In A Nutshell: Spring Activity Guide
Plus, co-working/child watch co-op survey and options for spring break 2025!
Happy Spring Equinox!
This morning’s snowfall after nearly 70 degrees a few days ago has me hoping that March will still go out like a lamb. :) A warm welcome and special note below to our new subscribers (we just surpassed 400 and I’ll be announcing a prize soon)!
Today I’m excited to release the Spring Activity Guide, make several updates to the Spring and Summer Nature Camp Guide, share this Co-Working/Child Watch Survey, and announce a bunch of upcoming collaborative events with Playful Acorns and friends. Please save the dates for April 13th, April 23rd, April 30th, May 10th, May 14th, June 1st, and June 6th and keep reading! :)
Also, our Spring Storytime Guide is coming soon! Most programs pause over spring break, so please refer to the Winter Storytime Guide through the end of March.
Here’s the origin story of this monthly In A Nutshell e-leaflet, which highlights local events for families with young kids in the Madison, WI area, plus other community resources and my own musings as a toddler mom. Recently, I’ve added a second newsletter a month called On The Bookshelf, which is all about my children’s picture book journey and recommendations. Soon, I’ll be adding a third newsletter Through the Viewfinder (though probably not monthly) that will feature my digital nature photos, some of which will be turned into greeting cards available for purchase with a portion of proceeds donated to local environmental nonprofits. So, if you support nature, books, kids, and community, this Under the Drumlin Sun publication is probably the place for you! If at any time you want to change your subscription settings, you can learn how to do so here. Thanks for stopping by!
Balancing Work and Play
Something that continues to be top of mind for me is how to “get stuff done” (which can mean so many things depending on the day) while my kiddo is not at school. I want to be able to provide fun activities and socialization instead of plopping Z in front of the T.V., but as an only child with extended family living more than an hour away, sometimes that’s the reality when I’m in a pinch. Hiring a babysitter that you trust last minute can be tough to find. And I know I’m not alone.
Over the last two years I’ve talked to several organizations from other states (such as Creative Habitat and Hopscotch Labs) to learn about their pop-up co-working/child watch models. I’ve also met with other local parents who are interested in piloting a co-op model, and some Earth Mamas and I have tried this over the winter. I can feel we are getting closer to finding some more opportunities! My friends Hayley and Anna and I would appreciate it if you could fill out this interest survey and share it with others to help us as we explore potential locations, partnerships, and schedules.
In the meantime, Anna would love to invite you to some of these awesome events she’s organized for Spring Break at Garver Feed Mill: Parent-Child Happy Hours where you can work while your kids play nearby (within eyesight if kids are under 4)! For just $20 per child, you can hang out at Garver between 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26th (register), Thursday, March 27th (register), and Friday, March 28th (register). Bring your laptop, grab a coffee from Ledger, and settle in while the kids burn off energy with fun, carnival-inspired activities!
Spring Events for Kids & Caregivers
This spring we have some exciting collaborations with our friends Rachael of Lussier Family Heritage Center; Kaiti of 4-C: Community Coordinated Child Care; Kate of Young Parent Collective; Angelika of Monona Public Library; Susan of Sprig Native Nursery; Tracy of Village of Cottage Grove Library Board and Loon Call Publishing; Alina of Ken-Ken Books; Leslie of LC Babywearing; and other nature organizations! Events are geared toward kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers unless otherwise noted. Some events will also feature my “Waverly Braves the Breeze: The Story of a Galapagos Albatross” picture book as a StoryWalk, reading, craft, and/or signed copies for sale.
* Indoor **Outdoor */** Indoor/Outdoor
9:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 13: Friendly Foxes Storytime & Preschool Playtime* with author Samantha Cora (drop-in), Monona Public Library, Monona (free).
3-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 23: ”Earth Day” Lil’ Explorer Pop Up Play Cafe*/** with Playful Acorns and Dane County Parks (register in advance), Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison ($10/child ages 6 months to 5 years old, free for under 6 months old and adults).
