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Writer's pictureStephanie Watson Yaeger

Small Business Saturday + Experience Gift Guide

Updated: Nov 21

I wrote this blog post last year and it still rings true today. I've updated it with some minor changes and will likely add more to it as I come across businesses our community loves!


Our community is aware by now our curiosity for play extends beyond the outdoors. I’m a realist who admits, begrudgingly, that sometimes the weather is not conducive to outdoor fun. Playing in the rain? No problem. Freezing rain? No, thank you. A snowy walk and building snow friends? Yes, please! A polar vortex? See you in spring. My dirty little not-so-secret nature secret is that if it’s over 80 I want to be sitting in a pool, at my imaginary beach house (ha!) or inside where it’s cool.


We aren’t a screen free family, and I’ve never claimed to be. We enjoy family movie time andW Wild Kratts after lunch some days so I can get a few things done (like this blog post) but it’s easy to get into the routine of putting the TV on when it’s unsafe to get outside and it can be tough to break that cycle. I’m hoping these resources will offer inspiration to maintain play during indoor days and learn that nature play can be accomplished indoors when necessary!


Rambling continued but getting closer to my point, this post is a compilation of small businesses to support year-round. There are resources here for experience gifts for explorers, and family gifts that won’t add clutter to your house (and some that may for a short time like art supplies and others that are our favorites for open ended play.) This isn’t an exclusive “nature play” experience list but heavy on that with an emphasis on ideas to keep our explorers thinking freely, exploring creative outlets, offering opportunities for movement as well as quality, locally made goods and experiences from talented artists.


All websites are linked below. This is by NO means a complete list, but I did my best to gather experiences we love to revisit, have on our list of places to go or have been recommended by our community! We are not affiliated with any of these organizations (besides our own) so please contact the business individually if there are any questions regarding experience, product or gift certificates. There may be a few affiliate links.


Special Features – Willowdale Community Members


Outdoor Experiences

Audubon (MA + NH)

Ecotarium – Worcester (indoor + outdoor)

Zoos - Roger Williams (RI), Zoo New England (Franklin, Stone, Southwick)

Maudslay State Park ($20 parking for out-of-state guests) - trails + nature walk, worth the drive to pack a lunch and spend the morning exploring!


Indoor Experiences (Memberships and Admission can be purchased)


Classes/Lessons

Tinkergarten/Willowdale (obviously!) We offer gift cards!

Palace Theatre - classes, musicals + more

Swim Lessons

Ski Lessons and/or Tickets – McIntyre, Bradford


Music


Subscriptions


Art


Locally made + small shops we love


Support Wildlife and the Outdoors

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust – Elephants, Giraffes and Rhinos one of my favorite gifts to give.

AMC


Open Ended Play

Craft bucket filled with crayons, markers, colored pencils, paint, paintbrushes, glue, string, mediums like blank paper + canvas. Stamps, stickers – anything your explorer loves. Pipe cleaners and beads are a huge hit in our home these days as well as forest putty and air dry clay. We LOVE DIY Craft and Thrift for misc. art supplies (linked above!) At our workbench we keep the art supplies, misc. wood pieces, nature treasures and stubby hammers + nails to create with.



Nugget Play Couch - endless opportunities for fort building + cozy time!


Toddler Tower (example) Many others available in a range of prices. Google “toddler tower” or “learning tower.”





Bear with me on this one…a kids knife. Kimmie loves this and with supervision and instruction is able to cut soft foods safely. Pair with Raddish Subscription!


I could go on for days and add ALL the outdoor experiences in New England but that would take forever. What did we miss? Comment below or email us willowdalenh@gmail.com!

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