KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a teenager, I had a teacher who became a mentor without ever knowing he was one. He was aware I’d been going through some difficult times, and was glad to hear I was almost on the other side. “Some people aren't lucky enough to have dealt with hard things when they're young,” he told me. Then he added the phrase that has echoed in my head for decades: “Remember the
rocks.” Life, he explained, was always going to toss boulders into my path. The trick was to recognize, early, that even if it was painful or scary, I was capable of getting around, or over, or through them. Remembering how I’d managed would help me trust myself more when the next, bigger ones appeared. As a parent, I think about that often, about how the only way to become someone who does hard things is… to do hard things. It’s tempting
to rush in and smooth every unpleasant obstacle our kids encounter. When we email the teacher, mend the friendship, rescue the forgotten homework, eliminate every discomfort, we may feel helpful in the moment, but in fact we’re quietly removing the practice stones they need. Resilience doesn’t come from being told “You’re strong”; it comes from evidence that only they can gather, from working through manageable challenges and thinking, That was hard. And I handled it. We don’t need to
manufacture their challenges—being a kid is difficult enough. And we don’t abandon them to do it all on their own, either. We just learn to pause, to weigh advice against intervention, and to let them see what they can manage. The goal is that later in life, when something truly difficult lands in our children's path, they won’t just hope they can manage it, they’ll know. Now, many years later, when I encounter something daunting, I think back to my mentor and
remember the rocks. "I do hard things," I tell myself. And it works.
—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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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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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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Creator Camp is bringing its Shark Tank-featured magic back to Orange County for Summer 2026! We specialize in transforming passive screen time into active, creative learning. Our OC camps offer intensive, fun-filled weeks of filmmaking, game design,
YouTube production, and coding. Using industry-standard tools, our campers learn to produce high-quality content in a supportive, team-based environment. It’s the perfect summer opportunity for kids to develop technical skills and unleash their inner artists. Join the Creator Camp family in Orange County this year and let’s start creating something amazing together!
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Looking for a summer camp that truly has it all? Our latest article dives into why AstroCamp stands out for value, variety, and unforgettable adventure. Nestled in the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains, AstroCamp blends hands-on STEM learning with epic
outdoor experiences like rocketry, drone piloting, hiking, archery, and even stargazing through digital telescopes. With customizable Specialty Weeks, culinary Camp CHOP, and one- or two-week overnight options, kids can tailor their experience to match their passions. Curious how it all comes together to create an extraordinary summer? Click the graphic to read our article!
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Come cheer on the Angels!
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The Pacific Coast Sportfishing Tackle, Boat, Travel, and Outdoors Show is the West Coasts Premier Outdoors Show. Located at the Orange County, Fair & Events Center in beautiful Orange County, California the show draws vendors from all over the country
including manufacturers, retail sales, travel lodges and dealers of hundreds of outdoor products.
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Step into the world of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Exhibit and discover how team work, creativity, and empathy can make every challenge an adventure!
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The Rose Center Theater presents Fiddler on the Roof, a beloved musical about family, tradition, and change. Live performances run February 20–March 8, 2026, in Westminster, CA.
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Join Dana Point Harbor and celebrate the migration of the gray whale with the 54th Annual Festival of Whales! Festivities will take place March 7-9, 2025.
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Introduction to the Pre School Experience including circle time, finger plays, interactive flannel board storytime, music & movement for age appropriate motor development. This is the perfect first experience and little ones with siblings are
welcome.
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Animated & Active Storytime ! Come join us for this fun romp through books and puppetry. Our storytime is above and beyond just reading, we jump into the stories, play, sing, make theme crafts and so much more.
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Songs, Instruments, Parachutes, Sensory Play, Bubbles and Fun! Experienced Educator & Performer Lisa K Cohen, Director of Creative Parties for Kids and Play & Parties teacher. Music Education has been proven powerful to early childhood development,
plant the seeds of music early, come join us for Tiny Tunes Music Class at Play & Parties in Orange, CA
Grown Up Participation Encouraged.
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The team plays their home games at the Orange County Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium located in Irvine, CA. Nestled right in the heart of the Great Park, the Championship Soccer Stadium has a capacity of over 5,000 for Orange County SC
matches.!
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Each K-8 general open house event will begin in "The Garage", unless otherwise noted. The open house will include an overview of our St. John's K-8 program, time for Q&A, and conclude with a tour of our beautiful campus. Applications are available for
new families interested in applying for the 2020-2021 school year. No RSVP required. Bring a friend and introduce them to our exceptional program!
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in The OC 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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the OC 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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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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Orange County? 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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Orange County 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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2025's best places to take kids in the Orange County, CA area. Each May-June, thousands of parents vote in the KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Who won the top spot? An indoor play center, museum, farm, nature center, sports team?
Click through to find out!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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