Toddler Hiking Club

Grab your backpacks and lace up your boots - you’re invited to join Toddler Hiking Club!

Toddler Hiking Club: An Imaginative Nature Walk is an interactive walking play for very young children that takes place in and around nature play spaces and on trails. As audiences follow the trail guides, they are introduced to some friendly, silly, and musical animals who invite them to join the club through song, creative movement, and multi-sensory activities.

Toddler Hiking Club: An Imaginative Nature Walk is about experiencing nature and art while in community with others. Audiences will be invited to walk 0.1 - 0.3 of a mile. Be sure to wear appropriate walking shoes.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Toddler Hiking Club: An Imaginative Nature Walk was licensed and produced by Northbrook Theatre at Techny Park in July 2025. The Northbrook Theatre production was remounted by Kerfuffle in August 2025 and produced through Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks. Both productions were directed by Ashley Laverty. Production Team: Production Stage Manager: Mack Finklea Costume Coordinator: Sara Morrison Costume Design: Alex Kingsley Properties Design: Rachel Hartmann Director: Ashley Laverty Cast: Trail Guide Bunny: Melanie Vitaterna Trail Guide Rat: Yongwoo Park Duck: Linnaea Groh Frog: Niaimani Cooper-Parker Squirrel: Maya Paletta Skunk: Logan Smart Understudy: Joanna Starr Poulos Toddler Hiking Club: An Imaginative Nature Walk premiered at West Ridge Nature Park in Chicago, IL. The production ran from September 7-21, 2024 at West Ridge Nature Park, Jackie Robinson Park, and McKinley Park through the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks program. The production was directed by Ashley Laverty. Production Team: Properties Design: Rachel Hartmann Costume Design: Alex Kingsley Production Manager: Jeff Sachs Stage Manager: Mack Finklea Director: Ashley Laverty Devising Team: Laura Fajardo-Riascos, Colleen Kilcoyne, Ashley Laverty, Melanie Vitaterna, Lexy Hope Weixel, Myanne Zachary Cast: Trail Guide Frog: Laura Fajardo-Riascos Squirrel: Colleen Kilcoyne Trail Guide Bunny: Melanie Vitaterna Duck: Lexy Hope Weixel Skunk: Myanne Zachary The piece was created in partnership with 2-6 year olds at West Ridge Nature Park in June 2024. Teaching Artists: Ashley Laverty, Melanie Vitaterna, Lexy Hope Weixel