KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Thu, Dec 25: Portland Spirit Christmas Day Cruise
Fri, Dec 26: A Popcorn Solstice at Portland Youth Philharmonic
Mon, Dec 29: Off the Wall //
Procreate Drawing, Animation, & AR Storytelling at PAM CUT - Center for an Untold Tomorrow
Wed, Dec 31: Kids' New Year's Eve at Patricia Reser Center for the Arts
Sat, Jan 3: Amahl & the Night Visitors at Ping & Woof Opera
Sat, Jan 3: Pegasus and the Stories of the Stars (A puppet show for everyone!) at Pegasus Puppet Theatre
Sun, Jan 4: Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Missing Maestro at Oregon Symphony
Mon, Jan 5: Japanese Storytime at Bethany Library
Sat, Jan 10: Portland Metro Reptile Expo at the DoubleTree Hotel Portland
Fri, Jan 16: FAN EXPO Portland 2026 at the Oregon Convention Center
Fri, Jan 16: Book Swap! - Kindred Vancouver
Sat, Jan 17: PAW Patrol Live! “A Mighty Adventure” at Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
This Sunday marks the Winter Solstice—Robert Frost’s “darkest evening of the year.” It’s when we in the Northern Hemisphere most appreciate human inventiveness: We flip a switch, and light floods the room. It feels like magic, but it’s not. It’s the result of generations of curious, determined humans trying to make life better, brighter, safer. That’s
why my family celebrates Lightbulb Day every December 21. It’s our homegrown holiday honoring the inventors and problem-solvers whose insights fuel our lives. We toast our favorite technologies, learn some history, imagine the future. Past years’ MVPs include contact lenses, antibiotics, the internet, veterinary
science, and the Covid vaccine. This year’s front-runner: artificial intelligence. Last weekend, I had breakfast with a friend and her 13-year-old daughter, Lily. Lily said she loves math and science but struggles with how her teachers approach the humanities, especially writing. When I showed her how AI can help her learn in the way she learns best, her face lit up. So I went home and wrote a how-to article for Lily, her mom, and any of you with kids in middle school or
older: How Students Can Use AI to Learn to Write (Without Giving Away their Brains). AI isn’t here to think for us. It’s here to help us think more effectively with our own minds. That’s a message worth repeating, especially to our kids. In this new AI age, the real
danger isn’t the technology itself, it’s the temptation to hand our brains over to it and say, “Here, you do all the work.” So this Lightbulb Day, I’m raising an Erlenmeyer flask, not just to the great inventors of the past, but to Lily, and to every young person learning to think with tools rather than letting tools do the thinking. Because the real magic isn’t flipping the switch; it’s understanding where the current comes from, and imagining what we’ll power with it
in the future.
—Debra Ross, publisher
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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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I'm thrilled to announce that my new book The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities (co-authored with Jamie Carter) is now published and shipping across North America! It’s packed with inspiring, true stories of everyday leaders who stepped up during the 2024 eclipse to bring people together, spark change, and strengthen their communities. Told with warmth and insight, this book makes a perfect holiday gift for the visionary, organizer, or community-builder in your life. Click the graphic to order from Amazon on print or Kindle; for other ordering options (including educator and bulk orders), or to see an annotated table of contents and the introduction, head to https://theeclipseeffect.com.
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Curious how your AI know-how compares to other parents? We surveyed over 300 of you, and the results are in! The big takeaway? You aren't alone in feeling overwhelmed. While most parents have a basic grasp of the technology, over 52% feel unequipped to actually guide their kids through it. The number one thing you requested help with was "Digital Defense"—specifically, how to spot misinformation and fake news. You can read the full, fascinating report at kidsoutandabout.com/research. Ready for round two? Help us dive deeper by taking our new, quick 13-question survey here: https://forms.gle/1nTsaG384SW8cUpL7.
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Step out of the classroom and onto the rink! Home School Skate at Oaks Park is where learning, movement, and community come together. Held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays during the school year from 10 AM to 12 PM, these sessions offer a fun, active way for families to connect. 1st Mondays feature STEM & Skate, where students explore science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on activities—then see those principles in motion as they roll around the rink. With upbeat music, friends waiting to be made, and admission at just $13, it’s an easy, enriching addition to your homeschooling routine. Lace up and make learning a blast!
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Dive back in time to explore what lurked beneath the surface at the newest exhibit in Portland—Monsters of the Abyss: Aquatic Predators Past + Present. Meet massive mosasaurs, a spine-chilling Spinosaurus, and bizarre creatures as you travel through millions of years, witnessing the rise and fall of Earth’s most awe-inspiring aquatic creatures as well as their present-day descendants. Highlighted by amazing fossils, daily educational programming, and some unbelievable live animals, this exhibit brings guests face-to-face with the real-life monsters who defy imagination and have inspired myths and legends. You’ll have to see them to believe them.
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Every year, ZooLights dazzles visitors of all ages with wildlife-inspired light displays and a whole lot of seasonal fun. It’s the ideal place to gather friends and family, snap photos and make lasting memories. Looking for the perfect holiday date night? Bring that special person in your life to ZooLights.
