Kachow!  The Woodlands Children’s Museum is revving up for summer with a visit from some favorite movie characters!

On Saturday, May 29, museum guests will have an opportunity to get up close for a photo meet and greet with the famous hot-shot race-car who loves going faster than fast, named Lightning McQueen.  Also on site will be the very optimistic, but sometimes forgetful, Tow Mater, and rival and antagonist, Jackson Storm, the poster “car” of a new generation of high-tech cars with little regard for the older race car generations.  There will also be a special appearance by one of the Tipping Tractors, a game that Mater and Lightning McQueen like to play in the pasture. The replica vehicles, from the Cars movie series, will be on site for families to enjoy from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

“Part of our mission is to excite children through play.  Any time a child is pretending to be someone or something else, or playing with an object and pretending it's something else, they're engaging in imaginative play,” stated Angela Colton, the museum’s Executive Director.  “Whatever they choose to play and pretend, they're learning and developing important lifelong skills.  Our character meet and greets help with this process.”

Guests are strongly encouraged to pre-purchase tickets for this popular event at www.woodlandschildrensmuseum.org.  A limited number of tickets will be sold and each ticket will be for a timed session in an effort to provide families with a safe and enjoyable experience.  Tickets are $5 for museum members and $10 for non-members.  Ticket prices include admission to the museum and a visit with the Cars characters.

The Woodlands Children’s Museum is located in the Panther Creek Village Center at 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77381.  Tickets and additional information can be found at www.woodlandschildrensmuseum.org.  Follow the museum on Facebook @TheWoodlandsChildrensMuseum and on Instagram and Twitter @TheWoodlandsCM. 

Come try out nonprofit Stronger to Serve's new program made just for you!  Your first session is FREE!

Tired of fighting to keep your preschooler happy in the jogging stroller while you try to get in a run?  Wish you had more time during the day to connect with other moms of preschoolers?

Then the STS Running Club for Moms and Minis is for you!

Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30-10:30am at Burroughs Park, they'll have coached group runs & core workouts just for moms (led by a certified running coach) and fun fitness for your kids (led by a kid’s fitness expert)!  And because Stronger to Serve is all about combining fitness & service, each session will conclude with kindness-focused storytime for all.

Want to have even more fun after the session?  The Wheel Kitchen, right next to the park, is offering participants a special deal on coffee and muffins and has a great outdoor seating area where you can relax and socialize while the kids run around.

Come out during the month of May for special prizes, starting with the kickoff celebration on May 11th.  All fitness levels are welcomed!

Learn more at https://www.strongertoserve.org/momsandminis or email or call Teri (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 936-37-3649) with any questions.

About Stronger to Serve:
Stronger to Serve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to filling our communities with healthy, strong, compassionate leaders.  They work toward this vision by engaging kids and adults in fun fitness and meaningful service.  To learn more, visit www.strongertoserve.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@stronger2serve). Questions?:  Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Teri at 936-337-3649.

Registration is now open for a FREE Swim Lesson Event! Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands in collaboration with The Woodlands Family YMCA, The Woodlands Township Neighborhood Watch, and Montgomery County Hospital District created the S.P.L.A.S.H. program (Swim, Ply, Learn, and Stay Healthy) to educate parents and children on water safety as a way to prevent childhood drownings. On Saturday, May 22, children ages 3-12 years old can receive a free 30-minute swim lesson by YMCA Swim Instructors at the Branch Crossing YMCA Pool. Community Splash Partners will be on hand with giveways and activities promoting safety around the pool, CPR for kids, Life Jacket Wearing & Sizing, Water Watcher Tag, refreshments, and more. Registation opens at 12:00 noon on May 6.  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER your child for a free lesson!

According to the National Safety Council, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 4 years old. Teaching children how to swim and be safe around water is one of the most important life skills parents can help their children learn. Most drownings occur due to children falling in a pool or being left alone in a bathtub.

According to the Department of Family and Protective Services, 80 children died as a result of drowning in 2020; 25 of these were from our region. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. For every child who dies from a drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. Texas and Florida tie with the highest number of childhood drownings in the country for children under the age of 15.

Drownings are preventable and affect all people regardless of background. Based on findings by the CDC, formal swim lessons can reduce drownings by 88%.

Don’t let the name fool you. Margaritaville is for all ages – from tots to teens and definitely us grown folk!

My family visited Margaritaville Lake Resort on Lake Conroe last month, and my girls are already asking to return to our lovely paradise escape. At only a 45-minute drive from The Woodlands (or 30 minutes if you’re coming up the back way / FM 2978), the resort is a destination my family plans to enjoy several times a year, especially during the summer months.

We had a choice to stay in either a tower suite (one of the rooms in the main hotel building) or one of the cute lakefront cottages. We chose the colorful cottages – because – well, we really couldn’t resist being just a few steps from the lake plus having a “room” that would accommodate all 6 of us, including an upstairs loft that the older girls were happy to hide out in in the evenings. Here’s a look at our well-appointed room that included a patio, coffee bar, a full side fridge, and even a basketful of treats and bottle of champagne upon our arrival. Thank you, Margaritaville!

Have you seen "Cowboy Jack"? Longtime local residents John & Andrea Havard wanted to create a fun and educational show for kids that would showcase area attractions and businesses by means of a “weekly virtual field trip” via YouTube. With John dressed head to toe like a cowboy and Andrea working hard behind the camera, the duo creates a new episode once a week.

"Cowboy Jack" focuses on speaking peer-to-peer with children to develop their vocabularies while going on adventures to cover everything our community has to offer. Agility dogs diving into pools, indoor play places, The Woodlands Children’s Museum, a science lab specifically for kids, equestrian center, train museum...if your child likes it, Cowboy Jack has you covered!

The entire goal is to entertain children and encourage learning through play and exploration. Check out "Cowboy Jack" - Educational and Fun Videos for Kids on YouTube and subscribe to catch the latest episodes!