KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One of the best things about spring is that it turns all of us into treasure hunters. After a long winter, we adults start scanning the world for signs that life is returning: We notice the first mist of green in a forest's understory, the first brave crocus, the first daffodil. If we point out loud, kids catch on quickly, drawn by the thrill of seeking what
winter was hiding even just a few weeks ago, and they're ready to find magic behind every tree. Of course, in our part of North America, spring can be stingy in early April: The calendar may insist it’s here, but the yard is still beige, the trees are still bare, and the only things blooming outside are spreading patches of mud. But there’s no rule that says spring surprises have to come only from Mother Nature! That’s one reason I’m such a fan of egg
hunts. Last year, I wrote an extremely popular step-by-step article showing how to Turn Easter Into a Treasure Hunt, complete with a printable PDF of rhyming clues. It’s right there waiting for you, ready to make you look like a genius with practically zero effort. And if you want to kick it up a notch and invite a crowd, our article Easter Egg Hunts: Tips and Tricks for a Great Party lays out the
strategies for what may be the easiest, fastest, best-bang-for-the-buck kids’ party on Earth. Sure, egg hunts feature prominently in our culture's Easter traditions, but they needn't belong only to Easter, they're a wonderful diversion anytime, in any context. Spring is a season that proves there’s treasure everywhere. Sometimes the universe provides the fun for us. And sometimes we create it ourselves.
—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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Romp n' Roll Pittsburgh East is a play-based learning center catering to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. We offer classes, camps, and parties with a mix of Gym, Music, and Art activities. At our Summer Camp, 2-5 year old’s will explore our gym through independent and group play and learn artistic concepts while working on fine motor skills. Our interactive themes change every week. Our Summer Camp meets twice per week for 3 hours each day. We offer an AM session on Monday and Wednesday (9 am – 12 pm) and a PM Session on Tuesday and Thursday (1 pm – 4 pm). Children do not need to be potty-trained to attend!
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Summer is calling and it's deliciously fun! Young Chefs® Academy Summer Camp is a fully immersive culinary camp experience. Each day brings fun, unique recipes served up with a side of sizzling tips, tricks and surprises, all culminating in a friendly culinary challenge among participants that puts their new skills to the test! Every week is a new curriculum (so no two camp weeks are alike). Register for one week or enroll in multiple weeks to receive the full culinary experience!
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Peregrination, a long and meandering journey… This exhibition features work by Toronto based artist, Xiaojing Yan. Through the lens of personal migration and cultural hybridity, Yan explores the evolving relationship between identity, tradition, and the natural world. Yan’s art reflects a journey of transformation – an intricate weaving of folklore, ritual, and nature into a symbolic and dreamlike representation of lived experience.
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Begin Easter weekend with a morning of smiles and springtime fun made for families. Enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet, hands-on crafts, and cheerful moments with beloved characters, including a special visit from the Easter Bunny.
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Visit the Johnstown Children’s Museum during regular opening hours on April 4th for an egg and afikomen hunt!
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EveryBUNNY is invited to the National Aviary’s Easter Brunch! Savor a spread of mouthwatering entrées. Pair your meal with a delicious add-on glass of wine, beer, or cocktail. After dining, HOP through our habitats and complete a spring-time scavenger hunt!
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Visit The Factory, our all-ages hands-on art studio. Experiment with a changing array of activities inspired by our collection and special exhibitions, from painting to collage to sculpture. Visitors can work with experienced artist educators to create handmade silkscreen printed artworks and souvenirs. Printing on paper is free, and other materials like tote bags, t-shirts, bandanas and notebooks are available for purchase with cash or credit card. The Factory is located on the underground level of the museum and included with museum admission.
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Are you looking for a fun and friendly storytime for you & your little one? Well look no further! Join Ms. Sarah each Friday morning for Little Bookworms storytime! Each week Ms. Sarah will pick a special book to read and have some fun activities related to the story. We hope to see you there!
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Join art educators in the museum’s Art Studio every Friday for free art-making and sensory activities inspired by the exhibitions in our galleries. All ages are invited to participate, and activities are free with museum admission.
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Hop on the train! Enjoy rides around Center Court now through Easter.
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Stroll through decades of style at the 12th Annual Vintage Pittsburgh retro fair! Presented in partnership with The Neighborhood Flea, you’re invited to step back in time and shop ‘til you drop for far-out finds and groovy goods on Saturday, April 4. Dozens of local makers and vendors will be on site to sell one-of-a-kind clothing, accessories, home décor, vinyl records, and more!
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Hop on into the Zoo for a fun time this Easter! Create a cute craft, meet ambassador animals, enjoy our tasty buffet, and take a picture with the Easter Bunny. Join us for an egg hunt on weather permitting days!
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We are Jurassic Quest, the largest & most realistic traveling dinosaur experience in North America!
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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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- Sensory Playtime at Pleasant Hills Public Library - Pleasant Hills Public Library - Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 04/03/2026, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- Little Bookworms at Baldwin Library - Baldwin Borough Public Library - Wolfe Drive, Pleasant Hills, PA, 04/03/2026, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- Carnegie Lab at
Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art - 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, 04/03/2026, 10 am - 1 pm
- Story Saturdays at Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art - 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, 04/04/2026, 10 am - 5 pm
- Free International Call for Art 6x6 - Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo) - 137 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14604, 04/04/2026, 12pm- 5pm Wednesday through Sunday, and 12pm-9pm on Fridays
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Pittsburgh area - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, 04/05/2026, See link for times
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Pittsburgh 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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Pittsburgh? 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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2025's best places to take kids in and around Pittsburgh, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. Plus there is LOTS more to do in and around Pittsburgh beyond the Top 20: Get great ideas here at KidsOutAndAbout.com!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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