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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
"You just have to believe in yourself," endless Disney movie songs tell us, "and your dreams will come true."
Even as a kid, I was skeptical of this attitude. In my experience, dreams don't really come true, they are pushed there—by hard work fueled by passion and combined with a little luck and others' grace. Sure, believing you can do something is an important first step, but it really is only the first step.
As publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, I have the deep privilege of watching success in action, success that maintains and nurtures the communities in which families live and kids thrive. I am endlessly inspired by the people behind the scenes who provide activities: I watch how carefully they plan, how generously they give of themselves, how ceaselessly they improve, especially in a post-Covid age where many of them are still struggling. They are fired by a desire to get kids engaged in their community and inspired to learn. Their success gives us all a better chance of living in a vibrant, productive, peaceful, healthy future.
Now you have a chance to thank them. It's super-easy to do, simply by taking our annual 5-minute survey of your favorite local places to take kids, teens, and families. Any comments you add will be passed along to the organizations. If I were a fan of clickbait, I'd try to inspire urgency by saying it's your LAST CHANCE. But that's not true; you can walk into any of these places and thank them anytime. It's just easier to do with our survey, which closes on Sunday.
Here is the link to the 2022 survey. It's open until midnight THIS SUNDAY, June 19. Please vote... pretty please? It's super-quick and fun to take, it will help you create your summer bucket list, and you can be entered for a $100 gift certificate to Amazon. Best of all, you'll be giving credit, exactly where it's due. Payback was never so easy.
—Debra Ross, Publisher
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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 Vote to Support Your Favorites!
It's time for our annual KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids!
Here's your way to thank the people who create opportunities for kids in our area. . . and PLAN YOUR SUMMER BUCKET LIST at the same time! You'll select your three top places to go, and then you can also select optional favorites in arts education, sports education, and STEM education. This year, we're also asking you to tell us about what school has been like for your family before and during the pandemic.
The survey will take about 3 minutes, and you'll have the opportunity to enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Vote for your favorites now!
Voting ends June 19, 2022.
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 Summer Camp at Guidepost Montessori Laurel Oak
Voorhees Township, NJ
You’ll love Guidepost Montessori’s Summer Camps for campers ages 6 to 12! Kids will have an amazing timing doing tons of hands-on crafts, creative experiments, and outdoor games while learning every day. Sign up for one week or all summer. With weekly themes, whether your camper wants to shoot off rockets, make a movie, learn sign language, or tie dye, there’s something for everyone!
Located at Guidepost Montessori Laurel Oak, camps runs Monday to Friday, with flexible pick up and drop off, so your camper's day can run from for as short as 8 am to 3 pm or as long as 7 am to 6 pm.
For more information and a list of themes, click here.
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Juneteenth with the Museum
Explore the continuing struggle for equality for all and join the Museum to mark the anniversary of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. The date commemorates the day in 1865 when the abolition of slavery reached the deepest parts of the former Confederacy in Texas.
Click here for more information.
Father's Day Weekend Fan Fest At Sesame Place 
Father's Day Weekend Fan Fest June 18 & 19. Celebrate Dad with a sports fan fest at Sesame Place! Father’s Day Fan Zone Festivities include special meet & greets, photo opportunities, games and more. Plus, Dads get a FREE gift at the Dine with Elmo & Friends character buffet! (Extra fee and reservations required).
Click here for more information.
16th Annual Juneteenth Festival 
Join us in Germantown for 16th Annual Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival Saturday, June 18, 2022, 12pm – 6pm. Celebrate and commemorate the 157th Anniversary of Juneteenth – the end of slavery in the United States and the first anniversary of Juneteenth as a National holiday. This year, Johnson House Historic Site will host its 16th annual celebration of Juneteenth which is now a federal holiday when on June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. In 2019, Governor Tom Wolf signed legislation making Juneteenth a state holiday.
Click here for more information.
