Nights at the Museums

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Join zoo staff, zookeepers and volunteers as Potter Park Zoo takes guests on a wild exploration of the natural world and animal kingdom! Walk through the zoo after hours and stop at the many hands-on activities as you go. Unveil the microscopic world around us; solve a veterinarian mystery; dabble in preparing meals for zoo animals; test your skull identification; discover some amazing things about nocturnal animals; learn how to be a conservation champion and so much more!

Learn more about Potter Park Zoo – A Wild Evening Exploring a Living Museum

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

What do you know about where your food comes from? Bring the whole family to the MSU Broad Art Museum to discover the journey of your food through hands-on art and science activities! This year, staff from the MSU Museum will join us at the MSU Broad Art Museum to explore, create, and learn together. Registration for this free event is encouraged.

This event is related to themes presented in the exhibition Farmland. On view from Jan. 18–Jul. 27, 2025, Farmland: Food, Justice, and Sovereignty explores the crucial questions of food knowledge, security, and justice against the background of Michigan State University’s 170-year history in agricultural tradition.

Learn more about Night at the MSU Museums

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Belle Isle Nature Center is partnering with Wayne State University’s Planetarium, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the Michigan Science Center to host an Astronomy Night. Nature Center staff will facilitate educational activities about nighttime animal adaptations and the Lights Out programs for safe passage for nocturnal wildlife. Wayne State University staff set up multiple telescopes on the nature trail and offer activities related to the sky.  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will set up a to-scale, self-guided Solar System tour including trivia and fun facts about the planets.  Michigan Science Center staff will provide an inflatable planetarium and offer an immersive tour of the sky. This event is free but access to Belle Isle requires a Recreation Passport.

Learn more about Astronomy Night at the Belle Isle Nature Center: Rescheduled for April 26