Water Week: Nature Play Pop-Up: Floating and Boating

Event Summary

Date(s): Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Time: 10:00am-11:30am
Venue: Matthaei Botanical Gardens
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Event Description

Play streamside at Gaffield Children’s Garden to experiment with flotation concepts, enjoy cooling water, and make simple, small boats from foraged natural and loose parts.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens hosts 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 that all materials stay unless otherwise specified.

Water Week Activities

	Date/Time	Event
💙🆓	August 23 1:00pm-2:30pm	Water Week: The First Story of Water - The Anishnaabek Story at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor Michigan
💙🆓	August 24 5:00pm-6:30pm	Water Week: Storytelling in the Garden, The New Anishnaabek Signs at Willow Pond at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor Michigan
💙🆓	August 25 10:00am-11:30am	Water Week: Nature Play Pop-Up: Floating and Boating at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor Michigan
💙🆓	August 25 4:30pm-6:00pm	Water Week: Waterway Relatives with Dr. Selena Smith at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor Michigan
💙🆓	August 26 5:00pm-6:30pm	Water Week: The Line 5 Oil Pipeline Debate - Implications for Water, Indigenous, and States' Rights at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor Michigan
💙🆓	August 26 5:30pm-7:00pm	Water Week: Nature Play Pop-Up: Floating and Boating at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor Michigan
💙🆓	August 27 10:00am-8:00pm	Water Week: Great Lakes Pop-Up with CIGLR at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor Michigan
💙🆓	August 27 5:00pm-6:30pm	Water Week: Water Wander - Healthy Waterways at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor Michigan
💙🆓	August 28 5:00pm-6:30pm	Water Week: Kids, Fish, and Streams at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor Michigan
💙🆓	August 29 11:00am-12:00pm	Water Week: The Line 5 Oil Pipeline Debate - Implications for Water, Indigenous, and States' Rights at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor Michigan

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Event Details