Every iteration of Willowdale has led to this moment.
Willowdale began as a personal need, a way to carry my grief with me while slowly shaping a different version of myself. Over time, it has grown with intention, guided by the needs and voices of the community we are building. This rebrand is a reflection of who we’ve become and where we’re headed.
We couldn’t have done it alone. Our friend @amsklad , who I met in September 2022, was the very first person to register for a season of Tinkergarten. She has witnessed every version of Willowdale and me since that time. From those early days, when I stood there singing about sparrows with shaky nerves, to the confidence that’s been built, piece by piece, alongside this community.
She’s the one who brought this rebrand to life, and I’m so grateful for her creativity, her vision, and the way she understands who Willowdale is at its core.
@amecreativenh you’re a genius and we love you 🫶🏼
We are SO thrilled to share Willowdale has been selected as a recipient of a $5,000 Microgrant supported by @velaorg
This is our first “big-to-us” grant and we could not be more grateful to partner with VELA to continue to grow our organization sustainably and with the intention to offer more opportunities to connect with our community. Grants like this help us sponsor programs like our annual partnership with @bigsnhvt and invest in our scholarship fund.
From their website: “VELA leads the Indie Education movement, where families are discovering education that better fits their children, their values, and their communities.”
#nhlife #nhnonprofits #willowdalenh #outsideall4 #allarewelcome
We asked our community about the impact Willowdale has had on their families and we couldn’t be more grateful that their responses align with how we feel about them.
One family shared, “Willowdale has had a profound impact on my life as a mom and on our family as a whole. I took a leap of faith while pregnant with my second child and joined a Willowdale class in hopes of socializing both my first child and myself after months of staying home and seeing almost no one during the pandemic.
Three years later, we all continue to cherish this community we have helped build from the ground up. From sharing sourdough discard and hands me downs to overnight mountain adventures, Willowdale has become a group of people that I couldn’t live without.”
Sound like what you’re looking for?! Send us a DM, we’d love to ‘meet’ you!
#nhlife #outdoorsall4 #willowdalenh #nhnonprofits #allarewelcome
We’re excited to partner with @rehlherbsgarden for our first ever Kids Gardening Workshop!
Join us Wednesday 6/24 to explore plants, herbs and nature through creativity and a sensory rich experience.
Register at the link in our bio!
We hosted our first homeschool meet + greet yesterday and had so much fun we forgot to take pictures.
We have 6 wonderful families joining us this fall to explore, play and connect with us.
Curious? We’ll be hosting another meet + greet next month, keeps your 👀 open for the link 🫶🏼
Have questions? DM us, we are happy to share more details.
Ready to register? Link is in our bio!
New month + new ways to meet and join us outside!
- Child-Led Woodworking, Fridays beginning 5/8
- Goffstown Education Options Fair, May 13th
- Spring Business Fair, 5/16 Arms Park
- Private Event for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, 5/30
Visit the link in our bio to view + register for all events 🫶🏼
We’re excited to host a Bug Hotel workshop with our friends at @bigsnhvt
We had so much fun connecting last year making fairy gardens, we are back for round 2!
Interested in becoming a community partner? Let’s chat!
All you need is dirt + water + childhood creativity.
Explorers mixed their own mud and simply…created. Some friends made cookies, while another made pizza using a stick as a rolling pin. Peanut layer cake garnished with dandelion, painting sticks with mud and unique potions…we could go on and on!
Willowdale wants to extends our sincere gratitude for a generous donation from our friends at Market Basket! Their donation of a $50 gift card to supported purchasing materials for our Food & Forest STEM class.
With their support, we were able to provide enough food for 10 students, ages 1.5–8, to explore food science in the woods at Stark Park in Manchester, NH. The children engaged in a variety of hands-on learning stations, including:
Food Science: Using cabbage juice as a natural indicator, children explored acids and bases by observing color changes.
Nature Art: Children painted with watercolors and experimented by adding fresh lemon juice to see how it transformed their artwork.
Knife Skills: With kid-safe tools, children practiced cutting bananas, building confidence and fine motor skills.
Willowdale Snacky Mix: Children tested their own trail mix recipes, combining ingredients like granola, Chex cereal, cheddar bunnies, chocolate chips, dried fruit, and mini marshmallows.
Thank you @marketbasket and to our incredible board member, Jaclyn, who faciliated this donation request!
