Rooted in Nature - An Earth Day Celebration at River & Root
Saturday, April 25 | 9:30AM-12:00PM | Outdoor Celebration
Join us for a special Earth Day gathering designed for our littlest learners and their grown-ups and help us celebrate the launch of our outdoor play space. This fully outdoor event invites children to explore, create, and connect with the natural world through hands-on, sensory-rich experiences, including the debut of our mud kitchen area, thoughtfully designed to inspire creativity, imaginative play, and a deeper connection to nature. For this special day, we’re leaning into the beauty of outdoor play and embracing the mess because some of the best learning happens when little hands are free to dig, splash, mix, and explore.At River & Root, caring for the Earth is at the heart of what we do. Through gentle guidance and play-based learning, we’ll nurture curiosity, respect for nature, and simple ways even our youngest friends can help care for the world around them.Come celebrate with us in a morning filled with fresh air, meaningful moments, and nature-inspired discovery 🌿
🌿 Event Offerings
🥣 Outdoor Play Space Launch + Mud Kitchen
Be among the first to explore our newly opened outdoor play area 🌿
Children are invited into open-ended, nature-based play across thoughtfully designed spaces, including our mud kitchen and mud cooking area, a custom “mixing island” with built-in bowls for creating nature-inspired recipes, and sensory stations filled with dirt, sand, and loose parts for imaginative exploration. Little ones can scoop, pour, and create at our sand and sensory tables, shop and play at our outdoor farmer’s market, build and balance with tires and ramps, and enjoy our swing set, slide, and outdoor art easel.
Every element is designed to spark creativity, encourage hands-on discovery, and let children lead their own play in a natural, ever-changing environment.
🐦 Pinecone Birdfeeder (Take-Home Activity)
Children will create their own simple bird feeder using natural materials, a sweet way to care for local wildlife and observe nature at home.
🌱 Milkweed Planting (Take-Home Activity)
Each child will plant their own milkweed to take home, supporting butterflies and pollinators while learning how small actions can make a big impact.
🔎 Nature Scavenger Hunt
A gentle, self-guided and self-paced adventure around our outdoor space. Little explorers can search for simple nature treasures like leaves, flowers, textures, and tiny discoveries at their own pace.
📚 Earth & Nature Storytime
A cozy, outdoor storytime featuring gentle, Earth-centered books that celebrate nature, kindness, and our connection to the world around us.
🌊 Ocean Care Lab & Water Play
Two engaging water-based experiences::
Ocean Care Lab – Children can help “clean” the ocean through a simple, hands-on activity that introduces caring for marine life in a meaningful, age-appropriate way.
Water Play – A water table sensory station for scooping, pouring, and open-ended exploration, supporting fine motor skills and playful discovery.
♻️ Recycled Creations Play
An open-ended play setup using repurposed materials inviting children to build, create, and imagine while exploring the beauty of reusing everyday items in new and creative ways.🌿
Themed Nature Sensory Play
A collection of thoughtfully curated, hands-on stations designed to spark curiosity and connection to the natural world, including:
🐛 Hungry Caterpillar–inspired exploration
🌸 Gardening & flower sensory play
🐞 Bug Lab
Each station invites children to explore, discover, and engage with nature through play in a gentle, developmentally appropriate way.
Weather note: In case of severe weather, this event will be rescheduled to Saturday, 5/2 at 9:30am-12:00pm instead.