Earth & Environment
Celebrate our amazing planet with one of these featured environmental programs.
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Get Outside for a BioBlitz!
Ongoing throughout April.
Visit https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2026-msu-science-festival-bioblitz
Appropriate for: Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Let's work together to celebrate science, collect as many different observations as possible, and contribute to scientific research! With the iNaturalist app, you just take a picture of any living organism (animals, plants, fungi, insects, and more), and the community will help identify which species it is. You can participate by exploring the wildlife at your local park, nature center, natural area, your backyard, or any nature near you. Join the BioBlitz iNaturalist Project and get started today! Join the BioBlitz iNaturalist Project and get started today!
Featured Locations:
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Springtime Frog Walk
Presented at the following times:
Thursday, April 9, 8:00 - 9:30 PM at Corey Marsh Ecological Center 9422 Herbison Rd Laingsburg, MI 48848
Pre-register at https://pears.io/events/msuext/4877/
Requires pre-registration
Thursday, April 23, 8:00 - 9:30 PM at Michigan Wildlife Conservancy 6380 Drumheller Rd Bath Township MI 48808
Pre-register at https://pears.io/events/msuext/5047/
Requires pre-registration
Appropriate for: Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Join us for an evening filled with croaks, trills, and splashes from some of our favorite frog friends. Come learn all about the frogs that call Michigan home. We will kick off the evening with a brief introduction to frog calls followed by a hike to various frog habitats including wetlands. The hike will include multiple stations spread over approximately 1 mile of uneven terrain. While all ages are welcome, this program will require walking off trail and flashlights.
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Campfire Science Night
Friday, April 10, 6:00 - 9:30 PM at Woldumar Nature Center 5739 Old Lansing Rd Lansing, MI 48917
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Gather around the campfire for a fun evening of s'mores and exciting hands-on activities at Woldumar Nature Center focused on science in nature. Come dissect owl pellets, learn about how to identify trees, experience the magic of pollinators, and more! We’ll end the night with a colorful fire presentation around the campfire, so come join us to learn more about the nature that’s right in our backyards! Presented by Woldumar Nature Center and Graduate Women in Science Mid-Michigan.
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Discover How Rain Gardens Support Biodiversity
Saturday, April 18, 12:00 - 4:00 PM at MSU Recycling Public Drop-Off
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Explore how rain gardens help manage stormwater and reduce flooding by using soils, microbes, and plants to naturally treat runoff. Investigate how different plants influence water infiltration with infiltrometer and soil moisture measurements, and build your own infiltrometer to support research on plant effectiveness. Discover how rain gardens and other engineered systems enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and provide habitat—key ecosystem services that benefit both people and nature.
Learn more about Discover How Rain Gardens Support Biodiversity
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MSU Earth Bash
Saturday, April 18, 12:00 - 4:00 PM at MSU Surplus Store & Recycling Center
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Celebrate all things reduce, reuse, recycle with a day at the campus recycling center and thrift store. Go secondhand shopping, tour the material recovery facility and vermicompost hoophouse, make upcycled crafts, and enjoy some freecycling, all while listening to music provided by IMPACT 89FM! Let's go green!
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Ecology Extravaganza at Corey Marsh
Saturday, April 25, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM at Corey Marsh Ecological Research Center 9422 Herbison Rd Laingsburg, MI 48848
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Michigan State University’s Corey Marsh Ecological Research Center (CMERC), located just 20 minutes from campus, is a hub for natural resources education, research, and community engagement. Join us for an exciting morning of birdwatching, animal demonstrations, marsh exploration, and hands-on activities. Participants will also learn about citizen science and discover how they can contribute to scientific research right in their own backyards.