The Playful Pelican PlayLab

10/16/2026

BOO! TODAY'S THE DAY! COME PLAY WITH US AT AUDUBON ZOO!

The spooky fun is happening TODAY, and The Playful Pelican PlayLab is SO excited to see all our little friends at Li'l Boo at the Zoo! 🎃

We've got a day filled with imagination, creativity, and a whole lot of Halloween magic!

👻Create your very own Halloween puppet!
🎃 Paint a paper-mâché jack-o'-lantern!
🍬 Step inside our adorable Sweet Shop for some sweet imaginative play!
✨ Explore even MORE hands-on Halloween surprises!

A HUGE thank-you to our wonderful friends at BWC Terminals for sponsoring today's playful adventures! Their generosity is helping us bring joyful, hands-on learning experiences to children and families throughout our community. 💛

📍 Audubon Zoo
📅 TODAY! Friday, October 16
⏰ 10 AM – 5 PM

So grab your little ghosts, goblins, princesses, and superheroes and come find us at the zoo!

We can't wait to see those smiling faces, hear the giggles, and make some BOO-tiful memories together! 🧡

Come THINK, DREAM, EXPLORE, and PLAY with The Playful Pelican!

10/14/2026

💙🚔 QUACK, QUACK! What a Wonderful Night in Gretna! 💙

A HUGE thank you to the Gretna Police Department for bringing our community together for such a wonderful Night Out Against Crime!

Our little friends were busy adopting their very own Police Ducks 🐥👮‍♂️ and helping us create the BIGGEST thank-you card filled with colorful drawings, sweet messages, and lots of love for our Gretna police officers!

There is something so special about watching little ones light up when they see a police officer. To them, these community helpers are real-life superheroes! 💙

We are so grateful for the men and women who serve our community and for opportunities like this that allow children and families to build meaningful connections with those who help keep us safe.

Thank you, Gretna Police Department, for all you do and for giving our littlest citizens a night filled with smiles, kindness, and community spirit!

10/10/2026

🎃👻 BOO! We've Got Something SPOOKTACULAR Planned! 🦇🧡

The Playful Pelican PlayLab is heading to Li'l Boo at the Zoo this Friday, October 16th, and we can't wait to share a day filled with spooky fun, sweet surprises, and LOTS of playful learning!

We're bringing one of our CUTEST pop-up setups yet, filled with the most adorable hands-on activities for your little pumpkins! 🎃 From imaginative play to creative fun, we've got something special planned for everyone!

🦁 Where: Audubon Zoo
📅 When: Friday, October 16, 2026
⏰ Time: 10 AM – 5 PM

A HUGE, heartfelt thank you to our wonderful friends at BWC Terminals for sponsoring our PlayLab pop-up and helping us bring the magic of play to so many families! 💙

So grab your little ghosts, goblins, and pumpkins, and come make some BOO-tiful memories with us!

We can't wait to THINK, DREAM, EXPLORE, and PLAY with you at the ZOO! 🧡🐾

10/07/2026

What a PAW-some Night Out Against Crime! 🚓

A huge thank you to Leo Palazzo for sponsoring our Playful Pelican pop-up and helping us bring another evening of hands-on fun and imaginative play to our community!

And thank you to all of the wonderful families who stopped by to adopt a new police dog! Our little officers worked hard to create cozy homes for their new K-9 friends and make sure each pup had everything they needed to feel right at home. 🐶🏠💙

We love watching children’s imaginations come to life through play, and we especially love doing it alongside the families and community members who help make the West Bank such a special place to call home.

Thank you for thinking, dreaming, exploring, and PLAYING with us! 💙

10/01/2026

💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙
The Playful Pelican is POPPING UP all around our community!
We have so many fun opportunities coming up to Think, Dream, Explore & Play together!

From feathered friends and fall fun to hands-on discovery and big trucks, each pop-up brings a little piece of the future PlayLab into our community. We love meeting new families, seeing familiar faces, and creating joyful opportunities for children to learn through PLAY!

