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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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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Celebrate Black History Month with us! Join our special craft session inspired by pioneers in STEAM and explore inspiring stories as we highlight books all month long that honor the lives and legacies of influential Black historical figures.
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Celebrate Women’s History Month by honoring the words of inspiring women from history. Create your own collage with printed images and quotations and add your voice to the conversation. Recommended for ages 4+.
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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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Join us for the Newburgh Farmers Market. The Winter Market is every Saturday through April 25, from 10 am – 2 pm in the Safe Harbors Ritz Theater Stagehouse (100 Ann St, Newburgh).
Support local farmers and get some local goodies!
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As winter winds down, it’s maple sugaring time! Learn how to identify and tap sugar maple trees, discover sugaring techniques used by Native Americans, pioneers, & modern-day farmers, and see an evaporator in action! PLus, Delicious local maple syrup
from Tree Juice is available for sale to tour attendees (see below for details). Join us for a sweet time!
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Join us to make your very own plaster track of one of the many animals that live at Sam’s Point. After making your tracks, stay at the Park Preserve to enjoy a family hike. Pick up your plaster tracks before you leave and report any wild animal tracks you
see to a Ranger. Meet at the Sam’s Point Visitor Center. Pre-registration is NOT required.
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Hudson Valley 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…
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- Safe Harbors of the Hudson Newburgh Winter Farmers Market - 111 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550, Friday, February 27, 2026, 10 am - 2 pm
- FREE Public Speaking
and Acting Workshop - 222 Greenwich Avenue, Goshen, NY 10924, Friday, February 27, 2026, 1:30 PM
- Free Buddhist Temple Tours Upstate New York in Sullivan County Catskills - Sweeney Rd, Glen Spey, NY,
Sunday, March 1, 2026, 1:30 PM
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Hudson Valley 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 Hudson Valley? 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 Hudson Valley 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 annual survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Hudson Valley. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Favorite Art Educator, Favorite Sport 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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