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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This summer, the vineyard comes alive with unforgettable experiences in partnership with local businesses, artisans, and Hudson Valley favorites. Expect a season of outdoor events, live entertainment, hands-on activities, and plenty of wine. From an R&B cookout with Tom Swoope featuring live DJs, vendors, and a live band, to a weekend wellness day with Pilates, sound healing, and wellness specialists, there’s something for every vibe. Explore a motorcycle show with classic bikes, demos, and food, or close out the season with a beginner-friendly salsa class and Latin dance party. Join us in the vineyard and discover something new all summer long!
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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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See the natural beauty of the Catskills from our railroad’s unique perspective aboard the Catskill Flyer and enjoy the trip in our coaches or on our open-air flat cars for the ultimate views on the ride. On Sundays, the Ice cream Express runs and passengers get an Ice Cream to enjoy on the trip. Join us as we travel through some of the oldest farmlands in the United States where we will cross the Esopus creek on the restored C9 bridge and go through the Hurley Flats and then start climbing Hurley Mountain.
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Drop in to watch select matches on the big screens in LeFrak Theater, Cullman Hall of the Universe, or the Global Sports Pavilion in Futter Gallery starting Thursday, June 11. Watch parties are free with Museum admission. During evening matches, the Museum will be open for extended hours, including exhibitions and shows.
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Celebrate Pride Month with hands-on activities inspired by groundbreaking LGBTQ+ innovators who helped shape the worlds of science, technology, engineering, art, and math! Kids and families will make rockets, explore the galaxy, create a new species and more, all while learning about the trailblazers who made a lasting impact through their STEAM careers.
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Summer brings an explosion of life across the Hudson River Watershed, from warm woodland ponds to cool freshwater streams. In our science workshop, examine water from vernal ponds, build a model plant cell, and explore specimens both large and small. Get up close with the season’s hidden wonders and uncover the thriving ecosystems all around us. Recommended for ages 6+.
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Scientists and artists have been inspired by the invisible world ever since we invented microscopes. On Saturday, June 27 from 11 a.m. – Noon at the East Gate Plaza in Poughkeepsie, join educators from The Environmental Cooperative as they show off traditional and digital microscopes with plenty of cool samples to explore. Then, learn how to make your own unique art inspired by the tiny things you discover!
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Caramoor’s annual American Roots Music Festival fills our stunning grounds with the soulful sounds of Americana, folk, bluegrass, and more! Wander from stage to stage and discover your next favorite artist as an incredible lineup of bands brings the music to life across our picturesque venues. This year’s festival concludes with the high-energy Memphis soul of headliners Southern Avenue. Throughout the day, you’ll dive into the Grateful Dead songbook with the acoustic string-band adventure of Deadgrass, experience the vintage-inspired sounds of The Moonrise Cartel, and enjoy the rich, evocative storytelling of Caleb Caudle & The Sweet Critters. Rounding out this stellar lineup is the "next-generation alt-country" flair of Chloe Kimes. Join us for a full day of music and community in the heart of Westchester!
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The Town Board is proud to present a fun-filled day of entertainment, community, and spectacular fireworks as we come together to celebrate Independence Day. Enjoy live music, delicious offerings from local food trucks, and activities for all ages as you gather with family, friends, and neighbors. This year's celebration is especially meaningful as we honor America's 250th Birthday - a once-in-a-generation milestone celebrating our nation's history, spirit, and future. Bring your blankets, chairs, and flashlights, and stay for a dazzling fireworks finale as we celebrate freedom and togetherness.
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Local farmers' market offering a wide variety of goods: produce, naturally raised meats, free-range eggs, baked goods, flowers, bedding plants, honey, maple syrup, jams, draft beers, and crafts. Family activities and live music.
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As part of Dutchess County’s ongoing Rev250 celebration – which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 – Destination Dutchess, the Dutchess County Department of History and Fishkill Farms in Hopewell Junction will host their second-annual Revolutionary Cider Celebration on June 27, 2026, from 11 am–5 pm. Celebrate the start of summer in the orchards here at Fishkill Farms, makers of Treasury Cider (so named because the farm’s founder, Henry Morgenthau Jr., served as the Secretary of the Treasury during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency; the Morgenthau Family has owned the farm for more than 100 years). It will be a day filled with Revolutionary War and Colonial-era history, farm experiences, and, of course, apple cider!
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Step into a stylish summer evening at Jazz & Jive, featuring live music by Gatsby Now. Enjoy the lively sounds of jazz and swing as the band brings classic rhythms and feel-good energy to the farm. Savor wood-fired pizza, craft beer, hard cider, specialty drinks, and farm-favorite soft serve ice cream while relaxing in a festive outdoor setting. It’s a smooth and spirited night of music, dancing, great food, and summer fun for all ages.
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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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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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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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