I am beyond excited to share with you that after nearly 3 years of:
- trying out many family-friendly spots for kids ages 0-5+ to play together while caregivers connect, and
- creating collaborative relationships with dozens of heart-led organizations in the Madison area,
2026 is finally the year we’ll gather and grow at a new-to-us indoor and outdoor space centrally located in Madison!
Playful Acorns and a growing collective of local creatives are putting down roots:
Join us at the Studi-yo to unwind, play, and create!
Located within walking distance of parks, trails, and restaurants in the Dudgeon-Monroe Neighborhood, the Studi-yo is a sunny space for you – and your family – to bounce into your creative flow!
Our space is on the lower level of Glenwood Moravian Community Church, 725 Gilmore St., near Monroe Street. There is a wall of windows in the Studi-yo that face south toward a patio and greenspace to allow for natural sunlight and a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor programs.
Explore our coworking options, family-friendly events, creative retreats, classes, group meet-ups, and membership options below!
Want to learn more?
- Join our growing collective of creatives (contact Sam)
- Participate in a trial coworking session (fill out the Google form survey)
- March options are available for adults only and caregivers with kids over spring break!
- Attend a program (calendar of events - check back soon for updates!)
- June outdoor music with The Wonder Studio is already open for enrollment for ages 1-5 with caregiver(s)!
- Host your own event or rent the space (contact Sam)
As we refine our offerings and processes (and the launch of this website and newsletter platform), we appreciate your patience and feedback along the way!
I'm also experimenting with a new event calendar format in Canva for the monthly/seasonal guides for families and adults in addition to new updates on the interactive map in Google for families. You can check them out here:
Meet the founding members!
If you've been reading my In A Nutshell and On The Bookshelf newsletters, you've probably realized I love to collaborate and connect!
In addition to meeting many of you and your kiddo(s) at various Playful Acorns or local author events, I have formed incredible relationships with fellow entrepreneurs – many of whom also share the role of being moms.
I will be spotlighting these and other wonderful humans, as well as upcoming events, in the new At The Studi-yo newsletter (learn more below and stay tuned).
Our growing collective is made up of children's book authors, illustrators, crafters, and family-friendly music, movement, art, and nature play instructors in the Madison area.
Thank you for coming along on this next chapter of Studi-yo and Playful Acorns!
We can't wait to see you!
- Sam
A note about newsletters
The Under the Drumlin Sun newsletter features the following content written by Samantha Cora Christian Haas:
- At the Studio: Features upcoming events at the Studi-yo in Madison, member spotlights, and more!
- In A Nutshell: Connects families with upcoming nature and creative events in Dane County, WI, including those hosted by Playful Acorns and Studi-yo.
- On The Bookshelf: Shares a love of storytelling and art, upcoming author events, projects, and favorite reads — especially picture books.
You are automatically subscribed to all 3 of the newsletters, but you can manage your settings at the bottom of these emails anytime or when signing into my website www.samanthacora.com). If you have questions, please let me know!
Please let me (Sam) know if you have any questions! Thanks!
