AOOA and Growing Adventures have teamed up to offer an exciting lineup of hands-on sessions exclusively for kids. Packed with sensory stations, fine and gross motor skill activities, crafts, and movement, these open-ended, child-led adventures spark creativity, fuel curiosity, and inspire joyful exploration outside on the farm.

Get your hands dirty and dig into the underground world of garden critters! This session is all about discovery as children scoop, sort, and dig through dirt to find wiggling worms, busy beetles, and hidden treasures beneath our feet. Using fine motor tools like tweezers and tongs, little gardeners will explore compost, plant seeds, and learn how these tiny creatures help things grow. In the mud kitchen, we'll whip up worm pies and dirt stew, while music and movement activities bring out our best bug-inspired wriggles and crawls. A messy, unstructured, nature-filled play session to celebrate the helpers beneath the soil!

Light refreshments will be served. Space is limited, please register in advance! Ages 1 ½ - 6

Caregivers are required to stay and actively supervise their children 3 years or younger. While our facilitators guide activities, this is a time for family connection, shared discovery, and nature play together! For older children (4+) who have a bit more independent spirit, parents are asked to remain on the AOOA grounds where they can visit the Farmstand or take a stroll around the property.

Growing Adventures facilitators will not be able to take children to the restroom so please keep this in mind by having your child use the bathroom before the event. We ask that you please stay accessible to your older child(ren) if they require support locating and/or using the bathroom!

About the instructor:

Growing Adventures, founded by Meghan Sabbagh and Dani Toohey, is the vision of a mother of two young children and dedicated school-based pediatric occupational therapist (OT), who saw a vital piece of childhood fading away: the joy and developmental benefits of outdoor, nature-based, child-led play. Recognizing the importance of letting children get messy, explore, create, and dig into their natural surroundings, she teamed up with her sister, a fellow outdoor enthusiast OT with a rich background in neurorehabilitation, physical disability and environmental modification. Their mission is to provide both formal outdoor OT services and community events that invite children of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to learn, explore, create, and grow through play.

Adventure Hour at AOOA: Wiggly Worms & Garden Helpers