I hate to start this by discussing the weather but jeez, I was going to say, here we are at the start of March when things are supposed to start the cycle of warm up and cool down until spring is sprung but wow, hasn't that been happening all winter? And because of it, the streak continues - Winter Carnival 0, Mother Nature 6! What a bummer, for everyone. We may still be able to have a pop-up cardboard sled race later this month (watch our FB page) but if we don't, please save your creation for a sled parade at the Spring Family Festival we are planning for June.

Meanwhile, we are busy getting things ready for an exciting summer! I hope to have an Education/Program Director starting in April, we will host a spring clean up in May, and my VoTech intern is exploring some new ways to engage online.

Here are a few summer teasers: Sunday Sounds on the front deck; I am looking for some performers - prefer acoustic but we do have electricity. We offered an evening concert last summer and forgot about the sun setting behind the Black House so the audience, on a lovely summer's evening, were cold in the shade. Late Sunday mornings will be magical! And speaking of summer magic, when was the last time you tried twilight croquet with a bunch of friends? We will be hosting some fun league action, backyard rules, on Wednesday nights. Form a work team, family team, should we make this a singles event?

The Grand will be back with theatre camp and two performances including - yeah! - Charlotte's Web! The stage we are building to support their work will be available for early morning Tai Chi and yoga as well as picnics, Open Mic, the ultimate TikTok selfie station? Speaking of TikTok....just wait for the Woodlawn uploads. Can you say Votech intern?

In the museum this season, we will use a combination of docent-led and self-directed audio tours. Woodlawn Museum is the kind of place you should revisit. I go through every week and each time, I see something new and fascinating. That is why we developed Wednesday Wonder for Facebook - it is helping to share how remarkable the collection really is. To be even more inviting, we are considering tours until 6:30 pm on Thursday and Friday evenings. I know how hard it is to enjoy things in your own town when you work all day. This way, you can come on up for a tour before heading out to dinner! We might have a few evenings with wine, snacks & stories!

There is a lot else in development and many details to work through. But let me end with this oh-so-exciting-to-me thing that I have a volunteer making for Woodlawn: a special book exchange that I simply cannot wait to install. Not only do I love and stop at every book exchange I see, but it will be another fun interpretation of the Woodlawn story. This place runs on volunteer love and labor. Thank you to all those who serve on our committees and the Board. If you want to volunteer, especially on the trails or in the gardens later this spring/summer, please email me! Thanks for caring about Woodlawn.

~ Kathy Young