TimberNook Lake Winnebago Region

10/27/2025

Calling all kids ages 7-12 - Halloween Spooktacular is almost here, and spots are disappearing fast! 👻

Two days. Endless imagination. One epic TimberNook adventure.
🕸️ Day 1: Build your very own spooky village in the woods — complete with mysterious hideouts and haunted details only you can dream up.
⚗️ Day 2: Step into your sp-sp-spooky lab to concoct creepy creations and wild experiments that would make any mad scientist proud!

This is not your average Halloween party — it’s real tools, real creativity, and real outdoor fun. 🍂

Who: Kids 7-12 (this is a drop off program)
When: October 30-31
Time: 9am-1pm
Where: Timbernook Lake Winnebago Region - Kiekhaefer Park

👉 Don’t wait — register on our website now before this spooky adventure vanishes into the mist!
Register here: https://timbernook.com/program/45-wild-ones-timbernook-lake-winnebago-region-6/?v=0b3b97fa6688

10/26/2025

THIS👇🏼

15 YEARS of TimberNook... and We've Seen It All!

Kids building societies from scratch.
Forming alliances.
Creating rules, breaking them, rebuilding again.

It’s messy.
Emotionally. Socially. Physically.

There are risks.
Scrapes, tears, hard lessons, big emotions.

But here’s the thing....this is where the magic happens.

Because risk = growth.
Fear turns into courage.
Comfort zones gently expand.
Anxious hearts find their rhythm.

Out here, kids learn to lead.
To compromise.
To stand their ground and stand up for others.
To build resilience, empathy, and patience.

Give children TIME, SPACE, and FREEDOM to play (really play!),
and you’ll watch leaders emerge from the woods,
covered in dirt,
and absolutely alive.

This is TimberNook.
Where play gets real.

10/23/2025

At TimberNook, children are given the freedom to lead their own play — building, creating, and imagining in the great outdoors. 🌿 When kids have space to explore and direct their own adventures, they grow in confidence, creativity, and connection to the natural world. 🌲💪

In a world where kids are often overscheduled with adult-led activities, TimberNook offers something different — the chance to slow down, get messy, and experience the true work of childhood: play. 💚

Upcoming TimberNook programs:
🎳 Pumpkin bowling - Oct 24th
👻 Halloween Spooktacular - Oct 30th + 31st
🍂 Tiny Ones - 6-week session in Nov-Dec

Click the 🔗 in our profile for more details on all of our upcoming programs!

10/22/2025

We have some amazing play experiences planned for the kids in the coming months, and we’re still on the hunt for some supplies.

If you have any of these supplies you are willing to donate, please send us a message here or email us at timbernookfdl@gmail.com.

Thank you! 💚

10/19/2025

👻✨ Halloween Spooktacular is creeping into the woods! 🕸️🎃

Next week, kids will dive into a world of imagination as they build their own spooky village and create eerie experiments in a spooky lab — all using natural materials and a touch of Halloween magic. 🍂🧪

From crafting haunted hideouts to mixing mysterious forest potions, this is hands-on play that brings out creativity, collaboration, and a little spooky fun! 🌲🕷️

💚 Don’t miss this spooktacular TimberNook adventure — registration is open now!
Register 👉🏼 https://timbernook.com/program/45-wild-ones-timbernook-lake-winnebago-region-6/?v=0b3b97fa6688

🗓️ Oct 30 & 31
⏰ 9am - 1pm
📍 Kiekhaefer Park
🧒 Ages 7-12 (this is a drop off program)

10/16/2025

🌲 Climbing trees is not only a quintessential part of childhood, but it also helps your child with healthy development in several ways:

💪🏼 Develops strength + body awareness
👣 Practices balance
⚠️ Learn risk assessment
🏋 Regulation through heavy work

At TimberNook, we encourage tree climbing, running up and down hills, throwing rocks, building forts, and taking carefully calculated risks because the environment is appropriate for such things. The risks kids take at TimberNook aren’t extreme - they are only things like climbing trees or deciding which rocks will help them cross the creek without falling in. But this risk evaluation is essential in an environment like this, so that once they are older and exposed to large risk assessment (like getting behind the wheel of a car), they already know how to navigate such situations and make smart decisions.

