KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Jun 19: National Indigenous People's Day
Sat, Jun 20: Scandinavian Midsummer Festival
Sat, Jun 20: National Indigenous Peoples Day
Sat, Jun 27: Golden Spike Days
Sun, Jun 28: Greek Day on Broadway
Mon, Jun 29: Summer Camps- Webb's Holiday Acres
Sat, Jul 4: Coquitlam Pride 2026
Thu, Jul 16: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert
Sat, Jul 18: Celebrate Mount Pleasant Park Festival
Fri, Jul 24: Disney’s The Lion King Live in Concert
Sat, Jul 25: Burnaby Pride |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was homeschooling Madison and Ella, one of my favorite sanity-saving tools was the Theme of the Week. If the theme was "Birds," then yes, we'd go on a bird walk. But we'd also read my favorite-ever children's book, talk about the physics of flying and of colors, and probably also do some math and logic involving eggs and
baskets. The theme made ordinary learning feel like an adventure, but more important, it gave us a focusing tool: It helped the girls connect with what they were seeing and doing, and it helped me feel that we weren’t wandering randomly through our days. Summer planning can benefit from that same kind of gentle structure. Last week, I wrote about how summer is not supposed to be a guilt-inducing race to cram in every concert, splash pad, festival, hike,
camp, road trip, library program, ice cream stand, and sunset before the school buses roll again. Trying to grab everything is a good way to miss the point; instead, to plan the summer without overstuffing it, we need to consider the kinds of experiences that make our family feel more awake, connected, and alive. The five summer lenses I keep coming back to are: music, motion, making,
nature, and food. Music helps kids hear the world differently and live what they love. Motion lets bodies teach what words cannot. Making reminds us that we can bring something new into the universe. Nature offers perspective and wonder. And food connects us to place, culture, and each other. Over the next
few weeks, I’ll address these one at a time—not as assignments, but as invitations. Even as the days fly by, a summer seen through some useful lenses can still be lazy, loose, spontaneous, and wonderfully imperfect.
—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. |
Please click through to our 2026 survey to vote for your top 3 places to take kids... it will be used to compile our 2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Vancouver area. Voting is live through June 20; believe me, winning a place on the Top 20 list matters to the people
who create amazing family-friendly experiences. Take 3 minutes to choose your favorites as your way of saying thank you... and use the list to build your summer bucket list at the same time! You have my personal and fervent thanks for your participation! —Deb |
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Discover an unforgettable summer in sunny Tsawwassen at Southpointe Academy. Designed for students entering Grades 1–12, our Summer Programme offers enriching experiences in academics, STEM, and the arts within a caring, engaging community where every learner is encouraged to grow. Whether your child is building new skills, exploring a passion, or discovering something entirely new, Southpointe provides a summer filled with creativity, confidence, and connection. Led by experienced educators and instructors, each programme is thoughtfully designed to inspire curiosity and joyful learning through hands-on experiences and meaningful friendships. Spaces are extremely limited and expected to fill quickly. Explore our full range of summer offerings and register early to secure your child’s place in an unforgettable Southpointe summer!
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Join us for the opening celebration of Surrey’s Soccer Fan Zones and watch Canada’s first match live on the big screen! The first 250 fans will receive a $10 coupon redeemable at all food and beverage onsite, along with additional giveaways*. Throughout the day, enjoy live entertainment, soccer games and activities, community exhibitors, food trucks, a beer garden, and a special appearance by Surrey‑born Whitecaps FC midfielder Jeevan Badwal. Programming extends to Kick It! at Central City Plaza. *One coupon alcohol. Redeemable at onsite vendors only.
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Step into the world of giant machines at Britannia Mine Museum in Britannia Beach, BC. This 2026 summer exhibit explores the powerful equipment that makes modern mining possible, from towering mining trucks to massive loaders and drills designed to handle enormous tasks safely and efficiently. At Giants at Work: Big Jobs, Bigger Machines, visitors will explore the equipment behind real mining work, from haulage and drilling to daily operations. Learn how skilled technicians, mechanics, and engineers keep these machines running, while gaining a hands-on understanding of the scale and engineering of mining in British Columbia.
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Celebrate Canada’s opening match with a stadium-style viewing experience featuring a large screen, interactive soccer activities on the field and in the plaza area. Gates will open at 11 a.m. with interactive onsite fan activities and food services available for purchase. At 12 p.m., watch Canada take on Bosnia-Herzegovina live on the big screen, all the excitement of the soccer World Cup 26, right here in Coquitlam.
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Attention all families and farm enthusiasts! Mark your calendars for Maplewood Farm's Farm Fair! It will be an unforgettable day of excitement and entertainment! Prepare to immerse yourself in a charming world of adorable animals, discover unique local vendors, and savor delicious treats from our fantastic lineup of food trucks.
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Get ready for a fun-filled, family day at the Annual Queensborough Children’s Festival hosted by the Queensborough Special Programs Committee (QSPC)! This beloved community event is all about community, connection, and making joyful memories together, and best of all, everything is FREE!
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Celebrate caring for your local park and get outdoors with your friends and family to enjoy a picnic meal and fun park activities. Grab your picnic blanket and come celebrate with family, friends, and neighbours at a picnic near you! Join us every Thursday from June 18 to August 27.
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We raise our hands to you in respect and gratitude for joining us for our 13th Annual Sasquatch Days, which is co-hosted by the Village of Harrison Hot Springs and the nation of Sts’ailes. This historic event aims to share Sts’ailes culture and traditions in this beautiful location on the shores of Harrison Hot Springs. As hosts, we are proud to endorse this event with the support of the Harrison Festival Society, Tourism Harrison and the many volunteers who make it possible. We are honoured for this opportunity to work together as one and put forth an amazing event for you! We hope you take the time to enjoy the beauty of this territory and be a part of living history.
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Home to historic Little Italy, Commercial Drive comes alive in the style of Italy’s vibrant streets and piazzas, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees of all ages and cultures — becoming Vancouver’s most anticipated cultural street festival.
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Celebrate Recreation and Parks Month! Drop-in for free, family-friendly games and activities at parks around the Township of Langley every weekend in June, rain or shine. Marked in June, Recreation and Parks Month supports and amplifies the advocacy and promotion of recreation and parks as essential to the health and wellness of all British Columbians. Drop by to celebrate recreation and parks month with us!
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Vancouver 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 Vancouver 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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It's almost time for fruit picking! Fruit picking is a great activity to do together as a family. It helps little ones understand where their food actually comes from, and it's a fun tradition to share every year right through the teens.
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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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