KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Mar 6: Robert & Roberta Appreciation Month at The Whaling Museum and Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor
Fri, Mar 6: Get Ready for Fencing This Spring! at Gold Coast Arts
Center
Sun, Mar 8: Enchanted Winter Princess Party at The Roslyn
Sun, Mar 15: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical at CM Performing Arts Center
Fri, Mar 20: Native New York Goes Wild at Queens Zoo (Grades K - 5th)
Sun, Mar 22: All Paws on Deck at The Whaling Museum and Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor
Sat, Mar 28: 2026 Barnyard Egg Hunt at Queens County Farm Museum
Sun, Mar 29: The Peking Acrobats® at Kupferberg Center for the Arts
Thu, Apr 2: Single Day Spring Break Camp Option at United Skates of America - Seaford
Fri, Apr 10: Save Your Spot for April Vacation Arts! at Gold Coast Arts Center |
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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Summer Soccer Camps - Port Washington 2026
Dutch Pro Soccer in Port Washington, Long Island, offers summer camps for ages 5-15 of all skill levels, including advanced and team camps. With half-day (9 a.m.-12 p.m.) and full-day (9 a.m.-3 p.m.) options, our camps focus on athletic progression through teamwork in a fun and challenging environment. Our professional coaches use the unique Dutch Total Football methodology, offering sessions to each player's individual needs. Available dates:
June 29 - July 2, July 6-10, July 13-17, August 3-7, August 10-14, August 17-21, and August 24-28. Register for the 7-week Super Saver Discount, for a single week, or tailor your own package. Sibling discounts, early drop-off, and late-stay options are available. Contact academy@dutchprosoccer.com or call 516-633-8953 to register.
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We Were Here From the Beginning. In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Bethany Arts Community’s 6th Annual Award-winning Black History & Culture Exhibit: Revolutionary Legacies. explores how African Americans have defined, and redefined freedom
from 1776 to today. Each gallery is rooted in a line from the Declaration of Independence, showing how Black people have continually challenged the nation to live up to its founding ideals. Through art, artifacts, photography, storytelling, and interactive installations, this exhibit honors the spirit of revolution, resilience, and representation that continues to shape our culture. From the battlefield to the way we dressed to command dignity, from innovation to influence, Black Americans have
been, and remain, the true trendsetters of freedom and style.
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On Friday, February 27th, at 6:00 PM, join Hamptons Observatory at the East Hampton Library for a free, in-person lecture, “How to Choose and Use Your Telescope.” If you don’t know which telescope to buy, or if you already have a telescope but don’t know
how to use it, or if there’s a problem with your equipment, this program is for you!
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New York City has never bloomed like this. At The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle, orchids collide with concrete in a dazzling reimagining of the Big Apple, from stoops and slice shops to the subway itself. Step into a breathtaking
fusion of nature and cityscape artistry in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, and experience the flair and style of New York transformed by thousands of flowers.
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In this version of The Wizard of Oz, the audience helps the characters to save Dorothy and to defeat the Witch of the West.
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Feb 28, 1pm, Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch: Kids make great movies! The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is an annual video contest in which young readers create short movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books—often with a
creative twist: think "Charlotte's Web" as a horror movie, or "Holes" as a musical! In this screening, hosted by authors James Kennedy and Rita Williams-Garcia, we'll show the best, weirdest, funniest 90-Second Newbery movies of this year... and maybe inspire your kids to make a movie for next year!
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Celebrate the Year of the Horse with a festive day of performances, workshops, and hands-on activities for all ages. Enjoy a ceremonial lion dance, K-Pop dance, Chinese folk dance, Indonesian gamelan music, tai chi, and more. Learn origami, calligraphy, and
knitting, and explore themed Family Art Workshops where you can create your own horse puppet and Lunar New Year lantern. At 2pm, attend a special showing of The Sky Tonight highlighting traditional Chinese constellations.
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Do you feel lucky? Spot the hidden gold tokens around the museum. The try your luck and spin our wheel to reveal your luck of the day!
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Home games for the Brooklyn Nets.
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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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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Long Island 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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- Hidden Hearts Scavenger Hunt – 301 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, Friday, February 27, 2026 through Sunday, February 28, 2026, Gallery Hours 11AM - 4PM
- How to Choose & Use Your Telescope (A Free, In-Person Lecture) – 18 Goodfriend Drive, East Hampton, NY, Saturday, February 27, 2026, 6:00
PM
- The 15th Annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival: Brooklyn – Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY, Sunday, February 28, 2026, 1pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Long Island 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 on Long Island? 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 Long Island 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 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Long Island Area, as voted by thousands of parents! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including 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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