Save the Date
Fri, Jun 7: Utah Scottish Festival and Highland Games at Utah State Fairpark
Sat, Jun 8: THE COLOR RUN 5K at Provo Towne Centre
Mon, Jun 10: Monday Family Nights at Red Butte: Divya School of Dance
Mon, Jun 10: Orem Summerfest 2019
Thu, Jun 13: Westfest 2019 at Centennial Park - West Valley City, UT
Fri, Jun 14: 2019 Park City Kids Adventure Games at Canyons Village at Park City - Utah
Thu, Jun 20: The 2019 Utah Arts Festival at Library Square - Salt Lake City, Utah
Thu, Jun 20: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert at Abravanel Hall
Sat, Jun 22: Superhero 5k and Fun Run
*Some events may have additional dates. Click through to see more information.
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
"The best thing about your newsletter," said a reader who met me in person at an event last June, "is the sheer number of things to do in my community, stuff that I didn't already know about, and the fact that they're just packed in there, all in one handy place."
"Thanks!" I said. I may have glowed a little.
"And the worst thing about your newsletter," she continued, "is the guilt trip."
"Er..."
"Oh, I know you don't mean to lay a guilt trip on us," she said. "But every single one of your readers wants to be the best parent possible, and that means taking advantage of all of these wonderful opportunities. But it means we read about so much we can't do. Especially in summer."
She's right, in one sense, of course. June and July are the two most heavily-packed months of the calendar: The kids are out of school, families are ready for fun, and the communities respond. Each organization gets to post its own events on our calendar (it's free to do so), we choose a bunch of those to feature in the newsletter, and so what's happening is right there in front of you. So I get her point: It can feel like pressure to do it all.
I'm here today to take that pressure, and the guilt, off. Ego te absolvo. Sure, good parents try to expose their kids to all kinds of things their communities offer. But no one has the time, money, or energy to do it all. This stuff needs to be spread out over a childhood, folks, not packed into a single summer, much less a single weekend. So sure, make a family bucket list for summer. (A great way to do that is to take our annual survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Kids, which is open through June 16.) Make sure to use the links to everything that's free on our site to go easy on your wallets. Use our 50 Ways to Love Your Summer for ideas that require zero technology, zero travel, and zero dollars.
But don't worry about grading yourselves. The only prize is the summer that's right for your family.
—Debra Ross, publisher
KidsOutAndAbout's 2019 survey of the Top 20 places to take kids in our area is hopping!
Support your favorite local places in our annual survey of the Top 20 places to take kids. We do this each year from mid-May to mid-June as a way BOTH of kicking off the summer AND to celebrate the best our region has to offer. It takes just 3 minutes to vote, and by doing so you'll be able to see dozens and dozens of great places to take kids nearby, all in one place. It's the perfect way to create your summer bucket list!
The Top 5 slots are currently occupied by:
Fairmont Aquatic Center is currently leading the physical/sports education category, and Color Me Mine is in front in arts education. There are other categories, and rankings change by the hour. Anything can happen between now and June 16!
Light up the night at Draper City’s annual Glow Run 5K. Designed for people of all ages and athletic abilities with runners, walkers, strollers, and pets on leash welcome. Glow sticks, bracelets, and necklaces are provided for all registered participants. There will be directional help along the route, with glowing markers and volunteers helping light the way. Our start and finish area is positively glowing – a perfect photo opportunity for you and your team!
Click here for more information.
World Connections Children’s Festival Community Free Day!
Join us in celebrating Utah’s diverse culture at the World Connections Children’s Festival! We’ll have special performances and activities from 11am-5pm spotlighting several cultural groups from around the world, including Brazil, the Middle East, Mexico, South America, Japan, and Polynesia!
Click here for more information.
Outdoor Adventures - Utah's Hogle Zoo
Want to get out into nature, but you’re not sure where to go or how to do it? Join Utah’s Hogle Zoo for a monthly outing to learn more about the world around us, get outside, and have some fun! We’ll bring the tools and information you need; you bring enough water to drink and the right clothes to enjoy a morning outdoors.
Click here for more information.
Fairy/Mini Gardens Class: Kid Friendly - McCoard's Gardens - Provo, Utah
Mini or Fairy Gardening allows consummate gardeners to downsize and create a fabulous garden in miniature. Mini gardens can be designed for both interior and exterior enjoyment. This will teach you techniques in mini-landscape design as well as what plants work best in the realm of small.
Click here for more information.
Simple Gardening with Children
Gardening is a wonderful activity with little kids. It is a fun, messy process with wonderful rewards at harvest time. Along the way it offers all sorts of lessons, whether it's labeling your plants, plotting out the garden, or just learning to be patient and wait for seeds to become plants.
Our strategic content editor Katie Beltramo shares inspiration and tips on how to get started for the brand-new gardener in her article Simple Gardening with Children.
Looking for a new place to explore that's still close to home? Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for 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.
A Week-by-Week Guide to Summer Camps Near You
Looking for a summer camp for your child? Look no further! Dozens of summer camps post: day camps, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, preschool, & more!
Summer 2019 camps are organized by week, by age, or by topic so you can find the perfect camps for your family!
Click here for more information.
