KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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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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Looking for a summer camp that truly has it all? Our latest article dives into why AstroCamp stands out for value, variety, and unforgettable adventure. Nestled in the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains, AstroCamp blends hands-on STEM learning with epic outdoor experiences like rocketry, drone piloting, hiking, archery, and even stargazing through digital telescopes. With customizable Specialty Weeks, culinary Camp CHOP, and one- or two-week overnight options, kids can tailor their experience to match their passions. Curious how it all comes together to create an extraordinary summer? Click the graphic to read our article!
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Join Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and friends for Sesame Street Live! Elmo’s Got the Moves at the Long Beach Terrace Theater. This high-energy, interactive show features music, dancing, and favorite Sesame Street songs that will have kids on their feet and singing along.
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Create fun, sometimes messy, art with your little one and guide their imagination by making a project together, or let them steal the show with their own personal artistic style!
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Come celebrate with us at our Springtime Easter Festival! With acres to visit and numerous activities, there is plenty of space to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine with family and friends.
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Get ready to rock, roll, sway, sing, and bop! Because we’re bringing back Kidstock Music & Arts Festival! Enjoy live musical performances throughout the week and explore a mix of musical styles!
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Guided tours of Heritage House are available to book online! Join us every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to learn more about Riverside!
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Learn about the health benefits of consuming naturally-fermented sourdough made with ancient grains. Attend free lectures or take various fermented workshops. Sign up for hands-on class on making fermented food and drinks and a beginner's class on sourdough bread making.
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This is where the magic started 63 years ago, right here at the original Renaissance Pleasure Faire and the site of LA's largest costume party! For seven glorious weekends, visitors embark on a rollicking romp through Elizabethan England, complete with a spectacular cast of engaging, memorable characters who lead you on an adventure through a beautiful 20-acre site with open-air stages just 15 minutes east of Pasadena at the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area, Irwindale. Hundreds of costumed performers await you as you enter the gates into the Faire’s magical village replete with pubs, shops, demonstrations, games, and fantastic food for vegans, vegetarians, and foodies alike. Play along and join us as your alter ego be it King, Queen, pirate, sorcerer, or anything you want to be for the day. Or don’t come in costume at all. It’s your day. Enjoy it your way.
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Take a ride with Thomas, meet Percy and Sir Topham Hatt, and enjoy a day of family fun! Advanced Ticket Purchase is highly recommended and will be available online prior to the event.
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Join us at Sauté Culinary Academy for a fun and interactive cooking experience! Your little chefs will learn to make delicious Asian dishes while having a blast in the kitchen. Guided by our experienced chefs every step of the way, kids will explore new flavors, develop cooking skills, and gain confidence in the kitchen. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to inspire your child’s love for cooking and Asian cuisine. Sign up now!
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Marine muralist Wyland continues the landmark Whale and Dolphin Adventure: Art Lessons in the Wild, facilitating the most creative virtual and up-close experience on the water. Create your own work-of-art aboard one of Dana Wharf’s vessels prior to a signature 2-hour whale watching excursion. At the end of each lesson, children will submit their drawings for the chance to win a prize. The grand prize winner selected by Wyland receives a special Wyland work of art, framed and signed, up to a $3,000 value. This activity is available every Saturday morning starting at 9 a.m. for children 3-12 years old. The lesson takes place before the 10 a.m. Whale Watching Trip. Max 15 students per lesson. Additional whale watching tickets are available for purchase for friends and family of each student. The mission of The Wyland Foundation is to give both children and adults alike the tools they need to become more creative through art. A portion of each ticket will be donated back to the…
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- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Los Angeles - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA, Friday, April 9 to Sunday, April 11, See link for times
- Mountain Story Time - City of Big Bear Lake California - City of Big Bear Lake California, 39707 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake, CA, USA, Friday, April 10, 1:30 - 2:30pm PST
- Little Artists - Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Branch Library - Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Branch Library, 14901 Dale Evans Pkwy, Apple Valley, CA 92307, Friday, April 10, 11:00am - 12:00pm PST
- Tours - Heritage House of Riverside - Heritage House of Riverside, Riverside Heritage House, Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA, USA, Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12, Check Website for Time
- Little Seedlings Story Time - Sherman Library and Gardens - Sherman Library and Gardens, Sherman Library & Gardens, East Coast Highway, Corona Del Mar, CA, USA, Friday, April 10, 10 am - 10:30 am
- Special Needs Resource Fair & Family Fun Day 2026 - 17005 Upland Ave, Fontana, CA 92335, Saturday, April 11, 10:00am - 12:30 pm
- Family Storytime @ Eastvale Library - Eastvale Library, 7447 Scholar Way, Eastvale, Riverside County, CA 92880, Saturday, April 11, 11:00am - 12:00pm
- LASAN's Earth Day LA 2026 - LASAN's Earth Day LA 2026, Public works Building, South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA,
USA, Saturday, April 11, 10 am - 2 pm
- Community Closet - Cathedral City Library - Cathedral City Library, 33520 Date Palm Drive, Cathedral City, CA, USA, Sunday, April 12, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Inland Empire 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 Inland Empire! 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 Inland Empire? 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 Inland Empire 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 the Inland Empire? Each May-June, thousands of parents vote in KidsOutAndAbout's survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Was the winner an indoor play center, museum, farm, nature center, sports team? Click through to
find out!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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