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Presented by the Scappoose Historical Society, Whoville is alive inside the 1900s era Watts House Pioneer Museum. The experience is inspired by Dr. Suess and the beloved, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Each room has been meticulously transformed into colorful and sparkling themes for guests of all ages to enjoy! This is a must-do tradition for the holidays - now through Jan. 4.
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- Winter Village @ Orenco Station - 943 NE Orenco Station Loop, Hillsboro, OR, Google Maps, Friday, December 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 20, 2025, 10 am • 11:30 am • 1 pm • 2:30 pm • 4 pm • 5:30 pm • 7 pm
- Whoville Comes to Life for the Holidays - Scappoose Historical Society - Watts House Pioneer Museum, Google Maps, Friday, December 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 20, 2025, Fridays-Sundays, 5-8 p.m.
- Family Bingo Night at Camas Public Library - Camas
Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas, WA 98607, Google Maps, Friday, December 19, 2025, 5 pm
- Christmas Trees at Frog Pond Farm - Frog Pond Farm, 2983 SW Advance Rd, Wilsonville, OR 97070, Google Maps, Friday, December 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 21, 2025, 9 am - 5 pm
- Mike Bennett's Snow Day Village - Director Park, Southwest Park Avenue, Portland, OR, Google Maps, Friday, December 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 21,
2025, 11 am - 7 pm
- Blockbuster Holiday: Brick Building Contest - Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront, Google Maps,
Friday, December 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 21, 2025, 12 PM - 9 PM
- Reindeer in Rockwood - Rockwood Market Hall, Google Maps, Friday, December 19, 2025,
4:00PM-7:00PM
- Teen Game Night: Minute to Win It - Cedar Mill Library - Cedar Mill Library, 1080 Northwest Saltzman Road, Cedar Mill, Portland, OR 97229, Google Maps, Friday, December 19, 2025, 6 pm - 7:30 pm
- Teen Craft Drop In | Gladstone Public
Library - Gladstone Public Library, 525 Portland Ave, Gladstone, OR 97027, Google Maps, Friday, December 19, 2025, 4 pm
- Gingerbread Houses | Casitas de Jengibre - Cornelius Public Library - Cornelius Public Library, North Adair Street, Cornelius, OR, Google Maps, Friday, December 19, 2025, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- All Ages Storytime | Oak Lodge Library - Oak Lodge Library, Southeast Concord Road, Oak Grove, OR 97267, Google Maps, Friday, December 19, 2025, 10:30 am & 11:30 am
- Free mini photo session with Shoott! - Portland
area - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Google Maps, Saturday, December 20, 2025 to Sunday, December 21, 2025, See link for times
- 2025 Free Community Breakfast at Clackamas Valley Baptist Church - Estacada Community Outreach - 29275 SE Eagle Creek Rd, Estacada, OR 97023, Google Maps, Saturday, December 20, 2025, 8 am - 11 am
- Open Saturday - Education Center on Pearson Field (Airway Science for Kids), East Reserve Street, Vancouver, WA, Google Maps, Saturday, December 20, 2025, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Santa at Oak Knoll Winery - Oak Knoll Winery, 29700 SW Burkhalter Rd, Hillsboro, OR 97123, Google Maps, Saturday, December 20, 2025, 12pm-4pm
- Bard Storytime with the Bard! | Wonderwood Springs - Wonderwood
Springs, 8811 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203, Google Maps, Saturday, December 20, 2025, 11 am - 12 pm
- All Ages Storytime | Gladstone Public Library - Gladstone Public Library, 525 Portland Ave, Gladstone, OR 97027, Google Maps, Saturday, December 20, 2025, 10:30 am - 11 am
- On the Move | Happy Valley Library - Happy Valley Library, 13793 Southeast Sieben Park Way, Happy Valley, OR 97015, Google
Maps, Saturday, December 20, 2025, See website
- Pink Pig Puppet Theater at Wilsonville Library - Wilsonville Library, 8200 SW Wilsonville Rd, Wilsonville, OR 97070, Google Maps, Saturday, December 20, 2025, 11 am
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions in and around Portland. Here are local organizations that offer
memberships.
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Ring in the New Year with a little help from KidsOutAndAbout! Our Big List of family-Friendly celebrations is just what you need to find ball drops, fireworks displays, NOON Year's Eve fun, activities, parties and more! If your favorite isn't on the list be
sure to send us an email and we'll add it pronto.
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Take out your calendar - you have a lot of scheduling to do to fit in all the incredible Holiday Break camps taking place in and around our area! If we're missing a camp that should be on this list, please email us to let us know.
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The Portland area offers a delightful selection of Christmas tree farms that bring the magic of the holiday season to life. Families can enjoy the cherished tradition of selecting the perfect tree while exploring picturesque landscapes and engaging in
festive activities.
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Portland's big list of 2025 holiday events: Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. The activities we've listed here
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There are lots of places to have a birthday party in the Portland area! Start thinking outside the box! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens (and dozens) of ideas! Also includes the areas of Lake Oswego, West Linn, Beaverton, Clackamas, Tigard, Tualatin, Milwaukie,
Oregon City, and Hillsboro.
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2025's best places to take kids in the Portland area: In early summer each year, thousands of parents vote in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Our Top 20 results page is an annotated list of the winners, both of the top 20 slots
and of the three category winners.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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