Fermilab Family Outdoor Fair, June 13

Enjoy a day of bison, birds and bugs while learning about science and fun things to do outside this summer at Fermilab’s annual Family Outdoor Fair.

Families and scout troops can drop by anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday, June 13, to explore a dozen hands-on activities that highlight the plant and animal life found at the Batavia physics laboratory.

The three-year-old program grew out of the Leave No Child Inside initiative aimed at keeping children active and learning during the summer. Children can learn about history from speakers dressed in 19th century settler attire, geology from a large fossil collection, ecology from prairie tours and soil core samples and biology from animal examinations.

“Science doesn’t have to just happen in a lab,” said co-organizer Gail Poisson, Fermilab docent. “We want to show parents and their children that science is everywhere.”

Children can make animal print tracks, net pond critters, take a nature scavenger hunt on a trail through the prairie and dig through decaying logs for insects. They can view the laboratory’s bison herd, hear about its history and use a stop watch to see if they can run faster than these 1,500-pound beasts.

“It’s a great way to get outside and have some fun,” said co-organizer Susan Dumford. “Come early and see what you can catch in the pond.”

For the second year in a row, the Northern Illinois Raptor Rehabilitation and Education Center and local raptor trainers will bring about a dozen live hawks, falcons and owls as well as a collection of bird bones, droppings, feathers and hunting gear.

The program is designed for grades first through seventh grade students and scout troops are welcome. The event is free.

You can get a feel for the event by watching a YouTube video of last year’s Family Outdoor Activity Fair at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssM8tEbP5eQ.

For additional information, call 630-840-5588 or e-mail edreg@fnal.gov.

Fermilab is a Department of Energy national laboratory operated under contract by the Fermi Research Alliance, LLC. The DOE Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the nation and helps ensure U.S. world leadership across a broad range of scientific disciplines.