September Events Round-Up

If you and your family are looking for activities in the upcoming month, you’ve come to the right place. September holds many virtual and in-person opportunities in the Greater Lansing area for you to check out. Click the links below to explore future events and register if required.

Campus Events

September 7: Family Day: PAINT: Join us at the MSU Broad Art Museum from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for Family Day. You and your family can pick up a paintbrush and create paintings inspired by the artwork of Samia Halaby: Eye Witness. Registration is required for this free event. 

September 9: Monday Night Open House: Visit the MSU Bug House in the Natural Science Building for a bug-themed evening! From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., come to room 147 to meet live insects and arachnids from around the world. Visit our website for directions! 

September 29: Collage Making for Liberation with Rebel Betty: From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., join Chicago-based artist Rebel Betty for a collage-making workshop at the MSU Broad Art Museum. Explore the exhibit in collaboration with Diasporic Collage: Puerto Rico and the Survival of a People, and be sure to register for this free event.

Learning Opportunities

September 12 & 26: Deepening Your Essential Skills: If you have completed a Spartan Resilience Education course, you are eligible to continue learning at this webinar. Here you can ask questions, raise topics, and build community with your peers. Be sure to register for this free course through the link above! 

Family Friendly Events

September 12: BealFest2024: The Apple of MSU’s Eye: Come to the Beal Botanical Garden from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to attend their annual fall celebration. This year’s theme highlights trees, and the event will include activities, performances, demonstrations, and trees to adopt for everyone. More information to come, so stay tuned!

September 13: 1920s Murder Mystery Dinner: Michigan Princess is hosting a brand new and immersive Murder Mystery Dinner experience from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Enjoy live music, interactive murder mystery entertainment, buffet-style dinner, and more all while cruising down the Grand River. The roaring twenties theme allows you to immerse yourself in the experience and play your own unique storyline for the evening. Tickets are $85/person and can be purchased at the link above. 

September 14: Lansing Princess Day: Experience a fun-filled day with your favorite princesses at Lansing Princess Day at the Ramada Lansing Hotel. Here you can experience 10 performances and activities with your little ones, including a meet-and-greet session with photos, hugs, and autographs. This event runs for approximately 90 minutes and all guests must purchase a ticket to attend. Little ones are encouraged to dress up as their favorite princess. Be sure to purchase your tickets soon, and check out the website for more information. 

September 19–22: 517 Hispanic Heritage Festival: Join us for a weekend of celebration this Hispanic Heritage Month for a weekend of fun, education, and entertainment in the Downtown District of Michigan’s State Capital! Come observe the largest display of Hispanic cultures, art, food, music, dancing, and more. On Saturday, September 21, the main event “A Taste of Hispanic Heritage Festival,” will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and will be closing the 100 and 200 blocks of Downtown Lansing. Check out the website for more details and parking information. 

Farmers Markets

Farmer’s markets are beloved events in many local communities allowing us an opportunity to support local farmers and small businesses and enjoy delicious produce, baked goods, and even homemade crafts and personal care items. Many Greater Lansing communities offer seasonal farmer’s markets. Find one near you at https://mifma.org/find-a-farmers-market/

Open Enrollment

Save the Date for October 3: The Open Enrollment Benefits Fair is early this year on Thursday, October 3 at Breslin Center. MSU benefit providers and MSU HR staff will be available to answer questions and/or help employees enroll in their benefits on-site at the Breslin Student Events Center. More information will be shared closer to the event date. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for details!

August Events Round-Up

If you and your family are looking for activities in the upcoming month, you’ve come to the right place. August holds many virtual and in-person opportunities in the Greater Lansing area for you to check out. Click the links below to explore future events and register if required.

Campus Events 

August 3rdFamily Day: PLAY: Join us at the MSU Broad Art Museum from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for a hands-on and family-friendly day full of art and collage-making. Register above for this free event for all ages.

