Free Art Tours at the University of Michigan Museum of Art

Each Sunday in September at 1:00 p.m., families can take a free docent guided tour of the University of Michigan Museum of Art (525 S. State St., Ann Arbor). The free program guides visitors through diverse art gallery tours that include a variety of art styles and media that illuminate the theme and preferences of the unique individual guiding the tour. Themes may be repeated but each docent's approach and choice of objects is always unique allowing families to explore the museum several times throughout the month!

This docent guided tours are likely best for older, more mature youth and teens.

Weekend Events Round-up: Labor Day Weekend

Happy Labor Day weekend. Here's hoping whatever you are doing - Having a family BBQ, spending time at the beach, camping, playing outdoors or having a picnic is peaceful and wonderful. I know many friends will be prepping for that first day of school, as I will be doing, as well as finishing up our summer bucket list! Don't let the weekend get away from you though, there is still plenty of great activities and events happening around town. Experience Kid's Day at the Saline Community Fair, or even head to the Michigan State Fair.

Another fun weekend event sounds like the Old St. Patrick Labor Day Weekend Festival (5671 Whitmore Lake Rd., Ann Arbor). The festival hours are Saturday and Sunday noon - 11:00 p.m. With free admission, families will find kids’ games, a petting farm, free face painting and inflatables. Teen specific activities include a rock-climbing wall and a bungee jump. Find food and plenty of entertainment in this fun-filled event.

It's been kind of a hectic week for me with the family and I'm not sure how the next few months will play out, I will however continue to try and get you fun events and activities for the kids! Have a great Labor Day weekend check out a few things happening around town.

Friday:

• Free dinosaur tours at the UM Natural History Museum at 2:00 p.m. 
• You're a Good Man Charlie Brown  at Children’s Creative Center (1600 Pauline Blvd., Ann Arbor) at 8:00 p.m.  Ticket prices for general admission are $20.

Saturday:

• Weekly story time at Nicola's Books 11:00 a.m. - noon
• Hands-on cow-eye dissection at University of Michigan Museum of Natural History (1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor) at 11:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. for ages 5+ This is a free event but there is a suggested donation is $6 per person. 
• Ultimate gaming experience at Briarwood Mall (Macy's court) where kids and teens can try unreleased Nintendo and Bandai Namco games at 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
• Free dinosaur tours 2:00 p.m.
• You're a Good Man Charlie Brown  at Children’s Creative Center at 8:30 p.m.  

Sunday:

• Ultimate gaming experience at Briarwood Mall 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• Free dinosaur tours 2:00 p.m. 
• West Lake Preserve almost autumn exploration hike at 2:00-4:00 p.m. On this hike families will look at insects, wildflowers, birds, trees and more as they hike the field and forest habitats of the preserve.
• Hands-on cow-eye dissection at University of Michigan Museum of Natural History at 3:00 p.m.
• Dancing in the Streets party happens in downtown Ann Arbor (Main & Washington) 2:00-6:30 p.m. 

Monday:

• Free admission to the The Henry Ford Museum during the Target Family Fun Day.

Great Outdoors Youth Jamboree

As an active scouting parent, there was no doubt I would post this event when I ran into it yesterday at the Saline Community Fair. I'm just sad to know that I can't attend as I will be at a BSA Woodbadge course! The Great Outdoors Youth Jamboree though is the perfect way to stand behind the "No Child Left Indoors".

On Sunday, September 8, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., , kids can spend the day in the great outdoors learning many outdoor skills - shooting, archery, birding, fishing, boating, camping and even nature crafts. Families can see many displays ad participate in hands-on activities. Kids will find instruction in archery, dutch oven cooking, stand up paddle-boarding, fly fishing, outdoor photography and many, many more nature-based activities. Kids can also learn all about habitat and environmental projects and possibly take part in a live Chukar hunt (pre-registration for the Chukar hunt is required.).

Get a total outdoor experience for the whole family. Food vendors will be on site or bring a picnic lunch to enjoy by the lake. Make sure to bring a water bottle and a backpack or tote bag for all the goodies you'll be taking home. Dress for the weather as the Great Outdoors Youth Jamboree will be held rain or shine. This is a free event that will take place at the Lake Hudson State Recreation Area (5505 Morey Highway, Clayton MI) so families will need to have the recreation passport or pay the minimal entry fee into the park.

