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Child & Family Events
Visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar to register. Bring your lawn chair and head out to the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater after these classes to enjoy Tuesday Evening Music Club performances, included with admission or your class fee.
Sustainability Series
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$5 members | $20 nonmembers per session (Adults) Instructed by Eve Choi and Maddie Ek, Meijer Gardens Education Department staff
In this new class offering, enjoy mini-lectures with Meijer Gardens educators. Sessions will include lessons for bringing sustainability home and help you feel empowered to incorporate Earth-friendly practices into your everyday life. Classes will break topics down into easy-to-understand information and simple how-tos.
Calculating Your Ecological Footprint June 14, 5:30–6:30 pm Learn how to calculate your ecological footprint and how to apply this practice to your everyday life.
Sustainable Landscape Practices* July 12, 5:30–6:30 pm Enjoy a unique look at Meijer Gardens’ sustainable practices and the use of fire for landscape management.
Pursuing a Sustainable Lifestyle August 9, 5:30–6:30 pm With so many gimmicks out there, how do you know which sustainability hacks are worthy of pursuing? Join us to find out!
Open Studio Series
$5 members | $20 nonmembers per session (Adults) Facilitated by Taylor Bultema, Meijer Gardens Education Department staff
*Applies toward Michigan State
University Extension Master
Gardener education credit. In this new class offering, enjoy the opportunity to explore your artistic practice in our scenic classroom spaces. Open studio hours are ideal for creatives who thrive in a relaxed atmosphere of community art making. A Meijer Gardens educator will offer a short demo of the projects listed below and be available for questions and guidance throughout. Materials for the monthly project will be provided as well as some other basic drawing materials, easels and sketch boards. Participants should bring any additional materials they are interested in working with. Each Open Studio session is limited to 20 participants.
Still Life Drawing June 21, 5:30–7:30 pm Draw inspiration from a preset still life to expand on your drawing skills. A variety of drawing materials will be provided. Participants are welcome to bring painting materials as an alternative.
Collage July 19, 5:30–7:30 pm Explore choosing, arranging, and affixing paper and fabric materials to create compelling compositions.
Hand-Printing with Natural Objects August 16, 5:30–7:30 pm Learn how to transfer botanicals and other found objects onto paper with nonprinting techniques.
Child & Family Events
Events are included with the cost of admission and registration is not required unless otherwise noted.
Kids’ Tram
Let’s Move! A Kid’s Tram Tour
June 6–August 20 Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays 10:45 am, 11:45 am, 1:45 pm and 2:45 pm $3 for children 3–13 years | Free for children 2 years and younger | $5 for adults
Enjoy an interactive family experience on the Kids’ Tram as you learn about sculpture through movement! Practice balancing like Plantoir, pretending to swim like mink and koi at the waterfall, and learning the best ways to get your heart pumping a la Scarlatti. Strengthen your muscles, your heart and your brain! All activities can also be done seated.
Cancellation Policy: Full refunds for cancellations are given if we are notified by phone or email 30 days in advance of the class. A 50% refund is given if we are notified 7–29 days in advance of the class. No refunds will be given for notice less than 7 days before the class. Call 616-975-3184 or 616-9753147, or email classes@meijergardens.org for cancellations.
Fridays at the Farm
Fridays, June 17–August 19, 11 am–2 pm
Have bushels of family fun this summer! Children of all ages will enjoy farm-time fun working together on a cooperative quilting project and completing farm “chore challenges.” Join us for special farm-inspired stories, games, music and more!
SPECIAL FAMILY WEEKENDS
Focus on Flowers
Come smell the flowers at Michigan’s Farm Garden! This weekend will have you exploring the uses of flowers, investigating their functions and learning all about their purposes. Participate in a variety of family-friendly activities, such as creating your own flower crown and going on a fun flower hunt.
