KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When my kids were little, one of our favorite nature activities was also one of the simplest: We’d head out onto a trail, stop among the trees, and play the Listening Game. The rules were easy: Close your eyes. The first time you hear a sound, any sound at all, put up one finger. Then add another for each new sound you notice. After a minute or two, someone says, “Open your
eyes,” and everyone compares fingers and talks about what they heard. It’s a small exercise in attention, but it changes how kids experience the world. The invisible becomes visible... not to the eyes, exactly, but to the mind. Things that were just out of range suddenly move onto our radar. Nature is full of motion and music, and this game helps us tune ourselves to it. The free Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology takes that magic one step further: Tap Sound ID, and suddenly the songs around you appear on your screen as a voiceprint and a bird name and an image that shows you what to look for. And what a moment ago was only background atmosphere becomes a Carolina Wren, or an Eastern Whip-poor-will, or the Common Yellowthroat pictured above,
singing his heart out for a girl with a camera. That’s one of the great tasks of childhood, and of the adults who love children: to help hidden things come into view. Before we know something, it is almost as if it isn’t there. But once it is named, we have a new way to see. There are suddenly new dimensions to our universe, helping us transform even more mysteries into things that are ours. And we never really experience the woods—or the field, or the river, or
the ocean, or the city, or our backyard—the same way 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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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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With over 20 camps to choose from, there’s a camp for every age, instrument, and musical interest. Our camps balance thoughtful skill-building and creativity for a joyful summer experience! Campers learn from professional musicians and educators who know how to challenge, inspire, and support students at every age. Each camp blends high-quality instruction with the energy and fun of summer – try new things, make friends, and discover what music can mean to them. With more than 118 years of music education experience, MacPhail brings unmatched depth, care, and joy to every camp! Camps are filling fast – register to secure their spot. Financial assistance is available. Learn more at macphail.org/camp
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Friday nights are the perfect time for a museum adventure! Explore museum galleries, check out special Science Live performances, enjoy delectable food and drink, and catch an Omnitheater showing of our latest large-screen offering.
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Get ready for an imaginative adventure bursting with color! Little ones and their caregivers can whip up some creativity at our whimsical Rainbow Bakery Station, where colorful play recipes come to life. Next, they can roll up their sleeves at our Colorful Construction Site, using loaders and diggers to move colors around. And for even more hands-on fun, they’ll sort fuzzy, bright pom-poms to their heart’s content. Let’s spark joy and discovery at every turn.
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The St. Paul Saints Baseball Club has provided family entertainment to the Twin Cities since 1993. Young Saints fans can enjoy special pre-game moments at CHS Field! Become a BP Buddy and watch batting practice up close, join your team as the Field of Dreams squad to play catch and stand alongside the Saints for the National Anthem, or bring your entire league for a night of fun and baseball. Spots are limited, so don’t miss out!
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Join us for the FREE public event showcasing the wondrous world of insects! Activities for all ages! Live insects! Insect games! Insect food! Insect crafts!
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Join MNHS Press author Carolyn Olson for a special reading of her children’s book Pearl’s Garden.
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The Minnesota Lottery will be in the Huntington® Bank Rotunda with the newest artist series ticket, Forest Fortune, a game rooted in local art and fun. Make a purchase and receive a free gift while supplies last: a FREE tote bag with a $10 purchase, a FREE T-shirt with a $20 purchase, or a FREE sling bag with a $40 purchase. With any purchase, guests will also receive a FREE mystery mini print by Chuck U while supplies last.
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The International School of Minnesota invites you to celebrate culture, community, and global connection at International Day 2026! This vibrant, family-friendly event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, welcoming families and community members to experience traditions, flavors, music, and stories from around the world—all in one place.
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Enjoy a free performance by Skylark Opera Theatre in the beautiful cortile at Landmark Center!
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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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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 all-new 2026 production featuring exclusive artists from around the globe. This fast-paced masterpiece brings together the soaring grace of the Flying Trapeze, the nerve-wracking precision of the High Wire, and the thunderous energy of the Motorcycle Globe. From the mesmerizing speed of Quick Change and Hula Hoops to the incredible balance of elite Unicycle performers, every moment is designed to amaze from the very first act.
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Get ready for a morning of big wheels and even bigger excitement at Tots & Tires! Join us on Friday, April 17, 9:30 am-11:30 am at the New Brighton Community Center for a hands-on, family-friendly experience designed especially for young children.
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- Tots & Tires - New Brighton Community Center, New Brighton, MN, Friday, April 17, 2026, 9:30 am-11:30 am
- Mill City Farmers Market - Mill City Farmers Market - 704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401, Saturday, April 18, 2026, 10am-1pm
- The Great MinnSect Show 2026 - St. Paul Student Center, 2017 Buford Avenue, Saint Paul, MN,
Saturday, April 18, 2026, 10:00AM to 3:00PM
- Minnesota Lottery Forest Fortune Event - Mall of America, 2131 Lindau Lane, Bloomington, MN 55425, Saturday, April 18, 2026, 11 am - 2 pm
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Minneapolis-St. Paul - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, Saturday, April 18, 2026 - Sunday, April 19, 2026, See link for times
- Sundays at Landmark: Skylark Opera Theatre - Skylark Opera Theatre - Landmark Center, West 5th Street, Saint Paul, MN, Sunday, April 19, 2026, 1:00 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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