Be sure to thank the event sponsors for this fantastic opportunity - Pheasant's Forever, the Michigan Pheasants Restorative Initiative and the Michigan DNR.

Win Tickets to If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

Win free tickets to see
If You Give a Mouse A Cookie
at the City Theatre Detroit.

Anyone interested in seeing "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" at the City Theatre (2301 Woodward Ave., Detroit) August 23-25? The Ann Arbor Mom Blog is offering one lucky fan the chance to win free tickets - That's right it's family 4-pack time for the August 24, 11:00 a.m. show!

All you need to do is comment on the blog post below on why your children would enjoy the show. Remember you must be signed in or make sure I can contact you as the winner. This is a quick contest, as the winners name will be drawn by all entries posted on the Facebook post OR this blog post by Tuesday, August 20 at 5:00 p.m.

My son LOVED the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie story and even wrote his own cute version of the story as a Mother's Day gift the year he was in second grade - I would think this would be an excellent way to spend a Saturday morning with your younger children! Just remember to enter quickly!

Weekend Events Round-Up: August 16-18

What events and activities has your
summer bucket list had? Are there any this
weekend that will help you out?

I'm sorry about the brevity of the last few weekend events updates, I've just been slamming with things to do! This summer has been wonderful. Actually though this week is short and sweet because I'm on vacation with my family. Likely not busy. As we lounge on a houseboat on Lake Cumberland! This had better be the relaxing family vacation I was hoping for. Sadly though we are missing our beloved Ypsilanti Heritage Festival as well as a few other pretty cool events.

Did you see the post earlier this week about the NASA Star Party? Looks fun doesn't it? I still want to get my son over to the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History for the cow eyeball dissection too. Anything else look interesting or fun? How will your family begin to wrap up their summer? Did you have a summer bucket list of events and activities to do? We did. We're trying hard to get to everything too!

So I'll leave you with this - A full list of events and activities happening for your weekend events planner!

Friday, August 16

• 11:30 a.m. Planetarium show at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
• Noon-8:30 p.m. Ypsilanti Heritage Festival
• Noon-8:00 p.m. NASA Star Party at EMU
• 2:00 p.m. Movies n Muffins at the Dexter District Library: Lincoln. Rated PG-13
• 2:00-2:30 p.m. - Free Dinosaur Tours
•  2:00 p.m. Film Fridays at the Ypsilanti District Library: Fantastic Mr. Fox
• 7:00-10:00 p.m. - Friday Night Live Skate at Skatin Station II (Canton)

Saturday, August 17

• 10:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Ypsilanti Heritage Festival
• 10:00-noon - Tot roller skating at Skatin Station II 
• 10:30 a.m. Family Storytime at the Ypsilanti District Library (Whittaker)
• 11:00 a.m. - Noon Storytime at Nicola's Books
• 11:30 a.m. Planetarium show at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
• Noon-8:00 p.m. NASA Star Party at EMU  
• Noon-3:00 p.m. Healthy Back-to-school Snack Ideas at Whole Foods (both Ann Arbor locations!) Free event
• 1:00 p.m. p.m. Cow Eyeball Hands-on Demo at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History 
• 1:00-3:00 p.m. Kids & Teen Event - Mushroom Workshop at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens
• 1:00-4:00 p.m. Teen Event - Hands on Drawing Workshop at the AADL (Downtown) Grades 6+ through adult.
• 1:00-2:30 p.m. Kids Korral at teh Waterloo Recreation Area riding stable. $45/rider.
• 1:00-4:00 p.m. All Day Skate at Skating Station II
• 2:00-2:30 p.m. - Free Dinosaur Tours 
• 3:00 p.m. Cow Eyeball Hands-on Demo at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
• 7:00-10:00 p.m. Summer Saturday Skate at Skating Station II

Sunday, August 18

• 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Ypsilanti Heritage Festival
• Noon - 5:00 p.m. Summer Reading Finale with the YDL at the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival
• 1:30-2:00 p.m. - Planetarium Show at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History 
• 2:00-2:30 p.m. - Free Dinosaur Tours
• 2:00-5:00 p.m. - Open Skate at Skating Station II 
• 3:00 p.m. Cow Eyeball Hands-on Demo at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History