Meet Me at the Fair
There’s something for everyone at the fair! View live farm animals and vote for your favorite. Join in classic fair games and enjoy a traditional fair “treat.” Listen to toe-tapping tunes, participate in fun farm animal challenges and play a rousing game of “Old MacDonald Says!”
Heirloom Tomatoes
Join us for a flavorful weekend focused on heirloom tomatoes. Join in family activities such as creating colorful and unique tomato designs and participate in a trivia challenge highlighting tomatoes. Ask a horticulturist about the tomatoes growing at Michigan’s Farm Garden and learn about different varieties through informal talks, lectures, and sampling—then vote for your top tomato!
Amazing Honeybees
“Bee” amazed this weekend as you take a closer look at the fascinating world of honeybees. Discover different aspects of bees and beekeeping by viewing an observation hive and listening to local beekeepers. Learn amazing facts while you sample several different types of honey. Become a bee as you create your own unique set of antennae, then find out how to communicate like a bee by participating in a “bee dance.”
Lena Meijer Children’s Garden
SPECIAL CHILDREN’S GARDEN SUMMER EVENTS
Fathers, Everywhere!
Saturday, June 18, 10 am–12 pm
Treat your grownup to unique Father’s Day activities in the Children’s Garden. Play special fishing games, create a “Catch of the Day” fish print, or join a naturalist talk all about animal fathers everywhere. Learn baby animal names while participating in a story time that celebrates fathers.
Red, White, Blue & You: A Salute to Independence Day!
Saturday, July 2, 10 am–12 pm
Help us celebrate America’s birthday—the Children’s Garden way! Create your own ecofriendly, patriotic-themed noisemaker and listen to classic Fourth of July storybooks such as How to Bake an American Pie, Fourth of July Mice, and Red, White and Boom! From an AllAmerican Flag Hunt to a Hula Hoop Hoopla on the lawn, birthday fun will be had by everyone! Whether it’s engaging with pop-up story times, investigating Discovery Cart materials, exploring self-guided activities or joining in with a guest performer, the Children’s Garden is the place to be—all summer long! Check at the Children’s Garden Information Center for what’s happening daily. Special weekly programs and activities include:
Moving to the Music Mondays, 10:30 am Come be a part of our musical jam—whether by playing an instrument, clapping your hands, tapping your toes or lending a voice! Follow along with local musicians as we make music every Monday.
Outdoor Artist Studio Tuesdays, 10:30 am Explore the out-of-doors with an artist’s eye! Join local artists in the vibrant atmosphere of the Children’s Garden for engaging, informal art experiences. Get creative with everyday materials such as paper, crayons and clay.
Summer Story Time Tuesday Evenings, 6:30 pm Experience stories by using your imagination to travel through imaginary landscapes, jumping like frogs onto pretend lily pads, or chanting and cheering for your favorite story characters. Join us for a variety of sensational stories, all summer long.
Weaving and Spinning Flora Wednesdays, 10:30 am Take a closer look at the spectacular variety of colors and patterns found in flowers. Listen to stories about flowers, examine their colors and designs with hand lenses, or go on a floral color hunt—then observe a professional fiber artist as she transforms fibers into flower forms!
Topiary Tales Thursdays, 10:30 am Discover the Children’s Garden through whimsical topiaries! Everyday animals are the focus of this year’s topiary display theme: “Who’s Living in My Backyard?” Join us each Thursday for a fun family-friendly walk, story time and awesome animal activities!
Garden Helpers: Insects and Bugs! Fridays, 10:30 am Beetles, grasshoppers, butterflies, ants and more! Join a "bugologist" and discover unique facts about insect and bug behaviors. Investigate how these tiny animals help in big ways through up-close observations, interactive stories and more!
Science Saturday Saturdays, 10:30 am Investigate the natural world of Michigan every Saturday as you explore fascinating facts about insects, fossils, mammals and more. Learn from a guest naturalist what makes Michigan’s natural elements so unique with simple identification methods, and discover the importance of conservation by participating in family-friendly activities.