As TimberNook providers, we are always aware what is going on as we are watching from a distance. We are not in their play space unless we need to step in for safety. But the kids still have plenty of freedom to do what they want, how they want, and with who they want.

💚 We have several fall and winter program options open for registration! Check out our website for more details (🔗 in profile).

10/14/2025

💪 As Angela Hanscom, the founder of TimberNook and a pediatric occupational therapist, shares in her book Balanced and Barefoot, it’s healthy and essential for kids to experience a bit of discomfort during play.

When children climb higher than they’re used to, squeeze through tight spaces, or feel the cold water on their feet as they walk on uneven rocks in the creek, they’re learning how to adapt and self-regulate.

These moments of “just-right challenge” help build stronger bodies, calmer minds, and confident kids who aren’t afraid to step outside their comfort zones. 🌿✨

At TimberNook, we encourage children to get dirty, splash in the creek, run down the hills at top speed, and climb over rocks, stumps, and on ladders. We encourage children to discover that they can do it themselves if the adults just step back and let them. We encourage children to get used to being a bit uncomfortable, because we know it helps with healthy child development.

These clips are from our Tiny Ones program, for ages 1-6 with a caregiver (but notice how the caregivers are not in any of these videos because we have all stepped back and allowed the children to dive deep into their play schemes).

💚 Our next Tiny Ones session is a 6-week November-December session. Register today on our website!

10/13/2025

🎃 Ready, set… bowl!

🍂 Next week at TimberNook, kids will design and play their very own pumpkin bowling game deep in the woods! They’ll roll, build, and create using nature’s materials — all while laughing, learning, and exploring the great outdoors. 🌿✨

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind fall adventure where imagination takes the lead and play gets a little pumpkin crazy!

💚Spaces are limited — sign up today and let the good times roll! 🎳
Register here 👉🏼 https://timbernook.com/program/45-wild-ones-timbernook-lake-winnebago-region-7/?v=0b3b97fa6688

*This is a drop-off program for kids ages 7-12. For more information, go to the link in our profile.

10/08/2025

Every time a child chooses what to play and how to play it, they’re building the brain power they'll use for life. 💚

Executive functioning isn’t taught, it’s practiced. And play is the perfect practice ground.

Strong EF skills help children initiate ideas, navigate challenges, pursue goals, and stay in control of their actions and emotions.

Executive functioning is the foundation for later success --
in school, in relationships, and in life.

10/05/2025

✨Support a good cause and keep yourself warm and cozy at the same time in your new TimberNook gear!

TimberNook Lake Winnebago Region has proudly partnered with JD Designs & Graphics to create a cold-weather line of TimberNook apparel.

💚 100% of the profits will go towards our Financial Assistance program, which helps remove financial barriers for local families to allow their children to experience playing the TimberNook way. 4 children were able to attend our summer camps, fully funded by our Financial Assistance program!

Shop here 👉🏼 https://www.jddesigns-graphics.com/collections/timbernook

Sizes 2T-3XL available, with many different styles and colors to choose from. When placing orders, you can either pay to have it shipped directly to you or pick it up for free from Cassie after your apparel is ready - if you choose this TimberNook delivery option please make sure to email us at timbernookfdl@gmail.com so we are aware.

💚 If families are in need of Financial Assistance for TimberNook programs, we encourage them to fill out an application. Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis until all funds are used.
Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeeO_RCl55CA8L5JFufAZeJv9vDzk6XPdew0DMNbWvqdFnhhA/viewform

Sport your TimberNook gear and know that you are supporting a great cause to break down financial barriers so ALL children can attend TimberNook programs and play the TimberNook way.