Celebrate Lake Week
Lake Week is a celebration of connection to place, to water, and to one another. Join us in exploring how local stewardship contributes to the health and resilience of the Great Lakes, and how each of us can help protect freshwater for generations to come.
Why Lake Week?
The Great Lakes hold 20% of the world’s surface freshwater and shape nearly every aspect of life in our region, from climate and culture to biodiversity and community well-being. But their health depends on the smaller systems that feed them: creeks, ponds, wetlands, and tributaries like the ones we steward at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum.
Lake Week is our opportunity to highlight these vital connections. It’s a time to explore how local care makes a global impact, how Indigenous knowledge and scientific research work hand-in-hand, and how each of us, no matter where we live, has a role to play in protecting freshwater futures.
Join Us for Lake Week
We’re celebrating Lake Week in person and online from August 26–29, 2025. Explore the waterways that connect us to the Great Lakes through a week of guided walks, presentations, and self-guided adventures. Come celebrate the life, science, and culture of the Great Lakes and discover the freshwater connections flowing all around you.
August 25th - 29th
Dragons and Damsels: Explore the fascinating world of dragonflies and damselflies on a self-guided adventure. Despite their delicate appearance, these fascinating creatures have a voracious appetite, feeding on a variety of smaller insects, which they skillfully capture in mid-flight. Grab a Dragon and Damsel scavenger hunt at the front desk and head for your own self-guided adventure!
August 26th
Waterside Wander: Join a guided walk along Parker Creek and upper Fleming Creek to explore the plants, animals, and signs of beaver activity that reveal the health of our waterways. Discover how these interconnected systems support resilient ecosystems. The program starts at 5:30 p.m. and is open to all ages.
August 26th and 27th
Nature Play Popup - Play streamside at Gaffield Children’s Garden as we experiment with flotation concepts and make simple, small, foraged boats from foraged natural and loose parts. Tuesday, August 26, 10-11:30am and Wednesday, August 27, 5:30-7pm.
August 27th
Great Lakes Pop-Up with CIGLR Stop by anytime on August 27th at Matthaei Botanical Gardens to explore the Great Lakes with the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR)! This informal, drop-in experience is part of our Lake Week celebration and perfect for visitors of all ages curious about what makes the Great Lakes so unique and why they matter.
August 27th
Willow Pond and Wild Rice: Join us for a short presentation and a guided walk to learn about healing relationships and the Michigan Wild Rice Initiative. Vincent Salgado will share more about the significance of restoring Manoomin throughout Michigan.
The program starts at 5:30 PM in the auditorium at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Please dress for a short outdoor walk.
August 28th
Waterway Relatives: Join Dr. Selena Smith for a conversation on the human and ecological relationships that shape resilient water systems, blending Western and Indigenous knowledge. She’ll also share about the Meet the Mnomen project, which restores wild rice to Willow Pond.
The program starts at 5:30 PM and includes hands-on exploration of water sampling trays, aquatic organisms, and the plants and animals of Willow Pond.
UM Research on Great Lakes and Freshwater Systems
Understanding and protecting the Great Lakes begins with strong science. At U-M’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), researchers are uncovering how freshwater systems function, adapt, and respond to change. Dive into some of the science that informs better stewardship of these essential ecosystems.
From clean water to coastal towns, 6 ways Great Lakes research impacts you
The Great Lakes are a way of life in Michigan—a place for fun, recreation, enjoying nature and creating lasting memories with family and friends. While healthy lakes are critical for the state’s culture and economy, they do require constant care, research and management. Here are six ways this Great Lakes research benefits Michiganders (Read more)
Capstone project helps Michigan define its conservation goals for the Great Lakes
A team of six University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) master’s students, along with SEAS Professor of Practice and Engagement Mike Shriberg, have been working with Michigan Sea Grant, the Michigan chapter of The Nature Conservancy and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to help the state of Michigan define and reach its conservation goals for the Great Lakes. (Read more)
Toxic algae blooms are lasting longer in Lake Erie − why that’s a worry for people and pets
Harmful algal blooms are dense patches of excessive algae growth that can occur in any type of water body, including ponds, reservoirs, rivers, lakes and oceans. When you see them in freshwater, you’re typically seeing cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.
Algae are natural components of ecosystems, but they cause trouble when they proliferate to high densities, creating what we call blooms. (Read more)
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