KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For 25 years, one of my core missions with KidsOutAndAbout has been to make invisible things visible, to celebrate what local communities offer families. Everyone is busy, and local treasures are easy to miss. Our job is to point, spotlight, nudge, and say Look here. Try this. Bring the kids. But there’s another kind of invisibility worth fixing:
The people who create these experiences rarely get to see their full impact. They track tickets sold and kids enrolled, but may never hear that your child talked about their field trip for six months, found courage on their stage, or simply felt welcome exactly when they needed it. That’s why our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey matters. Each summer, we ask readers to vote for their favorite local places to take kids.
The results help families see what other families love. The ranking and comments help local organizations see that their work matters. So your three minutes becomes both a recommendation and a thank-you. The survey is simple: Click on your three favorite local destinations. Then also, optionally, nominate favorites in special categories—like arts, sports, and STEM education—and leave comments that we’ll pass along to the people who make these experiences
happen. So please click here to vote in the 2026 edition of the survey. Help families find the places they’ll love, and help the people behind those places know they’re making a difference. The survey will be open until June 20.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
P.S. If you're interested, check out the 2025 list here to see who won
last year. |
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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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Cradle of Aviation STEM & Space Summer Camps | Ages 5–15 Explore STEM, aviation, space, engineering, chemistry, physics, creativity, and hands-on building this summer at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Camp weeks are designed for specific age groups, with programs available for ages 5–8, 9–12, and 13–15. 2026 camp themes include Space & Aviation: Cosmic Quest!, Wild Science, STEAM Adventures, and STEM Lab: Engineering Pathways & Hands-on Builds. Camps run July–August 2026. Registration required: 516-572-4066Monday–Friday, 10 am–4 pm Cradle of Aviation Museum | Garden City
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At Skin Space, our spa parties are all about making kids feel pampered, confident, and celebrated in the most fun and relaxing way possible. From mini facials and skincare fun to music, goodie bags, and adorable spa vibes, every party is designed to create unforgettable memories for birthdays, special occasions, or just a fun day with friends. We customize each experience to make your child feel extra special while giving them the ultimate “spa day” experience in a safe, welcoming, and picture-perfect environment.
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What Lives in the Woods at Night? Bring a flashlight and come see what creatures of the night live here at Tanglewood Preserve! From 7:30 – 8:30 pm, $15 per person. There are no refunds unless CSTL cancels the program.
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Dive into the amazing wildlife of the Long Island Sound and bring your favorite sea creature to life using recycled materials in this fun, self-guided activity! Build your own ocean-inspired creation and leave it with us to become part of our special “Recycled Ecosystem” display.
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Enjoy spectacular Saturday night fireworks and thrilling rides and games, live entertainment and favorite fair food for the whole family. Fair admission is $5 and free for kids under 36" tall. Check out the website for pre-sale ride savings and daily specials.
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It’s time for a haircut! Watch as our sheep get their much-needed spring trims. Celebrate Spring on the farm at NYC’s ONLY sheep shearing festival. Farmer-led tours and sheep shearing demonstrations connect visitors to life on the farm.
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The Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL) presents the 10th Annual Queens International Children’s Festival, a free, family-friendly celebration of global culture, creativity, and shared experiences. Marking a decade of impact, the festival brings together music and dance traditions from across Queens alongside hands-on arts activities for children and families. Highlights include live performances, cultural workshops, and interactive games for all ages.
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Cradle-Con is built for kids, with hands-on activities all day—from superhero cape-making and custom keychains to Jedi training and Star Wars storytime. They’re not just watching—they’re creating, playing, and part of the action, with a kids cosplay contest to top it off. It’s an easy pick for families looking for something fun and interactive.
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Bring Your Little Prince or Princess to meet our Princesses. You will see a performance and be served cupcakes, cookies and more. Take your own photos with the characters.
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The annual Fleece & Fiber Festival features artisans sharing handmade items for sale as well as shearing, spinning and weaving demonstrations, live music, special fiber-focused tours of the Hallock Homestead and more. Children’s activities, too!
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Join us on Saturday, May 16 for a Fatherhood Barbecue and Open House at the Commonpoint Bronx Center! Learn more about the Fatherhood Initiative Program, meet other families, and enjoy a fun afternoon! We will have free food, games, face painting and balloon art, resources, giveaways, and more! Custodial and non-custodial fathers are welcome along with their children.
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Join us at Camp Weona for our Scavenger Hunt-themed Open House. Meet our staff, take a tour of Weona, and enjoy camp activities. Free and fun for all ages, spend the day at camp and get ready for Summer 2026!
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Make a Splash at Jimbo’s Birthday Bash! Join us in the Sea Star Ballroom as we celebrate everyone’s favorite shark with a fin-tastic family party. The celebration includes Aquarium admission (visit before and/or after the event), a kid-friendly birthday buffet featuring pizza, soft pretzels, hot dogs, popcorn and chips, the mascot parade, DJ entertainment, mascot performances, Jimbo’s birthday cake presentation, a group “Happy Birthday,” and photo and autograph opportunities with mascots.
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Sunday Science is the perfect drop-off program for children to learn hands-on science: During this month’s Sunday Science, we create art from the things we find in nature. Discover the science of color to attract butterflies and bees to your garden and take home your very own wildflower!
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This family-fun annual event features thrilling midway rides and games and deep-fried treats, sweets and other tasty carnival eats. Admission and parking are free. Be sure to check out the website for pre-sale savings on rides and discount coupons for rides and food.
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Calling all Gabby Cats! Gabby is stepping out of her dollhouse and into the great outdoors. Join Gabby at NYBG for some garden magic with a meet and greet and photo op with Gabby. Plus, create a kitty fairy-inspired flower crown to wear as you explore NYBG’s spring blooms.
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This annual Levittown Chamber of Commerce event features exciting midway rides and games for all ages and delicious fair food for every appetite. Admission and parking are free. Visit the website for pre-sale deals on rides and coupon savings on rides and food.
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This Memorial Day weekend event features thrilling midway rides and games and tasty fair food for the whole family. Free admission and parking. Be sure to check out the website for advance savings on rides and discount coupons for rides and food.
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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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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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