KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Mar 10: Free Movie Series: The Princess Diaries at Butler Arts & Events Center
Thu, Mar 12: Homeschool Hangout: Remarkable Women at Bartholomew County Public Library
Sun, Mar 15: Brickworld Indianapolis
Wed, Mar 18: Wonderlab: Hair Raising Science! Grades PreK-6 at Bartholomew County Public Library
Fri, Mar 20: Gnome Away From Home - At Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens Sat, Mar 21: The Music of
the Lion King in Concert at Embassy Theatre
Sun, Mar 22: Family Fun Day with Bluey - Indy Fuel Mon, Mar 23: Spring Into Science at Bartholomew County Public Library- Columbus
Tue, Mar 24: Free Movie Series: The Lorax - Butler Arts & Events Center
Tue, Mar 24: The Music of the Lion King - At Payne &
Mencias Palladium at, Mar 28: Presidential Egg Roll at Benjamin Harrison Presidential
Site
Sat, Mar 28: Camilla Paints the Town A Children's Opera at Indianapolis Public Library - Spades Park Branch
Sun, Mar 29: Easter Egg Hunt at Hope Community Church
Thu, Apr 2: The Cat In The Hat Live at Clowes Memorial Hall |
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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Experience the ultimate summer of discovery with Club SciKidz Central Indiana! With premier locations in Carmel and Greenwood, our STEM.org Accredited™ programs offer an unparalleled hands-on learning adventure for children. Designed for ages 4–15, we
feature over 70 exciting themes—from Battle Bots and Veterinary Medicine to Space Exploration and Lego Engineering. Our award-winning curriculum inspires confidence and creativity through engaging experiments led by expert, background-checked instructors. Whether your child is a budding coder or a future scientist, they will find their passion in a safe, high-energy environment. Join us this summer to ignite curiosity and build real-world skills in every camper. Space fills up quickly!
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Experience all that Newfields has to offer on the first Thursday of every month. Enjoy the Indianapolis Museum of Art and The Garden, live musical performances, and open studio hours and gallery conversations. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a
longtime Member, First Thursdays are the perfect opportunity to discover something new and have an exceptional experience with art and nature.
On this day, general admission is flexible—you choose how much (or how little) to pay. Donations support programs like First Thursday and the care of our art collection and garden, as well as education programs, community engagement initiatives, and more.
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Enter a world of enchantment with The Sleeping Beauty, presented by Indianapolis Ballet and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Featuring Tchaikovskys glorious score performed live, this beloved fairy tale ballet comes to life with lavish costumes,
stunning sets, and exquisite dancing. Follow Princess Auroras journey from a cursed slumber to true loves kiss in this timeless production that promises to dazzle audiences of all ages.
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Who run the world? Girls! Join the Fuel as they take on the Wichita Thunder and celebrate Barbie Game Day! Be who you want to be, girl!
Stick around after the game for postgame autographs presented by DeFur Voran with select Fuel players right outside The Garage!
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What is your favorite story?
Celebrate your favorite book and discover new stories at this fun-filled day of read-alongs in multiple languages, hands-on STEAM projects and a musical storytelling experience with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Stories will be read in English, Spanish and Arabic.
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The Indiana Association of Chinese Americans (IACA) and Indianapolis Chinese Performing Arts, Inc (ICPAI) will host a Lunar New Year Festival at Central Library. Come join us in celebrating the year of the horse!
Enjoy a stage performance featuring Chinese American performing arts that include traditional Chinese American style lion dance, traditional dance, traditional Chinese orchestra music, and Tai Chi exercise presentations. Cultural vendors will also be present to share interactive experiences with attendees.
** Registration is not required, but helpful for planning purposes.
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Bobcat Opossum draws inspiration and repertoire from many genres of traditional music. Multi-instrumentalists Sean Hoffman and Ellen Coplin tell stories through music and invite the audience to participate. All ages can travel through time and experience
the vibrant world of folk songs and dances!
About the Performers
Bobcat Opossum is Sean Hoffman and Ellen Coplin. They draw inspiration for original music and repertoire from traditional music genres including Irish, Americana, bluegrass, classical and old-time music. Delighting audiences from festival stages to hands-on workshops, Bobcat Opossum uses fiddle, cello, piano, guitar and harmony singing to tell stories that transcend time and place.
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In celebration of 40 years of impact in the Indianapolis community, the singers of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir will re-master the major work “Jubilate Deo.”
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- Whitestown Winter Market 2025 – 2026 season - Whitestown - 6210 Veterans Drive, Whitestown, IN, USA, Saturday, March 7, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Indy Winter Farmers Market - At The AMP at 16 Tech - The AMP at 16 Tech, 1220 Waterway Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46202, Saturday, March 7, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
- Kindergarten Readiness Workshop
- Adelante Schools - 1202 E Troy Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203, Saturday, March 7, 10:00 - 11:30 AM
- Hooked on Crochet For Teens! (Ages 13-18) - At Pendleton Community Public Library - Pendleton Community Public Library, 595 E Water St, Pendleton, IN, Saturday, March 7, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis? 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 Indianapolis 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 Best Places for Kids in the Indianapolis area! Here are the Top 20 places to take kids in and around Indianapolis, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. Of course, there is LOTS more to do locally "out and about"! Get great ideas here at
KidsOutAndAbout.com!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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