KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One of the best things about spring is that it turns all of us into treasure hunters. After a long winter, we adults start scanning the world for signs that life is returning: We notice the first mist of green in a forest's understory, the first brave crocus, the first daffodil. If we point out loud, kids catch on quickly, drawn by the thrill of seeking what
winter was hiding even just a few weeks ago, and they're ready to find magic behind every tree. Of course, in certain parts of North America, spring can be stingy in early April: The calendar may insist it’s here, but the yard is still beige, the trees are still bare, and the only things blooming outside are spreading patches of mud. But there’s no rule that says spring surprises have to come only from Mother Nature! That’s one reason I’m such a fan of egg
hunts. Last year, I wrote an extremely popular step-by-step article showing how to Turn Easter Into a Treasure Hunt, complete with a printable PDF of rhyming clues. It’s right there waiting for you, ready to make you look like a genius with practically zero effort. And if you want to kick it up a notch and invite a crowd, our article Easter Egg Hunts: Tips and Tricks for a Great Party lays out the
strategies for what may be the easiest, fastest, best-bang-for-the-buck kids’ party on Earth. Sure, egg hunts feature prominently in our culture's Easter traditions, but they needn't belong only to Easter, they're a wonderful diversion anytime, in any context. Spring is a season that proves there’s treasure everywhere. Sometimes the universe provides the fun for us. And sometimes we create it ourselves.
—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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Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children age ten and under games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity. The Rock and Roll Playhouse is an early and often first introduction to a child’s lifelong journey with live music and rock and roll. See you at the show! The Rock and Roll Playhouse presents The Music of Taylor Swift & More for KidsFirst AvenueSunday, April 26, 2026All Ages showNOTE: Free admission for kids under 1.11:00 AM Doors11:30 AM ShowtimeMore info: Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children age ten and under games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity. The Rock and Roll Playhouse is an early and…
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Your Best Summer Starts Here! Saint Paul Urban Tennis is registering now for spring, summer, and fall programs for youth ages 5–18! From beginner camps to competitive team tennis, SPUT offers affordable, inclusive programming at accessible Saint Paul locations — welcoming all skill levels and backgrounds. We offer summer camps, seasonal clinics, and junior team tennis for every age and ability. Don't miss your spot — spaces fill fast! Register today and make this summer one to remember.
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Hippity Hop on over for some Easter Fun, where kids explore exciting sensory stations with a springtime twist! Enjoy getting messy with a jumbo-sized Easter bunny, Easter egg-themed slime, and a sensory bin filled with pastel treasures, sparking creativity and sensory discovery in a festive Easter adventure! Come join the springtime fun with your child.
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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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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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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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Put on your best Easter attire and hop over to the James J. Hill House! The annual Easter Egg Hunt will be offered in 3 sessions. Enjoy family-friendly hands-on activities, a monarch butterfly scavenger hunt, and story time on the first floor and basement!
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The City of Chanhassen’s Easter Egg Candy Hunt will be held on Saturday, April 4, at City Center Park. Each year, this annual hunt draws over 500 children (plus their family members)! Each participant will receive a bag for gathering candy and eggs, as well as the chance to find special eggs that are redeemable for prizes. Make sure to bring your camera for a photo with the Easter Bunny!
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Understand — and protect — the world we all call home. Join museum scientists and community partners for a unique celebration of our only currently habitable planet. Do hands-on activities, chats with earth science experts, and enjoy climate-themed live performances.
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There are six decorated eggs hidden around Nickelodeon Universe. Can you identify which show is featured on each of them? Add a Scrambled Egg Mix Up Scavenger Hunt onto any ticket purchase now through April 12 to unscramble the eggs and get a prize.
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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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An event specifically designed for children with Autism and special needs to enjoy time at the park without loud music, flashing lights- and to have a lot of fun!
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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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n a land where fear and misunderstanding have divided the people for generations, a young girl named Luna holds the key to breaking the cycle of darkness and separation. The Girl Who Drank the Moon celebrates the transformative power of unity — reminding us all that when we come together, we can heal wounds, face our fears, and create a better world for everyone.
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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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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Minneapolis-St. Paul - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 04/04/2026 - 04/05/2026, See link for times
- Slime Break Showdown at Mall of America - Mall of America - 2131 Lindau Lane, Bloomington, MN 55425, 03/31/2026 - 04/12/2026, See website.
- Scrambled Egg
Mix Up! at Mall of America - Mall of America - 2131 Lindau Lane, Bloomington, MN 55425, 03/31/2026 - 04/12/2026, See website.
- Mill City Farmers Market - Mill City Farmers Market - 704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401, 04/04/2026, Saturdays May - September (8am-1pm) Saturdays in October
(9am-1pm) First & Third Saturdays November - April (10am-1pm, indoors)
- The Easter Journey & Egg Hunt - Our Savior Lutheran Church, 23290 Highway 7, Excelsior, MN 55331, 04/04/2026, 1:00-3:00pm
- Easter Egg Hunt - Newell Park, Fairview Avenue North, Saint Paul, MN, USA, 04/04/2026, 10:00AM-11:30AM
- Community Easter Egg Hunt at Newell Park - Newell Park, 900
Fairview Ave N, St Paul, Minnesota, USA, 04/04/2026, 10 am - 11:30 am
- 2026 An Easter Experience, Egg Hunt & Petting Zoo - Our Savior Lutheran Church, 23290 Highway 7, Excelsior, MN 55331, 04/04/2026, 1 - 3 pm
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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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