Hello! I hope your summer is off to a refreshing start! We’re looking forward to bringing our Playful Acorns pals together this month for more music classes, storytimes, and nature connection. Join us!
We just added a new event to the calendar for THIS week on Wednesday, July 3rd in partnership with Angie at The Wonder Studio in Verona: musical playtime!
Our Caregiver-Child Nature Play series (drop-ins available) with Mo of Hike & Heal Wellness on the east side of Madison returns next week on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays in July. You can join us next time for more water fun like this!
You’ll also have another chance to read our "Butterfly Child” StoryWalk: Friday, July 26th when we return to Orchard Ridge UCC in West Madison for an outdoor music class with our friend Julie Mazer!
Next month we celebrate 1 year of Playful Acorns programs (thank YOU!) and we want to get a sense of how best to serve you moving forward. Take this survey by Wednesday, July 31st for a chance to win a signed copy of my new children’s book!
Plus, the Environmental Fun Fair organized by Dane County Parks is back on Sunday, July 14th — check it out! This FREE fun afternoon will be full of hands-on, sensory activities centered around nature, outdoor recreation, and science.
Are you new to Playful Acorns? Welcome! You can read our story here and most recent posts here.
Musical Playtime in Verona
July 3 (9:30-11 a.m. Wednesday):
Enjoy relaxed musical play with both structured activities and lots of unstructured play time for caregivers and their kids ages 0-5. Angie from The Wonder Studio in Verona will lead the class, and I’ll bring some books and toys for storytime. ($25/family, advance registration required)
Learn more and register for the 7/3 musical playtime
Nature Play Series in East Madison
July 9, 11, 16, 18, 25 (9:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and/or Thursdays):
Join me and Mo of Hike & Heal Wellness this summer for a Caregiver-Child Nature Play Series on the east side of Madison! It’s sweet, full of fun, and offers 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 drop-ins or the remaining July dates
Music and Stories in West Madison
July 26 (9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday):
Caregivers and kids ages 0-5+ are invited to join Julie Mazer for a half hour music class followed by an outdoor StoryWalk. Bring a blanket or chair to sit under the tree by Orchard Ridge UCC. ($16 for adult/child duo or $25 for adult with more than one child/adult - Register)
Learn more and register for the 7/26 outdoor music class
Take the survey — you could win a book!
As we near the one-year mark of Playful Acorns in August (WOW!), we would like to follow up with all of you on what you’ve been enjoying most about our meet-ups, what could improve, and where, when, how, and why you’d like to meet moving into the next season. Some of you may know that I recently published a children’s picture book, “Waverly Braves the Breeze: The Story of a Galapagos Albatross” (all about bravery, friendship, and unique animals), and one survey respondent will be selected at random to receive a copy that I will personalize and sign just for them/their kiddo(s). Take the survey by Wednesday, July 31st to enter the book giveaway!
Take the survey by 7/31 for a chance to win a signed book!
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 (where Parks Alive events are also listed), Friends of Urban Nature, Madison Parks, MSCR On the Move, 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
- *Monday, July 1st: Parks Alive, Elver Park, Madison
- Wednesday, July 3rd: Musical Playtime, The Wonder Studio, Verona
- *Saturday, July 6th: 9th Annual Firefly Hike, Indian Lake County Park, Cross Plains
- Sunday, July 7th: Family Nature Walk, UW Arboretum, Madison
- Monday, July 8th: Lil’ Explorer Adventure, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- Tuesday, July 9th: Nature Play Series, East Side Madison
- Tuesday, July 9th: Lil’ Explorer Bilingual Storytime, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- Wednesday, July 10th: Mindful Mama Mornings, Verona
- Thursday, July 11th: Nature Play Series, East Side Madison
- Friday, July 12th: Madison Area Nature Playgroup, Burke Park, Madison
- Friday, July 12th: Little Sprouts Gardening: Bees, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison
- Sunday, July 14th: FREE Environmental Fun Fair, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- Monday, July 15th: Lil’ Explorer Adventure, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- Tuesday, July 16th: Nature Play Series, East Side Madison
- Tuesday, July 16th: Lil’ Explorer Storytime, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- Tuesday, July 16th: Little Sprouts Gardening: Bees, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison
- Wednesday, July 17th: Mindful Mama Mornings, Verona
- Wednesday, July 17th: Blooming Butterflies opens (through Aug. 11), Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison
- Thursday, July 18th: Nature Play Series, East Side Madison
- Friday, July 19th: Little Sprouts Gardening: Bees, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison
- Saturday, July 20th: Ice Age Trail Tyke Hike, Lodi Valley Chapter
- Sunday, July 21st: Family Nature Program: Butterflies, UW Arboretum, Madison
- Monday, July 22nd: Lil’ Explorer Adventure, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- Tuesday, July 23rd: Nature Play Series, East Side Madison
- Tuesday, July 23rd: Lil’ Explorer Bilingual Storytime, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- Tuesday, July 23rd: Little Sprouts Gardening, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison
- Wednesday, July 24th: Mindful Mama Mornings, Verona
- Thursday, July 25th: Nature Play Series, East Side Madison
- Friday, July 26th: Outdoor Music and StoryWalk, Orchard Ridge UCC, West Madison
- Friday, July 26th: Little Sprouts Gardening: Butterflies, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison
- Friday, July 26th: Our Backyard Playgroup, Resurrection Lutheran Church, Madison
- Saturday, July 27th: Bug Nature Walk, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona
- Monday, July 29th: Lil’ Explorer Adventure, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- Tuesday, July 30th: Pop-Up Summer Together in the Park, Hoyt Park, Madison
- Tuesday, July 30th: Lil’ Explorer Storytime, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- Tuesday, July 30th: Little Sprouts Gardening: Butterflies, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison
- Wednesday, July 31st: Mindful Mama Mornings, Verona
- Wednesday, July 31st: Playful Acorns Survey Due