August 4th Deep-Rooted with Beal Botanical Gardens: The Beal Botanical Gardens is hosting a summer tour from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Learn from Applied Ethnobotanist and Education Program Director, Maeve Bassett about the social, historical, and political narratives within plants in the garden and artwork in the MSU Broad Art Collection. Registration for this free event is encouraged. 

August 25thSparticipation: Come to MSU’s largest Fall Welcome Tradition, Sparticipation, to check out over 600 organizations that Michigan State has to offer within 30 different departments. Whether you are a student looking for clubs to become a part of or just curious about campus life, you don’t want to miss out on this one. No registration is needed for this free event at IM East Field from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Learning Opportunities 

August 8th & 22ndDeepening Your Essential Skills: If you have completed a course by Spartan Resilience Education, you are eligible to continue learning at this webinar. Here you can ask questions, raise topics and build community with your peers. Be sure to register for this free course through the link above! 

Family Friendly Events 

August 8thBubble Day: Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden invites you and your family to celebrate the end of summer vacation at the garden with bubbles! As you explore the world of bubbles, you can eat, paint, and even make music with bubbles. Check out the link above for parking information. The cost is $5 per child.. 

August 9th 11thSt. Johns Mint Festival: Join us at the 39th annual St. Johns Mint Festival featuring a craft show, flea market, live entertainment and activities for those of all ages. This 3- day event allows visitors to explore a variety of handmade crafts and unique items, and enjoy live music from local artists. Check out their website for parking information. 

August 10thMeridian Pride Event: Come by and celebrate the 2024 Meridian Pride Event from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the Marketplace on the Green Pavilion (1995 Central Park Drive). Meridian Pride brings together LGBTQ+ members, allies, and organizations to celebrate diversity and inclusion within the community. There will be food trucks, music, advocacy resources, art vendors, yard games and live entertainment. Check out the link above for more information. 

August 17thOld Town ArtFeast: Celebrate art and food from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and check out art, craft vendors, food trucks and more. Experience downtown Lansing at this event and come see the town’s unique bars, boutiques, and restaurants. No registration is required for this event.

August 31st & September 1st Michigan Chicken Wing Festival: If you and your family are looking for a fun-filled weekend in the Lansing area, come on by the Michigan Chicken Wing Festival. Adado Riverfront Park will be hosting a 2-day event featuring live music, a kids’ zone, a VIP tent, food trucks and vendors, arts and crafts, and most importantly – chicken wings! This event is held as a fundraiser to support Against All Odds for their free boutique (Lilian’s) inside Lansing Mall. Against All Odds provides services to the homeless, cancer survivors, disabled, Veterans, and those that need a little help with everyday needs. Read more about the Michigan Chicken Wing Festival in the link above for more information and important notes on what to bring.

Farmers Markets

Farmer’s markets are beloved events in many local communities allowing us an opportunity to support local farmers and small businesses and enjoy delicious produce, baked goods, and even homemade crafts and personal care items. Many Greater Lansing communities offer seasonal farmer’s markets. Find one near you at https://mifma.org/find-a-farmers-market/

Save the Date for October 3: The Open Enrollment Benefits Fair is early this year on Thursday, October 3 at Breslin Center. MSU benefit providers and MSU HR staff will be available to answer questions and/or help employees enroll in their benefits on-site at the Breslin Student Events Center. More information will be shared closer to the event date. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for details!

June Events Round-up

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 2Music 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 13Beal 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 14MSU 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 1Family 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 8Parent 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 8–1531st 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 13–15517 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 16Father’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 16Art 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 21Potter 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 22Lansing 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 29MSUFCU Kids’ Day: Join MSUFCU as they celebrate their youth members! Enjoy games and prizes, giant inflatables, financial education activities, free food and more!

June 30Abrams 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 4Crucial 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 13Identify 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 20Cultural 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 3The 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 17Rest 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 2Eastern 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 2The 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.

