KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The February my daughter Ella was 1, she caught a cold that lingered for months. There were short stretches of relief, but mostly there was congestion, disrupted sleep, and a level of crankiness that turned my sunny baby into someone I barely recognized. The clouds around her felt constant, and one day, I caught myself labeling her in my head as “the crabby one.” But of course,
if I had a perpetually runny nose and no way to manage it, I’d be irritable, too! I needed to remember this wasn’t her personality, it was a season. What we needed to get through it was distraction: something fun to do "right now" and also fun things to anticipate. Aside from those who live in paradise pockets like San Diego, most of our readers are in the thick of a particularly dreary winter. The world feels heavy and gray, energy runs low, and
it’s easy to fixate on how dispirited we feel. But we need to remember that this isn't our personality, it's a season. What we need to get through it is distraction in the moment and also something positive we can place on our horizon. My family is counting down to the March 20 release of Project Hail
Mary, which stars Ryan Gosling. The movie is based on the novel by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian. You don't have to be a science nerd to love Weir's books (although science nerds DO love Weir's
books), because in all of them, the real hero is human ingenuity—curiosity, flexible thinking, doing what needs to be done even in extreme circumstances. When things are going awry, the answer isn’t despair, it’s problem-solving, and I always emerge from a Weir book feeling spiritually lighter. While I immerse myself in Weir and Gosling, you, of course, should do YOU! Let the art or sport that grabs you and your kids be your launch ticket to optimism now, and lift you to fun
in the future. We're glad to provide the fuel!
—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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Ensworth Summer Camps offer students in Grades K-12 a unique blend of fun and education, providing a nurturing environment to develop new skills, forge lasting friendships, and create unforgettable memories. Our sports camps, led by Ensworth's High School
athletes and coaches, are skill-building camps designed for serious fun and athletic development. Master fundamentals, build confidence, and forge lasting friendships in a competitive yet supportive environment.Our enrichment and art camps ignite creativity, build confidence, and fuel curiosity. Students will learn to code robots, craft masterpieces, climb rocks, and discover hidden talents – all while making friends and having a blast!
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Join a herd of runners at Zoo Run Run! This winter race takes runners and walkers on a 5K adventure throughout the Zoo’s property, including areas not available to the public. Families and children are encouraged to bundle up as they hit the trail. Proceeds
from Zoo Run Run help fund the Zoo's conservation work. Zoo Run Run is a rain, snow or shine event.
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Join us for our first ever Build-A-Cow event at CFA Hermitage!!! We have two time slots to choose from on Saturday, February 28, 4:30pm-5:30pm or 6:00pm-7:00pm. $50 per Cow. Each ticket purchase includes a high quality, ultra soft, plush cow that you will
stuff-with-fluff and safely close up. Each cow comes with its very own Chick-fil-A Hermitage tee shirt! There will be additional outfits and accessories available for purchase. Each ticket also includes a gift card for a single Kids Meal that you may redeem that evening or save for later. The actual build-a-cow time should only take about 15 minutes but we want to allow time for you to dine with us and visit with friends. Space is limited as well as cow inventory. 25 cows are available for each
time slot. You may pop in anytime within your one hour time selection.
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Big fun awaits your little ones at the Little Sliders Club — a special playtime just for kids ages 7 and under! For tickets starting at just $14.99, children can enjoy exciting activities, creative crafts, kid-friendly music, and more. Kids ages 4–7 can
slide into adventure on the main slides, while those 3 and under explore safely in the junior area.
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Join us for a family activity in the park! Make a family trip to visit our Storybook Walk trail in Centennial Park. Read the pages of the storybook that are displayed along the path while spending quality outdoor time with your children. You can enjoy the
Walk anytime during park operating hours of 6 AM - 8 PM.
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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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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Nashville 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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- Kidsville Storybook Walk - 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, Saturday, February 28, 2026 to Sunday, March 1, 2026, Park hours, 6 AM - 8 PM
- Kidsville at the Parthenon (February) - 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, Saturday, February 28, 2026, See website for details.
- Saturday Storytime - Linebaugh Public Library, Murfreesboro, Saturday, February 28, 2026, 10-11 AM
- BACHAPALOOZA 2026 - Franklin's Ultimate Open House Music
Festival - Bach to Rock Franklin, Franklin, Saturday, February 28, 2026, 12pm-6pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Nashville area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Nashville area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues and complete your mission-all before time runs out! Whether you're escaping
a spooky cabin, cracking a high-stakes heist, or breaking a magical curse, escape rooms offer exciting, screen-free fun for kids, teens, and adults.
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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school options - we've got you covered.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Nashville 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 best things to do with kids in the Nashville area for 2025 as voted by KidsOutAndAbout.com's local readers. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of our readers' annual top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top
Sports Educator, and Top STEM Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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