Planet Detroit Families
A free biweekly newsletter for Metro Detroit parents who care about clean air, clean water, and raising kids who love where they live.
No doom. No guilt. Just wonder.
Hi, I’m Ashley.
I’m a mom of three and a journalist at Planet Detroit.
When I started looking for resources to help me talk to my kids about the environment — share the beautiful places in Michigan, explain what’s happening with our air and water, make sense of things like data center construction in our region — I couldn’t find what I was looking for. Not for Metro Detroit.
Not for parents. Not in a way that felt practical instead of overwhelming.
Planet Detroit Families is a free biweekly email that takes our newsroom’s environmental reporting and translates it into what parents actually need to know — every other week, about five minutes to read.
What to expect
Every edition includes
Get outside
Family-friendly events, parks, trails, and outdoor activities to do with your kids across metro Detroit this week.
Stories worth sharing
Cool kids making a difference, beautiful places to discover, and the everyday wonder hiding in our own backyards.
How to talk to your kids
Calm, honest, age-friendly conversation starters — so you’re not winging it at the dinner table.
What’s happening
Environmental news that matters for families right now, explained plainly and without the doom scroll.
Why it matters for your family
Does this affect outdoor play? School? Your tap water? You’ll know what it means for your household.
Coverage areas
Built for real life in metro Detroit
Whether you’re in Detroit or Downriver, Oakland County or Macomb County — if you’re raising kids here, this is for you.
Support this work
Planet Detroit Families is free for every parent in metro Detroit — and we want to keep it that way. If you believe families deserve trustworthy, practical environmental news, become a member of Planet Detroit.
Become a member →Become a sponsor
Interested in reaching metro Detroit families through Planet Detroit Families? We’re looking for sponsors who share our commitment to healthy communities.
Reach out to Ashley →