October Events Round-Up

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 

October 3- To Kill A Mockingbird: The Wharton Center will be hosting “To Kill a Mockingbird” in the Cobb Great Hall from October 3-8. Ticket prices are available on the Wharton Center website. 

October 12- MSU Broad Art Museum: Game Changers (free): Take a tour through “Resistance Training: Arts, Sports, and Civil Rights” and discuss gender inequality in sports while learning about the “game-changing” legislation that redefined sports. 

October 12- Beal Botanical Garden Tour: Fall and Winter Plant Lore (free):  Join Beal Botanical Garden’s Educational Program Director, Maeve Bassett, for a lunchtime tour to learn how the plants stay protected in the colder months. 

October 29- MSU Men’s Basketball Charity Exhibition Game: The Spartans will be facing off with the Tennesse Volunteers for an exhibition game with all proceeds going to Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund to provide financial resources to local relief efforts.

Learning Opportunities

October 1- Midjourney AI Art Workshop 1: Introduction to Generative AI Art with Midjourney (free): This foundational session will serve as an introduction to AI art through guided demonstrations and exercises. 

October 12- Post-Parental Leave Employee Resource Group (free): Join this session to learn about what work-life balance looks like after parental leave. Learn about MSU’s remote and hybrid work policies and how to develop a flexible work arrangement. 

October 13- Open Virtual Reality (free): Whether you’re a first-timer or a VR professional, MSU Libraries VR Open Hours are for you! Connect with others and learn about virtual reality during this in-person course.

Health and Wellness

October 4- Mindfulness in the Workplace: Learn the basics of mindfulness and how you can benefit from a mindful work environment in this virtual course. 

October 4- Raising Good Eaters: The Feeding Relationship: This series will serve as a problem-solving course in learning how to feed your children and identify eating/feeding skills.

October 12- Open Enrollment Benefits Fair: MSU benefit providers and MSU HR staff will be available to answer questions and/or help employees enroll in their benefits on-site at the Breslin Student Events Center. 

October 15- MSU College of Law Justice For All 5K Walk/Run: The second annual Justice For All 5K Walk/Run will be held at 1:00 PM on October 15. The course will lead participants through MSU’s campus with donations going to Legal Services of South Central Michigan.

Family-Friendly Activities

October 1- Meridian Heritage Festival: Celebrate the community’s history with a day of entertainment, demonstrations, games, and exhibits from Native American and early American cultures featuring games and a Civil War Reenactment Presentation. 

October 7- Family Day: TEAM: Make creative connections at the Broad Art Museum with our exhibitions through free hands-on and interactive family fun throughout the museum.

October 7- Grand Ledge Fall Festival: Celebrate fall in Grand Ledge with crafters, vendors, food trucks, entertainment, pumpkins, handmade items, baked goods, pony rides, pottery, candles, jewelry, and much more. 

July Events Round-Up

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

July 13Beal Botanical Garden Tour: Etymology and the Naming of Plants: Join Beal Botanical Garden’s Program Director for a lunchtime tour to learn about the origin of plant names and the stories behind them. 

Shouldn’t You Be Working? New Exhibition to Open at MSU Broad Art Museum: A new exhibition is on display at the MSU Broad Art Museum, showcasing 100 years of ‘working from home’ in all its various forms. The exhibition is available through December 17 and you can visit for free Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Learning Opportunities

July 6- Visiting scholar talk: Uche Anomnachi, University of Iowa: One of seven visiting scholars, Uche Anomnachi will present their research starting at 12 p.m. Anomnachi, from the University of Iowa, is using the Comic Art collection various stereotyped depictions of Blackness.

July 7- Community-Engaged Scholarship Write-In: This event is targeted at remote workers who find it hard to make time for writing. The focus of this workshop (in-person or on Zoom) is to advance your scholarship and have designated writing time for engagement work. Join University Outreach and Engagement on the first Friday of each month from 9 a.m.-noon.

July 18- Mitigating Bias in Hiring: Learn about the overview of bias in the brain and how to navigate implicit bias throughout the hiring process. This workshop is from 1-2:30 p.m.

