About Me

After earning a BA in English with a minor in art at a liberal arts college near the Fox River, Samantha launched her career as an award-winning journalist and then as a magazine editor for a national environmental nonprofit.

Since then she has also held roles as a lifestyle photographer, real estate marketer, publication designer and editor, nonprofit communications coordinator, freelance writer and copy editor, event planner, web designer, volunteer grant writer, author, and business owner. She is now the author of two children's books, a freelancer of creative work, and the founder of the organizations Playful Acorns and Studi-yo in Madison, WI.

Sam loves to create connections through words, images, and designs. She enjoys reading, writing, photography, birding, hiking, biking, yoga, tennis, kayaking, doodling, and watercolor painting. She lives in Madison, WI (a place the Ho-Chunk Nation has called Teejop since time immemorial) with her family, two cats, and many backyard birds.

In addition to authoring two published children's picture books under her pen name (Samantha Cora), Sam is also editing several other picture book drafts, dreaming up her first middle grade novel-in-verse, and seeking literary agent representation.

She has also published dozens of articles, photographs, videos, and designs in her former roles as an award-winning journalist in Wisconsin (using her maiden name Samantha Christian) and as a publications editor for environmental nonprofits and marketing & community outreach specialist for a real estate company (using her married name Samantha Haas).

• Newspaper articles and photos: Watertown Daily Times (2011-2014) and Unified Newspaper Group/Wisconsin-O'Rourke Media Group publications Fitchburg Star, Verona Press, Oregon Observer, Stoughton Courier Hub (2014-2017, 2019, 2024-2025).
• Environmental nonprofit articles: Partnership for the National Trails System Pathways Across America (2017-2020) and Foundation for Dane County Parks supporter spotlights and Ho-Chunk Nation project blog (2020).
• Community outreach articles and videos: Mad City Dream Homes nonprofit spotlights and videos, particularly those focused on social and racial justice, affordable housing, and the environment (2017-2023).

• Aaron Seligman, Macaroni Kid Madison: "Playful Acorns is a great resource for families. Sam is incredibly thoughtful and creative in designing activities and promoting nature play while providing opportunities for parents to connect with each other."
• Pop-Up Play Program - Parent of a 2 year old: "We liked meeting other children and moms. My son enjoyed having a chance to play with new toys and books and liked running around outside! It was great to have the coffee shop right there and bathrooms and changing area right across the hall. Bonus that there's walking trails and parks so close by!"
• Pop-Up Play Program - Parent of a 3.5 and 1 year old: "We played at the nearby park beforehand (and) my younger child really enjoyed exploring the indoor play space. It's fun to meet other parents and then invite them to join for outdoor adventures."
• Pop-Up Play Program - Parent of a 2.5 year old: "I appreciated the well chosen materials to interact with (beautiful, high quality, safe for many ages), and my daughter enjoyed playing with other kids her age. We could have our snack, the park and library were within walking distance, and the coffee shop itself was nice."
• Pop-Up Play Program - Parent of a 1.5 year old: "I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of activities available for my busy son! It was great seeing him interact with other toddlers and I enjoyed meeting other parents in the community. The fresh coffee from the cafe was a great perk as well!" 

Did you know that southern Wisconsin is home to one of the planet’s largest concentrations of drumlins (long hills formed by glaciers)? Sam grew up watching the sun rise and set between the drumlins on her family's farm (pictured at the top and bottom of the page).

Her online publication, Under the Drumlin Sun, is meant to remind us that we are all children of the earth who can live beautifully rooted in the past, focused on the present, and mindful of the future.

Own It: Building Black Wealth (current marketing specialist), Little Story Squad (current copy editor), Young Parent Collective, ART House 360, Jamie Gale, LLC, Sharing Active Independent Lives, O'Rourke Media Group, Foundation for Dane County Parks, Silent Sports Magazine.

Are YOU our next partner? Contact Sam!

Here's who we've collaborated with so far (in alphabetical order): 9in9out, Active Youth Wisconsin, A Better Body Massage Therapy, Badger Rock Neighborhood Center, Belleville Farmers Market, Bloom Parent, LLC, CEDAR Center, CI Pediatric Therapies, 4-C, The Creekside Scoop, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Dane County Parks, ECO Madison, Flicker Wild Church, Friends of San Damiano, Frost Organizing, Hike & Heal Wellness, Ice Age Trail Alliance, Lagom: Music and Yoga Education, LC Babywearing, little om BIG OM, Lioness Fitness, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Macaroni KID - Madison, Madison Public Library, Madison Reading Project, Middleton Parks, Monona Public Library, Music with Julie Mazer, Naturing in Madison, Outdoors We Learn, OutGrown (Hike It Baby - Madison), Pufferfish Publishing, Rosemary Garfoot Public Library, Seven Acre Dairy Company, Sprig Native Plant Nursery, Sweet Hive Bakery, Village of Cottage Grove Library, Winterfell Acres, The Wonder Studio, Young Parent Collective.