Check out all of our upcoming dates, times, and locations.

Come find us, play with us, and be part of what we’re building for West Bank families!

09/30/2026

Today, members of The Playful Pelican PlayLab’s Board of Directors, Advisory Council, CEO, and COO attended the WBIA Governor’s Luncheon with Governor Jeff Landry and heard more about the progress, investment, and future of the West Bank community.

We are proud to be part of that future.

The Playful Pelican is working to create a vibrant community hub where children and families can come together to think, dream, explore, and play. A place rooted right here on the West Bank and designed to serve our families for generations to come.

There is so much possibility ahead for the West Bank, and we’re eager to help build it!

and Beyond

09/13/2026

🏁 READY, SET… PLAY! 🚗💨

It’s POP-UP DAY, and we’re ready to race into some transportation fun!

Come race with us as little drivers explore, play, build, and discover through hands-on transportation-themed activities with The Playful Pelican PlayLab! 🚙 🚦 🏎️

A huge THANK YOU to American Safety for sponsoring today’s pop-up and helping us bring joyful, hands-on learning experiences to families in our community. 💛 Your support keeps play and little imaginations moving!

🏁 Come find us, join the fun, and LET’S RACE!

09/08/2026

We are SO proud of our Co-Founder, Hillary Hafner Rosales! ❤️
Hillary has been named the 2027 New Orleans Go Red for Women Campaign Chair, and we couldn’t be more excited to see her step into this incredible leadership role.

At the Playful Pelican PlayLab, we know Hillary as someone who cares deeply about children, families, education, and building a healthier, stronger community. Her passion for making a difference is woven into everything she does, and now she’ll bring that same heart and dedication to women and families across New Orleans.

Please join us in celebrating Hillary and cheering her on as she leads this important work! ❤️
We’re so proud to have you as part of the Playful Pelican family, Hillary!

Please join us in welcoming Hillary Hafner Rosales, ambassador for American Safety LLC and co-founder of The Playful Pelican PlayLab, as the 2027 New Orleans Go Red for Women Campaign Chair! ❤️

Passionate about education, prevention and improving women's health, Hillary will lead our community's efforts to raise awareness, inspire action and empower women to take charge of their heart health. Together, we're building a movement that supports healthier futures for women and families across New Orleans.

We can't wait to see the impact we'll make together as we count down to the New Orleans Go Red for Women Luncheon on March 19, 2027. Stay tuned for what's ahead!

08/20/2026

Wonder Around the Dinner Table 🍎📚

Back-to-school learning can be a joyful experience shared with your child, full of connection, curiosity, and fun! The Playful Pelican invites you to bring learning to the place where families already gather: the dinner table.

Our Wonder Around the Dinner Table activities are designed for children from preschool through 2nd grade and make it easy to extend learning at home while spending meaningful time together.

These meaningful activities allow you to:
✨ Check in with your child and see their learning progression
✨ Create joyful, positive experiences around learning
✨ Practice important skills through simple games and activities
✨ Build connection, conversation, and community around the dinner table

Our Wonder Around the Dinner Table activities are based on the Louisiana State Standards and are designed to help children practice the skills they need while giving families a fun way to learn and bond together.

Visit pelicanplaylab.org and head to our Wonder Workshop page to explore the activities and start learning around the dinner table today!
Preschool and Kindergarten are ready to go! Be on the lookout for first and second grade next week!

Think. Dream. Explore. Play.

08/19/2026

Back to School for Our Board Members, Too!

Today, we’re celebrating one of our amazing board members as he begins an exciting new chapter: his first day of law school! ️

At The Playful Pelican, we believe being a learner is something to celebrate at every age. We’re cheering you on and wishing you an incredible first day!

And one day, we hope The Playful Pelican PlayLab will give children opportunities to discover different careers, explore the world of work, and dream big about their own futures.

Because you’re never too young, or too old, to Think, Dream, Explore & Play!