KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
The February my daughter Ella was 1, she caught a cold that lingered for months. There were short stretches of relief, but mostly there was congestion, disrupted sleep, and a level of crankiness that turned my sunny baby into someone I barely recognized. The clouds around her felt constant, and one day, I caught myself labeling her in my head as “the crabby one.” But of
course, if I had a perpetually runny nose and no way to manage it, I’d be irritable, too! I needed to remember this wasn’t her personality, it was a season. What we needed to get through it was distraction: something fun to do "right now" and also fun things to anticipate. Aside from those who live in paradise pockets like San Diego, most of our readers are in the thick of a particularly dreary winter. The world feels heavy and gray, energy runs
low, and it’s easy to fixate on how dispirited we feel. But we need to remember that this isn't our personality, it's a season. What we need to get through it is distraction in the moment and also something positive we can place on our horizon. My family is counting down to the March 20 release of Project
Hail Mary, which stars Ryan Gosling. The movie is based on the novel by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian. You don't have to be a science nerd to love Weir's books (although science nerds DO love Weir's
books), because in all of them, the real hero is human ingenuity—curiosity, flexible thinking, doing what needs to be done even in extreme circumstances. When things are going awry, the answer isn’t despair, it’s problem-solving, and I always emerge from a Weir book feeling spiritually lighter. While I immerse myself in Weir and Gosling, you, of course, should do YOU! Let the art or sport that grabs you and your kids be your launch ticket to optimism now, and lift you to fun
in the future. We're glad to provide the fuel!
—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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The Fleet Science Center connects people of all ages to the possibilities and power of science to create a better future. Our mission is to realize a San Diego where everyone is connected to the power of science .The Fleet is home to Southern California's only IMAX® Dome Theater and 100+ hands-on science exhibits for all ages.
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Outpost Summer Camps provides group-centered, outdoor-based, traditional camp experiences for children and young adults, designed to enrich and develop each participant's social, emotional and physical skills.
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SEACAMP San Diego is a marine science camp for kids and teens offering a range of programs to students throughout the school year and summer. Since 1987 it has been our goal to supplement traditional marine biology classroom study by providing hands-on education programs for students of all ages. Our programs combine hands-on labs and workshops with interactive field activities, such as snorkeling, boat trip, kayaking and boogie boarding. Marine science is a multidisciplinary field therefore SEACAMP San Diego covers a wide variety of subjects during our programs including marine ecology, physical oceanography and marine biology, ranging from the largest marine mammals to the smallest plankton.
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Have you ever wanted to learn how to draw like your favorite manga artist? Now you can! In this class, we’ll break down the styles of the most popular series and what technical features make them unique, then try our own hand at imitating them. Go from drawing your favorite character to drawing an original character in the same style. To make the class your own, class participants can vote on which artists we focus on each week!
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Celebrate our mini pig, Bingo, on her second birthday! Join us as we sing her happy birthday, read her a story, and watch her enjoy a special birthday cake.
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Black Comix Day is a FREE 2 day event highlighting creators of African Descent in the arts of Comic Books, Animation & Film. BCD 2026 is FREE ADMISSION to all. Parking is FREE (Located directly across the street.) Food is available inside the Worldbeat Center and within 2 blocks of the location. Activites for children such as gaming will be accessible as well. The main floor will feature various Black Creators in Comics, Fine Arts and Animation.
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We are Jurassic Quest, the largest & most realistic traveling dinosaur experience in North America!
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On Saturday, Feb. 14, Petco invites local families and pets to the grand re-opening event celebrating its remodeled Clairemont Mesa location. The new store features a next-level shopping experience, expanded exclusive merchandise for pets and pet lovers, new interactive live animal viewing tunnels, a dedicated home décor area and more. Animal viewing tunnels are designed to let kids get up close with reptiles and furry friends like never before – perfect for enrichment, photo opps and making memories!
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Cupid’s Skate Party transforms Gallagher Square into an outdoor skating rink complete with festive décor, photo opportunities, and live music for a limited time only!
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Open to actors aged 7-18, Star Theatre Youth Company hosts auditions for "HONK!", a musical adaption of "The Ugly Duckling" on February 16 & 17 from 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM.
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Tết is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunisolar calendar (around late January or early February) until at least the third day. Many Vietnamese prepare for Tết by cooking special holiday foods and cleaning the house. On Tết, Vietnamese visit their families and temples, forget about the troubles of the past year and hope for a better upcoming year. Tết traditionally marks the coming of Spring, so Spring is sometimes used interchangeably with Tết in Vietnamese.
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Join us for a heartfelt, family-friendly workshop where kids and their grownups come together to turn meaningful fabrics into Quilted Memory Pillows. Your fabric pieces can come from anything that holds a memory — a loved one (living or passed), a favorite place, a special moment, or even a well-loved item from home.
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the San Diego 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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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the San Diego 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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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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the San Diego 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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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the San Diego 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 San Diego as voted by parents. Who won the top spot? An indoor play center, museum, farm, nature center, sports team? Click through to find out, as well as favorite Arts Educator, Sports Educator, and STEM educator! Plus
there is LOTS more to do in San Diego!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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