Playful Fall Events for Families
September 2024 yoga, picnics, festivals, and more!
Hello Playful Acorns pals!
I’m writing this email from my family’s farm, and it’s a blustery, sunny Saturday. Z and my mom are flying kites while I’m catching up on emails and computer work that I’d put aside while recovering from Covid. I hope you’re all staying healthy!
I was hoping to send this newsletter from the new platform, Substack, but I’m not quite ready to make the switch yet. I also send newsletters for my children’s picture book and photography, and I want to make sure when I import all of you as subscribers to the Playful Acorns newsletter that you’re not automatically added to those lists as well (though you’ll have a chance to sign up for those, too, if you’d like)!
Thanks for your patience while I compiled the September calendar of community events, which you’ll find below in this email. And there’s still space for tomorrow’s dinosaur-themed yoga and music class with Kirsten of Lagom at Lioness Fitness!
I’m looking forward to sharing the word about Playful Acorns and my book “Waverly Braves the Breeze” at these upcoming events — please save the dates!
Tuesday, Sept. 10: Picnic with an Author in Verona
Saturday, Sept. 21: Mental Health & Wellness Fall Festival in Mount Horeb
Monday, Sept. 23: Book Talk & Q/A in Cottage Grove
Are you new to Playful Acorns? Welcome! You can read our story here and most recent blog posts here.
Family Yoga and Music in Fitchburg
Sept. 8: Sunday from 10:30-11:15 a.m. Join Kirsten with Lagom for a dinosaur-themed yoga and music class at Lioness Fitness in Fitchburg. The class is $20 per family, or save with a 4-class Fitchburg bundle (9/8, 10/13, 11/10, 12/8). Register and pay in advance on her website! Watch a reel of a recent yoga class!
Bring a Blanket, Read a Book!
Sept. 10: Tuesday from 11 a.m. to noon. I’m excited to join Dane County Parks and other local authors for a special family friendly picnic lunch series at various parks this month. 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. The Verona Public Library will lead a song and Dane County Parks will lead a craft after my “Waverly Braves the Breeze” storytime this Tuesday!
Free 4-C Events in Madison/Fitchburg
Our good friends at 4-C (Community Coordinated Child Care) are holding several free play groups for kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Learn more on their website!
Sept. 18: Wednesday from 9:30-11 a.m. at 4-C, 5 Odana Ct, Madison
Oct. 1: Tuesday from 3-4:30 p.m. at Fitchburg Public Library
Watch a reel of a recent play group!
Nonprofit Spotlight
This week I had a great conversation with Madison mother Kate, the founder of Young Parent Collective. This new nonprofit is dedicated to supporting young parents and allies in their journey by offering a range of supports designed to provide the necessary resources, including parenting resources, childcare products, and educational materials. Their mission is to break down barriers to education and provide a supportive and empowering environment for young parents and allies. If you had a child as a teen or in your early 20s and you’re interested in learning more about the Young Parent Collective, subscribe to email updates. Stay tuned for a future collaboration!
Upcoming Community Events
Playful Acorns programs/those that Sam are involved in 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, Friends of Urban Nature, Madison Parks, Olbrich Gardens Story and Stroll (some Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays), MMSD Play & Learn, Neighborhood House (Busy Town Tuesdays and True Play Thursdays), Aldo Leopold Nature Center Baby Bugs (Wednesdays), local libraries, gyms, and more. Please confirm registration details, costs, and age ranges at the links below. Stay tuned for more events in the next email!
* Events with one asterisk are evening events
** Events with two asterisks are for adults only
Saturday, Sept. 7: Heritage Fest, Schumacher Farm Park, Waunakee
Saturday, Sept. 7: Urban Triage Harvest Festival, Farley Center, Verona
Sunday, Sept. 8: Dinosaur-themed Lagom Yoga and Music Class, Lioness Fitness, Fitchburg
Sunday, Sept. 8: Madison Good Neighbor Gathering, Brittingham Park, Madison
Monday, Sept. 9: Storytime Yoga, Haumea, Sun Prairie
Monday, Sept. 9: Curious Critters Storytime, Governor Taylor Nature Park, Cottage Grove
Monday, Sept. 9: Lil’ Explorer Adventure, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
Tuesday, Sept. 10: Picnic with an Author - Samantha Cora, Badger Prairie County Park, Verona
Friday, Sept. 13: Free Trial Class with Naturing in Madison, McGaw Park, Fitchburg
Saturday, Sept. 14: Free Playgroup and Open House, University Houses Preschool, Madison
Sunday, Sept. 15: Family Nature Program: Mighty Migrations, UW Arboretum
**Sunday, Sept. 15: Crafting in the Wild, Hoyt Park, Madison
Monday, Sept. 16: Lil’ Explorer Adventure, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
Tuesday, Sept. 17: Picnic with an Author - Nan Evenson, Anderson Farm County Park, Oregon
Wednesday, Sept. 18: Free Play & Learn, 4-C, 5 Odana Ct, Madison
Friday, Sept. 20: Madison Area Nature Playgroup, Ice Age Trail, Verona
Saturday, Sept. 21: Ice Age Trail Tyke Hike, Slack Road Trailhead, Lodi
Saturday, Sept. 21: Great Sauk Trail Stroll, Prairie du Sac
Saturday, Sept. 21: Mental Health and Wellness Fall Festival, Tyrol Basin, Mount Horeb
Sunday, Sept. 22: Flicker Fall Equinox and Potluck, Donald County Park, Mount Horeb
Monday, Sept. 23: Lil’ Explorer Adventure, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
Monday, Sept. 23: Samantha Cora Book Talk, Taylor Prairie School, Cottage Grove
Tuesday, Sept. 24: Nature Playgroup, Monona Public Library, Monona
Tuesday, Sept. 24: Picnic with an Author - Elizabeth Seeliger, Token Creek County Park, DeForest
Saturday, Sept. 28: Bird & Nature Adventures - Edna Taylor, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona
**Sunday, Sept. 29: Screening of Waubesa Wetlands, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
Tuesday, Oct. 1: True Play Makers, Alicia Ashman Library, Madison
Tuesday, Oct. 1: Free Play Group with 4-C, Fitchburg Public Library