KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: A tumble is not a verdict; it's information. And kids are natural data analysts. That's what a mom half a generation older than me told me when I was getting ready to have kids, and I took it to heart. So I was secretly a little thrilled the summer my daughter Madison was almost 4, when she took her first big splash off a slippery log into a
creek. Here's why: To succeed in life, everyone needs to learn to stretch to the edge of their abilities... to gather courage from their toes, to calculate, to balance, to wobble, to slide... and eventually to succeed. Kids can learn this early if the grownups in their orbit help them see the mud and bruises that come from a tumble as badges to be worn proudly: a fail-until-we-succeed philosophy in action. That's how personal fulfillment happens, and it's how human progress happens,
too. Summer is childhood's best laboratory, where sensory experiences stick as lifelong learning. School has grades and rubrics and consequences; summer has grass stains and do-overs. An amusement park ride can teach the difference between fear and danger. A hands-on museum can teach that when your tower collapses, you simply vow to rebuild it taller. A farm can teach that maybe you don’t like strawberries from the grocery store, but
you do like the ones you picked yourself, still warm from the sun. A climbing gym can teach your muscles that “I can’t” really means “I can’t yet.” And summer camps are entire worlds built around trying something new with no transcript following you home. Last week, the KidsOutAndAbout.com team launched our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey. It's a way to thank the people who make your community a great place to raise kids. Equally important, it’s a giant menu of local opportunities for your kids to stretch their legs, their minds, and their bravery this summer. Use it to create your summer bucket list! Then step back and set your family’s summer dial to “safe to fail.” Watch your kids climb, build, stumble, and try again.
Let them splash.
—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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Kidcreate Studio’s award-winning summer camps are designed to inspire and educate young artists, ages 3 to 12, in an environment where giggles and grins are encouraged. Camps combine art education with an atmosphere full of fun. Campers get to explore drawing, painting, clay and more. This year’s camps include- KPop Demon Hunters, IlluminART, Introductory Drawing, Kawaii Cute, Modern Masters in Clay, STEAM-sational and many more!
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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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Spark your creativity this summer with Youth Performance Company! YPC’s engaging classes in acting, musical theatre, and movement build confidence, creativity, and friendships in a fun, supportive environment. With programs for all experience levels, it’s the perfect place for young performers to shine, learn new skills, and have a blast on stage.
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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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Get ready for a roaring, rolling sensory adventure! In this trucks and dinosaurs-themed class, kids will dig, build, and explore with activities like fossil excavation, truck races, and creating their own prehistoric construction site. It’s a hands-on journey packed with imagination, fun, and a whole lot of mess! Come and explore the sensory stations with your child.
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Join a band of storytellers in the not-so-distant-future, as they tell the story of Bilbo Baggins in this inventive adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic tale. Our storytellers follow Bilbo on a journey beyond the borders of the familiar, as he is swept into a quest with Gandalf and a band of determined dwarves, facing trolls, goblins, riddles, and a dragon named Smaug—with bravery he never knew he had.
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Scout Days return to SEA LIFE at Mall of America! Swim on by to enjoy this family fun underwater adventure!
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The Great Big Jamboree at Hyland Hills in Bloomington is a joyful, all-ages outdoor festival featuring live music, hands-on art activities, and space for families to relax, explore, and play together. Designed for kids and grown-ups alike, it’s a full day of music, creativity, and connection in a beautiful outdoor setting. Kids Under 2 are Free! Doors open at 9am, music begins at 10am. In addition to live performances, families can enjoy interactive art activities, creative workshops, artist vendors selling their work, and plenty of open space for play and rest. The festival is intentionally designed to balance high-energy fun with calmer moments, including a dedicated quiet listening and play area for kids.
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JOIN THE FUN! Kick off your summer with Saint Paul Urban Tennis at our 5K fun run!
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Can't wait for summer season to start? Join us for Summer Preview Day! The historic fort will be open for self-exploration, no guided tour required. Learn about history from staff stationed across the site. Brief 15 minute introductory tours will be offered at the fort and historic demonstrations will take place throughout the day
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It’s not every day that a wild tornado whizzes over your head, or the world magically shifts from black and white to technicolor! Don’t miss this grand spectacle, featuring songs from the classic film.
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A three-class herbal series designed to empower children with real, life-changing knowledge about plants, natural healing. Apothecary Kids, a three-class herbal series designed to empower children with real, life-changing knowledge about plants, natural healing, and the world growing right around them
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A beloved coming-of-age drama Jo March desperately wants to be a writer — an unusual dream for a teenage girl in 1860s Massachusetts. With her father away during the Civil War, Jo and sisters Meg, Beth and Amy, at home with their mother Marmee, remain joyful and dutiful despite their modest circumstances. As time passes, the women in the family grow ever closer as they navigate love, loss and new beginnings. Yearning for independence, Jo is emboldened by her sisters to channel her angst into her stories, eventually finding her place in the world as a published author. This new adaptation of the beloved classic celebrates the wonderful and trying transition from girlhood to adulthood.
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Bring the entire family and enjoy the outdoor markets and live music!
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Where do monsters go on vacation? To the beach, of course! Join a batch of friendly monsters as they kick off their flip flops, put on their sunscreen and enjoy a day of fun! Make the most of your beach day as you maneuver through the monster obstacle course, show off your best dance moves at the underwater disco, patch up monster-sized boo-boos at the lifeguard station and more. What kind of monster friends will you make?
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- Downtown Farmers Market - Minneapolis - East Lyndale Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN, Friday, May 22, 2026, 7 am - 1 pm
- Northeast Farmers Market Saturday Market - Northeast 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN, Saturday, May 23, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm
- Mini Mia at Minneapolis Institute of
Art - Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404, United States, Saturday, May 23, 2026, 10:15am and 12:15pm
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Minneapolis-St. Paul - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Saturday, May
23, 2026, See link for times
- Downtown Farmers Market - Minneapolis - East Lyndale Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN, Sunday, May 24, 2026, 6 am - 1 pm
- National Memorial Day Concert Live Stream - ONLINE ONLY, Sunday, May 24, 2026, 8pm EDT / 7pm CDT / 6pm MDT / 5pm PDT / 4pm AKDT
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul 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 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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