KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
|
|
Thu, Apr 16: Third Thursdays in Spring at Glencairn Museum
Sat, Apr 18: Dinah Day
250 at Stenton Museum
Sun, Apr 19: StrEAT Food Festival at Manayunk
Sat, Apr 25: Naturepalooza at Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
Fri, May 1: First Friday: May Flowers at Science History Institute
Sun, May 3: Freaky Friday A New Musical Performance at Wolf Performing Arts Center
Sat, May 9: Mother's Day Nature Craft - John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum
Fri, May 15: FREE Family Night: Moths,
Marshmallows & Moonlight at Tyler Arboretum
Sat, May 16: Bark in the Park at Franklin Square |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
As I write this column, three Americans and one Canadian are hurtling home from a trip around the Moon, inside a machine that had better do exactly what it’s supposed to do. For years, every person involved in the mission obsessed over every detail at every stage until as little as possible was left to chance. “Failure is not an option,” an ethos long associated with
our quest to explore outer space, makes perfect sense when we're talking about Artemis II. But decades ago, the attitude leaked out of the space program and into everyday life, and that was a mixed blessing. When I was a teenager, “failure is not an option” might as well have been tattooed on my brain: For me, not only was failure not an option, but anything below an A grade wasn’t an option, either. I was so afraid of not being perfect that if I felt unprepared for a test,
I’d stay home “sick.” I looked successful from the outside, but because I was working so hard to avoid mistakes, I played it safe. So I didn't actually accomplish much aside from some sharp-looking letters on a report card. It took me years out in the real world to realize that real accomplishment usually looks less like gliding and more like bumping into things until you find the way through. So these days, failure and I are best buddies: I've replaced "failure is not an
option" with "nothing ventured, nothing gained" as I inch toward and away from success each day. Even writing my column each week is an act of resilience: I add and then murder my words until they say what I mean, and I'm always aware in the end that it could be better. One of my goals when I was homeschooling Madison and Ella was to make failure safe and ordinary... cheerful, even... a sign of progress. Kids need chances to try things that might flop: recipes that taste
weird, projects that collapse, math problems they have to redo, conversations they wish they’d handled better. I wanted them to understand that when the stakes are low, failure is not a tragedy, it’s just how learning works. It doesn't usually feel fun, or comfortable. But it's the only way to fly.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
Enroll now for an unforgettable summer at Camp Chaverim and Camp Woodlight! This summer, our campers will enjoy a season packed with exciting trips, hands-on activities, creative arts, outdoor adventures, and plenty of time to make new friends. Every week is thoughtfully planned to keep children engaged, active, and smiling. Our camps are proudly located at the Lassin & Paley Early Learning Centers, offering a safe, nurturing, and fun-filled environment led by experienced, caring staff. From special events to memorable excursions, there’s always something to look forward to. Give your child a summer full of laughter, learning, and lasting memories—spots are filling quickly, so enroll today and join us soon.
|
|
|
|
Don't miss your opportunity this summer to hone your music and theatrical skills! A leader in theatre & music education, Wolf Performing Arts Center’s one-on-one Private Lessons combine professional teacher expertise with a customized plan of study just for you! Our individualized lessons help our students gain confidence, reach personal goals, and enhance performance skills. Our Instructors are experienced performers who have worked professionally in the theatre and/or music industry, and have experience teaching in their respective specialties. Private lessons are for kids, teens, and adults, so we welcome anyone who wants to begin! Contact Laura Barron, Programs Director, at [email protected] to sign up! |
|
|
|
Experience the sights, sounds and aromas of the electrifying midway with exciting rides and games and favorite fair food. Admission and parking are free. Visit the website for pre-sale savings on rides and discount coupons for rides and food.
|
|
|
|
Spring in our Gardens isn’t rendered. It’s real. And it’s our kind of AI: Always Incredible. Every bud, bloom, and birdsong is nature-generated, crafted by sunshine and soil … not software. Color pops, leaves unfurl, and the whole landscape awakens with fresh, authentic, undeniable energy. Early spring bulbs bring the season to life, followed by flowering trees bursting into bloom. Fragrance drifts on the breeze. Radiant tulips stretch towards the sky.
|
|
|
|
The Kennett Square Farmers Market has been serving our community since 2000. It is a program of Kennett Collaborative, the non-profit organization that works to promote, encourage and enhance the economic, community and social vitality of our town. As a gathering point for the community, local farmers and food artisans bring their very own locally-grown and freshly-made goodness to market each week. Consumers have the opportunity to connect directly with small growers and producers, building relationships, trust, and a stronger local food economy.
|
|
|
|
Step into the world of Mossy Bottom Farm and join Shaun the Sheep™️ and his flock of friends for a baa-rilliant adventure! Shaun the Sheep™️: Flock This Way! is a hands-on exhibit that encourages playful problem-solving and resilience through fun, quirky activities inspired by Aardman’s award-winning animations. This exhibit runs from Feb. 7 to May 10.
|
|
|
|
Come on down to the John Bell House Interpretive Center today from 10AM until 1PM for something completely different! Our colleagues from the Brandywine Zoo will be visiting, including three of their animal friends. Make sure you visit and say hello to them after their long trip down.
|
|
|
|
Hellerick’s Adventure Farm is open for the season! Come down to the farm with your family to enjoy Barnyard Mini Golf, the Aerial Adventure and the Silo Climbing Wall, as well as all 50 unique attractions such as the tractor pull, corn shute slides, and Amish scooter racing.
|
|
|
|
Connect your family with the outdoors on this fun, interactive nature exploration designed to spark curiosity and wonder. Using simple tools like magnifying glasses, you will uncover the Arboretum’s plants, animals, and other seasonal highlights that bring the woodland trails to life.
|
|
|
|
Classic fairy tales get mixed up and downright silly in The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. How about the Ugly Duckling growing up to be A Really Ugly Duck? Or the Princess kissing a frog only to end up with a mouthful of slime? With quirky characters, funny twists, and enough stinky cheese to go around, this hilarious adaptation of the beloved book will have kids and parents falling out of their seats.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Philadelphia 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…
|
|
|
|
|
|
Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Philadelphia? 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.
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
