Summer is here! Let’s play!
Wow! This heat wave is something else! We’ve been spending lots of time running through sprinklers and finding the shade.
Our good friend Mo with Hike & Heal Wellness also shared a special spot to cool off near Heritage Heights Park on the city’s east side. You can join us next time for more water fun like this during the Parent-Child Nature Play series (or drop-ins) through July. Learn more below!
You’ll also have two FREE chances this month to read our "Butterfly Child” StoryWalk: Thursday, June 20th when we join Flicker Wild Church and Harmonious Journey for a Summer Solstice sacred circle and potluck, and Monday, June 24th when we hold our rescheduled Monarch and Milkweed event with Sprig Native Nursery (which opens its online store for plants tomorrow)!
And if you need some time to reconnect with your breath and play indoors, we are bringing back our Yoga and Music class with Kirsten from Lagom at Lioness Fitness on Sunday, June 30th. Hope you can join us for one or more events this month!
Are you new to Playful Acorns? Welcome! You can read our story here and most recent posts here.
Summer Solstice in Mount Horeb
June 20 (5 p.m. Thursday):
Join Flicker Wild Church, Harmonious Journey, Playful Acorns and more for a free summer solstice gathering at Donald County Park in Mount Horeb! Come to Pop’s Knoll at 5 p.m. for a sacred circle, wild wander, and more followed by a potluck (bring a dish to pass) that is a celebration of summer and the earth in full bloom! Learn more!
Watch a video from Spring Equinox Flicker!
Save the date for the 6/20 gathering and potluck in Mount Horeb!
This event was rescheduled from our original Nature Everywhere Day plans. A huge thank you to Tracy with the Village of Cottage Grove Library Programming for inviting Playful Acorns and Susan with Sprig to join this special butterfly storytime event!
Butterfly Stories in Cottage Grove
June 24 (9-10 a.m. Monday):
Meet a Monarch caterpillar, make seed balls and listen to a special reading of "Mighty Wings" by Debbie Clement. Take home a milkweed plant and seed pack from Sprig Native Plant Nursery while supplies last. Then, take a nature wander through the woods at Governor Taylor Nature Park and read the StoryWalk, "Butterfly Child" by Marc Majewski. (Free, no RSVP)
Learn more about the free 6/24 event; no RSVP required.
Nature Play Series in Madison
Now through July 25 (9:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and/or Thursdays):
Join me and Mo of Hike & Heal Wellness this summer for a Parent-Child Nature Play Series in Madison (no classes July 2 and 4)! It’s going to be sweet, full of fun, and offer a dose of self-care for primary caregivers. (Prices vary per series or drop-in class; advance registration required).
Watch a video from our first gathering!
Learn more and register for the summer nature play series
Family Yoga & Music in Fitchburg
June 30 (10-11 a.m. Sunday): Join us for a playful journey of yoga, music, and laughter with Ms. Kirsten of Lagom: Music and Yoga Education at Lioness Fitness in Fitchburg. No experience necessary! ($16 for adult/child duo or $25 for adult with more than one child/adult - Register)
Learn more and register for 6/30 yoga & music in Fitchburg!
Indoor Play Space Update
We’re making progress searching for an indoor meeting space close to parks and trails, and as email subscribers you’ll be the first to know about these exciting plans. If you haven’t done so already, please reply to this email (sam@playfulacorns.com) to be added to an email thread with more details about this and a potential membership model! Even better — if you have any ideas about a potential space, let me know. I’ll also be sending out a fall program survey in our next email. Stay tuned!
Email me to be added to the update list
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, Madison Parks, local libraries, gyms, and more. Please confirm registration details, costs, and age ranges at the links below.
* Events with one asterisk are evening events
** Events with two asterisks are for adults only
- Wednesday, June 19th: Mindful Mama Mornings, Verona
- Wednesday, June 19th: Musical Playtime, The Wonder Studio, Verona
- *Thursday, June 20th: Summer Solstice Gathering Potluck, Donald Park, Mount Horeb
- Friday, June 21st: Little Sprouts: Outdoor Story & Stroll, Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- Friday, June 21st: Make Music Madison, Various
- Sunday, June 23rd: Family Adventure Club, TBD
- *Sunday, June 23rd: Movie at The Glen Golf Park, Madison
- Monday, June 24th: Monarchs and Milkweed Storytime, Cottage Grove
- Monday, June 24th: Lil’ Explorer Adventure, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- *Monday, June 24th: Parks Alive, Allied Park, Madison
- Tuesday, June 25th: Nature Play Series, West Side Madison
- Tuesday, June 25th: Lil’ Explorer Storytime, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- Tuesday, June 25th: OutGrown: Explore Raymer’s Cove, Madison
- *Tuesday, June 25th: Parks Alive, Aldo Leopold Park, Madison
- Wednesday, June 26th: Mindful Mama Mornings, Verona
- *Wednesday, June 26th: Parks Alive, Meadowood Park, Madison
- Thursday, June 27th: Nature Play Series, East Side Madison
- Friday, June 28th: Madison Area Nature Playgroup, Pheasant Branch, Middleton
- Friday, June 28th: Together in the Park Pop-Up, McGaw Park, Fitchburg
- Sunday, June 30th: “Moves & Tunes” Family Yoga and Music, Fitchburg
- Monday, July 1st: Lil’ Explorer Adventure, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- *Monday, July 1st: Parks Alive, Elver Park, Madison
