KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, Mar 14: CATS: The Musical at CM Performing Arts
Center
Fri, Mar 20: Native New York Goes Wild at Queens Zoo (Grades K - 5th)
Sat, Mar 21: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical - CM Children's Theatre
Sat, Mar 21: Holi Festival at Queens County Museum
Sat, Mar 28: Maple Open House Weekends at Various Maple Farms in the Area
Sat, Apr 4: Brunch with the Easter Bunny 2026 at The Roslyn, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Wed, Apr 8: Save Your Spot for April Vacation Arts! at Gold Coast Arts Center
Fri, Apr 10: Spring Break at Alley Pond Environmental Center
Sat, Apr 18: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: The Musical - CM Children's Theatre |
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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Portledge School in Locust Valley offers an exceptional Pre-Nursery through Grade 12 education on a stunning 62-acre campus. If you want something, you have the power to make it happen: this is the ethos at Portledge School. A robust and accessible
selection of course offerings provides Portledge students with opportunities to discover and explore interests beyond the classroom. What makes Portledge unique is how far students are able to expand these opportunities into passions that impact their personal and intellectual curiosity.
Discover how Portledge blends tradition with future-readiness. Visit, inquire, or apply today at www.portledge.org.
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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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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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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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Experience a unique and exciting program designed for children ages 7 and up! This class combines the fundamentals of fencing and develops skills, strategy, and fitness. Whether your child is new to fencing or has some experience, this class is the perfect
way to introduce them to the art of fencing in a safe, social, and supportive environment.
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The museum is turning 90! This month, we offer free admission for anyone named Robert or Roberta in honor of our founder, biologist Robert Cushman Murphy. (First name only, please. Adults, please show ID. Excludes special events).
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Learn about the process of making syrup by helping drill and tap our maple trees and hanging buckets to collect the sap. Everyone can watch how the sugaring process happens. Enjoy a wagon ride on our "Syrup Express" for a quick visit to our farm
animals.
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Step into a fairy-tale morning at our Enchanted Winter Princess Party at The Roslyn, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Join the Winter Sisters for story time, dancing, singing, breakfast, sweet treats, and magical meet-and-greet photos that your little ones
will never forget.
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Celebrate Purim with Commonpoint at our Purim Festival on Sunday, March 8 at Commonpoint Central Queens!
Families can enjoy arts & crafts, a Purim puppet show with The Chutzpah Caravan, hamantaschen making with Bakers & Shakers, bounce houses, activities, PJ Library books, and more, as well as the opportunity to learn more about Commonpoint programs. Costumes are encouraged!
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Learn from expert, Oliver Tobin— former Teens@Graham Director and curator of Martha Graham: Collaborations – who invites teens with a love for movement to explore Graham’s 1929 choreographed work Heretic. This participatory workshop is open to teenagers of
all dance backgrounds and experience levels.
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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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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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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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