July 19- The Power of Habit: Learn how to manage your habits and achieve your long-term performance goals. Available virtually from 8:30-4:30. 

July 19- Introduction to Process Mapping: This workshop will help define key process terminology and introduce common elements in process mapping. This is an in-person event scheduled from 9 a.m.-noon. 

Health and Wellness

July 12- Yoga in Beal Garden II: This second phase of yoga in the Beal Botanical Gardens will work to accommodate a workday schedule and promote being active. Yoga in the Beal Garden will run from July 12- August 16, every Wednesday starting at 12:15 pm. 

July 17- Rest With Music: Abrams Planetarium is hosting their final Rest With Music with live performances to help you relax during a busy work day. The live music will last from 12:10-12:50 p.m. along with an online option via Facebook Live. 

July 19- Nutrition Myths Debunked: Join this Zoom course from 12:00-1:00 p.m. to understand common nutritional myths and how to navigate them in a positive manner.

Family-Friendly Activities

July 1- Family Day: GROW: Stop by the Broad Art Museum from 11:00am-3:00pm. for family fun and creativity along with the theme of “growth.” 

July 20- Water Day- 4 H Children’s Gardens: Come cool off from the summer heat with water games and water art in the garden. This event is $5 per child and is from 10:00am-12:00pm.

June Events Round-Up

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

Learning Opportunities

  • June 5Self-Compassion – An Essential Skill for Success: This course will provide an overview of the research on self-compassion, define what self-compassion is and challenge the myths about self-compassion that lead people to be overly harsh and critical with themselves.
  • June 7Finding Time: Time Management Strategies for Busy Professionals: Improve skills that may help reduce strain related to task accomplishment and time constraints.
  • June 13Cultural Competency: Join HR’s Organization and Professional Development team in building cultural awareness and inclusiveness skills that strengthen cultural competence.
  • June 20Performance Management for Hybrid Teams: This class will share best practices, and identify tips and strategies for developing strong and high performing hybrid teams using MSU’s Performance Excellence process.
  • June 21Taming the Email Beast: This program features specific tips for Outlook and Gmail users, but is applicable to any email user.
  • Starting June 21Crucial Conversations® for Mastering Dialogue: This program teaches techniques that allow you to make room for different opinions and perspectives, find mutual respect and common purpose, and dialogue openly.
  • June 22Ready, Set, Change!: Discover a simpler and faster approach to help individuals and organizations adopt change to ensure objectives are met.

Health & Wellness

Family-Friendly Activities

  • June 3Family Day: PLAY: Make creative connections with our exhibitions through free hands-on and interactive family fun throughout the museum. All ages are welcome.
  • June 14Story Time at the Museum: Knowing Nature: Join East Lansing Public Library’s STEAM Educator Dr. Eric Berling for a nature-themed story time at the MSU Museum.

April Events Round-Up

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

April 1MSU Science Festival: Print your own butterfly postcard! (free): Create a butterfly postcard with an illustration from Special Collections.

April 2 TEDxMSU (free): Visit the Wharton Center to hear from TEDx speakers, and visit pop-up shops, participate in giveaways and much more. 

April 5 2023 International Awards Ceremony: Join this recognition of individuals who are solving the world’s greatest problems, making the world a better place, internationalizing the student experience, and advancing knowledge and transforming lives around the world.

April 14 APIDA Heritage Month Community Dinner: Enjoy a community dinner honoring APIDA Heritage Month and enjoy an evening of community, food and activities. 

April 18 Clothing Repair-A-Thon (free): Give or gain help in the Makerspace system with any of your favorite pieces that need repairing. 

Learning Opportunities

April 2AI Sonic Art Workshop (free): Learn how to use AI and experiment with text-to-sound technology.

April 7 2023 Fatherhood Forum- The Evolution of Fatherhood: The annual Fatherhood Forum is aimed toward fathers who want to enhance their greatness as parents, their loved ones and supporters. 