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 Virtual Summer Camps from Guidepost Montessori: Half-day experiences throughout the summer in a fun variety of topics!
Guidepost Montessori is offering half-day virtual summer camp experiences for Elementary age students 6-12 all summer long, with different themes each week. With Guidepost Virtual Summer Camp, your child will have the chance to grow skills in science, art, and creative thinking, with daily live programming guided by our team. Families will need to source some general household products and supplies; we will share a materials list in advance.
Available in two time zones: 9 am - 12 pm EST / 9:30 am - 12:30 pm PST. COST: $150/week
Summer camps are open to current Guidepost students and non-students alike! Registration is now open: sign up here to secure your spot. If you have questions, email inquiries@guidepostmontessori.com or call (636) 445-5360. We’re ready to have some fun in summer 2022!
In-person camps are also available at Guidepost Montessori's campus at Laurel Oak in Voorhees Township, NJ!
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 Guide to Local Summer Camps
What are your kids doing this summer? We've got your week-by-week guide to day camps, overnight camps, and specialty subjects like music, theater, technology, science, history, sports, and fitness! There are in-person camps and virtual options, too. Our summer camps page lets you search by week, by subject, or by audience, and camps are adding new listings all the time. You're sure to find something amazing for your kids, whether they're trying something new, honing their skills, or just having fun outside!
Click here for our Guide to Summer Camps.
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 Hooray for Summer!
Long, hot days. Time outside. Exploring and playing. No school. You and your kids will love all that summer has to offer. And to make sure that you don't miss out on any fun, be sure to check out our Master Guide to Local Summer Fun.
Worried the kids will spend the day watching Netflix and playing video games? We have plenty of ideas for good, old-fashioned summer fun in our article 50 Ways to Love Your Summer.
Camp Mom
If you're interested in your kids having a summer camp experience without sending them to day or overnight camp, check out our timeless article It's Their Vacation and You're the Tour Guide: How to Organize Camp Mom. That piece provides almost endless ideas for things to do and how to structure your day. But remember: a little boredom is good for kids, too!
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Pick Your Own Fruit! 
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. We've got a list of local pick-your-own farms to help you find something sweet to pick.
Will this be your first time picking your own fruit with kids? Prepare yourself so that harvesting delicious fruit bounty is fun instead of stressful. Our strategic content editor Katie Beltramo has tips to keep in mind.
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Local Dy Trips and Staycations
Looking for a new place to explore that's still close to home? Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for local family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun! Find free activities and splurges that are worth it. We've collected the coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from here.
Click here for more information. |
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 How to Choose a Preschool That's Right for Your Family
Did you know that most preschools and nursery schools are registering students in January and February for the new academic year in the fall? Preschools vary widely in their educational philosophy and day-to-day routines, and the school that's a perfect fit for your neighbor or friend might not be just right for you. But how can you navigate through the preschool search process to find a place that will be best for you and your child? KidsOutAndAbout offers a list of specific factors to ponder and ask about as you attend open houses and school visits.
Click here for advice on How to Choose a Preschool That's Right for Your Family.
We have a list of local preschools to help you as you search for the perfect place for you and your child to start this new adventure.
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 This Year's KidsOutAndAbout Top 20 Winners
Once again, our readers have spoken! Thousands of parents voted in the KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids. Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks as well as winners in special categories like favorite sports education and favorite arts education! Check out your fellow readers' favorites, and enjoy exploring the best of the region!
Click here for the Top 20 list.
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Are you a member of an organization that offers events, camps, or classes?
Organizations that offer family and kid-friendly activities in the Philadelphia area can receive a FREE listing on KidsOutAndAbout.com, manage it easily, and post events to our extensive online calendars at no cost.
For more information about listing your organization, click here.
Boost your visibility to our readers with low-cost paragraphs in our newsletter or ads on our site see our local advertising page.
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Wishing you and yours good health.
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom to Madison and Ella
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