9-10 a.m. Wednesday, April 30: Birding with Babies** with Playful Acorns, LC Babywearing, Village of Cottage Grove Library Board, and the Friends of the Cottage Grove Library (drop-in, RSVP appreciated), McCarthy Youth & Conservation County Park, Cottage Grove (free, geared toward ages 0-2).
9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 10: World Migratory Bird Day: "Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities"** with the Monona Public Library and the Friends of San Damiano, featuring authors Samantha Cora, Tracy Phillippi, and Alina Loux plus a nature craft with Sprig and face painting (drop-in), San Damiano Park, Monona (free, all ages).
3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, May 14: Play Group*/** with Playful Acorns, 4-C, and guest speaker from Young Parent Collective (register here in advance, event geared toward high school- and college-aged parents), Badger Rock Neighborhood Center, Madison (free, ages 0-5, space is limited).
Saturday, June 1: Nature Everywhere Day** (more details coming soon)
9-11 a.m. Friday, June 6: “National Trails Day” Lil’ Explorer Pop Up Play Cafe*/** with Playful Acorns and Dane County Parks (register in advance), Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison ($10/child ages 6 months to 5 years old, free for under 6 months old and adults).
Stay tuned to our guides for new and updated events! Music and yoga collaborations to return in a few months! Have a day of the week, timeframe, and location you’ve been wanting to try but haven’t been able to attend yet? Reply to this email with your input to help inform our schedule!
Family Activity Map, Guides & Resources
As a reminder, I am continually updating these resources, sometimes daily, so check back often: Family Activity Map (view Google map) and corresponding pdf guides (NEW Spring 2025 Family Activity Guide and UPDATED Spring/Summer 2025 Nature Camp Guide). The Spring 2025 Storytime Guide is coming soon! These resources and many more are also featured on the new webpage I’ve created:
Please note that this map and corresponding guides are a work in progress, and you should always check with the event organizer on the linked websites or emails to make sure the details are accurate. I will continue to add information and photos, and new guides/layers when we change seasons.
I can’t do this work alone! If you know of another resource, class, event, or update that we should consider featuring here, or you have feedback to share, please respond to this email or contact me at sam@playfulacorns.com. I am only human, so mistakes happen. If you see one, please let me know right away so I can update the resources. Hope you enjoy!
These resources are available just for you, our email subscribers, but I’d love if you could share this publication to spread and the word! Remember, you can earn some neat rewards*!
How to participate
1. Share this publication. When you use the referral link below, or the “Share” button on any post, you'll get credit for any new subscribers. Simply send the link in a text, email, or share it on social media with friends.
2. Earn benefits. When more friends use your referral link to subscribe, you’ll receive special benefits.
Get Nature Scavenger Hunt for 1 referrals (thanks
Get Witty Wildlife Greeting Card for 10 referrals
Get Signed Copy of Waverly Book for 25 referrals
* Please keep in mind that sharing the direct Canva links for the guides or the Google map link will not count toward these benefits because they can’t be tracked. Please refer the Substack publication so that friends can sign up for emails and stay in the loop.
To learn more, check out Substack’s FAQ. Thank you for helping get the word out!!
As always, thank you for being part of a community who shares this common thread:
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.
In gratitude,
- Sam
Are you new to Playful Acorns? Welcome! You can read our story here and most recent posts here.
Upcoming Community Events
Due to many calendar changes throughout the month (both additions and subtractions), I am experimenting with moving all upcoming events to our Canva guides that are updated as soon as I see a new event or change. So check back often! Please refer to the following resources for family-friendly events near Dane County:
Spring Activity Guide (brand new!)
Winter Storytime Guide (spring coming soon!)
Spring Fun & Summer Nature Camp Guide (recently updated!)
As a reminder, you’re receiving this email from my new platform on Substack, which you can learn more about here. If you want to change your subscription settings and subscribe or unsubscribe from any of the newsletters, you can learn how to do so here.
