Hello Everyone!
I hope your September is off to a good start and you’ve been able to find some moments of nature connection, family fun, and relaxation over the long weekend.
Our family has been dealing with Covid, so we are postponing our annual trip up north. We are trying to make the most of our time together at home by watching some mystery plants grow in our yard (likely either zucchini or pumpkin), setting up our hammock and pop-up tent to play with Z while we get some fresh air, and relying on screens more than we’d like while letting our to-do list fall by the wayside.
My good friend Mary of Frost Organizing shared this mantra with me, and maybe it is helpful for you, too: “My worth does not lie in my productivity.” In fact, resting can often be the best thing for us, especially when we’re struggling with our physical and/or mental health. Thank you for the reminder, Mary!
As I mentioned in last month’s email, I’ve been dealing with some dizzy spells that doctors are trying to get to the bottom of by scheduling several appointments this month and into October. Since I’m scaling back on hosting events during this time of healing, I’ll be promoting more of our collaborative partner events. Please follow their linked websites for registration since those will not be listed on the Playful Acorns website. I am also in the process of switching over our email communications to a different platform, Substack, to make it easier to stay in contact (I will be able to send emails from my phone and won’t have a limit on the number of subscribers…yay!).
Last but not least, we have a special offer from my friend Susan of Sprig Native Nursery, who recently raised over $500 through plant sales for a fundraiser I started to help prevent a friend and her family from becoming temporarily homeless. I am so grateful to all of the people who ordered plants during that 24-hour period for a good cause. I’d love to introduce you to the beautiful things Susan (who you might remember being featured in our Madison Area Donor Milk Alliance nonprofit spotlight) is growing with her new business! Keep reading to learn more! Thanks Susan!!
Are you new to Playful Acorns? Welcome! You can read our story here and most recent posts here.
Lagom: Music and Yoga Education
Our friend Kirsten with Lagom is hosting some upcoming classes for families (often geared toward ages 3+) to move their bodies to the beat, practice mindfulness, and sometimes do a craft together. Classes are typically $20 per family. Register and pay in advance on her website!
- Sept. 2: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Monday, Labor Day Family Yoga (with your Stuffed Animal or Doll), Haumea Yoga, Sun Prairie
- Sept. 8: 10:30-11:15 a.m. Sunday, Dino-themed Class, Lioness Fitness, Fitchburg (Save with the 4-Class Fitchburg Bundle: 9/8, 10/13, 11/10, 12/8)
- Sept. 15: 10-11 a.m. Sunday, Dino-themed Class and Sensory Mini Kit, Present Not Perfect, Lake Mills
Picnic with an Author Series
Join Dane County Parks and local authors for a special family friendly picnic lunch series at various parks, each Tuesday in September from 11 a.m. to noon. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on and a lunch from home. After meeting the author and reading their book, there will be special activities related to the story. Free for all ages! Books may be available for purchase.
- Sept. 3: “Stephanie’s Big Zoo Adventure” by Brandon Maly, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
- Sept. 10: “Wavery Braves the Breeze: The Story of a Galapagos Albatross” by Samantha Cora, Badger Prairie County Park, Verona
- Sept. 17: “Good Night (Not Really)” AND “The Terrible Day (Not Really)” by Nan Evenson, Anderson Farm County Park, Oregon
- Sept. 24: “Big Feelings” by Elizabeth Seeliger, Token Creek County Park Shelter #1, DeForest
Sprig Can Help Your Yard Flourish!
Our friend Susan with Sprig Native Nursery on the east side of Madison is generously offering Playful Acorns pals like YOU a special fall deal to help transform your yard into a beautiful habitat for native pollinators! She’s helped our family identify a steep triangular area between our sidewalk and driveway that I despise mowing, which will be a great spot for native plants to grow and reduce water runoff! Susan has an awesome website for online ordering and posts educational resources @sprignativenursery! Use code PLAYFUL for 25% off your order placed in September!
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, Olbrich Gardens Story and Stroll, local libraries, gyms, and more. Please confirm registration details, costs, and age ranges at the links below. Stay tuned for more events to be added in the next email!
* Events with one asterisk are evening events
** Events with two asterisks are for adults only
NOTE: As I prioritize rest this week, I am postponing compiling the full calendar of events. Please stay tuned to our next email with that information and use the resources linked above to find more events near you! Thank you for understanding!
