Are you looking for activities for you and your family in the upcoming month? There are events (in-person and virtual) on campus and in the Greater Lansing community. Many events require registration, so be sure to click the links to learn more.

Campus Events

June 2 – Music and the Garden, MSU Strings and Voice: Experience music and nature at Beal Botanical Gardens. Inspired by how trees positively impact our lives, this year’s series will explore a variety of themes shared through music, activities and presentations. The event starts with drop-in family activities at 1 PM, followed by a concert at 2 PM, and concludes with a “Plant Perspectives Tour” that starts at 3 PM. Free and open to the public (be sure to bring a blanket or chair)!

June 13 – Beal Botanical Garden Tour: iNaturalist Training: Join us at the Beal Botanical Garden for a lunchtime introduction to digital identification tools such as iNaturalist, and their importance in conducting research. This tour will cover methods of plant identification, the Flora of Michigan, how to use dichotomous keys, and how herbarium specimens helped create these resources.

June 14 – MSU Juneteenth Commemorative Celebration: Attend the 4th annual MSU Juneteenth Commemorative Celebration on Friday, June 14, 2024, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Breslin Center. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. This year’s theme is Acknowledging the Journey: Freedom, Resilience, Empowerment and Liberation. The commemoration features the multi-faceted musician and host Rodney Page, gospel music by Gregory D and Company, jazz music by the MSU College of Music, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Phoenix Miranda and more.

Family-Friendly Events

June 1 – Family Day: TRANSFORM: First Saturday means Family Day at the MSU Broad Art Museum! Make creative connections with our exhibitions through free hands-on and interactive family fun throughout the museum. Squish, coil, pinch, and roll! Join us as we transform lumps of clay into fantastical sculptures. 

June 8 – Parent and Child Pizza Class: A fantastic way to spend an afternoon with your kid! You and your child will have a hands-on experience – making and tasting some amazing pizzas. This is meant to be an enjoyable class, not anything very serious. Our goal is for you to come in hungry, leave having eaten plenty of food, and with some new knowledge about pizza.

June 8–15 – 31st Lansing Juneteenth Celebration & African American Parade: The mission of the Lansing Juneteenth Committee is to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States by celebrating the joys of liberty, educating the community about our heritage, and by promoting positive cultural interaction. There are tons of events all week!

June 13–15 – 517 Juneteenth Weekend: The 517 Juneteenth Weekend is a unique opportunity for the Mid-Michigan region to celebrate black culture, expression, and freedom while reflecting on 159 years of African-American emancipation. Juneteenth Weekend will feature events and activities from Thursday, June 13th – Sunday, June 16th, with the free Juneteenth Festival taking place in REO Town (on South Washington Ave) on Saturday, June 15th.

Join us for live musical performances, a special guest headline performance, food, black-owned vendors lined down South Washington Ave, informational booths, a kids zone, battle of the BBQ, and much more.

June 16 – Father’s Day Afternoon Dinner Cruise: What a better way to celebrate the Fathers in our lives than spending the afternoon together on a boat? Bring him and the family out for a cruise on the beautiful Grand River. This cruise event will sell out in advance so purchase your tickets early! Guests will be seated on two levels, with stairs required to reach the second deck. Handicap seating on the first deck is limited. Please be sure to check the handicap box on the reservation page when purchasing your tickets.

June 16 – Art on the Farm Workshop: Immerse yourself in inspiration at MSU’s Student Organic Farm. Join us for a walking tour at the certified-organic vegetable farm to learn about organic farming basics, permaculture, farming in hoop houses, and which crops find their way to the dining hall kitchens. After seeing the sights, you’ll be turned loose to sketch, photograph, paint en plein air, capture audio and video, write, dance, and otherwise engage with your artistic practice in this pastoral setting. We can’t wait to see what you create! BYOAS: Bring your own art supplies. Families welcome!

