KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: When I was a teenager, I had a teacher who became a mentor without ever knowing he was one. He was aware I’d been going through some difficult times, and was glad to hear I was almost on the other side. “Some people aren't lucky enough to have dealt with hard things when they're young,” he told me. Then he added the phrase that has echoed in my head for decades: “Remember the
rocks.” Life, he explained, was always going to toss boulders into my path. The trick was to recognize, early, that even if it was painful or scary, I was capable of getting around, or over, or through them. Remembering how I’d managed would help me trust myself more when the next, bigger ones appeared. As a parent, I think about that often, about how the only way to become someone who does hard things is… to do hard things. It’s tempting
to rush in and smooth every unpleasant obstacle our kids encounter. When we email the teacher, mend the friendship, rescue the forgotten homework, eliminate every discomfort, we may feel helpful in the moment, but in fact we’re quietly removing the practice stones they need. Resilience doesn’t come from being told “You’re strong”; it comes from evidence that only they can gather, from working through manageable challenges and thinking, That was hard. And I handled it. We don’t need to
manufacture their challenges—being a kid is difficult enough. And we don’t abandon them to do it all on their own, either. We just learn to pause, to weigh advice against intervention, and to let them see what they can manage. The goal is that later in life, when something truly difficult lands in our children's path, they won’t just hope they can manage it, they’ll know. Now, many years later, when I encounter something daunting, I think back to my mentor and
remember the rocks. "I do hard things," I tell myself. And it works.
—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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Saturday, March 7: You’re invited! CCRC’s Annual San Bernardino Family Play Day will take place from 10 am – 1 pm! Join us at our San Bernardino Office for a morning filled with hands-on activities, community resources, a reptile exhibit, and more! Discover
something for all ages plus free giveaways! Families in attendance will take home a bag of fruits and vegetables and each child will get to take home a book of their own – while supplies last.
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Join us on the first Thursday of every month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the Riverside ArtsWalk, a vibrant community event that celebrates the diversity of arts and culture in Riverside and the Inland Empire.
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Experience high-octane professional indoor soccer with the Empire Strykers at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. Matches feature fast-paced, high-scoring action on a 200x85 foot turf with walls in play. As part of the MASL, the Strykers provide an
exciting, family-friendly atmosphere, uniting the Inland Empire community with thrilling, four-quarter, high-transition games
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Southern California Railway Museum is excited to announce the return of the Dinosaru Express, a unique, outdoor, interactive experience created in partnership with PBS. Buddy the Dinosaur has been invited to the Museum to meet with his fans and highlight
his favorite topics of Paleontology, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.
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Get ready for a burst of lucky color and creativity! In this hands-on St. Patrick’s Day–themed class, kids will design their very own rainbow wall hanging inspired by the magic of rainbows and leprechaun luck. Using bright construction paper, fluffy
pom-poms, shiny stickers, and other fun materials, little artists will bring their creations to life.
Perfect for children ages 4 to 8, this festive craft encourages imagination, fine motor skills, and lots of smiles. Each child will leave with a one-of-a-kind rainbow masterpiece they’ll be proud to hang at home—a cheerful reminder of their creativity and a little St. Patrick’s Day magic!
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Enjoy simple stories, songs, parachute play, bubles, and early signs. No registration required. Space is limited. We encourage carpooling. Please arrive early to best ensure seating.
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Teens and tweens, join us every third Wednesday of the month as we munch on snacks provided by local restaurants and get creative with a different craft each month!
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For all the crayon warriors and marker maestros, it's time to unleash your inner artist and join our Kids' Simply Sketches with Justin! Every month, join us for an hour of creative exploration and artistic adventure. We'll be diving into fun themes,
learning cool drawing techniques, and giggling our way through some silly challenges.
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The City of Moreno Valley has invited us to join their Multi-Cultural & Arts Festival to share our unique opportunity for kid-preneurs to develop a different set of social skills, confidence, and resilience that comes with nurturing a passion for their
craft to share with the community. Come by to check us out or join us with your own booth and celebrate various cultures with a day full of art, dance, music, entertainment, great food, and activities rich in tradition!
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best
experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech!
Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
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- Family Game Night @ Eastvale Library - Eastvale Library, 7447 Scholar Way, Eastvale, CA 92880, Eastvale, Friday, March 6, 4:00 - 7:00pm PST
- Story Time at Louis Robidoux Library - Louis Robidoux
Library, 5840 Mission Blvd, Jurupa Valley, Friday, March 6, 11:00am - 12:30pm
- After School Snacks at the Woodcrest Library - Riverside, Friday, March 6, 2:30 pm - 4 pm
- Family Storytime @ Eastvale Library - Eastvale Library, 7447 Scholar Way, Eastvale, CA 92880, Eastvale, Saturday, March 7, 11:00am - 12:00pm
- San Bernardino Family Play Day - Child Care Resource Center, San Bernardino, Saturday, March 7, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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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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