The University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) links both campus and the broader community. This makes us an essential part of 'the Michigan difference' that sets our university apart from many other institutions of higher learning. We help make education at U-M a culturally rich experience by reminding students of the value of nature in their lives, exposing them to innovative practices in land stewardship and conservation, and promoting an ethic of environmental responsibility.

• MBGNA manages four sites:

Nichols Arboretum is a 123-acre site adjacent to central campus that provides a unique opportunity to explore the ongoing interaction of humans and the natural world. The Arb contains specialty gardens, historic and culturally significant collections, areas of native Michigan ecosystems, access to the Huron River, and active areas of ecological restoration. Students and faculty can use a small classroom located in the Reader Center in the Burnham house at the Washington Heights entrance. An amphitheater is also available for outdoor performances within the Arb. Please contact us for site use scheduling, or more information.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens is a 350-acre site located about six miles east of central campus. The Gardens offers an indoor plant conservatory, classroom and meeting spaces, greenhouse and outdoor sites to host research, display gardens, native plant gardens, unique natural areas including two fens, and conducts ongoing ecological restoration activities. This is an excellent location to link the greater community to the research, arts and culture of the University through daily visitors, school children and families that visit throughout the year. Please contact us for site use scheduling, or more information.

Horner McLaughlin Woods located a few miles north of the Botanical Gardens, is a 90-acre site that was donated to the University of Michigan by the Michigan Botanical Club in 1964 as a plant and wildflower sanctuary for scientific, educational, and aesthetic purposes. It contains oak-hickory woodlands, old field and rolling terrain, several small woodland ponds and streams, and a sizeable buttonbush swamp. Please contact us for site use scheduling, or more information.

Mud Lake Bog is nearly 260 acres and certainly the most remote and rugged of MBGNA properties. A very large wetland area with some swamp hardwood forest, this property contains open marshes and a bog at its center. It rests on a gently undulating landscape of shallow kettles and small kames. Please contact us for site use scheduling or more information.

• Research Opportunities

MBGNA provides facilities, services and support for research projects in both greenhouse and field settings...

• Past Research Resources

A wide variety of research takes place at or about MBGNA...

• Teaching

We encourage university faculty to use our sites for their academic teaching, student assignments, student field research, or service learning projects...

• Internships & Workstudy

Summer interns and academic year work-study students are an integral part of the work we do at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum...

• Volunteering

Partner with staff in implementing our creative educational programs, horticultural and natural areas restoration projects...

• Cultivating Community

"Organic" and "sustainable" seem to be the new buzzwords on campus. But what do these words even mean? And what does sustainable or organic food actually entail? Satisfy your curiosity with Cultivating Community, a student program of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum that offers hands-on experiences...

For further information about these programs or other Education-related inquires, please click here to use our interactive comment form to submit your inquiry.