KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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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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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All skill levels are welcome to find inspiration from Tony Foster's watercolor wilderness Journeys within the galleries. Bring your own art supplies such as graphite pencils or watercolor sets, nature journals or sketch pads, or borrow our colored pencil
provisions. Spend time in our meditative galleries looking closely at Foster's artwork masterpieces, and making your own!
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The Walt Disney Family Museum continues its celebration of the 70th anniversary of Disneyland with the debut of Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland Story, an original special exhibition curated by award-winning producer and Disney Legend Don Hahn with
museum Director of Collections and Exhibitions Marina Villar Delgado. Inspired by the 2025 book, The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland, published by Disney Editions and written by Hahn and historian Christopher Merritt, this treasure trove of Disney history will take guests behind the scenes of one of the most groundbreaking endeavors of the 20th century—the creation and opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland
Story will be on view beginning Friday, November 14 in the museum’s Lower Lobby and Theater Galleries.
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Toddler Storytime is a 20-30 minute program that uses stories, songs, fingerplays, and movement to help young children ages 1-3 years old develop word and sound recognition, gain background knowledge of how the world works, and encourages families to build
social connections with other parents and children.
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Fly into Neverland with Wendy, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell in this new original, multimedia adaptation! In their adventures, with the Lost Boys and Captain Hook, Wendy learns that a brain filled with fear has little space for dreams. Using popular songs from
the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, stunning digital scenery, life sized puppets and live performers, children receive a valuable message, and adults enjoy a wonderfully entertaining show for audiences of all ages!
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Learn about California's own Coastal Redwood Forest, aboard a 100 year old steam train. Along the journey, hear fascinating information about the coastal redwoods and their ecosystems from docent specialists.
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Have you ever wondered what makes the Moon so special? Apart from the Sun, the Moon is one of the brightest objects in the sky and it’s the second place, other than the Earth, that humans have set foot. Come and learn about the Moon’s phases, craters and
other characteristics that make the Moon a very special place. Family Audience - Children 5 and older.
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Bay FC is a San Francisco Bay Area-based professional women’s soccer team competing in the NWSL since 2024, playing home matches at PayPal Park in San Jose.
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Come record yourself talking into a microphone in a radio studio! This drop-in workshop is designed especially for kids and teens. No prior experience is needed, and participants can stop by anytime during the two-hour window
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Toddler Plus Storytime is a 20-30 minute program using stories, songs, fingerplays, and movement to help young children ages 2-3 years old develop word and sound recognition, gain background knowledge of how the world works, and encourage families to build
social connections with other parents and children. Toddler Plus Storytime is a bit longer and more complex than what is typically presented during Toddler Storytime and is perfect for children about to enter preschool.
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- Free Spring Mini Photo Session with Shoott - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Friday, March 20, 2026 to Sunday, March 22, 2026 - See link for times
- Toddler Plus Storytime - Main Library - Children's Department, Friday, March 20, 2026 - 10:30am
- Family Storytime - West End Library, Alameda Free Library, 788 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501, United States, Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 10:30am
- Family Storytime - Main Library - Children's Department, Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 10:30am
- Sound Bites: STEM activites for KIDS - California Historical Radio Society, Central Avenue, Alameda, CA, USA, Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 10 am to 12 pm
- Springtime
Workshop Grades K-6 Cartoon Art Museum - Cartoon Art Museum, 781 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94109, United States, Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 11:00 am–1:00 pm
- Family Storytime - Main Library, Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 12:30pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the San Francisco 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 Francisco 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 San Francisco? 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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There are lots of places to have a birthday party in the San Francisco area! Start thinking outside the box! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens (and dozens) of ideas! In addition to venues in San Francisco, there are places in Oakland, Alameda, Pacifica, San
Leandro, Walnut Creek, Hayward, Dublin, and San…
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2025's best places to take kids in the San Francisco Bay area. Early each summer, thousands of parents vote in the KidsOutAndAbout 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: Who won for Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM Educator?
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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