Outdoor classes are coming to NYC, Mayor Bill De Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza announced at a press briefing Monday, August 24, as they invited principals to develop plans to utilize outdoor spaces on school property and those nearby as outdoor classrooms and offered to help facilitate street closures or the use of nearby parks to make outdoor space available to school communities who wanted to utilize it.

The policy announcement is the latest development in a busy week of school reopening news.

New York City's public schools are scheduled to open in less than three weeks, but each day seems to bring more questions than answers about the reopening plans as key stakeholders question the reopening timeline.

From Learning Bridges to a Back-to-School Pledges, and more pushback from educators and public officials, here's the latest news from the nation's largest school district.

Orlando and Central Florida have an abundance of waterways for kids to explore, and boating on these waterways is a great way to enjoy the natural beauty of the outdoors. There are many lakes in the Orlando area connected by canals that form lake chains, making for a beautiful day on the water and a great chance to view native Florida wildlife. Whether you want to take the kids fishing, water skiing, or anchor the boat and swim, we've got you covered with some of the best boating areas around Orlando. 

Encompassing more than 300,000 acres from Boston to the Berkshires, Massachusetts State Parks system is a true treasure for families. Whether you want to camp under the stars, conquer a mountain, splash in a crystal-clear lake, or stretch out on the sand, there's a protected patch of nature just waiting for you and your kids to explore. We particularly love these 10 Massachusetts State Parks and Forests for their accessible hiking trails, family-minded policies, and friendly local vibes.

To soak up more natural beauty in the Bay State, see our favorite Boston-area hiking trails, fishing holes, and swimming lakes and ponds.

The Halloween talk has already begun. Will there be trick-or-treating? If so, will everyone wear Darth Vader masks? Should we buy candy, or will we just end up eating it ourselves? The trick-or-treat debate will doubtless go on right up until Halloween night, but we already have some answers to the haunted house questions that affect bigger kids: Universal's Halloween Horror Nights and Knott's Scary Farm have both canceled their epic annual haunts for the 2020 Halloween season. But out of the ashes of those haunts has risen another—a haunt likely to be THE Halloween ticket to buy this season: the Stranger Things Drive-Into Experience.

Planning an outdoor birthday party? Here are 10 outdoor party games for kids of all ages. Check out our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties and Birthday Party Ideas to make your kiddo's birthday party even more special, from 100 popular kids' birthday party themes to great birthday cake ideas. 

Where do babies come from? According to an one baby doll factory, there are no storks involved—only cabbages. If you've ever wondered how the iconic Cabbage Patch Doll is actually born, a visit to North Georgia's Babyland General Hospital may render you and your family speechless (and provide a fun and unexpected daytrip from Atlanta).

Five months into the coronavirus shutdown, area families are getting antsy and in need of entertainment. Though New York's numbers are looking good, the need for social distancing remains. Luckily, we're surrounded by creative operators offering private family experiences and tours that make social distancing while enjoying an out of this world excursion possible. Best of all, some of these splurge-worthy private family experiences even come to you.

Once you've had your fair share of fun at our beautiful area swimming lakes, taken a day trip or two, or even booked one of these local family-friendly camping sites, consider spicing up these last weeks of summer with a pick from our list of private family experiences.

Whether you're action-oriented and want to ride in a helicopter or are happy to have a family rendezvous with ponies, we've rounded up a variety of options. What's more, this destination-worthy list includes providers based in New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, and the Hudson Valley. Read on for a dozen options and get ready to book an unforgettable experience for your nearest and dearest.