Celebrate Water Week

Water connects us all. It flows through creeks, wetlands, and ponds, supports plants and wildlife, and links us to the larger Great Lakes region. Water Week is a celebration of those connections. Join us as we explore the water around us, the life it supports, and the many ways we can care for freshwater.

Coiled rattlesnake on the ground

Why Water Week?

Living in the Great Lakes region means living in a landscape shaped by water. While the Great Lakes may be the region’s most visible freshwater feature, their health is connected to a much larger network of rivers, streams, creeks, ponds, wetlands and groundwater.

At Matthaei Botanical Gardens, water is part of the landscape all around us. Water Week is an opportunity to look more closely at these systems and explore how water connects ecosystems, communities and the wider Great Lakes region.

Through activities, programs and opportunities to explore, we’ll celebrate the life, science and stories connected to water and discover why caring for water matters wherever we are.

Join Us for Water Week

We’re celebrating Water Week in person and online from August 23–29, 2026. Explore the many ways water shapes the world around us through guided programs, hands-on activities and self-guided adventures. From the smallest pond and creek to the Great Lakes themselves, discover the freshwater connections flowing all around us.

Leaders and Bessssssssssst

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!  

Rattlesnake coiled on the ground.

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. 

A child playing with craft clay.

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.

Rattlesnake with tongue exposed

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.

Hand of a child touching a rattlesnake held by an expert handler

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.

Rattlesnake coiled on the ground

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.

Snake slithering on the ground

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)

Two snakes coiled on the ground

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)

Snake semi-coiled on the ground

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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