Leila Arboretum

06/14/2026

Leila Arboretum includes a 1-mile paved loop for walking and running, as well as access to deeper forest trails and the Linear Park system.

06/13/2026

🌿 There’s So Much to Explore at Leila Arboretum! 🌿

Did you know Leila Arboretum offers hands-on educational programs, field trips, classroom visits, guided tours, and family-friendly experiences throughout the year?

Whether you’re a teacher planning a field trip, a homeschool group looking for engaging learning opportunities, a scout troop, youth organization, or simply a group interested in nature and gardening, we have programs designed to inspire curiosity and creativity.

Field Trip & Educational Opportunities Include:
• Guided tours of the Arboretum, Kaleidoscope Garden, Fantasy Forest, Urban Farm, and Greenhouse
• Garden Tales story time with a nature-themed craft
• Art in the Garden creative projects using natural materials
• Life cycle and plant growth programs with hands-on activities
• Ladybug Release experiences (seasonal)
• “Who Lives in a Garden?” investigations into plants, animals, and ecosystems
• Self-guided visits, scavenger hunts, and picnic opportunities

Can’t come to us? We’ll come to you!
Our “Arboretum on the Road” programs bring engaging nature-based learning directly to your classroom or organization.

Programs can be customized by age and grade level, making them perfect for preschool through high school students.

Multiple-program discounts may be available, and scholarship opportunities can help make participation accessible for more students and groups.

Take a look through the program guide below and discover all the ways you can experience Leila Arboretum!

To book a program or learn more, call 269-969-0270 ext. 2 or email [email protected].

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

There is a chance of a solar storm arriving tonight which could bring us statewide viewing chances. Arrival times on solar models range from midnight to 6am, and some models suggest a low chance of impact at all.

Low confidence exists with this solar storm, but the Space Weather Prediction Center has a G2 watch in effect for tonight which means statewide viewing is possible IF it indeed does arrive.

We will keep you updated.

06/12/2026

Interested in volunteering at Leila Arboretum?

With a small staff, we are very dependent on the skill and goodwill of our volunteers in making community beautification and environmental education a reality in Battle Creek! We have all kinds of jobs at LAS! Together there are so many things we can accomplish!

Whether an individual or a group, there are many opportunities to get involved at Leila Arboretum. From helping maintaining the grounds of the beautiful Leila Arboretum and the individual gardens or assisting with at our many special events, we have a spot for you!
This is a great opportunity for high school groups who need volunteer credits. Call our office today at 269-969-0270 to find a special place in the Leila Arboretum and make your mark!

**Children – For most assignments all children are welcome. We encourage their involvement as positive outdoor experiences early on in a child’s life tend to produce children who are more environmentally aware and more committed volunteers when they grow older. Their participation is our joy! We do ask that parents/guardians participate along with them in any volunteer activity until children are able to come on their own. This is a decision that can be made between parents, their children and the LAS staff member with whom they will be working.

06/12/2026

06/11/2026

This looks interesting! 👨🏽‍🍳🐜🕷️

Are you a foodie? Are you an adventurous eater? Then you have to join us for Insect Canapés and Conversation on Friday, July 24. Chef Joseph Yoon of Brooklyn Bugs will host a small group of guests for an evening of carefully curated insect-forward “bugs d’oeuvres”, poured alongside unhurried conversation. We can't wait to see what this nationally recognized chef cooks up for us! Click here to learn more and to register: https://naturecenter.org/events/insect-canapes-and-conversation-with-chef-yoon/

06/11/2026

Pizza lovers, this one’s for you!

Join us for Pizza Olympics on June 27 from 4-8 PM.

The fun kicks off at 4 PM, with pizza sampling starting at 5 PM.

Activities include:
• Pizza-themed games
• Apron decorating
• Dough throwing demonstrations and instruction
• Sauce sampling and herb identification
• Pizza tasting featuring samples from local pizza shops

Admission:
$5 per person or $15 for a family of four
Admission includes a drink plus all activities and crafts.

Pizza Flights:
$5 for a sampler plate of cheese or pepperoni pizza from local restaurants
$6 for Steve’s Sampler, featuring a selection of favorites from Steve’s Pizza

06/09/2026

Leila Arboretum’s 365 Urban Farm is the setting for Masa Center’s Milpa Learning Garden. In this space, Chicanx and Latinx community members grow traditional crops like “the 3 sisters” (corn, beans, and
squash) as part of their youth leadership educational program. Masa Center’s fellowships focus on indigenous social movements and regenerative agriculture. Alongside public art projects like Color the
Creek, Masa Center shines the spotlight on Mexican and Latinx heritage through uplifting creative and environmental endeavors.