KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When my kids were little, one of our favorite nature activities was also one of the simplest: We’d head out onto a trail, stop among the trees, and play the Listening Game. The rules were easy: Close your eyes. The first time you hear a sound, any sound at all, put up one finger. Then add another for each new sound you notice. After a minute or two, someone says, “Open your
eyes,” and everyone compares fingers and talks about what they heard. It’s a small exercise in attention, but it changes how kids experience the world. The invisible becomes visible... not to the eyes, exactly, but to the mind. Things that were just out of range suddenly move onto our radar. Nature is full of motion and music, and this game helps us tune ourselves to it. The free Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology takes that magic one step further: Tap Sound ID, and suddenly the songs around you appear on your screen as a voiceprint and a bird name and an image that shows you what to look for. And what a moment ago was only background atmosphere becomes a Carolina Wren, or an Eastern Whip-poor-will, or the Common Yellowthroat pictured above,
singing his heart out for a girl with a camera. That’s one of the great tasks of childhood, and of the adults who love children: to help hidden things come into view. Before we know something, it is almost as if it isn’t there. But once it is named, we have a new way to see. There are suddenly new dimensions to our universe, helping us transform even more mysteries into things that are ours. And we never really experience the woods—or the field, or the river, or
the ocean, or the city, or our backyard—the same way again.
—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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Saturday, April 18, 11am: Meet 11-year-old author Bella Olson at The Last Bookstore Studio City during her national book tour celebrating her debut adventure novel, TRAPPED. Bella will share the inspiration behind her story, read a short passage, answer questions from young readers, and meet fans during a book signing.
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Camp Integem is Magical, Fun, and Future-Focused for Ages 6-18: dive into AI, Robotics, Drones, Holographic AR, coding, 3D, Game Design, STEM, Art, Animation, Space/Nature Exploration, STEM, STEAM and more. Teleport into their creation to experience the magic of their design with Holographic AR and prepare students for future success, all the while having a blast! No prior knowledge is needed and suitable for all levels: beginner to advanced levels. ACS WASC accredited, NVIDIA-partnered camp. Visit https://camp.integem.com or call 408-459-0657. Space is limited. Save $50/week with KOAB today!
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When school is out, the YMCA is here for families! YMCA Day Camps provide safe, engaging places for kids while parents work during school holidays like spring break and summer vacation. Children enjoy fun-filled days of games, creative activities and outdoor play, while making new friends, all guided by caring YMCA staff in a supportive, values-driven environment. Day Camp helps kids stay active and continue learning even when school is not in session. Parents can have peace of mind knowing their children are safe, having fun, and growing at the Y. Financial assistance is available, ensuring every child has the opportunity to experience the fun and adventure of Day Camp.
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Give your child a summer they’ll talk about for years at YMCA Camp Edwards Overnight Camp! Nestled in the mountains and full of adventure, kids unplug and explore in a safe, supportive environment led by caring YMCA staff. Campers make new friends while enjoying activities like swimming, hiking, archery, campfires, and classic camp games that build confidence and independence. Each day brings laughter, discovery, and lifelong memories. Spots always fill quickly, so secure your child’s place today! Accredited by the American Camp Association, Camp Edwards helps kids gain independence, develop leadership skills, and experience the magic of the outdoors in a positive, values-driven community. Financial assistance is always available.
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Stars of Tomorrow is providing costumes and scenery for this amazing show and we invite you to check out this powerful, emotional dramatization of God’s wonders.
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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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April 11-12 and 18-19: A two-weekend celebration of everything sourdough. Wood-fired pizzas, fresh donuts, handmade pasta, warm bread bowls, artisan loaves, and beyond. Explore the festival, taste ancient grains, and fall in love with real food. 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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Join Canyon Lake Library and Mentoring Tiny Humans for a fun-filled Bored Play Day! We'll have a variety of activities to keep you entertained, including: Board games: Gather your friends and family for a friendly competition, Puzzles: Put your thinking skills to the test with a challenging puzzle, Coloring: Unleash your creativity and express yourself through coloring, Fun activities: We have a variety of other games and activities to keep you busy.
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Join us for the 13th Annual Riverside Tamale Festival as we celebrate family, culture, and tradition: a day filled with delicious tamales, live entertainment, and vibrant community spirit! Acompáñanos en el 13.º Festival Anual del Tamal de Riverside mientras celebramos la familia, la cultura y la tradición: ¡un día lleno de deliciosos tamales, entretenimiento en vivo y un vibrante espíritu comunitario!
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Save the date! The annual Inland Empire Science Festival returns to the Western Science Center on Saturday, April 18th - stay tuned as we announce exhibitors, activities, and much more!
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April 18 & 19: 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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Springtime on the ranch in April! Join us for a FREE 2 day family festival celebrating the changing seasons, next spring!
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Celebrate Earth Day at The Bloc with immersive experiences, eco-friendly activities, and good times outdoors!
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- Mountain Story Time - City of Big Bear Lake California - 39707 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake, CA, Friday, April 17, 2026, 1:30 - 2:30pm PST
- Bored Game Day - Canyon Lake Library, 31594 Railroad Canyon Road, Canyon Lake, CA 92587, Friday, April 17, 2026, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
- Little Artists - Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Branch Library - 14901 Dale Evans Pkwy, Apple Valley, CA 92307, Friday, April 17, 2026, 11:00am - 12:00pm PST
- Tours - Heritage House of Riverside - Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA, Friday, April 17, 2026, Check
Website for Time
- Little Seedlings Story Time - Sherman Library and Gardens - East Coast Highway, Corona Del Mar, CA, Friday, April 17, 2026, 10 am - 10:30 am
- Free spring mini photo session with Shoott! - Broadway, New York, NY, Saturday, April 18, 2026, See link for times
- Good to Go Fair - 29
Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618, Saturday, April 18, 2026, 9am-1pm
- Ready, Set, Grow! - Riverside County Library System - Woodcrest Branch, 16625 Krameria, Riverside, CA 92504, Saturday, April 18, 2026, 1:30PM-3:30PM
- Family Storytime @ Eastvale Library - 7447 Scholar Way, Eastvale, CA 92880, Saturday, April 18, 2026, 11:00am - 12:00pm
- Apple Blossom Festival
at Los Rios Rancho - 39611 Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, CA 92399, Saturday, April 18, 2026, 10 am - 4 pm
- 2026 Fallbrook Avocado Festival - 111 S Main Ave, Fallbrook, CA 92028, Sunday, April 19, 2026, 9 am - 5 pm
- Apple Blossom Festival at Los Rios Rancho - 39611 Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, CA 92399, Sunday, April 19, 2026, 10 am - 4 pm
- Earth Day + Arbor Day Activities at Gilman Historic Ranch and Wagon Museum - 4600 Crestmore Road, Jurupa Valley, CA 92509, Sunday, April 19, 2026, Check Website for Time
- Tours - Heritage House of Riverside - Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA, Sunday, April 19,
2026, Check Website for Time
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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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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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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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