Here in the Book Nook, you’ll find inspiring reads that celebrate child-led, nature-based play, creativity, and curiosity for kid and  grown-up explorers alike! Some are informative, while others are stories and novels that bring the beauty of nature to life. Come back often, this list will continue to grow! No matter what holiday you celebrate, we celebrate you at Willowdale. We love learning about the many ways different cultures honor the season, especially the traditions

February View our February Together in Season Newsletter below! Download the PDF with clickable links! Previous Months View our previous newsletters below! January December November

Winter weather is in full swing, and we are doing our best to embrace it! If your family hasn't been spending as much time outside as you'd like to during this season, you're not alone.   It's easy to compare our days to those who we see on social media. I follow a lot of outdoor educators and nature-immersive minded families and programs, and I'll be the first to admit I catch myself comparing...a lot.   I stand by going outside for 20 minutes a day - even if it's a short wa

January View our January Together in Season Newsletter below! Download the PDF with clickable links! Previous Months View our previous newsletters below! November December

There are so many ways to make critter-friendly ornaments to hang on branches during trail walks! It’s a fun activity to enjoy year-round from the classic pinecones rolled in nut butter and birdseed, to suet and good old-fashioned feeders. But our favorite way to create them is in winter, using just a few simple materials. Materials needed: dried or fresh fruit (we love using oranges!) cranberries, fresh or frozen nuts/seeds if no allergies nature treasures silicone donut mol

Winter is here (tomorrow!) and the most magical days outside are ahead of us! Adjusting to the colder temps can be a challenge, especially for the youngest explorers. Ease into it and don't put a time minimum for how long you're outside. It may only be 10-15 minutes at a time/day, and 0 minutes other days, and that's okay! Use this bucket list to spark your own outdoor adventures this season—keeping wonder, imagination, and creativity at the heart of it all. Go Ice Skating We

We hosted a Woodland Holiday Tea Party last week at the park where explorers were invited to mix their own tea using lavender, mint and cranberries. We put all the tea bags in a communial tea pot and took a stroll down to our play space so it could steep. Our literary guide, Miss Naomi, read us a new favorite story, Bear's Winter Party by Deborah Hodge , while sipping on tea and munching on cookies friends brought to share. The Gingerbread Salt Dough Cookie Ornaments (a mou

View our December Together in Season Newsletter below and click above to download the PDF with clickable links! Subscribe to receive this newsletter before anyone else each month!

View our November Together in Season Newsletter below and click above to download the PDF with clickable links! Subscribe to receive this newsletter before anyone else each month!

Nature-inspired and not-so-nature inspired ideas to nurture movement, connection, and open-ended play all year long. Gift-giving is on everyone’s mind this time of year. “Should we try the four-gift thing?” “I want my kids to have something to open on Christmas morning, but our budget is tight, and so is our space.” If you’ve found yourself pondering the same thoughts, you're not alone because, SAME. Many families are craving a simpler season, one that feels less about stuff

Ideas to Inspire Giving Back this Holiday Season Giving back benefits everyone; it strengthens connections and teaches children the value of community care and support. Use this list as inspiration to create yearly or monthly rituals for volunteering or donating to people, animals, and organizations that are meaningful to you. There’s no right or wrong way to give, and don't even attempt to do everything on this list. Sometimes we’re the giver, and sometimes we’re the receive

JOIN US December 2, 2025 to fundraise for Willowdale during the Internation GivingTuesday event! We will be sharing more in our toolkit as we get closer so our community can easily engage, share and contribute to our fundraiser!

Chilly mornings are here, friends; it's 37°F as I write this and while I know today’s temps are going to reflect a perfect fall day, it’s...

On Thursday evening, our community gathered for our very first Wild + Still Painting Fundraiser in support of Willowdale. We are so...

This fall at Willowdale, our focus skill is Wellness. Each week, our guided activity will invite explorers, and their grown-ups to...

The Autumn Equinox is officially here and it's no secret; it's my favorite time of year! I love sharing these seasonal bucket lists!...

The Autumn equinox marks the official transition from summer to fall in the Northern Hemisphere. On this day for only the second time...

While we aren't quite ready for puffy jackets and wool hats, "Winter is coming!" Friends since day 1 of Tinkergarten with Willowdale in...

Happy Summer Solstice! Every day is a big adventure with bare feet, messy hands, and sun-kissed cheeks.  This summer, we’re slowing down...

What is the Summer Solstice? The summer solstice  marks the moment when the Earth’s north pole tilts closest to the sun, giving us the...