KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One summer afternoon during a family camping trip in New Jersey when I was about 6 or 7 years old, a horse fly suddenly appeared next to my ear and started following me everywhere I went. I’m sure that, from its own perspective, it was just going about its business doing ordinary horse fly things, but to me it felt enormous, ominous, and purposeful. I can't remember if it
actually bit me, but I can still summon the hot panic of not being able to get away from its threatening buzz. To my small self, that fly wasn't a little distraction, it was a crisis with wings. The memory surfaced recently when my daughter Ella sent me the above photo, taken in Quintana Beach County Park, near Houston. The point was clear: Proceed, and you will be under attack, and not by any adorable Northeastern bugs you might be used to. No, these bugs were born in Texas. Beware. Sometimes that is exactly
how challenges feel, especially to kids: Problems loom much larger to them than they do to adults with decades of experience. A broken toy, a skinned knee, a mistake in front of the class, or a slight misunderstanding with a friend may be a fly in the ointment to us, but a Texas-sized monster to a child. The trick is to validate the feeling without validating helplessness. We stand beside them and say, Yes, I know, this feels huge. The bugs, even if they're not as large as they
think, are real. They watch us shoo them away and learn gradually to do it for themselves. If I had seen the sign above, my first instinct would have been to flee back to the safety of the car. And Ella said it was not exaggerating, at least not by much: The moment she stepped onto the property, giant mosquitoes descended, and they were hungry; even leggings soaked with OFF Deep Woods did not deter them. She assures me that the photo she got of the Bay-breasted Warbler was
worth all the bites on the backs of her knees. She knew better than to show me the damage. Clearly, the script has flipped.
—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 Best Start for Your Preschooler! Looking for a loving, inclusive space where your little one can thrive? The Rise School offers exceptional early childhood education paired with speech, occupational, physical & music therapy to ensure your little one meets all of their milestones and beyond—all through the power of play. Small classrooms and 1:4 teacher-to-student ratios mean your child will get all the individual attention they deserve. We are now enrolling for August and have limited spots in our 2, 3, and 4 year old classrooms! To schedule your free play date, please check out our website and sign up on our enrollment interest form. Let’s play, grow, and have an incredible school year together! riseschoolsa.org/admissions
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Soccer Pups Summer Camps are the perfect way for kids ages 3–9 to stay active, build confidence, and have fun this summer—while staying out of the Texas heat! We offer both half-day and full-day indoor camp options designed for every age and skill level. Younger campers will enjoy exciting games and activities that keep them moving, laughing, and engaged, while older campers participate in more skill-focused sessions that help develop soccer technique, decision-making, speed, agility, and overall fitness. Campers will enjoy soccer skills training, arts and crafts, scrimmages, and plenty of fun throughout the week in our safe, air-conditioned indoor facility. Whether your child is new to soccer or already loves the game, there’s something for everyone!
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Give your kids an unforgettable summer experience at Buck & Doe’s Mercantile Summer Base Camp! Designed for ages 8–15, this 3-day camp teaches firearm and archery safety and beginner shooting skills to grow your child's confidence in a fun, supervised environment. Through our partnership with Project ChildSafe and the NSSF, campers will learn essential safety rules, hands-on range skills, situational awareness, and do fun crafts. Each day includes classroom instruction, live range activities, friendly competitions, snacks, drinks, and a camp shirt for every participant. Whether your child is new to shooting sports or eager to learn more, Summer Base Camp is the perfect adventure!
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June 8-11, 2026, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at St. Mary’s University: Whether your child is new to the sport or looking to add to your skill set, he or she will learn plenty of tips from current and former collegiate basketball players. Registration (only $100!) includes a T-shirt. Open to children ages 5 through 13, both girls and boys. Groups will be divided based on age. Walk ups are always welcome!
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Unleash your child’s inner rockstar this summer at our Rock 101 camps, perfectly designed for beginners ages 8 to 12! Absolutely no musical experience is required. Your young musician will dive into the exciting world of singing, keyboards, guitars, bass, and/or drums through engaging musical games, awesome activities, and the unforgettable experience of playing real songs in a band. It’s the ultimate way to build confidence and make new friends. Our first action-packed session kicks off on Monday, June 8th. Space is incredibly limited for this popular camp, so don't wait—secure your child's spot and enroll today!
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In recognition of Memorial Day May 25th, This week, come into the Wondershop to put together a paper plate flag. Come make a craft in honor of all of our military who have died while serving our country.
