KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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. |
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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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Oh, the thinks you will think! March 2 is Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Get ready for a Seuss-tacular celebration honoring the one and only Dr. Seuss!
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Syrup isn’t just for pancakes! Come learn about all the ways to use maple syrup in the kitchen while cooking up a maple-themed culinary treat! This cooking class will be offered in Muscoot’s Activity Building for $20 per person, for kids ages 8+. Treats may
range from sweet to savory, so bring your appetite with you!
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This opportunity is being offered at 10:00 a.m. every Saturday in December, January, February, and March, weather permitting. It is designed for people who are beginners, interested in trying snowshoeing as a new winter activity. Each session will be run by
a Sam’s Point staff member, who will provide instruction on how to properly wear and adjust the snowshoes. They’ll also work with you until you are ready to head out on your favorite trail with confidence. The lesson is intended to set you up for your own adventure. Snowshoes are available to rent for this program at a discounted rate of $5 per person at the Sam's Point Visitor Center.
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We’re kicking off Clermont’s celebration of the Semiquincentennial with a series of presentations about Clermont at the brink of revolution. Join Interpretive Programs Assistant, Emily Robinson, for a talk about the Livingstons of Clermont in 1776 and the
events that spurred them towards independence. Enjoy some liberty-tea punch and gingerbread cookies as we follow the international incidents and familial circumstances that eventually brought the British to our doorstep.
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Here at Corey's Sugar Shack, we are dedicated to education, and we will be hosting Maple Tours for a charge of $5.00 during NYS Maple Weekend for anyone interested in seeing the Maple Syrup process first-hand. We encourage attendees to dress warm and wear
comfortable shoes. Each tour and tasting lasts approximately 30 minutes, and there will be plenty of our 100% pure Maple Syrup for sale at the end of each tour.
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Get ready to light up the day at the ultimate K-Pop fan experience! Join us for a high-energy K-Pop Glow Party packed with nonstop music, glowing vibes, and interactive fun for fans of all ages.
Dance to your favorite K-Pop hits, compete in exciting arcade games, and unleash your creativity at our K-Pop-inspired crafts station. Come dressed to impress—our costume contest will celebrate the most iconic K-Pop looks!
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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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- Stop In and Sketch at Hudson River Museum - Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Ave, Yonkers, NY 10701, Saturday, March 6, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- Safe Harbors of the Hudson Newburgh Winter
Farmers Market - Safe Harbors of the Hudson, 111 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550, Saturday, March 7, 10 am - 2 pm
- America 250: The Livingstons of Clermont in 1776 at Clermont - Clermont State Historic Site, Clermont Avenue, Germantown,
NY, Saturday, March 7, 3 pm
- Free Buddhist Temple Tours Upstate New York in Sullivan County Catskills - Kadampa Meditation Center New York, Sweeney Rd, Glen Spey, NY, Saturday, March 7 - Sunday, March 8, 1:30PM
- Future Teller Worksop - Kinosaito Arts Center, 7th Street, Verplanck, NY, Sunday, March 8, 1pm-4pm
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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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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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