KidsOutAndAbout's weekly e-newsletter |
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Save the Date
Fri, Jun 26: Readathon at the Victor Farmington Library
Fri, Jul 3: 4th of July Weekend at Olcott Beach Carousel Park
Sat, Jul 4: Independence Day Celebration at GCV&M
Next session starts Mon, Jul 6: Make a Splash at the JCC this summer with swim classes for all ages Sat, Jul 11 - Sun, Jul 12: 58th Annual Corn Hill Arts Festival Sun, Jul 12: Special (Free) Film Screening of FASD and the Pursuit of the Respect Act Sat, Jul 18 - Sun, Jul 19: Oatka Festival
2026
Sat, Jul 25: Centennial Expo at GCV&M July 25 & 26 |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The summer I was 5, my parents took our family to Cape Cod for a week. In Provincetown, we bought a kite, then headed to the dunes in North Truro, where my sister and I spent hours running full-tilt up and down the bare white hills. We’d scramble to the top, turn, and launch ourselves downward, legs windmilling, hair flying, lungs full of salt air and triumph. Invariably, we’d
fall, slap into the soft, sun-warmed sand, pop back up, and do it again. Tumbling down the dunes was gravity. Sand was friction. The kite tugging on our arms was air on the move. We didn't have words to describe these phenomena—we were little kids, not tiny physicists with notebooks. A decade later, my calculus teacher would give me the words and symbols to process motion conceptually, but experiences like this had already taught my body that I was an actor in the physics of
the world. My body understood. Summer is the perfect time for kids to learn motion from the inside out. Motion is in amusement park rides, in waves bobbing ducks and inner tubes up and down at the lake, in trains pulling you forward in one dimension and airplanes moving you through three. It’s in bikes and swings and Frisbees and trampolines and slip-and-slides, in tumbling through the days without realizing that learning is happening. As tour guides to our
kids’ universe, we can point gently: Feel how the swing slows at the top? Notice how the wave lifts you before it lets you down? See how leaning changes the bike’s path? But the point is not to turn summer into physics class. The point is to help kids notice how the world feels as they move through it. The equations can come later; now is the time for motion, and for the emotion that accompanies it. Summer’s gift is the body’s memory: wind, water, speed, balance, falling, landing, and getting up
to run again.
—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. Connect more. Do 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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Join the Victor Farmington Library on Friday, June 26th from 9 am to 6 pm for the Readathon. This celebration of reading kicks off summer vacation for families! The fun includes a read-aloud marathon with special guests like local authors reading their favorite children’s books aloud every 20-minutes. Watch for them to engage the audience with costumes, activities, and more. Victor Robotics will be on hand leading STEM activities and cool demonstrations. Plus, enjoy free kids crafts and complimentary refreshments donated by local businesses. Stay for a few readers or catch them all! While you’re here, pick up your Summer Reading Challenge. Visit https://www.victorfarmingtonlibrary.org/readathon for details.
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Hidden Valley Animal Adventure in Varysburg, New York will be open daily throughout the summer starting this Saturday, June 27 through Labor Day. This one-of-a-kind day trip blends excitement, discovery, and the joy of connecting with wildlife hands-on. Take a guided safari bus or self-drive thru tour of the 63-acre park and come face-to-face with majestic animals from around the world. You’ll encounter towering bison and graceful elk, camels, zebras, and other exotic species. Select a COMBO package to include a discounted visit to the Small Animal Adventure walk thru and petting zoo. Perfect for all ages, the adventure is closer than you think! Reservations recommended. Order tickets online.
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Bring your blanket or lawn chairs, pack a picnic or stop at Open Face or one of the food trucks, and enjoy a night of fun on our east lawn with the sounds of Kahlil Kwame Bell. A Grammy-affiliated percussionist, composer, arranger, and producer, his artistry spans jazz, rock, hip hop, European classical, world music, spirituals, and spoken word. Known for his distinctive layering of sounds, instruments, and rhythms, Bell embodies the unity of cultures through music. His compositions and collaborations can be heard daily on jazz and world music radio programs worldwide. Celebrated as a pioneer, Bell is coined for mastering the slapaphone and incorporating it into jazz, blending traditional percussion with innovation to expand the sonic possibilities of the genre. Wednesday, July 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. (gates open at 5 p.m.). Kids 12 and under are Free!
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Make a splash this summer at the JCC of Greater Rochester, where aquatics programs welcome swimmers of all ages and abilities, from infants to adults. Group swim lessons help children build confidence, water safety, and strong swimming skills, while adult lessons and Intro to Swim Team offer next-step opportunities. July lessons run July 6–30, with August registration opening mid-July. Teens can gain valuable skills through Lifeguard Certification, Junior Lifeguarding, and Babysitter Training programs. Members can also enjoy weekly aqua fitness classes, including Aqua Zumba, HydroRider, Aqua Aerobics, and more. Visit https://jccrochester.org/fitness-aquatics/aquatics for info.