April 11 Grammar Refresher: Strengthen your grammar and usage skills and present a more polished, professional image.

April 12 Maximizing the Spartan Experience: Gain a foundational perspective related to enhanced customer service delivery.

April 13 Post Parental Leave Employee Resource Group: Things to Consider or Plan for Before/While Returning to Work: Discuss what can be done to help you be best prepared emotionally, mentally, physically and organizationally before returning to work.

Health and Wellness

Starts April 5 Wellbeing Wednesdays (free): The Health4U program and WorkLife Office have partnered to bring you wellbeing in its many forms. 

April 18 Sleep: Understanding and Optimizing Your Nightly Reboot (free): Learn about the physiological importance of sleep and how to improve your sleep quality.

Family-Friendly Activities

Starts April 1Big Astronomy: Visit the Abrams Planetarium to learn more about a world-class observatory. 

April 1 Monday Night Open House (free): View insects from all over the world at the MSU Bug House. 

April 1 Pet Easter Egg Hunt: Soldan’s Pet Supplies is bringing back their Pet Easter Egg Hunt with thousands of colorful eggs on the lawn of their DeWitt location.

Starts April 2 A Story of Survival Dinosaurs: Visit the Abrams Planetarium to learn about the evolution of dinosaurs. 

April 3 Mother Daughter Dance: Head to Delta Township for a night of fun, music, refreshments and photos!

April 14Night at the Museums (free): Enjoy the MSU Museum and the Broad Art Museum with tours, art making and more.

April 25 Sensory Friendly Spartan Concert (free): Enjoy a chamber ensemble concert designed to serve the needs of all individuals. 

March Events Round-Up

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

Starts March 5ANR Week (free): Join the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and MSU for Agriculture and Natural Resources Week and learn more about one of the largest events of its kind in the nation. 

March 14 Make & Sustain: Upcycled Planters (free): Decoupage your container with colorful paper provided from MSU Surplus and plant a seed from the Seed Library.

March 19 SpARTan Wellness: PLAY WITH CLAY (free): Visit the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum to roll, stretch, carve and stamp clay creations.  

March 27 Composition Reading with Imani Winds (free): Enjoy music from the members of Imani Winds, as they perform works penned by MSU student composers.

March 312023 MSU Cesar Chavez & Dolores Huerta Commemoration: Join this event to honor this year’s theme: Remembering and Progressing our Roots. Hear from the keynote speaker and President of United Farm Workers, Teresa Romero.

Learning Opportunities

Starts March 3 Intentional Parenting – Building a More Meaningful Connection with our Kids (free): This course will help parents explore how to connect with their children through open and honest communication.

Starts March 10 15th Annual Muslim Mental Health Conference: This year’s conference aims to acknowledge and honor the history in the field of Muslim mental health, highlight and share current insights and wisdom and set sights on the future of the field of Muslim Mental Health.

March 22 – 2023 MSU Women’s Advisory Committee for Support Staff Spring Forum: Building Bridges of Spartan Connections: This forum will focus on Building Bridges of Spartan Connections with a keynote address by HR’s very own Christina K. Brogdon, PHR, MSU’s Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.

March 22 – Photo Book Workshop using Microsoft Word (free): Learn how to use Microsoft Word to design a photo book you can print at MSU Libraries Publishing Services.

Health and Wellness

March 2 Responding to the Tragic Events at MSU (free): In response to the tragic events that occurred at MSU, the WorkLife Office has prepared a training that will discuss the different ways in which we respond to trauma.

Starts March 7MSU Grief and Loss Support Group (free): This open conversation with MSU community members will help those dealing with grief. 

March 7 Ergonomic Best Practices for Workstation Comfort and Safety (free): This Zoom session will explore the basics of ergonomics, injury prevention, how to set up your workstation, standing desk use and stretches/exercises to help reduce the risk of work-related pain.

