KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sorry for the second send this morning! The first edition of this newsletter had a glitch that erased much of the content. —Deb |
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
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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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Discover the Future of Dance! Spring Mix features the work of some of the world’s most thrilling choreographers. The Pittsburgh premiere of Mark Godden’s Angels In The Architecture, a tribute to the dreams of Shaker communities set to Aaron Copland’s evocative Appalachian Spring, will be an utter delight for the senses.
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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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Soak up beautiful blooms and fantastic fragrance! Each room celebrates the iconic essence of Phipps in this year’s Spring Flower Show. Since 1894, Phipps’ Spring Flower Show has provided Pittsburgh with a burst of color and fragrance after a long winter. This year’s Spring Flower Show: True Colors shows off some of our most colorful displays while celebrating the role Phipps has had in the lives of generations of guests.
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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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This merit badge workshop is open to any youth in 6th – 12th grade and is designed to help BSA scouts meet requirements for the Communications merit badge. It is strongly recommended that participants be in at least 9th grade before taking this workshop. This badge is also being provided in conjunction with Vintage Communications Weekend at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum!
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Honey, please—we love bees! Mixed media geometric construction and experimental painting will provide a honeycomb home for our striped friends.
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You’re invited to Forging Community, Contemporary Craft’s Blacksmithing Symposium! Join us in the CC Studios on April 11 for a full day of live demos and presentations by prominent contemporary blacksmiths, including keynote speaker, Anna Koplik. Gather with craftspeople, artists, and educators to dive into the world of contemporary blacksmithing! We’ll also be hosting a silent auction and a small market of artist-made work, and we’ll end the day with two hours of free forge time! Experienced blacksmiths and curious newcomers welcome! Come experience our new blacksmithing studio, build connection, shop artists’ work—and help us celebrate that Pittsburgh IS Craft!
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Honor Dr. King’s legacy through service by joining us for a community cleanup at Fairhill. All supplies are provided, and volunteers of all ages are welcome.
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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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It’s a magical time of year! Come join Ecological Restoration Coordinator Jared Belsky for a morning walk through Hays Woods Park to spot early blooming wildflowers and other signs of spring. We’ll observe the urban forest floor and understory as it awakens from its long winter slumber.
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Come down to Highmark Stadium to watch a professional soccer match right here in Pittsburgh! Are you bringing the entire family to see the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC match? We’ve got fun and entertainment for everyone! At the Family Fun Zone, located in the tailgate zone during the game, you’ll find extra entertainment for your children, such as a bounce castle, a mini soccer field, food trucks, and much more.
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For a limited time at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, prehistoric creatures are taking over the landscape! Take a walk through time and discover 14 sculptures made entirely from recycled metal and found objects, transforming old scraps of steel into engaging works of art.
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Come cheer on the the Penguins!
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Follow the yellow brick road in The Wizard of Oz…in the round as you’ve never seen it! Journey alongside Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion as they discover courage, friendship, and the true meaning of home. With beloved songs, enchanting characters, and a fresh staging that surrounds you with the magic of Oz, this timeless favorite is a joyful reminder that there’s truly no place like home.
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- Sensory Playtime at Pleasant Hills Public Library - Pleasant Hills Public Library, Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 04/10/2026, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- Little Bookworms at Baldwin Library - Baldwin Borough Public Library, Wolfe Drive, Pleasant Hills, PA, 04/10/2026, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- Carnegie Lab at
Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, 04/10/2026, 10 am - 1 pm
- Story Saturdays at Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, 04/11/2026, 10 am - 5 pm
- Children’s Studio: We Love BEES! - The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601, 04/11/2026, 10 am- 12 pm
- Public Star Party - Wagman Observatory, Kurn Road, Tarentum, PA, 04/11/2026, Events begin approximately 90 minutes before sunset
- Free spring mini
photo session with Shoott! - Pittsburgh area - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, 04/12/2026, See link for times
- Hays Woods Spring Ephemeral Hike - Hays Woods - Agnew Rd Trailhead, Pittsburgh, PA, 04/12/2026, 9 - 11:30 am
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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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