KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: The first time I can remember having to take a public stand on anything was in eighth grade English. We were assigned an essay on a controversial topic and told we’d present our arguments to the class. When he handed back our papers, Mr. Schmidt added a twist: no reading. We’d speak from notes. I was horrified. After school, I tried to negotiate my way out of it. “This
makes me really uncomfortable,” I told him, hoping for mercy. He looked at me over his glasses. “That’s the whole point,” he said. “To get stuff done, you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Don’t worry, you’ll live.” Mr. Schmidt was right. I didn’t die. And more important, I learned something that stuck: Discomfort isn’t a stop sign, it’s just part of the road, and all roads are bumpy. That lesson shaped how I've raised my kids, too. Karate helped
Madison and Ella distinguish between effort and injury. Long car rides taught them to rely on their own imaginations. Theater nudged them to stand however close to the spotlight they could manage, even when they’d rather disappear. And summer camps—those muddy, unpredictable, gloriously imperfect experiences—gave them countless chances to try something new and realize I can do this without the stigma that can accompany failing in other contexts. Growth rarely happens
inside the comfort zone, which is why I’m such a believer in giving kids opportunities to stretch beyond what feels easy. Summer programs are perfect for this, so that's why during "summer camp search season" we focus on showcasing the wide variety of camps and programs available in each area we serve. Here's
the link to the portal page. These days, as we approach the 25th anniversary of KidsOutAndAbout.com in June, I see that same principle playing out: The technology has changed, the business climate has changed, but the equation hasn’t. Discomfort still shows up right before something meaningful. And I still hear Mr. Schmidt’s voice in my head: Don’t worry, you’ll live.
—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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Celebrate your child’s big day with hands-on engineering fun at The Works Museum! Families love the easy-to-supervise open floor plan, where guests can build with LEGO-style bricks, design K’NEX racers, look through a giant kaleidoscope, launch paper
creations into the air, and more. Each party can also include a staff-led, guided engineering project that doubles as a one-of-a-kind party favor for every guest.
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On Friday, March 20, join us at The Works Museum for a special Explore It! drop-in activity with the National Weather Service from 1–4 p.m. They’ll share a hands-on river table demonstration and show extreme weather footage, offering families a close-up
look at how weather shapes our world.
Explore It! activities are included in the price of admission. Admission to the museum is $14 per person or free for members.
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Come to Choo Choo Bob's Train Store for a Train-Tastic story time! It’s educational & interactive! Come hear stories, songs and jokes about…TRAINS! Chugga, chugga! Choo Choo! See you there, Engineers!
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This monthly series provides a welcoming and accessible environment for individuals, families, and children who have sensory sensitivities. Experience our Minnesota Journeys gallery, temporary exhibits, the Touch & See Lab, and a brief planetarium show
at 8:45 am—all with lowered lighting, quieter sounds, and fewer visitors.
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Join us at Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center for a hands-on Maple Syrup Tour and Pancake Meal! At Osprey Wilds, you will be surrounded only by the soothing sounds and sights of nature. Our property includes old growth pine forest, deciduous forest,
managed woodlands, wetlands, and restored prairie.
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Discovery Day: Women in Science is an in-depth exploration of science, technology, engineering, art, and math topics with hands-on activities and partner demonstrations.
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Join us at the Arboretum for an outdoor Maple Tree experience and then come inside for a Pancake meal! Celebrate the sweetness of spring at the Arboretum's Maple Fest — with delicious pancakes paired with hands-on maple syrup learning experiences. Guests
can enjoy freshly made pancakes, sausage and local maple syrup before or after exploring Maple Fest stations, where educators and volunteers demonstrate how maple sap is collected, processed and transformed into syrup.
This family-friendly tradition invites visitors to savor a delicious meal, discover the heritage of maple sugaring, and enjoy early-spring beauty across the grounds
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All aboard for a day of train-tastic fun at Minnesota Children’s Museum!
Join us for a dance party with a live DJ, special train-themed activities, story time with Engineer Paul from Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store, a museum-wide scavenger hunt and more.
