KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Wed, Jul 22: Wacky Wet Wednesday at Four Peaks Neighborhood Park
Wed, Jul 22: District Splash Days: Royal Splash Bash
Fri, Jul 24: Family Play Date with Glendale Parks and Recreation
Fri, Jul 24: Holiday Heat Wave - Pool Party | AJPR
Fri, Jul 24: Teen Summer Art Workshops: Mood & Movement | Creative Color Art Studios
Sat, Jul 25: 2026 AZ Sunrise Series - Arizona Boardwalk
Sat, Jul 25: AJPR presents Prehistoric Party
Sat, Aug 1: Slide the Rails 2026 at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
Sun, Aug 2: Kids Crew: Back to School Bash at CNP Glendale
Sat, Aug 8: 2026 AZ Sunrise Series - Riparian Preserve |
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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Step into the Whispering Woods and experience the action-packed world of LEGO® NINJAGO®! Train alongside fellow Ninjas as you master Spinjitzu, defeat elemental monsters, build a mighty dragon, and work together to complete an epic elemental masters mosaic. Meet the Master Model Builder in the Creative Workshop, catch the exciting 4D movie LEGO® NINJAGO® Masters of The 4th Dimension, and learn heroic moves to transform into dragon mode. The True Ninja Trials are only here from July 9–August 16, so gather the family and don't miss this limited-time adventure!
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Join us after dark on a night-time adventure with our Education Staff and Docents! Discover the amazing world of nocturnal life in the Sonoran Desert on this family friendly ‘crawl’. Guests will learn about Sonoran Desert ecology while taking a closer look at the local critters. Plus, you will get the knowledge you need to be prepared for your own night-time treks.
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Friday, July 10th from 6:00-7:30pm. Join us for an exciting evening of swimming, games and prizes just for the little ones! Admission is $3 per child and open to kids 6 and under.
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Discover the passion and perseverance that made Julia Child a culinary icon. On display at Arizona Science Center now through September 20, 2026, Julia Child: A Recipe for Life, explores the key ingredients in Julia’s personal journey, which became part of America’s culinary revolution, through a series of immersive experiences. Julia’s insatiable curiosity and tenacious spirit drove her to endlessly try, test, and teach how to make delicious food. Learning empowered Julia and she in turn empowered others, profoundly transforming American cuisine and food culture.
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Whether you’re planning a date night or a family adventure, discover the magic of Flashlight Nights. As the sun sets, the desert transforms—revealing new sights, sounds and surprises after dark. Wander the trails with a flashlight in hand, gaze at the stars through telescopes and get up close with fascinating desert animals. Each visit offers something new, with themed activities that change weekly.
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Beat the heat and celebrate summer with FREE Foam Frenzy, held in the AZ Boardwalk Courtyard! There is no better way to start your family’s day then at the coolest water party around. This FREE event features endless foam parties, classic fire truck water play, water squirter battle zones, and other fun water activities! Bring the kids to have fun, cool off, and play! Don’t forget your water shoes and sunscreen so you can play all morning! Free event. No admission or activity fees required. Located outside in the Arizona Boardwalk Courtyard.
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We’re proud to open early just for our special loved ones & families – everyone is welcome, every ability celebrated!
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Picture yourself surrounded by a stunning scene—a vast field of flourishing blackberry vines. Every stage of the blackberry's life is visible, from delicate buds to ripe, juicy fruits. Families gather amidst this natural beauty, connecting with the story of their food and enjoying purple-stained smiles. Join us for the Blackberry Festival—a celebration of blackberries and pollinators.
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Calling all corn lovers! We have the Best Sweet Corn in Southern Arizona waiting just for you! Whether you’re planning a delicious dinner or looking to stock up, we’ve got you covered. Take home a half dozen or go for the ‘farmer’s dozen’ for an extra treat. And for those who can’t get enough, grab a 5-dozen sack to freeze or share with your neighbors!
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2026's winners in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Phoenix area. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM
Educator!
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Phoenix 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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Fruit picking is a great activity to do together as a family. It helps little ones understand where their food actually comes from, and it's a fun tradition to share every year right through the teens. Here's where you can pick fruit with your family:
Strawberry picking, cherry picking, blueberry picking, raspberry picking, peach picking, and other pick-your-own opportunities in the Phoenix area.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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