KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: A tumble is not a verdict; it's information. And kids are natural data analysts. That's what a mom half a generation older than me told me when I was getting ready to have kids, and I took it to heart. So I was secretly a little thrilled the summer my daughter Madison was almost 4, when she took her first big splash off a slippery log into a
creek. Here's why: To succeed in life, everyone needs to learn to stretch to the edge of their abilities... to gather courage from their toes, to calculate, to balance, to wobble, to slide... and eventually to succeed. Kids can learn this early if the grownups in their orbit help them see the mud and bruises that come from a tumble as badges to be worn proudly: a fail-until-we-succeed philosophy in action. That's how personal fulfillment happens, and it's how human progress happens,
too. Summer is childhood's best laboratory, where sensory experiences stick as lifelong learning. School has grades and rubrics and consequences; summer has grass stains and do-overs. An amusement park ride can teach the difference between fear and danger. A hands-on museum can teach that when your tower collapses, you simply vow to rebuild it taller. A farm can teach that maybe you don’t like strawberries from the grocery store, but
you do like the ones you picked yourself, still warm from the sun. A climbing gym can teach your muscles that “I can’t” really means “I can’t yet.” And summer camps are entire worlds built around trying something new with no transcript following you home. Last week, the KidsOutAndAbout.com team launched our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey. It's a way to thank the people who make your community a great place to raise kids. Equally important, it’s a giant menu of local opportunities for your kids to stretch their legs, their minds, and their bravery this summer. Use it to create your summer bucket list! Then step back and set your family’s summer dial to “safe to fail.” Watch your kids climb, build, stumble, and try again.
Let them splash.
—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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The Temple Ohav Shalom Center for Early Learning is offering two weeks of summer camp for children ages 2–6 during the weeks of June 8 and June 22. Camp Perach is designed for children ages 2–3.5 and meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM. Camp Gan is for children ages 3.5–6 and meets Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM. We are also now enrolling children ages 2–6 for the 2026–2027 school year in our part-time preschool and optional afternoon enrichment programs. Learn more about our dedicated, experienced educators and our child-led, Reggio Emilia-inspired approach at centerforearlylearning.org
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Spend an unforgettable and fun week this summer diving into the world of glass. SiO2 Teen Boot Camp is designed for young people in grades 6-12 (ages 12-19) to take over the Pittsburgh Glass Center studios from July 13-17. It gives students the rare hands-on opportunity to learn the many facets of glass in one of the top facilities in the country. Working with experienced instructors, students explore glassblowing, flameworking, kilnforming, coldworking, and more. Scholarships and payment plans are available.
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Give your child a summer to remember at Seneca Hills Bible Camp & Retreat Center in Polk, PA! Campers ages 5–18 build friendships, grow in faith, and enjoy classic camp adventures like swimming, zipline, high ropes, archery, campfires, worship, team games, Bible studies, wilderness challenges, and more. Overnight camps, EDGE wilderness trips, and “Camp With Me” programs offer an option for every camper. Carefully-screened staff create a safe, caring, Christ-centered experience. First-time campers can use code KIDS2026 for $100 off a full week or $50 off a half week. Call 814-432-3026 or visit senecahills.org to learn more.
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Join us this Memorial weekend and kick off the riding season with a weekend of fun filled days and making great off-roading memories! Join us this Memorial weekend and kick off the riding season with a weekend of fun filled days and making great off-roading memories! Food Vendors will be onsite - Armida Cucina & Deano's Delights. Don't forget all passes must be pre-purchased and all passes are by time-slot check-in. Early time-slots will be selling out fast.
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This spring festival is hosted annually in Wyck's historic 19th century rose garden at peak bloom. Featuring garden tours with Wyck's rosarian, lectures & demonstrations, and historic roses for sale, the annual event is the perfect chance to get up close and personal with memorable blooms. The festival also includes a craft marketplace, beer & cider vendors, family activities, historic house tours, and much more.
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Join us at Camp Kenan for our Paint-a-Palooza Open House. Meet our staff, take a tour of Kenan, and enjoy camp activities. Free and fun for all ages, spend the day at camp and get ready for Summer 2026!
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Schenley Plaza Kids Days are back—bigger, bolder, and better than ever! Join the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy as we kick off our Family Days series, bringing even more fun, creativity, and community connection to parks across Pittsburgh. Guests can expect live performances, jammin’ tunes, hands-on activities, and so much more. We can’t wait to welcome you to Family Days in Pittsburgh’s parks!
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We are proud to announce the FIRST ANNUAL PITTSBURGH PIZZA OLYMPICS - a food festival celebrating the craft & creativity of Pittsburgh pizza-making. Part culinary competition, part block party, this fest brings together 11 of Pittsburgh’s best pizzerias.
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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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Come enjoy a night under the stars! Look through our observatory and members' telescopes and experience what the universe has to offer!
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Looking for something different to do this summer? Spend the day making memories on the farm! Our all-inclusive ticket gets you a day full of smiles, memories, and fresh-air fun! From enjoying our family-friendly attractions to relaxing in a rocking chair on the Sundown Deck, there’s something for everyone! Take your time strolling down to the fence line of the alpaca viewing field, snap some selfies, and enjoy your new furry friends at your own pace. Spend as much or as little time as you like!
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- Little Bookworms at Baldwin Library - Baldwin Borough Public Library - Wolfe Drive, Pleasant Hills, PA, May 22, 2026, 10:30 - 11:30 am
- Carnegie Lab at Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art - 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, May 22, 2026, 10 am - 1 pm
- Public Star
Party at Wagman Observatory - Wagman Observatory - Kurn Road, Tarentum, PA, May 22, 2026, Events begin approximately 90 minutes before sunset
- Family Days 2026 at Schenley Plaza - Schenley Plaza - Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, May 23, 2026, Times vary.
- Gavin Benjamin: Gilded Glamour (Pop-Up Exhibition) - The Westmoreland Museum of American Art - 221 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601, May 23, 2026, 10 am - 5 pm
- Story Saturdays at Carnegie Museum of Art - Carnegie Museum of Art - 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, May 23, 2026, 10 am - 5 pm
- Camp
Kenan Open House: Paint-a-Palooza - YMCA Camp Kenan - 8571 Lower Lake Road, Barker, NY 14012, May 23, 2026, 10:00am to 2:00pm
- Festival of Roses at Wyck's Rose Garden - Wyck Historic House And Garden - 6026 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, May 23, 2026, 11 am - 3 pm
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Pittsburgh area - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, USA, May 23, 2026, See link for times
- Public Star Party at Wagman Observatory - Wagman Observatory - Kurn Road, Tarentum, PA, May 23, 2026, Events begin approximately 90 minutes before sunset
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Pittsburgh
area - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, USA, May 24, 2026, See link for times
- National Memorial Day Concert live stream - ONLINE ONLY - May 24, 2026, 8pm EDT / 7pm CDT / 6pm MDT / 5pm PDT / 4pm AKDT
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Pittsburgh area. From Arcades to Ziplines our Big List will help you think outside the box and plan the party of your kids' dreams! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens of ideas.
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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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