The first day of school has been creeping farther and farther back in recent years, cutting deeper and deeper into summer. For many schools, August is part of the school year now, while other districts still cling to the time-honored "never before Labor Day" approach. All of this can make summer camp complicated to maneuver for some families, while others are knee-deep in homework.

From Baldwin Park's August 11 start date to Torrance’s September 4, don't just assume you know when school starts based on last year! Check our list of start and finish dates for the 2014-2015 school year (and all days off in between) in and around LA County...

Summer is in full swing, and my kids and I love to spend as much time outdoors as possible. But when we get hit with a rainy day (or the heat and humidity is simply unbearable), I need to find an indoor option so they can work up all of that energy that comes with being 5 and 3 years old. Of course, I always check out our Long Island Events Calendar for ideas, but I also love hearing about new places from other moms. And that's exactly how I discovered Sandbox Playspace.

Even though it is a small town, North Salem has become something of a foodie destination in Westchester County. Surrounded by open fields and small farms, many local businesses focus on making the most of the fresh foods available in the spring, summer and fall months. Seasonal dishes and daily specials are common at many of the restaurants and farms in North Salem, Purdy and Croton Falls and it only takes a few bites to understand why.

We continue our month-long coverage of North Salem with a look at the best places to dine or take out with kids in tow. Our picks offer delicious food to satisfy the pickiest palettes and more adventurous diners, and indulgent desserts to top off any meal. 

Kids love just being outside, and they love exploring in nature. We are so lucky that greater Los Angeles has so many different types of natural environments and plant communities—coastal, mountain forest, chaparral, and wetland—with so many opportunities for our kids to explore and learn. If your kids are super active and just want to get out and hike, our Hiking Guide offers specific hike info, as well as lists of great places to hike with toddlers, strollers, and more. But do your kids love learning about nature in an organized way? Know what's close by, inexpensive, safe, and geared toward kids' programming? Nature centers! There are nature centers throughout LA and OC. These are small museums with a variety of displays that focus on the local area and typically have nature trails as well as regular scheduled kids' activities. Any of these locations gives kids the chance to learn something new and have fun in a place that's neither overwhelming nor huge. 

Every year around this time, I start to feel like my daughter and I are the last New Yorkers left in the city. All of our friends are away at sleepaway camp or off on exotic vacations, like Mommy Poppins founder, Anna, who stayed at the fabulous Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort in Costa Rica this week. Not that I'm complaining. While I can't say we have NYC to ourselves (I think I've given directions to tourists every single day this week), we are still enjoying all summer in the city has to offer, including museum exhibits (the pic above is from the Jeff Koons retrospective at the Whitney), public pools, beaches and playgrounds. And since my daughter just got a pair of hand-me-down roller skates, the two new rinks in Brooklyn are on our must-do list.

Of course you don't have to get on a plane to have an out-of-town adventure. Our Long Island site highlighted six farms where kids can feed and pet the animals, and eight family-friendly hiking trails. Meanwhile, New Jersey rounded up seven pick-your-own farms with summer berries, and spotlighted the small but activity--filled ocean-side town of Avalon. And Connecticut made a list of the top 25 things to do with kids in New Haven.

Regardless of where you're spending the season, remember to post your playful pics on social media for a chance to win great prizes in our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE. It ends in a few weeks so start snapping today—you know you want to show off that gorgeous family of yours.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

This weekend is all about cultural events in Westchester. Families can take in the two-day Peekskill Music Festival, which includes way more than just music, as well as a Jazz Festival that includes performances by up-and-coming young artists (including a 12-year-old piano virtuoso!).

Other cultural events this weekend include Midsummer Day, an afternoon-long immersion into all things Icelandic in honor of an ongoing exhibition of Icelandic art as well as a FREE performance by the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company.

Three recurring events this weekend are worth noting because each weekend features a different focus. For Arts in the Amphitheater: Movie Nightsthis week’s showing will be of Dirty Dancing--and includes a special added feature! Puppet Shows in the Amphitheater returns with a new performance, and the Art & Science Workshops has kids working with water. Best of all, all of these are FREE!

Read on to learn more about the above, and click through the links for full details. Let Mommy Poppins help you keep your kids busy this summer--not only this weekend, but every day! Our event calendar is loaded with diverse ways to keep kids busy, and many of them are FREE. Also be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep current with our latest posts, news and events.