KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter
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Tue, Mar 24: Eager Explorers: Signs of Spring at Annie Louise Wilkerson,
MD Nature Preserve Park
Tue, Mar 24: Adaptive & Inclusive Spring Dance at Lindley Recreation Center
Sat, Mar 28: Bunny Breakfast Bash at Knightdale Recreation Center
Sat, Mar 28: Franklinton Easter Egg Hunt
Sun, Mar 29: Get Wild: Pollinator Power! at Triangle Land Conservancy
Sat, Apr 4: The Comedy, Magic & Mentalism Show Featuring Gary Goodman at Holly Springs Cultural Center
Sun, Apr 5: 2026 Easter Eggstravagnza @ The Orchard - Millstone Creek Orchards
Thu, Apr 9: Greensboro Grasshoppers Home Game
Sat, Apr 11: Raleigh Geek and Grub Market: Anime Edition at Mordecai Historic Park
Thu, Apr 16: Tik Talk Girls Talk at Caldcleugh Multicultural Art Center
Sat, Apr 25: Canine Field Day at Rock Quarry Park
Sat, Apr 25: 24th Annual Birdhouse Competition at JC Raulston Arboretum
Sun, May 3: Strawberry Social @ The Plant! |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The first time I can remember having to take a public stand on anything was in eighth grade English. We were assigned an essay on a controversial topic and told we’d present our arguments to the class. When he handed back our papers, Mr. Schmidt added a twist: no reading. We’d speak from notes. I was horrified. After school, I tried to
negotiate my way out of it. “This makes me really uncomfortable,” I told him, hoping for mercy. He looked at me over his glasses. “That’s the whole point,” he said. “To get stuff done, you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Don’t worry, you’ll live.” Mr. Schmidt was right. I didn’t die. And more important, I learned something that stuck: Discomfort isn’t a stop sign, it’s just part of the road, and all roads are bumpy. That lesson shaped how I've
raised my kids, too. Karate helped Madison and Ella distinguish between effort and injury. Long car rides taught them to rely on their own imaginations. Theater nudged them to stand however close to the spotlight they could manage, even when they’d rather disappear. And summer camps—those muddy, unpredictable, gloriously imperfect experiences—gave them countless chances to try something new and realize I can do this without the stigma that can accompany failing in other
contexts. Growth rarely happens inside the comfort zone, which is why I’m such a believer in giving kids opportunities to stretch beyond what feels easy. Summer programs are perfect for this, so that's why during "summer camp search season" we focus on showcasing the wide variety of camps and programs available in each area we serve. Here's the link to the portal page. These days, as we approach the 25th anniversary of KidsOutAndAbout.com in June, I see that same principle playing out: The technology has changed, the business climate has changed, but the equation hasn’t. Discomfort still shows up right before something meaningful. And I still hear Mr. Schmidt’s voice in my head: Don’t worry, you’ll live.
—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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Come ride on more than 10 miles of wooded trails at Dead Broke Farm – a 110-acre farm conveniently located in Raleigh, NC. Our bridle trails have rolling hills, creek crossings, lots of beautiful hardwood trees, and wildlife. Our trails are suitable for
beginners but challenging enough to be interesting for more experienced riders.
We offer 1-hour and 2-hour rides 7 days a week, year-round. Children ages 6 and up can ride on their own. Younger children may ride double with an experienced guide. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 919-596-8975.
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Our weekly art classes inspire creativity and confidence in children ages 3 and up through a structured, studio-based program that grows with your child year after year. Students build real artistic skills while exploring their imagination through our
award-winning curriculum, which introduces more than 40 art techniques and mediums, including drawing, painting, and sculpture. Small class sizes and personalized instruction nurture focus, self-expression, and a strong creative foundation in a warm, supportive environment. We offer trial classes every Saturday.
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Slam dunks. Trick shots. Moments you'll never forget. What started with Curly, Meadowlark, Wilt, and Geese continues on today with Hammer, Torch, Bulldog, Cheese, Jet, Wham, Thunder, TNT, just to name a few! Taking inspiration from the fun-loving &
awe-inspiring players of the past, today’s Harlem Globetrotters stars are ready to wow you on the court and in the crowd! Be there as the players dazzle, dunk, and hype the stands as they take on the Washington Generals with high-flying, all-out fun from start to finish.
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Our 26th Annual Lebanese Festival will be held on Saturday & Sunday, the 21 and 22 of March at the Triangle Lebanese American Center! We have amazing dabke performances lined up as entertainment for the entire weekend. We'll have a Bazaar Souk (Market)
with amazing vendors, a fortune teller, raffles, kids activities, and Lebanese food & desserts! We can’t wait to see you all again, for a weekend of being purely ‘Libnani’. Both entrance and parking are free!
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Spring is calling... are you hopping in? Friendly Center’s Hop into Spring celebration is happening Saturday, March 21 from 11 am – 2 pm and it’s about to be the cutest kickoff to the season. There will be live music, face painting, giveaways, sweet treats,
bunny photo ops, and a whole lot of family fun. It’s FREE. It’s festive. It’s the perfect excuse to get out of the house and make some spring memories. Plus, professional Bunny photos will be available for purchase (walk-ins welcome, but reservations are encouraged because y’all fill those slots FAST).
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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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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Triangle 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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CSAs are becoming more popular each year! Farm-to-table fresh weekly produce is a wonderful option for families, to connect kids with what they eat and the wider community.This is KidsOutAndAbout's big list of local community-supported agriculture.
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Triangle area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Triangle? 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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Researvh Triangle 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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2025's best places to take kids in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. Of course, there is LOTS more to do around the Triangle...Get great ideas here at KidsOutAndAbout.com! What is listed below are just the
starting point: Browse through our site and calendar to find lots more, and be sure to click on Everything That's Free.
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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