KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
In last week's column, I wrote about the Humble Abode, the kids-only hideout my sister and I created behind the giant azalea bush in our backyard. We dragged in chairs and treasures and made a little home in the hollowed-out
branches. At the time, I thought of it as something we had built. But of course, we didn’t create it from nothing. We were makers, yes, but we were making inside a world that was already alive. Summer is the perfect time for kids to experience that lesson up close and personal, with all their senses. The world is warm, green, buzzing, blooming, squelching, chirping, dripping, and growing almost too fast to track. Kids can smell lake water and tomato leaves, feel bark and moss
and mud, watch ants organize themselves with alarming competence, and notice that the same trail looks different after rain. Nature doesn’t need a lesson plan. It offers immediacy first: I am here. This is real. Pay attention. And then, quietly, it offers perspective. A child is legitimately the center of his or her own universe; we all are, from the inside. But Nature gently complicates that story. The robin is not singing for us. The creek does not hurry because we
are late. The sunflower turns toward the sun whether or not anyone remembers to admire it. Clouds, tides, weeds, and weather all proceed with their ancient business, reminding us that we belong to a world much larger than our schedules and preferences. That perspective should not make us feel small in a bad way, but instead help us feel rightly-sized. Humans have the wonderful ability to create, repair, improve, and beautify our little corners of the universe. But we do it
best when we understand the nature of the world we’re working within. So use this summer to include as much Outside Green Time as you can, looking up and around and in. Poke gently. Nature will do the rest.
—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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Pacific Marine Mammal Center rescues and rehabilitates sick, injured, or malnourished marine mammals along Orange County’s coastline. As an educational hub for marine science, part of our mission is sharing what our scientists are discovering about ocean health through the patients we treat. Our hands-on, STEAM focused education programs engage all ages and audiences, including schools, groups, scouts, children, teens, and college students. Programs include time observing rehabilitating patients and hearing their stories, which exemplify real-world conservation issues our scientists are investigating. Our visitor yard is open daily, free of charge. You can view our patients and talk with knowledgeable docents.
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Celebrate your child’s birthday in the heart of Orange County at Irvine Marriott, where fun is effortless and unforgettable. Kick off the party in our Topgolf Swing Suite, featuring interactive sports and games that let kids swing, score, and play together. The celebration continues with splash time in our outdoor heated pool, complete with poolside games and family-friendly entertainment. Package includes: 1 hour in the Topgolf Swing Suite, food and drinks, décor and setup, a dedicated party host, pool access with towels and amenities. Add-ons available. Maximum of 10 guests.
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Starting in the spring, we open our berry fields to the public for a unique strawberry & olallieberry picking experience.
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All aboard Choo Choo Revue! In the first new show from BBMT in 40 years, your theater seat becomes a train bound for fantasy! A monumental milestone for BBMT and celebration of community and joy, Choo Choo Revue inspires IMAGINATION for all. Through the train window of BBMT’s stage, travel across rolling hills, mountainous peaks, and dazzling deserts. Meet dancing luggage, singing mushrooms, and a cicada jugband. This hour-long show, packed with over 100 handcrafted, BRAND NEW puppets, is presented with theatric grandeur and spectacular artistic skill. Bob Baker Marionette Theater is thrilled to present this milestone achievement in puppetry and theater, showcasing innovative art and performance for new generations to enjoy. This is your ticket to the future of puppetry!
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The City of Irvine, in collaboration with Community Action Partnership of Orange County, is offering The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Eligible residents will receive a box of food weighing approximately 30 pounds once a month. The box contains a variety of dried beans, fresh produce, canned and frozen vegetables, fruit/vegetable juice, meat (when available), poultry, fish, nuts, milk, cheese, rice, cereal, and pasta.
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Across Los Angeles, people and wildlife travel through shared landscapes, following paths that intersect and overlap. Metro is committed to creating environments where all species can flourish by reducing car dependence through public transit, planting native and drought-resilient vegetation, protecting nesting areas, and keeping paths open for animal movement.
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Public Skate is for families or individuals who are looking to work on skating skills and exercise the body in a safe and fun environment. All sales are final!
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Ease into the weekend with live jazz under the summer sky at RUNWAY. Join us every Friday night in June and July from 6–8 PM on The Turf for Sizzling Summer Jazz Nights featuring rotating live jazz bands, warm evenings, outdoor lounging, and the perfect soundtrack to your Friday night in Playa Vista. Grab dinner or drinks from your favorite RUNWAY spots, bring a blanket or gather with friends on the lawn, and enjoy a laid-back summer evening filled with live music and community vibes. Whether you stay for a song or settle in for the full set, it’s the kind of summer night you’ll want to make part of your weekly routine.
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The World of Birds Show has been delighting audiences for nearly 40 years! Launched by a major gift from the Angela Collier Foundation, the new World of Birds Theater reopened to the public in 2014. The refreshed and reimagined free-flight presentation features impressive displays of natural behavior and close up views of some of the L.A. Zoo’s most colorful residents. Note: This event is weather permitting, and the lineup is subject to change.
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“Convergence: Contemporary Artists of Armenian Descent” will premiere at the Forest Lawn Museum on March 21, 2026. From bold experiments in abstraction to thought-provoking conceptual installations, “Convergence” features the work of more than twenty artists who push the boundaries of traditional mediums and challenge conventions with their daring visions. The exhibition does not attempt to cover the entire spectrum of Armenian narratives. Rather, its cohesive element is the heritage of the featured artists. With diverse backgrounds—ranging from those born in the United States to immigrants from various regions—these artists contribute individual perspectives to their work. Defining Armenian identity is inherently complex. It encompasses a sense of belonging that surpasses simplistic definitions, rooted in historical connections that often evoke profound and abstract emotions.
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2026'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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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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Orange County, CA Area's Pick-Your-Own Fruit Listed below are farms in and near San Diego that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. And... to make the most of your experience, check
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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