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Are you brave enough to face a T-rex? Do you know what it feels like to get sneezed on by a triceratops? Find out when dinosaurs take over CTC! Feel the rumble of their rawrs as a young paleontologist takes you on a tour so up-close-and-personal you’ll
almost smell their stinky breath! This extraordinary experience has wowed kids and adults all over the world. But be on the lookout: you never know who (or what!) you’ll run into after the show…
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Show & Tell is an exuberant, hands-on exhibition designed just for kids!
Built around five exploratory zones—Play, Make, Find, Read, and Watch—Show & Tell encourages young people to approach contemporary art with creativity and imagination. Where Cas Holman’s Critter Party (2024) offers a sculpture to touch, climb on, and modify, Caroline Kent’s colorful abstractions inspire kids to create their own collages to project in the gallery. A porthole wall reveals a trove of hidden surprises, from a miniature Spoonbridge and
Cherry to a family of funky creatures. And in the comfy “Watch” zone, a varied selection of short films prompts curiosity and conversation.
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NO SCHOOL DAY - Edina, Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Bloomington, Minnetonka
Enter a world of wonder in this enchanting science class! Young wizards and scientists will dive into thrilling experiments to determine if they’re “muggle” (scientific) or truly magical. A hands-on adventure packed with curiosity, discovery, and a sprinkle of magic!
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Enjoy the colors in this exhibit and join us to meet the artist on March 21st from 11:30 to 3 pm. In a world defined by constant motion, "Stillpoint, Changing Line" explores the tension between what we hold onto and what we let go. This exhibition serves to
illustrate that nothing remains static. Rather, the "line" is both a boundary and a path, marking the edge of what is known while leading us toward what is becoming. The exhibition brings together four distinct voices to explore as they move from the rigid and structural to the fluid and ephemeral. Viewers are invited to travel a complete spectrum of artistic interpretation as they enjoy “still world” of flower cloches to the kinetic power of untamed motion found in paintings. Visit the
website for admission tickets.
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An interactive experience! Pull back the curtains and there you are—surrounded by old sofas, crazy lampshades, piles of blankets, and towering towers of cardboard boxes! It’s like the coolest attic you’ve ever seen, where everything’s up for grabs. Use
whatever you want to build…whatever you want—the tallest fort, the longest fort, tons of cozy little forts… Quick, someone hands you a flashlight—what will you do? In Forts! you make it all happen.
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Watch the Loons take on Western Conference rivals the Seattle Sounders at Allianz Field on March 22, presented by SeatGeek. Get tickets now.
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Curious about Summer enrollment for your Toddler or Preschooler at Inspired Play Learning Center? Join us on Saturday, March 21 from 9-11 am for coffee + play. Casually tour our center and meet with Dr. Jen from Lux Chiropractic, Julia from Kaleidoscope
Learning, and Jake from Soccer Shots! We have so much to offer and we invite you to come see!
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The world’s most beloved blue engine is rolling into St. Paul! Inspired by the popular children’s series and featuring engines and destinations from Thomas & Friends™, this interactive exhibit engages children and families in foundational skills that
foster STEM literacy through playful learning experiences.
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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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- Slime Break Showdown at Mall of America - Mall of America - Bloomington, MN, Friday, March 20, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, See website.
- Scrambled Egg Mix Up! at Mall of America - Mall of America - Bloomington, MN, Friday, March 20, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, See website.
- Mill City Farmers Market - Mill City Farmers Market - Minneapolis, MN, Saturday, March 21, 2026, First & Third Saturdays November - April (10am-1pm, indoors)
- Book Artist Badge Day - Minneapolis, MN, Saturday, March 21, 2026, 1:00pm–4:30pm
- FunLab at George Latimer Central Library - Saint Paul, MN, Sunday, March 22, 2026, 3:30pm-4:30pm
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! -
Minneapolis-St. Paul - Shoott - Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Sunday, March 22, 2026, See link for times
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the MSP 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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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