KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Tue, Feb 10: Native Family: Native Storytime at Albina Library
Wed, Feb
11: Make a Valentine! | Cedar Mill Library
Thu, Feb 12: Kids' Valentine Dance Party at Beaverton City Library
Fri, Feb 13: Portland Night Market
Sat, Feb 14: Valentine's Day Family Crafting Event at Venvino Art Studios
Sat, Feb 14: Dance Lab: Little Movers, Big Feelers with Ms. Sunny! at Lake Oswego Public Library
Mon, Feb 16: 2026 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks
Mon, Feb 16: College Bound: SAT/ACT Prep & Planning Workshop | Bethany Library Annex
Thu,
Feb 19: Lantern Viewing Dragon + Light Show Nights at Lan Su Chinese Garden
Fri, Feb 20: Family Bingo Night at Camas Public Library |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
My first job out of college was as the managing editor at a small medical publishing company in New York City. I worked alongside Steve, our associate editor. My strength was structure and rhythm; his was medical accuracy and detail. We made a good team. One day, Steve walked into my office waving some printed pages. “Deb, can you do that thing you
do, so I can check out the science?” “What thing?” I asked. “You know,” he said, “that magic you work where the writing comes in muddy and you turn it into something clear, logical, and even fun to read.” I’ve never forgotten that moment. Not just because it felt great to be seen, but because of what it taught me about leadership. We’re surrounded by people with unique strengths. As parents, friends, or leaders, one of the most powerful things
we can do is notice those strengths and say them out loud. When we do, people rise. Kids rise. They lean into what they’re good at, and their futures get brighter. It’s not magic—it’s just the natural result of being seen and valued—but it feels like it. Over the years, as I raised kids, built a business team, and worked within various communities, I kept returning to that lesson: Leadership isn’t about having a title, it’s about paying attention. You can’t run a
family or a business unless you know who you’re with and what makes them shine. And once you start validating others (“You know that thing you do? Please do that!”) you become a leader. Even if you're just leading someone to be more themselves. So today, find a reason to start a conversation: “You know that thing you do?...” You won't see it right away, but trust me: Their horizon will glow.
—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 all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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An annual celebration of folk and Americana music showcasing 30 local and national artists hosted by the historic Crystal Ballroom with all proceeds donated to Sunstone Way.
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Join us every Saturday morning for children’s storytime! Whether an author is here to read their book or our staff is reading a favorite, we’ll feature stories that spread compassion, awareness, and positivity. Children will get a coloring page or sticker
to take home too!
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Pete the Cat and company rock out in this fast-paced, globe-trotting musical adventure based on the smash hit book series. Most enjoyed by ages 4 and up.
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Celebrate Lunar New Year in spectacular style!
Join us at Keller Auditorium on January 31, 2026 for the 2026 Oregon Lunar New Year Celebration—the state’s most prestigious and authentic Asian cultural celebration. Experience an extraordinary evening featuring world-class performers and over 400 artists in one unforgettable night!
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Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band supports the advancement of Highland Bagpiping and Drumming through it's instructional program, performances and community events. Portland's only youth bagpipe band offers lessons for kids 8 - 18 years old with expert
instruction from award winning instructors on both bagpipes and drums. Please contact us for more information.
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- Teen's STEM Day | Día STEM para Adolescentes - Cornelius Public Library, North Adair Street, Cornelius, OR, Friday, January 30, 9 am - 2:30 pm
- All Ages Storytime | Oak Lodge Library - Oak Lodge Library,
Southeast Concord Road, Oak Grove, OR, Friday, January 30, 10:30 am & 11:30 am
- Indoor Snowball Fight | Ledding Library of Milwaukie - Ledding Library Of Milwaukie, 10660 SE 21st Ave, Milwaukie, OR, Friday, January 30, 11 am - 4 pm
- Bard Storytime with the Bard! | Wonderwood Springs - Wonderwood Springs, 8811 N Lombard St, Portland, OR, Saturday, January 31, 11 am - 12 pm
- All Ages Storytime | Gladstone Public Library
- Gladstone Public Library, 525 Portland Ave, Gladstone, OR, Saturday, January 31, 10:30 am - 11 am
- Guide Dogs for the Blind Graduation on Campus - Guide Dogs For the Blind, Southeast Kelso Road, Boring, OR, Saturday, January 31, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
- Black History Month: Kids Junk Orchestra: Musical Journey | Albina Library - Albina Library, 3605 Northeast 15th
Avenue, Portland, OR, Saturday, January 31, 2 pm
- Children’s Storytime: Julie Showers, Marie Showers, and Eva Wrzesinski, Toby's Farm Adventure - Bold Coffee & Books, Southwest Jefferson Street, Portland, OR, Saturday, January 31, 11:00–11:30 a.m.
- Little Comics Book Group | Ledding Library
- Ledding Library, Southeast 21st Avenue, Milwaukie, OR, Sunday, February 1, See website
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Portland area? 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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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school options - we've got you covered.
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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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