KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jul 3: Fourth of July Celebration - Harbes Family Farm
Fri, Jul 3: Five Dollar Friday! Ink & Independence
Sun, Jul 5: Celebrating America's 250th - Intrepid Museum
Fri, Jul 10: The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition
Tue, Jul 14: Working With Clay: Under the Sea
Fri, Jul 17: Sail On: The Beach Boys Tribute at Theatre Three
Sat, Jul 18: The Little Moon Theater: An Original Musical by TADA! Youth Theater
Fri, Jul 24: Annual Thunderbird American Indian Powwow at Queens County Farm Museum
Sat, Jul 25: Sweet Corn Festival - Harbes Family Farm
Mon,
Aug 3: August Art Series at Planting Fields
Sat, Aug 8: 68th Annual Mystic Outdoor Art Festival: Children's Art
Park
Sat, Aug 15: Jeff Boyer's BIG BUBBLE BONANZA |
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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Soak Up The Fun! YMCA of Long Island's Summer Program Registration is officially OPEN! From pool time to playtime, kids will soak up the fun all summer long at the Y. Every game, splash, and new adventure helps build confidence, friendships, and skills they'll carry with them long after summer ends. Summer Program Session Runs: June 28-September 5, 2026 Youth Programs for All Ages: Swim Lessons, Sports and Fitness, Special Activities Health & Wellness Programs for Adults: Swim Lessons, Water Fitness Classes, Small Group Training Please visit our website for more information!
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Summer is here, and that means more time to play at Urban Air Lake Grove! We’re kicking off extended summer hours so families can enjoy non-stop adventure, high-flying fun, and unforgettable memories all season long. We’re open 7 days a week from 10 AM to 8 PM, and until 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Fly on the Sky Rider, race the Mini Go Karts, battle in Laser Tag, hit the Arcade & Claw Machines, jump, climb, spin, soar, and refuel at the Urban Café. Please note: Jumperoo will resume in the fall. Hours subject to change; check www.urbanairlakegrove.com.
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Join the oyster bay music festival for its 15th season of bringing transformative musical experiences to the community! Hear THE NEXT GENERATION OF CLASSICAL music STARS and prizewinning young talents performing in some of the most beautiful spaces on Long Island! WE ARE LOCAL, BUT OUR MUSIC SPANS THE GLOBE!
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North Bellmore Public Library (NBPL) invites families to an Outdoor Family Movie Night on the library’s front lawn, featuring a screening of Toy Story. Popcorn, drinks, and an NBPL giveaway will be available for those who register in advance. Guests are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Drop-ins are welcome.
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We’re thrilled to announce our official lineup for our 2026 Movies in the Moonlight & Summer Concert Series! Get ready for nights filled with exciting movies under the stars, high energy live music performances, and unforgettable summer memories! FREE admission for all events, sponsored by Suffolk County and proudly presented by North Shore Youth Council & Legislator Chad Lennon. Bring your chairs, blankets, family, and friends--we can't wait to celebrate another amazing season with all of you!
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The Lindy Cares Color Run is a fun, high-energy community event that brings people together to promote healthy living and raise awareness about substance misuse prevention. Participants run or walk through a vibrant course where they’re showered in colorful powder along the way. The event encourages positivity, connection, and community spirit, while supporting Lindy Cares’ mission to create a safer, healthier environment for youth and families.
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Please join us for our annual “All Families, All Pride” This family friendly community gathering will feature live music from UBC Coffee House, yoga with Vanessa, a book reading with Gaia Cornwall, bracelet making, crafts, a bake sale, bounce house fun, and more. Drag performer Miss Isa Vibe will also be joining the celebration with performances and a special coloring table for guests. Let’s gather together to celebrate, support, and uplift our local youth LGBTQIA+ community!
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The 2026 North Fork Pride celebration will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 12n-4p in Greenport! Join thousands in celebrating Pride at the North Fork Pride Parade & Festival. The Parade will step-off at 12PM.
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Kick off summer with two free in-store events featuring Creativity for Kids crafts! Whether they’re designing a one-of-a-kind rock or “painting” with jewels, each event helps children boost fine motor skills and self-expression. We’ll even have select summertime faves to explore in our Play & Discover area. Parents and guardians, check in when you arrive for your chance to win a $100 Lakeshore E-Gift Card! These are free, walk-in events held at all locations during the hours listed. No reservations needed.
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Get ready to explore the fascinating world of reptiles with Uncle Tony’s Reptiles! Known for his engaging, educational, and family-friendly presentations, Uncle Tony introduces guests to amazing snakes, lizards, turtles, and other cold-blooded creatures while sharing fun facts about their habitats, behaviors, and conservation.
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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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Summer Kickoff Sunday is almost here! Join us for an inspiring service and stay for free ice cream, a bounce house, and family fun for all ages (face painting, stilt walker & more!). We can’t wait to celebrate summer with you!
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Head to our self-serve station to build a vibrant sea creature and celebrate the many unique wonders of the ocean.
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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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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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Pick-Your-Own Fruit on Long Island Listed below are farms on Long Island that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. Also flowers! And... to make the most of your experience, check out
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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