Today is Earth Day, and all week long the Madison area is holding lots of events to mark the occasion! It’s a wonderful time of year to celebrate spring, and seeing nature through a child’s eyes is a really neat thing.
In this “In A Nutshell” e-leaflet, I’ll be sharing some early morning musings (thanks for the 4 a.m. wake-up call, Z) about why it’s so important that as caregivers we each find (or create) a village. You’ll also find a huge lineup of upcoming community and Earth Week events, a new Snack & Chat afternoon speaker series through Playful Acorns, and a scholarship opportunity for our Earth Mama gathering on 4/26 (registration ends today, 4/22)!
Are you new to Playful Acorns? Welcome! You can read our story here and most recent posts here.
Dreams are...interesting. I normally don't remember them because my sleep has been so fractured with frequent wakings ever since I was pregnant, through Z's infancy, and now toddlerhood. Parenthood's a trip. :)
When I woke up around 4 a.m. hearing Z stir, I snuggled and kissed her head hoping she would drift back to sleep in my arms. While I held her, the dream I'd been having was still vivid in my mind:
A woman approached me at a store while picking out a rocking chair for the nursery. I thought about telling her to not worry about having the most stylish or expensive piece; save some money and just find something comfortable. Because when you're holding your babe alone in the middle of the night in a quiet room, it's nice to feel held, too.
4/26 Earth Mama Gathering is for YOU!
Playful Acorns emerged from a challenging time in my life with the intent of helping other caregivers feel less alone and more supported in their journey. To encourage connection with each other, nature, and the community. To foster learning through the power of play and spending time outside. And to hopefully normalize the range of postpartum experiences and share resources to help you in each season of life.
Over the last few years, the Universe has put some pretty incredible people in my path at just the right time, including fellow mamas Julia, Beth and Sophia. So if you're looking around and you're not finding your village yet, trust that it's out there. Maybe it's at your neighborhood park, like it was for me. Maybe it will be at one of our play groups or classes. Sometimes you just have to make the first move to create it (if you build it, they will come, right?).
This is what our first Earth Mama gathering at Winterfell Acres is all about. We hope you join us on April 26th (Arbor Day) for a morning of nourishing nature connection (and yummy food) with moms and their kids! In the future we hope to create an offering that is inclusive of all caregivers. For now, we're starting with who we know best: those who identify as moms. If cost is prohibitive, please know that we have a sliding scale and scholarships are available. Please reach out to me to learn more before our registration deadline on Monday, April 22 (Earth Day). Come as you are. Come with an open mind. You belong.
Thank you all for being part of this growing village. Stay tuned for more exciting news!
Learn what to expect at Earth Mama and register by Monday
New Snack & Chat Speaker Series!
We get it. Babysitters are hard to find. And whether you’re working inside or outside of the home, it’s hard to attend events that your kids can come along to. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our Pop-Up Snack & Chat Speaker Series! After several requests to hold late afternoon Playful Acorns events, we’re looking forward to bringing our play mats and toys for kids at 5-6 p.m. the first Thursday of May and June at Miggy’s Bakes in Middleton while caregivers learn about a topic and have a chance to ask questions and connect! Plus, you can all order some sweet treats while you’re there! Pheasant Branch Trail and parks are nearby if you'd like to visit them before or after our meet-up. Space is limited and the cost is $10/family per event.
- May 2nd: Leda of Bloom Parent will share parenting tips and a discussion!
- June 6th: Mary with Frost Organizing is back with even more organizing tips!
Upcoming Community Events
Playful Acorns programs are bolded. There are several other local organizations holding awesome family-friendly events that might be of interest to you, too! Many of these events focus on nature exploration, true play, and process art. Remember to check out more events listed at Macaroni KID, NatureNet, Friends of Urban Nature, local libraries, gyms, and more. Please confirm registration details, costs, and age ranges at the links below.
* Events with an asterisk are evening events and/or for adults only.
- Monday, April 22nd: Earth Mama Registration deadline
- Monday, April 22nd: Earth Day Mini Explorer Hike, Token Creek County Park, DeForest
- Monday, April 22nd: Earth Day Extravaganza, Lake Farm County Park solar shelter
- * Monday, April 22nd: Earth Day Every Day Music and Speakers, Garver Feed Mill
- Tuesday, April 23rd: Anji Play Date, Lussier Community Education Center, Madison
- Wednesday, April 24th: Baby Bugs, Aldo Leopold Nature Center
- Thursday, April 25th: True Play, Neighborhood House, Madison
- * Thursday, April 25th: Health & Wellness Workshop for Moms, Casa de CorazĂłn, Madison
- Friday, April 26th: Earth Mama Gathering, Brooklyn (advance registration required)
- * Friday, April 26th: Family Night Out, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- Saturday, April 27th: Spring Wildflower and Bird Hike, Aldo Leopold Nature Center
- Sunday, April 28th: Bird and Nature Festival, Warner Park, Madison
- Sunday, April 28th: Celebrating Nature-Based Play, Lussier Family Heritage Center
- Sunday, April 28th: Spring on the Farm, Schumacher Farm Park, Waunakee
- * Sunday, April 28th: Crafting in the Wild with Naturing in Madison, Hoyt Park, Madison
- Monday, April 29th: Busy Town: Learning/Mobility, Neighborhood House, Madison
- Wednesday, May 1st: Discovery Day: Birds of the Outdoor Gardens, Olbrich
- Wednesday, May 1st: Flicker Pop-Up: Beltane, Donald County Park, Mount Horeb
- Thursday, May 2nd: Snack & Chat with Bloom Parent, Miggy’s Bakes, Middleton
- Friday, May 3rd: Little Sprouts: Story & Stroll, Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- Saturday, May 4th: Great Wisconsin Birdathon, Patrick Marsh, Sun Prairie
- Sunday, May 5th: Fly a Kite and Spring Fairy Festival, Anderson Farm County Park, Oregon
- Sunday, May 5th: Family Nature Walk, UW Arboretum
- Sunday, May 5th: Yoga & Music Plus Farm Sensory Kit, Present Not Perfect, Lake Mills
- Mondays, May 6, 13, 20: Lil’ Explorer Adventure, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