• Lakeside Children's Book Writers & Illustrators co-founder and member (2024 - present)
• Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Wisconsin Chapter SW Wisconsin Area Representative (2025 - present), critique group member (2020 - 2025)
• Young Parent Advisory Board community committee member (2025)
• Nature Everywhere Madison committee member (2024 - present)
• Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE) Early Childhood Coalition (2024 - 2025) and member (2023 - present)
• Groundswell Conservancy monthly sustainer (2021 - present)

• Every Child Outside (ECO) Madison Green and Healthy Schools Wisconsin Summit organizer (2023 - present)
• Defending Black Girlhood e-newsletter editor (2023 - present)
• Hike It Baby - Madison / We Are OutGrown hike host / outside guide (2023 - 2025)
• Active Youth Wisconsin / Tri 4 Schools grant writer (2018 - 2022)
• One City Schools, Kindergarten reading tutor (2019 - 2021)
• Big City Mountaineers, Boundary Waters chaperone (2019)
• Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin photographer (2016)

• Published Children's Picture Book Author, "The Story of a Galápagos Albatross" (2024)
• UW-Madison Arboretum – Steinhauer Trust Gallery Nature Photography Exhibitor (2017)
• Wisconsin Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest Winner (2011-2014)
• Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society Convention Presenter (2010-2011)
• Joan P. Schaupp Women's Center Feminist of the Week (2010)
• English Endowed Scholarship Recipient (2010)
• St. Norbert Times Editor (2009-2010)
• Galapagos Islands Natural History Field Course Photojournalist (2009).

• Nature Explorers Co-Teacher and Substitute with New Morning Nursery School (2025-2026).
• Marketing and Community Outreach Specialist with Mad City Dream Homes: Organized client appreciation events and led print and digital real estate marketing activities and those that supported nonprofit organizations focused on promoting social and racial justice, providing affordable housing, and protecting the environment (2017-2023).
• Communications Coordinator and Magazine Editor with the Partnership for the National Trails System: Connected with 30+ trail organizations around the country, wrote and edited articles for quarterly "Pathways Across America" publication, managed social media and website presence, and assisted with Hike the Hill advocacy events in Washington, D.C. and national workshops (2017-2020).
• Community Reporter and Photographer in Southern Wisconsin: Covered Dodge, Jefferson, and Dane Counties as an award-winning journalist. Wrote and edited articles, took photos, and designed pages for the following publications: Watertown Daily Times (2011 - 2014), Verona Press, Stoughton Courier Hub, Oregon Observer and Fitchburg Star (2014 - 2017), as well as contributed to Wisconsin Trails (2010), Family & Friends (2011 - 2014), and Your Family (2014 - 2017) magazines.

St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI
Bachelor of Arts in English
Creative writing emphasis, art minor
Magna cum laude
(Aug. 2007 - Dec. 2010)

Writing, Copy Editing, Photography, Marketing, Social Media, Web Design, CRM Management, Event Planning.

Collaboration, Creativity, Inclusion, Integrity, Transparency, Environmental Sustainability.

• Chelsea B., Partnership for the National Trails System: "Samantha is hands down one of the most professional, organized, and kindest individuals I have had the opportunity to work worth. Her attention to detail, phenomenal writing and editing skills, and follow-through on project deadlines and deliverables make her an incredible asset to any team. I cannot speak highly enough of her skill sets and character."
• Judie P. and Bill L., Foundation for Dane County Parks: "Dear Sam, we wouldn’t be where we are today without your talent and creativity. You applied for and won our free website, you took the most amazing photos of so many parks, you helped our DEI Committee and helped write our policy, and you wrote articles for suburban newspapers about our grantees and accessible piers."
• Sharon R., NAMI Wisconsin: "A big thank you to Samantha Haas for creating the NAMI Wisconsin Spotlight Article for mental health month. She did an outstanding job. I have worked with several people in my years of management, and can say that Samantha is a valuable employee. Her work ethic on this article and her communication skills are second to none. I really enjoyed working with her." 
• Dan M., Mad City Dream Homes: "We'd like to offer a public thank you to Samantha Haas, who has spent the last 6 plus years sharing her ideas, talents and values with our team. Thanks to Sam's influence, our team has evolved to view everything we do through the lens of community. In addition to coordinating our marketing efforts and team events, Sam has invested a significant amount of her time into supporting and promoting local non-profits. We wish you all the best, Sam, as you write your next chapter. Although we can't possibly replace you, we can continue with the spirit that you brought to our team. Thank you for everything!" 
• Bruce S., Silent Sports Magazine: (In reference to "A Path Worth Pursuing: CamRock County Park Trail Project to Connect Outdoor Enthusiasts Across Southern Wisconsin"): “I reached out to Dane County Park Property Planner Sara Rigelman, who connected me to Samantha Haas, who wrote the story along with a sidebar by IMBA’s Mike Repyak. It has been a pleasure working and communicating with all of you. Both submissions are among the cleanest I've received, and I thank you for that. They also read very well. The content, flow, and interesting nature of the stories, individually and together, create an excellent submission to the April (2021) issue."
• Tom T., Foundation for Dane County Parks: "Thank you Sam! You have been such a pleasure to work with and such a huge help on many of the Park's and Foundation's pursuits and events these past number of years. Your work, insights, photos, and technological skills have contributed greatly."