KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Mar 20: Good Ole Days Festival at Hitchcock Chamber of Commerce
Sat, Mar 21: International Art & Kite Festival at The Crown Festival Park at Sugar Land
Sat, Mar 28: 26th Annual Heritage Day Experience at Humble Civic Center Arena Complex
Sat, Mar 28: MyCHN at Westwood Open House
Thu, Apr 2: Disney On Ice presents Jump In! at State Farm Arena
Sat, Apr 4: Easter Egg Hunt & Spring Fun! at THE GEORGE RANCH
Fri, Apr 10: Poteet Strawberry Festival
Sat, Apr 11: Houston Latin Festival at Crown Festival Park
Sat, Apr 18: Reptile Open House at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center
Sat, Apr 18: 37th Annual Burton Cotton Gin Festival at Texas Cotton Gin
Museum
Sat, Apr 25: Sylvan Beach Festival at La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce
Sat, Apr 25: The Grand Kids Festival at The Grand 1894 Opera House
Sat, Apr 25: Conroe KidzFest
Sun, Apr 26: Kids Markets at the Tomball Flea Market |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a teenager, I had a teacher who became a mentor without ever knowing he was one. He was aware I’d been going through some difficult times, and was glad to hear I was almost on the other side. “Some people aren't lucky enough to have dealt with hard things when they're young,” he told me. Then he added the phrase that has echoed in my head for decades: “Remember the
rocks.” Life, he explained, was always going to toss boulders into my path. The trick was to recognize, early, that even if it was painful or scary, I was capable of getting around, or over, or through them. Remembering how I’d managed would help me trust myself more when the next, bigger ones appeared. As a parent, I think about that often, about how the only way to become someone who does hard things is… to do hard things. It’s tempting
to rush in and smooth every unpleasant obstacle our kids encounter. When we email the teacher, mend the friendship, rescue the forgotten homework, eliminate every discomfort, we may feel helpful in the moment, but in fact we’re quietly removing the practice stones they need. Resilience doesn’t come from being told “You’re strong”; it comes from evidence that only they can gather, from working through manageable challenges and thinking, That was hard. And I handled it. We don’t need to
manufacture their challenges—being a kid is difficult enough. And we don’t abandon them to do it all on their own, either. We just learn to pause, to weigh advice against intervention, and to let them see what they can manage. The goal is that later in life, when something truly difficult lands in our children's path, they won’t just hope they can manage it, they’ll know. Now, many years later, when I encounter something daunting, I think back to my mentor and
remember the rocks. "I do hard things," I tell myself. And it works.
—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. |
Discover the Best of Texas & Beyond Want to stay in the know on the best places to go, things to do, and experiences worth exploring? The Lone Star Low Down from Texas Lifestyle Magazine highlights top travel destinations,
family-friendly outings, local events, dining, and exclusive giveaways. Whether you’re planning weekend adventures, road trips, or looking for inspiration close to home, this is your go-to source for discovering the best of Texas and beyond. Sign up here to receive the Lone Star Low
Down. |
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Once Upon A Cowboy offers a fun and unique experience that will be unforgettable. At Once Upon A Cowboy, we handle every detail, ensuring a stress free and enjoyable celebration. Create lasting memories with your loved ones where fun, laughter and good
times await!
Pricing starts as low as $329. Email: events@onceuponacowboy.com to reserve your party today or give us a call at 346-587-5653.
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MEGA Camp is an all-inclusive, creativity-packed summer camp for kids who love to explore, create, move, and imagine BIG. Each week features a brand-new theme, giving campers the chance to try exciting activities, discover new interests, and build
confidence in a fun, supportive environment. No two weeks are ever the same, so campers can join for one week or the entire summer and enjoy a fresh experience every time. From Art and Baking to Circus and Musical Theatre, MEGA Camp is where imagination runs wild, talents are discovered, and unforgettable summer memories are made—one amazing week at a time.
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Be the VIP of your next birthday or group outing when you book & host your event by May 1st to receive Double Your Fun on arcade game play and allow your guests to enjoy more games and more play. Lock in your date now! Offer available at any Houston or
Dallas/Fort Worth Main Event Location. Call the Main Event nearest you or Book Now at www.me.com. Mention Code: KOAA.
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Summer 2026 Chess Camp enrollment is now open for kids ages 5–12 of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced players! The Knight School’s Summer BlastCamp offers a high-energy, laughter-filled chess experience where campers learn a new tactic and
opening each day through silly videos, music-driven puzzlers with prizes, colorful TactixBands, and fast-paced party-bead tournaments. With fun movies, exciting classroom games, and creative teaching methods, kids stay socially engaged while sharpening their minds. Camps are offered in-person at most locations, with both full-day and half-day options available. It’s the ultimate summer adventure for kids who want to think smart, play hard, and have a blast!