March 13 Sleep: Understanding and Optimizing Your Nightly Reboot (free): Explore the benefits of maintaining good “sleep hygiene” and learn how to improve your sleep quality. 

March 16 Lansing River Walk Trail (free): Join the International Employee Resource Group, in person, for a scenic Spring walk through the Lansing River Trail!

March 23 Laughing is the Best Medicine (free): Join the Adult Caregivers Employee Resource Group to learn more about caregiving with laughter, mindfulness and explore the social, emotional and physical benefits of laughter.

Family-Friendly Activities

Starts March 3 Imagine the Moon: Visit the Abrams Planetarium to explore how the moon has inspired human creativity. 

March 4Family Day: JOIN (free): Join the MSU Broad Art Museum for their monthly family day. For this month’s theme, come together to deliver a message.

Starts March 5 In My Backyard: Visit the Abrams Planetarium for an exciting show from children’s entertainer, Fred Penner.

March 13Monday Night Open House (free): View insects from all over the world at the MSU Bug House. 

March 21 Crazy Sock Day: Make Your Own Socks! (free): Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by creating and wearing crazy mismatching socks. 

March 23 Homeschool Day: Art Field Trip! (free): Connect with other homeschoolers at this day of making, looking and learning designed just for you and your family! All ages are welcome. Kids under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

February Events Round-Up

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

February 13The Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards Ceremony: Join the campus community in recognition of the exceptional and innovative contributions of students, staff and faculty in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in teaching, research, programming, service, community outreach and organizational change.

Starts February 17Charlotte’s Web: Enjoy this classic story at the Fairchild Theatre from the MSU Department of Theatre. 

February 17 DIE/GEST Opening Reception (free): Visit the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum to see the opening of this interactive mixed media installation. This will include a special live music and spoken-word performance by jazz musician, Albert Marquès and Keith LaMar, a writer, artist and activist who has spent almost 30 years in solitary confinement on death row in Ohio.

February 26National Geographic Live: Head to the Wharton Center to learn all about whales.

Learning Opportunities

Starts February 7Implicit Bias Certificate (free): This series allows participants to examine the multiple facets of implicit bias and the impact on our community through a series of modules.

Starts February 7 Crucial Conversations for Accountability: This in-person series teaches nine powerful skills for resolving performance problems, strengthening trust and reliability and eliminating inconsistency through group discussion, real-time practice, and group support and coaching.

February 7 Disbursement Voucher Processing (free): This virtual class will provide detailed information about processing a disbursement voucher (DV) in KFS. 

February 8Building Cohesive Teams: Learn tactics for building collaboration within a team and skills for improving team performance in this virtual course.

February 10An Introduction to MSU Commons (free): This workshop will provide an introduction to the new open access platform, MSU Commons. This platform allows you to deposit your educational and scholarly work and connect with others. 

February 14Adoption Through Foster Care (free): The Family Resource Group is hosting this Zoom presentation to discuss the process of adoption through the foster care system.

February 15 Building a Framework for Resilient Leadership: Explore with other campus leaders some essential resilience skills required for effective leadership for the common good.

February 15Emotional Intelligence as a Foundation to DEI Work (free): As part of the “Confident Women Series,” this Zoom session will help you develop a deeper understanding of emotional intelligence as it relates to DEI.

February 15Identify and Maximize Your Strengths: This assessment identifies your natural patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving, so that you can discover what makes you exceptional and maximize your potential.

February 16 Creating and Sustaining a Positive Workplace: This humorous virtual session will cover the seven habits of negativity.

February 20Cultural Competency (free): This in-person session will cover cultural awareness and inclusivity skills that strengthen cultural competence.

February 21 Finding Time: Time Management Strategies for Busy Professionals (free): This class will explore strategies to more efficiently allocate your minutes, streamline workflow and relieve some pressure in the process.

February 22 Strategic Planning: Learn how to move from ideas to action in this virtual workshop.

Health and Wellness

Starts February 8Boundaries (free): This weekly Zoom workshop will help you learn how to establish boundaries in the workplace and at home.

