned after Leonard Bernstein’s famous New York Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts in the 1960s, the performance will focus on the unique life of a professional ballet dancer and sample some of the great story ballets. The 75-minute program is suitable for children ages 4-14. All seats are $35 plus ticket service fees.
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Calling all high school girls! Become a marketing and business expert this summer with Next Girl Up: a fun, hands-on, two-day experience designed for girls entering grades 9-12 in Fall 2026. Learn real-world skills in marketing, entrepreneurship, branding, and leadership while connecting with new friends. Breakfast, lunch, welcome kits, certificates, and more are included. Sign up today to join us at The Town & County Club on June 24-25, 2026.
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Get ready for music, laughter, and interactive fun as puppet extraordinaire Chris Rowlands returns to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo this season! A National Audubon singer-songwriter and talented puppeteer, Chris Rowlands brings an energetic blend of live music, storytelling, and whimsical puppetry to the stage. His engaging performances delight audiences of all ages while sharing themes of nature, wildlife, and environmental awareness.
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Step into a living legend at Robin Hood’s Medieval Faire, where history, spectacle, and adventure come together. This season is bigger than ever with an added weekend and an expanded footprint, giving you more to see, more to do, and more to explore. Wander newly opened areas of the grounds filled with bold performances, skilled artisans, and immersive experiences around every corner. Cheer for armored knights as they clash in full-contact jousts. Be amazed by high-energy, circus-style acts. Savor classic faire fare like giant turkey legs and refreshing craft brews while browsing an ever-growing marketplace packed with handcrafted goods and unique gifts. Whether you love history, cosplay, or unforgettable family fun, this is a day out that delivers. Join us for a larger, longer celebration at Robin Hood’s Medieval Faire. Adventure awaits. Get your tickets now.
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We are back for 2026 and looking forward to paying tribute to the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice; while also reflecting on our nation’s 250th birthday this year!
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This Memorial Day Weekend, we proudly honor those who serve with a special free ticket offer recognizing the individuals who dedicate their lives to helping others. Active and retired service members receive free general admission as a gesture of our gratitude. We invite you and your family to spend the day exploring hands-on exhibits, exciting new experiences like our Sharks exhibition, and unforgettable moments throughout the Science Center. It is a meaningful way to celebrate the holiday while creating lasting memories together. Join us as we say thank you through a day of discovery, connection, and appreciation.
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- Family Flight Lab - American Mural Project - Winsted CT, 10am
- Newington Memorial Day Parade - Memorial Road - Newington, CT, 10:30 am
- Summer Kickoff Bingo at Lyman Orchards Free
Play - Lyman Orchards Apple Barrel Farm Market - 32 Reeds Gap Road, Middlefield, CT 06455, 12pm
- Woodbury Memorial Day Parade - Woodbury Parks & Recreation - 7 Mountain Road, Woodbury, CT 06798, 2 pm
- National Memorial Day Concert Live Stream - ONLINE ONLY - 8pm EDT / 7pm CDT / 6pm MDT / 5pm PDT / 4pm AKDT
- Mixtape Match at 1741 Pub & Grill - 1741 Pub and Grill - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Camp Herrlich's Festival of Friends & Family Camping Event - Camp Herrlich - 101 Deacon Smith Hill Road, Patterson, NY 12563, United
States, Friday at 7pm to Monday at 10am
- Little Red Barn Live Music at Bishop's Orchards - 1355 Boston Post Road - Guilford, CT, 5 pm - 10 pm
- Mixtape Match at 1741 Pub & Grill - 1741 Pub and Grill, Lyman Road - Middlefield, CT, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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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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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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