Save the Date
Wed, Feb 27: Summer Camp Registration Opens at Red Butte Garden
Wed, Feb 27: 8th Annual Intermountain Icebreaker at Golden Spike Event Center - Ogden, UT
Thu, Mar 7: Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream at Vivint Smart Home Arena
Thu, Mar 14: Peter & the Wolf - Ogden Symphony Ballet Association at Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts
Fri, Mar 15: Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID at SCERA Center for the Arts
Sat, Mar 16: World Cutter & Chariot Racing Championship at Golden Spike Event Center - Ogden, UT
Sat, Mar 23: Pink Park City at Canyons Village at Park City - Utah
Sat, Mar 23: SPRING GRÜV at Park City Mountain Resort, Utah
*Some events may have additional dates. Click through to see more information.
Dear KidsOutAndAbout.com readers:
My January 17 column, "Life as Lab," talked about my friends "Jim" and "Bob" from high school chemistry: Jim was the guy who made stuff happen, and Bob was the guy who watched stuff happen.
I actually wrote that column in anticipation of a business trip I was making to California a few weeks later (we're opening seven California KOAA sites this spring!). Jim lives in Los Angeles, and I was planning to see him for the first time in 19 years. I had it in mind that I might show him that column, but I wanted to see, first, whether he was still the sort of guy who would appreciate that I had written about him. Because, you know, time can change a person.
My daughter and I met up with Jim in Hollywood for dinner. Practically the first thing I said after "Hi!" was: "I'm pushing your 'ON' button now, Jim. Start talking and don't stop until we leave." Fortunately, he had never stopped being a guy who absorbs information like a sponge, and he was happy to have an appreciative audience. He obliged me with a history of most of the buildings we passed, showed us where various stars were on the Walk of Fame, and recounted how the retail, bar, and arts scene had changed since he had first moved to the area.
But when we sat down to dinner, the conversation changed. Jim stopped the one-way information flow, and skillfully worked the conversation back to me and Ella. He wanted to hear all about what mattered to us. It went beyond the surface chitchat you typically have with an old acquaintance, and renewed the connection on a much deeper level than is possible in high school. Ella remarked later that Jim is a guy who makes others feel heard, even teenagers.
I emailed Jim the following week about how much Ella and I appreciated what a good listener he had become. He seemed pleased that I'd noticed, and it turned out to have been a skill he had recently been working to cultivate. "I have always been interested in everything," he said, "and I am now pushing myself to be interested in everybody."
Jim reminded me it's never too late to be better than you were yesterday. Because, you know, time can change a person. Especially people who make stuff happen.
Open House and Open Enrollment at Challenger School
Since 1963, Challenger School has helped children excel by employing proven, effective methods in a fun and structured environment that inspires them to achieve. The Challenger difference is evident from the moment you set foot on campus. Students bubble with enthusiasm as they make connections between their prior knowledge and new concepts. In order to facilitate setting crucial learning patterns, Challenger accepts students as young as 2 years, 9 months. Yet in all grades, the schools acclaimed, intellectually stimulating programs establish a foundation of achievement with clear results. On 2018 national standardized tests, Challenger K-8 students averaged well above the 90th percentile.
Come take a Tour at one of the six locations in Utah!
Red Butte Garden Volunteer Fair Open House
Saturday, March 9 from 11 am - 1 pm Join us at the Volunteer Fair Open House any time between 11 am – 1 pm to meet our Volunteer Crew Leads and learn more. We are looking for Summer Camp, Youth Programs, Garden Guides, and Horticulture volunteers. No experience necessary. Do your teenagers ages 14 and up need something fun and meaningful to do this summer? We have opportunities for them too!
Go to https://www.redbuttegarden.org/volunteer-fair/ to find out more!
Visit Loveland Living Planet Aquarium March 1 – 31 for Birthday Month!
They’re celebrating the North American River Otters' ninth birthday and the female Clouded Leopard, Rhu's, fifth birthday. Plus participate in a scavenger hunt for a chance to win amazing prizes like a birthday party at the Aquarium!
Visit thelivingplanet.com/ events for more info.
Join Discovery Gateway for a full day of engineering activities designed to inspire the next generation of inventors and problem solvers! It’s National Engineering Week! Join Discovery Gateway for a full day of engineering activities designed to inspire the next generation of inventors and problem solvers!
Click here for more information.
Free Kids Nature in the City: Book & Boots - Tracy Aviary
Bring your little ones and explore the outdoors together! We will enjoy a nature-focused story, active games, fun crafts, and time for free play in nature (While all are welcome, this program is designed more specifically for ages 2-6).
Click here for more information.
Do The Kids Have Energy To Burn?
Some days you'd just rather be inside, and that's okay! But if you don't want your little monkeys jumping on the bed (or your sofa, or the ottoman), you might want to head to a local indoor play center. Indoor play centers offer a chance to meet up with friends without anyone having to worry about tidying up or the opportunity to make some new friends while exploring a whole new playscape.
Looking for someplace to play? Check out KidsOutAndAbout's list of local indoor play centers.
10 Terrific Tips for When Your Child Is Studying Abroad
Do you have a student looking forward to overseas study? Congratulations! You’ve raised a child who is a global citizen with a sense of adventure and curiosity. But before he or she leaves, read through these ten tips our Beyond the Nest editor, Carol White Llewellyn offers. She just sent two daughters abroad, so she understands what it's like to walk a fine line between encouraging your child's independence and making sure you're there to encourage and support them.
It's the perfect time to plan your child's birthday party!
KidsOutAndAbout is a great resource for finding creative places to host a local birthday party as well as entertainers and services to make your next special occasion even more special.
Looking for some inspiration? Browse through our birthday parties list to find fun ideas, including classic locations that you may have forgotten about, brand-new businesses that are worth exploring, or locals whose passion is to make your party the best. See what's out there whether the birthday's coming up soon of you've got some time. Just think about how efficient you'll feel to have the initial planning done!
Whether you're looking for outdoor activities or you need some suggestions on how to entertain yourself while you're cooped up inside, we've got you covered. Skiing, skating, fun with ice and snow, suggestions for kids with special needs: Find it all in our Master Guide to Winter.
