KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Sat, Apr 11: The 37th Annual Best of the Northwest Spring Show 2026 at Magnuson Park Hangar 30
Sat, Apr 25: 2026 Rock & Gem Show by West Seattle Rock Club at Alki Masonic Hall
Sat, Apr 25: Sheep Shearing at Kelsey Creek Farm
Sat, Apr 25: Klahowya at
Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
Sun, Apr 26: Grant Us Peace: Choir & Orchestra
Concert with Kirkland Choral Society & Philharmonia Northwest
Sat, May 2: May Day at Jubilee Farm
Sun, May 3: PNW Witches' Market Beltane
2026
Sun, May 3: May Kids Craft at Route 2 Taproom
Sat, May 9: Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead: Memorial Day Poppies - Puget Sound Navy Museum
Sat, May 9: May Edible Plant Sale at Tilth Alliance
Sat, May 9: Edmonds Spring Fest 2026 at Playground at Frances Anderson Center |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
As I write this column, three Americans and one Canadian are hurtling home from a trip around the Moon, inside a machine that had better do exactly what it’s supposed to do. For years, every person involved in the mission obsessed over every detail at every stage until as little as possible was left to chance. “Failure is not an option,” an ethos long associated with
our quest to explore outer space, makes perfect sense when we're talking about Artemis II. But decades ago, the attitude leaked out of the space program and into everyday life, and that was a mixed blessing. When I was a teenager, “failure is not an option” might as well have been tattooed on my brain: For me, not only was failure not an option, but anything below an A grade wasn’t an option, either. I was so afraid of not being perfect that if I felt unprepared for a test,
I’d stay home “sick.” I looked successful from the outside, but because I was working so hard to avoid mistakes, I played it safe. So I didn't actually accomplish much aside from some sharp-looking letters on a report card. It took me years out in the real world to realize that real accomplishment usually looks less like gliding and more like bumping into things until you find the way through. So these days, failure and I are best buddies: I've replaced "failure is not an
option" with "nothing ventured, nothing gained" as I inch toward and away from success each day. Even writing my column each week is an act of resilience: I add and then murder my words until they say what I mean, and I'm always aware in the end that it could be better. One of my goals when I was homeschooling Madison and Ella was to make failure safe and ordinary... cheerful, even... a sign of progress. Kids need chances to try things that might flop: recipes that taste
weird, projects that collapse, math problems they have to redo, conversations they wish they’d handled better. I wanted them to understand that when the stakes are low, failure is not a tragedy, it’s just how learning works. It doesn't usually feel fun, or comfortable. But it's the only way to fly.
—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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Summer camps at The Center for Wooden Boats give young people the chance to learn, explore, and build confidence on Seattle’s waterfront. From beginner sailing for first-time sailors to hands-on woodworking and boatbuilding camps, our programs combine skill-building, teamwork, and outdoor adventure. Campers learn to sail small boats, work safely with tools, solve problems, and develop independence in a supportive, welcoming environment. Camps run throughout the summer for ages 5–14, with experienced instructors and a strong focus on safety, curiosity, and fun. Scholarships are available to ensure cost is not a barrier. Explore sessions and enroll now to give your child a summer they will remember.
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STILL THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR MUSICAL. Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award®-winning musical phenomenon, Les Misérables. This brilliant staging has taken the world by storm and has been hailed as “Les Mis for the 21st Century” (Huffington Post), “a reborn dream of a production” (Daily Telegraph) and “one of the greatest musicals ever created” (Chicago Tribune). Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption–a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. This epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history. The magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” “Master of the House” and many more. Seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries and 22…
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Join us for the 51st Annual Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival at Seattle Center. This free, weekend-long celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture features traditional performances, authentic food, cultural demonstrations and workshops.
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Disney Channel’s smash hit movie musical comes to life on your stage in Disney’s High School Musical JR. Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High must deal with issues of love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extra-curricular activities. The show’s infectious, danceable songs are sure to engage performers and audiences alike.
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Join us for a family friendly, hands-on activity the second Saturday of the month! Each month we try a new S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activity suitable for learners of all ages. All activities are self-directed with limited instruction from staff. Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead activities are FREE and open to anybody who wants to participate.
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! Seattle-Tacoma area - Shoott - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, 04/09/2026-04/11/2026, See link for times
- Little Science Lab with Imagine Children's Museum | Mariner Library - Imagine Children's Museum - Mariner Library - Sno-Isle Libraries, 520 128th St SW, Everett, WA 98204, United States, 04/10/2026, 10 am
- Family Story Time - Shoreline Library - - Shoreline Library, 345 Northeast 175th Street, Shoreline, WA 98155, United States, 04/10/2026, 10 am - 10:30 am
- Hora de cuentos en español/Spanish Story Time - Shoreline Library - - Shoreline Library, 345 Northeast 175th Street, Shoreline, WA 98155, United States, 04/10/2026, 11:30 am
- Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead: Dazzle Camouflage -
Puget Sound Navy Museum - - Puget Sound Navy Museum, 251 1st Street, Bremerton, WA 98337, United States, 04/11/2026, 10am - 2pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Seattle 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 Seattle 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 Seattle 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 Seattle 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! In addition to Seattle there are
locations in Mercer Island, Bellevue, Kirkland, Newcastle, Shoreline, Renton, Lake Forest Park, Redmond, Kingsgate, Kenmore, and SeaTac.
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2025's best places to take kids in the Seattle area. Each May-June, 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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