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Rev up for summer with a truckload of fun for all ages! See vehicles of all shapes and sizes at the library for one morning only. Get up-close and hands-on with awesome trucks from City of San Marcos Public Works, Fire Department, Police Department, San Marcos Electric Utility, and more! And don’t forget to pick up a reading log, because you can win fantastic prizes for reading this summer. Adventure starts at your library with Big Rigs!
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Learn about the history of Bexar County, Main Plaza, and the greater San Antonio area. Step back in time with demonstrations and learning opportunities provided by Bexar County Heritage Center, and local historic groups. Enjoy walking through the Plaza to enjoy live entertainment, educational demonstrations, and vendors as well offering a quick bite.
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Summer Movie Mornings are back and bigger than ever! Beat the summer heat with 10 fun-filled weeks of $1 family films at EVO! We'll show a different film each week, with showtimes at 10am EVERY DAY.
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Are you ready for our Annual Pride River Parade & Celebration? Visit San Antonio created the Pride River Parade to promote the city's inclusion, encouragement, and support of the LGBTQ+ community to live openly with equal rights.
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This summer is all about unearthing your story here at the library, and for our opening event, we will be unearthing some "real-life" dinosaurs for our patrons! Dino handlers from Jurassic S.A. will be here with 4 of their baby dinosaurs and 2 of their full-grown dinosaurs to roam the library and interact with attendees, as well as give a special educational performance starting at 1pm!
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Dig into a day of discovery at our Summer Reading Kick-Off! Visit the Jurassic LEGO display by the Texas LEGO User Group - San Antonio (TexLUG-SA), take on a LEGO building challenge, and enjoy art, crafts, games, and activities throughout the Children’s Library. This is a come-and-go event. Be sure to register for our Summer Reading Program and pick up your reading log to get started! Join us on Saturday, May 30 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
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The dinosaurs are coming and this summer only, you can meet them face to face! From May 30 through September 7, San Antonio Zoo transforms into the ultimate prehistoric adventure with Zoorassic Park, Presented by Bank of Texas! Sixteen massive animatronic dinosaurs take over the zoo, roaring back to life alongside your favorite animals for a limited-time experience you won't find anywhere else in San Antonio!
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River Rodeo is a community-wide fishing challenge hosted by the San Antonio River Authority and the San Antonio River Foundation in partnership with Angler’s Atlas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Fin Addict Angler Foundation, and the Brackenridge Park Conservancy. From April 4 through May 31, 2026, anglers of all experience levels are invited to fish the San Antonio River — from the Headwaters to the Mission Reach — and log their catches using the MyCatch app.
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Join us for a free, drop-in community event where guests can meet a variety of friendly animals while enjoying coffee, beer, wine, and great food from Refuge.
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Come on out to Wolff Stadium and cheer on the Missions. We are San Antonio's only professional baseball team - the San Antonio Missions, Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.
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Let’s get creative! Join us for our Little Artist workshop, designed for learners 5 years and younger. During these workshops, children will get explore textures, create with colors, and get messy! Your little artist will also learn great studio habits, such as caring for their artistic tools, embracing challenges, talking about their work, and exploring new materials. Will we discover the next Picasso?
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- Market Square Weekends: Live Performances, Local Eats & Art in Action - Historic Market Square - Historic Market Square, West Commerce Street, San Antonio, TX, USA, Saturday, May 30, 2026 and
Sunday, May 31, 2026, 10 am- 6 pm
- Nature In Our Neighborhoods - San Antonio City Hall - San Antonio City Hall, Military Plaza, San Antonio, TX, USA, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 9 am- 12 pm
- Jurassic Summer Opening Event - Patrick Heath Public Library - Patrick Heath Public Library, North Main Street, Boerne, TX, USA, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 12-3 pm
- Summer Reading Kick-Off: Unearth a Story - 798 Schertz Parkway - 798 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, TX, USA, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 10 am- 2 pm
- Pride River Parades & Celebration - San Antonio River Walk - San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio, TX, USA,
Saturday, May 30, 2026, 5 pm
- Cafe & Cuddles - Once In A Wild Mobile Zoo - Once In A Wild Mobile Zoo, 915 El Valle, San Antonio, TX 78258, United States, Sunday, May 31, 2026, 11 am - 4 pm
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Planning a kids birthday party in the San Antonio area? Here are lots of ideas for where to have it! If there is a resource that we have missed, please email us to let us know, and we'll add it
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the San Antonio 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 San Antonio? 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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