Starts February 1Food and Nutrition Counseling (free): Take advantage of a one-on-one session with a registered dietitian to discuss how your lifestyle and eating habits may impact your health.

Family-Friendly Activities

Starts February 3Skywatchers of Africa: Visit the Abrams Planetarium to learn about the diversity of African astronomy in this new show. 

Starts February 5A Story of Survival Dinosaurs: Visit the Abrams Planetarium to see this fictional story about real-life dinosaur evolution. 

February 4 Family Day: EDIT (free): Join the MSU Broad Art Museum for their monthly family day. For this month’s theme, copy, cut and paste to see something new.

Starts February 11 Ice Safari: Visit the Potter Park Zoo to see ice sculptures and some of your favorite winter animals.

February 13Monday Night Open House (free): View insects from all over the world at the MSU Bug House. 

Starts February 25 Greater Lansing Orchid Society Show and Sale (free): Enjoy the beautiful flowers and exhibits while learning how to grow orchids.

January Events Round-Up

Happy New Year! Are you looking for activities for you and your family to kick off the new year? 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

January 17Sharks of the Arctic and Other Fossil Surprises (free): This MSU Museum program will explore fossil records and get a rare look at 50-million-year-old shark specimens.

Starts January 20 Blue Man Group: Experience a performance from the iconic group at the Wharton Center. 

January 21 Lunar New Year Celebration Concert: Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Cook Recital Hall with MSU artists and guests as they perform works by composers of Asian descent. 

January 22Celebration of the Beautiful Voice, Opera Theatre: Enjoy MSU Vocal Arts performances of scenes from operatic masterworks at the Fairchild Theatre.

January 29 2023 Running Start Live Pitch Competition (free): Witness student entrepreneurs in action as they pitch their innovative projects and music business ideas to a live audience and panel of judges. Audience members will have the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Award. 

Learning Opportunities

January 10How to Talk to Your Kids About Race (free): The Family Employee Resource Group is hosting this Zoom session to teach parents and caregivers about bias and racism.

January 12 Stable Links Workshop (free): This Zoom workshop will guide participants through the process of integrating journal articles, e-book chapters or streaming media into their course(s).

January 23Mendeley Demonstration and Q&A (free): This online session will allow participants to ask questions and learn how to utilize the Mendeley citation management program. 

January 25The 2nd Annual Malcolm X Muslim Studies Community Forum (free): This MSU Muslim Studies Program event will feature Leading American Muslim Scholars, Imam Omar Suleiman and Imam Abdullah Oduro.  

Health and Wellness

January 15SpARTan Wellness: JOURNALING (free): Come to the MSU Broad Art Museum and create a journal to help focus and reflect on your goals, hopes and anxieties in the new year. 

Starts January 23Blue Cross Winter Warm Up (free): Engage in physical activity during the winter months with this 5K training program. The program is open to walkers and runners of all ages and abilities. 

Starts January 25Finding Time: Time Management Strategies for Busy Professionals (free): This Zoom class will explore strategies to more efficiently allocate our minutes, streamline workflow and relieve some pressure in the process.

Starts January 31Active Office Workshop (free): Join this Zoom course to learn the best practices for staying active in an office setting. 

Family-Friendly Activities

January 4Together Let’s Sing, Dance and Jam!! (free): This virtual event will feature musical therapists from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and allow those of all ages and abilities to move around. 

Starts January 6Ice Worlds: Visit the Abrams Planetarium to learn about the Arctic and Antarctic regions. 

January 7Family Day: DREAM (free): Join the MSU Broad Art Museum for their monthly family day. For this month’s theme, you’ll be creating dream worlds where anything can happen.

January 14Let’s Warm Up – Kids Cooking Class: Sweet Encounter Bakery is teaching children eight and up how to make some of winter’s favorite dishes.

January 15Sensory Friendly at Abrams Planetarium: Visit the planetarium this month for their sensory friendly hours.