Featured Activities and Partners Include:

• Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum Discovery Activities – Explore the Arboretum through Wonder Walks, create nature-inspired art with Plant Part Art, and test your navigation skills with a Compass Treasure Hunt.
• Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum Nature Play – Enjoy open-ended outdoor play with a DIY natural loose-parts obstacle course, giant bubbles, gravity play, parachute games, kite flying, and classic lawn games.
• Leslie Science & Nature Center & Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum – Go Wild! with wildlife-focused activities, hands-on exploration, and opportunities to discover the natural world.
• Drummunity – Connect through rhythm in a high-energy community drum circle. No experience needed.
• City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation – Get creative with clay and botanical-inspired play activities.
• Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) – Challenge family and friends with Giant Jenga and other oversized classic games.
• University of Michigan Towsley Child Care Center's Maple Forest Preschool – Experience whole-body play through climbing activities and child-sized slacklines.
• REACH – Create your own work of art through a variety of drop-in projects, including painting tote bags, rocks, canvases, CDs, wood items, flowers, and more. Participants of all ages are invited to explore creativity and take home a unique creation.
• Go Grow Playrooms – Dig, mix, and imagine in an outdoor mud kitchen, then climb and slide on portable play structures designed with toddlers and preschool-aged children in mind.

Weather Policy

Big Play Day will proceed rain or shine, with the following exceptions:

• If there is thunder and lightning or a tornado
• In case of an air quality alert with a high-risk level 
• If there is an extremely heavy downpour that prevents setup and safe walking conditions in the Arb.
• In the event of extreme heat

If the event is canceled due to weather, an update will be posted to this page.