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Young artists entering grades 1 - 9 will unleash their creativity in TWO weeks of vibrant art camp. Campers can choose to attend one or both sessions. Each week, participants will experiment with a variety of different art forms, including painting, drawing, Afro-Caribbean drumming and dancing, outdoor sculptures, ceramics, and more. Guided by skilled instructors, students will explore self-expression while developing foundational artistic techniques in a fun and supportive environment. Each week will culminate in an art show and performance where campers can share what they have created and learned with friends and family. All materials and meals will be provided. Registration: $150/week full day or $75/week half day. Full Day hours are from 9 - 4pm and half day hours are from 9 - 12 or 1 - 4pm. Half day options only for week two.
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Parties are out-of-this-world at StarCatcher Arcade! We have racing games, arcade games, pinball, claw machines, air hockey and more. Our two-hour parties include use of the entire arcade for up to 15 kids, a Two Ton Tony’s sheet pizza and $15 in tokens for each child. Throw a party your child will never forget! Please visit our website for more information!
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Saturday, July 11 & Sunday, July 12, 2026: The Corn Hill Arts Festival is an annual celebration of creativity, culture, and community in Rochester, New York’s historic Corn Hill neighborhood. Since its inception in 1969, this cherished event has become a vibrant showcase of artistic talent, featuring over 300 artists, live performances across four stages, and activities for all ages. With its blend of fine art, music, and neighborhood charm, the festival brings together thousands of visitors each year, fostering community connections and enriching Rochester's cultural landscape!
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Sunday, July 12 at ESL Ballpark, 5pm to fireworks! America 250 Rochester & Monroe County is a FREE community-wide celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Through special events, cultural experiences, educational programs, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities, the initiative highlights Rochester and Monroe County’s unique contributions to American history while bringing residents and visitors together to reflect on the past and look toward the future. Event will be held rain or shine. See more at https://www.america250rochester.com
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May 28-June 28: This Tony Award-nominated musical inspired by the beloved films takes us on a journey to the past. Iconic songs, like Once Upon a December, transport us from the darkness of Soviet Russia to the opulence of Paris. Anya, an orphan, Dmitry, a handsome conman, and Vlad, a bumbling ex-aristocrat, seek to uncover the truth of Anya’s family: is she the lost Romanov Grand Duchess? Prepare to be swept away on a musical journey to home, love, and family!
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Join us for Animal Adventures at The Mall at Greece Ridge! The Seneca Park ZooMobile will be on site, offerings kids the chance to meet animals and learn more about wildlife in a fun, interactive setting! Plus, enjoy face painting and temporary tattoos! This event is FREE and open to the public!
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Ease into the weekend with Food Truck Fridays in Washington Square— a lunchtime series in the heart of downtown! Enjoy a rotating selection of local food trucks, lawn games, and live music curated by Local Sound Collaborative, all set in the leafy, green oasis of Washington Square Park. Whether you’re craving something savory, sweet, or globally inspired, there’s always something new to try— and great music to enjoy while you eat!
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Friday, June 26, 10:30am: Join Montezuma Audubon Center staff for Nature Detectives, a playful and immersive family field trip designed especially for our youngest explorers. Using all five senses, children will investigate the mysteries of our forests, fields, and ponds while discovering the animals that call this "outdoor classroom" home.
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Radio Control pilots from Western New York will be showing their model airplanes, jets, helicopters, and flying them throughout the day. There will be a noon show with some of the best pilots showing their skills. Flying starts at 10:00 am
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Monthly model rocket launch Saturday and Sunday at the National Warplane Museum grounds in Geneseo, NY. We launch everything from small Estes rockets to high power rockets that could fly up to 8,000 feet. The club does maintain a collection of small rockets and motors so youngsters can learn how to prepare a rocket and launch it. Guests and visitors discover our fantastic flying field, our highly organized operations and most importantly our extremely SAFE launches.
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PARENTS NIGHT OUT! Enjoy a night out while we handle the kids! We will have a FUN FILLED night of dancing, partying, crafting, and gaming!
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Join us at Play-a-Latte as we celebrate the start of summer! All Saturday playtime sessions will include sunglasses and popsicles for the kids, face painting and music!
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Students love Miss Holly and we want you to get to know her too! Miss Holly has taught theatre classes, choreographed, and directed countless projects with OFC and throughout the Rochester area. Most importantly, Miss Holly was the original creator of the Pint Sized Performers theatre program with us back in 2016. She has over 21 years of experience teaching and choreographing, many of those years as the Preschool Program Advisor of Expressive Beginnings Childcare.
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Join us for Community Crafternoon, a relaxed and welcoming gathering where creativity, connection, and community come together. Bring your favorite project from home or explore your imagination using our studio materials. Whether you're painting, knitting, journaling, collaging, crocheting, scrapbooking, drawing, or simply looking for a cozy space to create, you're invited.
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Head to the Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth Park this Sunday, June 28, 2026, from 11:00 AM–3:00 PM! Come meet our trail staff and volunteers, enjoy a peaceful hike, and explore fun sensory activities along the trail. Whether you're a nature lover, an adventurer, or just looking for a relaxing day outdoors, everyone is welcome! You will have multiple sensory activities to choose from along our one mile loop trail.
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Have a wonderful weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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