Push yourself to enjoy the great outdoors this season with U-M's annual challenge.

ANN ARBOR – The University of Michigan announced that Anthony J. Kolenic will return to Ann Arbor to become the director of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. Kolenic will start his five-year appointment on March 1 and will oversee 40 staff and partners at U-M who maintain and support more than 840 acres at the Matthaei-Nichols properties. Program manager of Matthaei-Nichols, David Betz, has been serving as interim director since Grese retired and will continue until Kolenic’s start date. “MBGNA is vital to the university’s mission and serves as a catalyst for sustainability and inclusive community engagement and education,” Kolenic said in a statement. Prior to joining U-M, he taught from 2006 to 2012 at Michigan State University’s Center for the Integrative Studies of Arts and Humanities.

ANN ARBOR – University of Michigan’s Matthaei-Nichols botanical gardens and arboretum has launched a fun new campaign to encourage families to enjoy the outdoors this month. Its #everydayoutdoors campaign challenges families to complete a series of outdoor activities like rolling down hills, finding animal tracks and foraging for acorns. The only thing you need to do is get outside!”Every Day Outdoors challenge activities for December 2020. (University of Michigan Matthaei-Nichols)Share your photos with @matthaeinichols on Instagram with the hashtag #everydayoutdoors. Enjoy the winter fun!

ANN ARBOR - Looking to spruce up your garden or countertops with something new and fresh? Don't miss the annual Wildflower and Native Plant Sale at Matthaei Botanical Gardens on Aug. 17 and 18. Plants for sale are native herbaceous and woody plants, many of which are grown on-site by Matthaei staff and volunteers. Why buy plant native plants? All About Ann Arbor is powered by ClickOnDetroit/WDIV.