June 21 – Potter Park Zoo Twilight Adventures: Experience a magical evening at Potter Park Zoo during our Twilight Adventures! Join us for an adventure-filled night from 6 to 9 p.m. as you embark on a self-guided tour, follow clues along the way, and learn from our conservation education stations. Engage in fun games and activities under the stars while enjoying delicious s’mores and concession snacks! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore the zoo after hours and create unforgettable memories with family and friends.

June 22 – Lansing Pride: Celebrate Pride in Old Town Lansing! There will be a main stage with entertainment throughout the day, vendors, food, beer tent, and a family area. Follow at www.lansingpride.org or Lansing Pride on Facebook for all of the latest information. With a special performance by Loosey Leduca!

June 29 – MSUFCU Kids’ Day: Join MSUFCU as they celebrate their youth members! Enjoy games and prizes, giant inflatables, financial education activities, free food and more!

June 30 – Abrams Planetarium June 2024 Children’s Feature Show: Created and hosted by cosmically curious teenagers from Milwaukee schools, this unique cosmic experience takes you on a dynamic journey across the universe and through time. Science Topics Include: Black Holes, Cosmology–Origins & Fate of the Universe, Star Cycles, Sun, Earth Origins & History, Water Origins & Chemistry.

Learning Opportunities

June 4 – Crucial Influence: Leaders must be able to influence behavior to achieve team goals and organizational objectives.  Leadership isn’t just about crafting an inspiring vision, it’s about achieving it by mobilizing others to work well independently, and together. The Crucial Influence Model reveals why people do what they do and how leaders at every level can influence behavior for lasting results. Target Audience: Mid to high level leaders who are responsible for leading change and improvement efforts.

June 13 – Identify and Maximize Your Strengths: After completing the online assessment prior to the course, you will attend this program to receive your results and explore what you naturally do best, identify the impacts of those talents on your work and relationships, and determine how to further develop these areas to be most successful. With new self-awareness, and a new language for understanding and expressing what you do best, research has shown that you will be more likely to feel confident, achieve goals, and feel energetic and engaged. Who doesn’t want that?

June 20 – Cultural Competency: One of MSU’s guiding principles is to lead inclusively, actively, and intentionally to promote full participation and a sense of safety and belonging for all employees and staff. Join us in building cultural awareness and inclusiveness skills that strengthen cultural competence!

Health & Wellness

June 3 – The Healing Power of Guided Imagery: Guided Imagery has been shown to alleviate pain, reduce depression, and boost the immune system. Join Jessie Byelich, EAP Counselor, at Abrams Planetarium to learn more. Registration for this free course is required. 

June 17 – Rest with Music: Music is powerful. It can heal. It can calm. It can change our mood. It can regenerate our body, mind and spirit. MSU Health4U, Abrams Planetarium, and MSU Student Health Promotion and Prevention Services invite you to take an hour out of your month to listen and simply Rest with Music. Registration for this free course is required. 

Local Farmers Markets

June 2 – Eastern Ingham Farmer’s Market: The Market will happen every Sunday from 10-2 at McCormick Park in Williamston, Michigan. The Market will have a variety of vendors including produce, locally raised meats, baked goods. Actually visiting the Eastern Ingham Farmers Market is the only way to know how very special it is. The Market is open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every Sunday from mid-May to mid-October and for a special post-season Holiday Market in December. Everyone is welcome!

June 2 – The East Lansing Farmers Market: The East Lansing Farmers Market (ELFM), a growers-only market, is located in an inviting, open-air park atmosphere, just steps away from the MSU campus and downtown East Lansing. Customers can fill their shopping bags with a diverse selection of fresh, farm-grown Michigan produce and products, including vegetables, fruit, artisan bread, cheese, meat, coffee, maple syrup, honey, flowers and more.

The 2024 season of the East Lansing Farmers Market is scheduled to run June 2-Oct. 28 on Sundays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Valley Court Park, 280 Valley Court.