A year of wild adventures and wonderful memories with the Crunchy Crew.
Looking back on a year of incredible adventures with the Crunchy Crew, it’s hard to believe it all started just 12 months ago. It began with a personal wish: to find families who wanted to hang out outside in nature with my toddler and me…all year long! To say we found “our people” is an understatement.
The Mission
Our goal is simple: bring together nature-loving families with young kids while discovering the best “Crunchy” spots around Chicagoland. Most of our weekly meetups are unstructured, giving kids invaluable time for open-ended outdoor play and giving adults the space to build real connections. Kids of all ages are welcome, along with moms, dads, grandparents, and any other caregivers. The majority of our meetups are completely free. We start with casual introductions, and then we let the kids lead the adventure!
Where We’ve Been
We’ve covered a lot of ground in one year, exploring everything from Evanston to Grayslake and everywhere in between. Our adventures have taken us to nature centers, trails, farms, gardens and mindful play spaces. We’ve enjoyed themed months like our Farm Hop, Caboose Crawl, and Picnic and Play series alongside special events, including:
An organic gardening session with The Talking Farm
A Maple Sugar Tour at River Trail Nature Center
Storytime and a microgreens experience at Local Leaf Farm
A park storytime series with About Time Bookstore and Mainstreet Libertyville
Nature themed craft and music session, and more!
After seeing the joy on my son's face after our first meetup last year, I knew we had hit on something amazing!
The Power of Community & Nature
This group has truly become the highlight of our week (my son now constantly asks, "Crunchy Crew, go see friends?"). Thanks to these meetups, he has blossomed into a much more outgoing and adventurous kid. For the adults, it’s an incredible space to swap ideas, whether we’re trading natural laundry tips, recommending outdoor gear, or sharing our favorite local spots to explore and eat.
We’ve also learned firsthand that nature is always enough. When given the freedom to explore, kids will turn anything into a toy: leaves, sticks, logs, water, snow, you name it.
Thank You to Our Community Partners
While we love unstructured play, we’ve also been lucky to partner with amazing local organizations. A huge thank you to everyone who hosted us or led an activity:
Storytimes: About Time Bookstore, Mainstreet Libertyville, Book Bin, Local Leaf Farm with Secret World Books, and Matchmaker Bookshop
Immersive Nature Experiences: River Trail Nature Center and The Talking Farm
Intentional Indoor Play Spaces: Just Bee You and The Hangout
Join the Adventure
Whether you can come every week or just drop in when your schedule allows, we’d love to meet you. Come join our incredible community!
