Lightly guided nature play

Matthaei Botanical Gardens is hosting free, hands-on Nature Play Pop-ups.  Young children will have hands-on fun while taking a closer look at nature, and parents will leave with easy ideas to encourage creative nature play at home. No registration, free event. First to arrive, first to play. Kids can join in as spaces open during the pop-ups. Suggested ages 3-7.  Please note, all materials stay unless otherwise specified.

Tuesdays

10:00 AM - 11:30 PM

Wednesdays

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM


Misc Weekends

Dates and times vary


May

Saturday, May 23rd, 10:00am - 11:30am
Giant Bubbles Nature Play
At the Fairy & Troll Knoll, north of the Peony Garden in Nichols Arboretum: CANCELED DUE TO RAIN.

Tuesday, May 26th, 10:00am-11:30am
Digging for Treasure
Gaffield Children's Garden

Wednesday, May 27th 5:30-7:00pm
Digging for Treasure
Gaffield Children's Garden

June

Tuesday, June 2nd, 10:00am-11:30am
Building Like Beavers
Gaffield Children's Garden

Wednesday, June 3, 5:30-7:00pm
Building Like Beavers
Gaffield Children's Garden

Sunday, June 7, 3:00pm-4:30pm
Flower Pounding Dye Transfer 
At the Fairy & Troll Knoll, north of the Peony Garden in Nichols Arboretum

Tuesday, June 9th, 10:00am-11:30am
Insect Clay Play
Gaffield Children's Garden

Wednesday, June 10th, 5:30-7:00pm
Insect Clay Play
Gaffield Children's Garden

Tuesday, June 16th, 10:00am-11:30am
Floating & Boating
Gaffield Children's Garden

Wednesday, June 17th, 5:30-7:00pm
Floating & Boating
Gaffield Children's Garden

Tuesday, June 23rd, 10:00am-11:30am
Gravity Play
Gaffield Children's Garden

Wednesday, June 24th, 5:30-7:00pm
Gravity Play
Gaffield Children's Garden

Tuesday, June 30th, 10:00am-11:30am
Fairy House Building 
Gaffield Children's Garden



Childhood outdoor play is supportive of healthy child development, the internalizing of pro-Earth behaviors, and provides deep opportunities for powerful self-directed learning. MBGNA’s Nature Play Pop-ups are lightly hosted opportunities to engage with some of our specially curated natural loose parts and other accessible objects of open-ended, creative play.

Nature Play Pop-ups are opportunities for children across ages and developmental stages to engage deeply, based on their own interests, curiosity, and developmental stages. For example, while some older children may be using our collections of natural loose parts to intently create a specific habitat, other children will be engaging in developmentally appropriate play of taking all the petals off the flowers in our loose parts collections. While some children will tenaciously experiment to create the largest bubbles, other children will be nearby splashing in the slippery solution. All ways of playing are good & welcome Nature Play! Come play outside with us!