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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Looking for Summer fun? Our Summer Camps keep kids active, engaged, and entertained with exciting daily activities including sports and games, crafts and baking, Pixel Games, VR, Fun Zone and so much more! The Summer is packed with even more adventure, featuring weekly field trips every Wednesday, plus swimming and outdoor play every Tuesday and Thursday for the ultimate camp experience! Weekly registration is available as well as 3 and 4 day options. https://activekidszone.com/summer-camp
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Create your own TV shows and Podcasts in professional multi set studios! Learn the basics of anchoring, hosting and reporting. Plus experience the key behind the scenes roles of producer, director and camera operator along the way. Gain confidence in a fun, hands on way and build new skills with a super supportive team. Friday’s Showcase allows families to watch it all happen in person. The program runs Mon-Fri., 9am–3pm, throughout July and August. For ages 12 plus. Send a message to reserve a spot or visit our website to register: https://yourtickettotheshow.com/ Space is limited to 20 spots per week
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Celebrate art in the beach with the Beach Guild of Fine Art’s Spring Show and Sale! Showcasing 30 talented local artists with a wide range of subjects and styles.
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Connect with nature and join us for a guided forest therapy walk! Rekindle your relationship with nature this spring through a guided outdoor Forest Bathing walk with certified Forest Therapy guide Laura Bincik. At a slow pace and in community with other participants and the environment, you will be guided by a series of invitations throughout the experience to awaken your senses and intentionally connect with nature in the present moment.
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Queer and trans youth (13-18) across the region are invited to the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery for a free, casual drop-in creative space on the fourth Friday of every month!
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The Schomberg Agricultural Fair is a heart-warming (and fun!) local tradition that has been upheld for 176 years. Every May, rain or shine, Schomberg plays host to a colourful celebration of local agriculture, art, and talent.
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Join us for the first ever Duffins Creek Festival! Explore the Pickering Museum Village and our brand new Dorsay Community and Heritage Centre while learning all about our Duffins Creek! Join us for an artisan vendor market, live entertainment, education stations that explore the land and ecosystem of Duffins Creek, and outdoor adventure activities! With entertainment, education, and culture all in one place – the Duffins Creek Festival offers a meaningful experience for all ages and fosters a curiosity for the land that sustains us!
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Get ready for another incredible day of creativity, community, and young entrepreneurs as well as live music. Our goal is to relieve poverty by providing school supplies and other basic necessities to youth in need in Toronto and surrounding areas. At Kid2Kid, we encourage children to spread kindness through their actions.
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The Hot Wheels Legends Tour is roaring back for another worldwide ride. Join us in an all-new search for a custom vehicle worthy of the ultimate claim to fame: becoming a Hot Wheels die-cast car. Join us on May 30, 2026 from 08:00 AM to 12:00 PM for a one of a kind event. We will be crowning a new winner and checking out lots of cool rides!
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Join us for PAMA's FREE Spring Open House! New exhibitions including Abstract Art in Canada, Witness Blanket and Spotlight: Selections from the Museum Collection.
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Complimentary tickets for infants (aged 0-12 months) - please contact the Ticket Office for more information. All sales final. This event is organized by an external group and is not produced by the City of Mississauga.
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Have you made your weekend plans yet? We're FREE every Sunday thanks to our sponsor KPMG! Reserve your tickets now!
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Grab your needles and hooks, and join other crafty people at Guy House for an afternoon of knitting, crochet, and other creative activities in a welcoming environment. All are welcome!
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For more than 30 years, the Canadian Reptile Expo has been a cornerstone of Canada’s reptile community—connecting families, hobbyists, and responsible breeders who share a passion for these incredible animals. Our events celebrate the world of captive bred reptile companion pets, offering a safe, educational, and family-friendly environment where attendees can learn, explore, and meet the dedicated experts who help shape the hobby. The Canadian Reptile Expo is committed to fostering responsible reptile care, supporting our growing community, and creating memorable experiences for all ages—season after season, year after year.
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We’re kicking off Pride month with the return of Pride in Nature at Mountsberg Conservation Area on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Visit the park any time between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm to participate in the festivities. Pride in Nature is a vibrant, family-friendly celebration of inclusion, education, and the natural world. This one-day event invites you to explore the diversity of both nature and community through interactive programming, live experiences, and meaningful storytelling.
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- The Garden Club of Toronto Spring Blooms at Toronto Botanical Garden - Toronto Botanical Garden - 777 Lawrence Avenue East, North York, Toronto, ON M3C 1P2, Canada, 9:30 - 11:30 am
- Queer Youth Art Club - Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery - Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery - 101 Queen Street North, Kitchener, ON, Canada, 3 - 5 pm
- Downsview parkrun - Downsview Park - 70 Canuck Ave, North York, ON M3K 2C5, Canada, 9 am
- Kids’ Marketplace in Toronto - Beaches Recreation Centre - Williamson Road, Toronto, ON, Canada, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
- Giant Junction Jumble Sale - postponed from May 23 to May 30 due to weather - 3179 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada, 8:30AM - 2:30PM
- Free Sunday at Bata Shoe Museum - Bata Shoe Museum - 327 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1W7, Canada, 12 - 5 pm
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Toronto 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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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Toronto 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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Wishing you and your family health and happiness,
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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