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Looking for something fun for your kids and teens this summer? San Jacinto College hosts engaging and enriching summer camps at our five campuses for kids of all ages and all interests – from athletics and career exploration, to music and STEM, and
everything in between. Campers will participate in hands-on activities, learn new skills, build confidence, and make new friends. Camp prices vary, and scholarships are available to those who qualify. Find more camp details and register today at sanjac.edu/summer-camps.
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Welcome to OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark, where 404 suites, 14 food and beverage outlets, arcade, spa, and more await you. Located in Downtown OKC, OKANA curates experiences just for you, we’re far enough away from home to feel like a real escape but
close enough to home to be accessible, affordable, and almost certainly your new favorite weekend getaway ;-). Switch it Up and spend Spring Break at OKANA: Use promo code SPRING when you book and save an extra 20% on your stay. And since we recently eliminated resort fees from our bookings, too, there’s never been a more affordable time to visit. Make your Spring Break iconic - make it OKANA.
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Who is ready for the STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL?!?
Great food, family fun, and strawberry picking (when available)!
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The Houston Botanic Garden’s Bayou Blues Festival returns for 2026. Join us on Sunday, March 8, near the banks of Sims Bayou during bluebonnet season, for an afternoon of soulful, roots music, curated by Houston’s own Annika Chambers.
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The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage and provides year-round educational support within the
community.
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The Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library will host a Saint Patrick's Day Party for customers of all ages. We will have live music, light refreshments, and Shamrock foam craft. Feel free to dress in green on this day. We will meet in the library conference
room.
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Celebrate the Rodeo and show your Texan spirit! Enjoy these fun and rodeo-themed activities! Giddy up!
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Assemble and decorate a homemade wooden toy car with the Woodworkers Club of Houston (WCH) at this month’s Hands-on Houston! Learn how to assemble a pre-prepared wooden toy using a jig and hammer, then use paint to give it a personalized design! Our
generous collaborators at WCH have spent months preparing for this event—one of our most popular!—by tracing car patterns on wood, cutting them out with a band saw, drilling holes for the windows and wheel axles, routing them, and sanding the cars on a belt sander. Supplies are limited, so come early to build and decorate your car, then test it out on an on-site ramp and race your friends!
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Wildlife lovers of all ages are invited to Jones Park for a day of discovery about the natural world. Visitors can enjoy a guided hike, wildlife presentations, and educational exhibits from 20 organizations from across Texas. Native plants will be available
from Jesse Jones Park Volunteers.
All ages welcome! Festival area is grassy and uneven at times with some sloping around the perimeter. Seating is available at our outdoor stage and in the picnic area. Pets are not permitted in festival areas.
Upon entering park, please follow all signs and/or instructions for parking.
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Spring and Summer fun is here at Oil Ranch! From beautiful spring days to sunny summer adventures, the ranch is the perfect place to make memories with family and friends all season long.
Join us March 6 – June 27 for fresh air, outdoor fun, and classic ranch experiences everyone will love.
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A morning of bonding for parents and caregivers with babies and toddlers celebrating the vital role they play in their children's lives. Families will enjoy complimentary coffee, and breakfast treats courtesy of CMH (while supplies last), all while forging
connections in a warm and positive atmosphere.
Come for the coffee, stay for the connections — FamJam is where families come to play!
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Unplug and tune in to old-fashioned family fun at a monthly Family BINGO night, hosted by The Woodlands Parks and Recreation! Enjoy a fun-filled evening with your family and friends playing BINGO for various fun prizes!
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When School is out - STEM is in. Drop off your kids for an exciting School Day Off Camps filled with different STEM activities,
Class time 9am-4:00pm
Parents must Provide Peanut free Snacks/ Lunch and Water Bottle.
Sibling Discount 10% automatically applied in cart.
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Pack a picnic, bring your lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of music and fun for the whole family. Concert in the Park is a beloved Sunday tradition where friends and neighbors come together under the open sky to relax, laugh and listen to great, live
music.
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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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iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best
experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech!
Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
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- Toon Café - High Meadows Branch Library, 4500 Aldine Mail Route Road, Houston, TX 77039, Friday, March 6, 3-5 pm
- Lego Club - 10851 Scarsdale Boulevard suite 510, Houston, TX 77089, Friday, March 6, 4:30-5:15 pm
- Spring Break Scavenger Hunt - 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, TX, Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8, 8 am- 5 pm
- Tween Clay Workshop - Octavia Fields Branch Library, South Houston Avenue, Humble, TX, Saturday, March 7, 2-3:30 pm
- Saint Patrick's Day Party- Baldwin Boettcher Branch -
Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library, Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, TX, Saturday, March 7, 12-1 pm
- Annual Sienna Toddler Fair Returns March 7 - 10323 Mount Logan, Sienna, TX, Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Hands-On Houston: Wooden Toy Cars - Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Saturday, March 7, 11 am- 3 pm
- Concert in the
Park - Northshore Park, Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands, TX, Sunday, March 8, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Houston 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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Houston 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 Houston? 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 Houston 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 Houston area: Houston, The Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sugar Land, and beyond. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, plus winners in special categories
like 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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