Playful Acorns
Playful Acorns shares family-friendly resources and partners with local experts to offer play-based and nature-inspired music, movement, stories, art, and outdoor exploration for caregivers and kids (ages 0-5+) in Madison, WI.
Gather and grow with us!
Playful Acorns partners with local experts to offer play-based and nature-inspired music, movement, stories, art, and outdoor exploration for caregivers and kids (ages 0-5+) in Madison, WI.
Adults can enjoy coffee, chat, co-work, create, and learn about opportunities for families – all while their kiddos play and socialize in a safe and fun environment.
Starting in 2026, most of our programs will take place at the Studi-yo, but we also love to collaborate with other organizations, such as Lussier Family Heritage Center, Nature Everywhere Madison, and libraries, and hold park meetups – potentially near you!
We also compile helpful resources for family-friendly activities and creative opportunities for adults throughout the Dane County area.
Coming soon: a mini photo book collection, video podcast, and mail club for budding naturalists, featuring a different animal from the Midwest, lenticular print collector cards, and a postcard to send to a friend.
Upcoming Events
- Wednesdays, Aug. 26, Sept. 23, Oct. 28: Outdoor Storytime and Play with Samantha Cora and Alina Loux, Studi-yo, Madison (1 p.m.) learn more
- Tuesdays, Sept. 15, Sept. 22, Sept. 29: Birding with Babies with Samantha Cora of Playful Acorns and Leslie Cao of LC Babywearing, Madison Public Library - Lakeview Branch, (10:30-11:15 a.m.) learn more
- Wednesday, Oct. 7: Lil' Explorer Pop-Up Play Cafe, Lussier Family Heritage Center (9-11 a.m.) learn more
- Friday, Oct. 23: Lil' Explorer Storytime with Samantha Cora and Elizabeth Seeliger, Lussier Family Heritage Center (1-2:30 p.m.) coming soon
About
Playful Acorns emerged in 2023 from the desire that Sam Haas had as a new mother to create meaningful connections and learning opportunities between kids, caregivers, nature, and the Dane County community. Join us as we gather and grow together throughout the changing seasons of our lives!
Our Offerings
Community Programs + Family-Friendly Resources
Our Offerings
Community Programs
Playful Acorns collaborates with local storytellers, music and art teachers, yoga instructors, and nature guides to offer enrichment activities and playful invitations that kids and caregivers can participate in together outdoors and indoors. Let your imagination run wild!
Testimonials
- 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."
- 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!"
- 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."
- 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."
- 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!"
Our Partners
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, The Hive, Ice Age Trail Alliance, Lagom: Music and Yoga Education, LC Babywearing, Lioness Fitness, little om BIG OM, Little Story Squad, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Macaroni KID - Madison, Madison Public Library, Madison Reading Project, Middleton Parks, Misty Honeybee's Arts Club, Monona Public Library, Music with Julie Mazer, Naturing in Madison, Nature Everywhere Madison, Outdoors We Learn, OutGrown (Hike It Baby - Madison), Pufferfish Publishing, The Reading Nest, 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.
Family-Friendly Resources
Playful Acorns understands that caring for kids is no walk in the park – and neither is sorting through Dane County's bountiful early childhood resources. By curating our family-friendly guides, we hope to support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of parents and their kids.
In addition to our In A Nutshell e-newsletters with more updates compiled by Playful Acorns, we also encourage you to explore these sites for upcoming events, opportunities, and resources for families:
More resources
- Nature Net/Nature Everywhere
- Macaroni KID Madison
- Madison Family
- Destination Madison
- Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C)
- Community Resources (list by Public Health Madison & Dane County)
- Family Resource Centers (map by Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Board)
- Madison Homeless Resource Guide (list by Tami Fleming & Homeless Service Consortium)
- Pregnancy & Postpartum Resources (list by Madison Area Pregnancy & Postpartum Collective)
- Public Lactation Spaces (map by Public Health Madison & Dane County)
- Young Parent Collective (new group for young parents in high school and college)
Our Vision
Gather and grow with us!
Our Vision
Caregivers need opportunities to fill their own cups to be more present with and responsive to their kids, and Playful Acorns hopes to make that easier for them to do. For some people, that looks like a literal cup of coffee to jumpstart their day. For others, that means finding a quiet moment in nature or moving their bodies to feel centered and ready for whatever comes their way.
Taking care of kids is hard work. It's not all rainbows and butterflies. Sometimes it can feel incredibly isolating, overwhelming, and as though you're losing parts of yourself along the way. We aren't meant to do this alone.
If you've been wanting to gather with those who "get it" in a place that fosters curiosity in you and your child(ren), you're in good company. Playful Acorns was created for those who are craving connection with more caregivers and the healthy benefits of being immersed in the natural world, all while their kids play and socialize together.
The CI Therapies Podcast
July 28, 2025
We've invited Samantha (Sam) Haas with Playful Acorns to join us for this month's episode of the podcast to discuss getting kids and families outdoors all year long! As part of our discussion, Sam will share some ideas for outdoor play that are easy to implement with little to no extra equipment or toys as well as some of the benefits of being outside. We'll also learn more about Sam's story and why she started playful acorns, a local organization where kids and caregivers gather and grow.
Here at CI we know that children learn best through play, and we hope this episode inspires families to explore play outdoors all year long!
Playful Acorns collaborates with local organizations to provide indoor and outdoor fun for families.
Our Values
Our Values
At Playful Acorns, we value the following be(leafs):
- Nature benefits from diversity, and so does humanity.
- Children learn best through play.
- Everyone deserves to have fun and be respected.
- Life is a journey, and we are always growing.
- The world is a better place with you in it.
So, whether you're parenting solo or with a partner, providing care as a grandparent or nanny, or any other version of your village, this community embraces you and the kids you love. Come as you are.*
* (If you're not feeling well, please stay home, rest up, and we'll see you next time!)
If there's anything we can do to be more inclusive, please let us know. Thank you!
