Fermilab Outdoor Family Fair, June 12

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 12, to explore a dozen hands-on activities that highlight the plant and animal life found at the Batavia physics laboratory.

The 4-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 peering in a replica covered wagon, geology from examining a large fossil collection, ecology from taking a prairie scavenger hunt and coring soil samples and biology from examining animals and their habitats.

The observation and measurement skills that children learn at the fair can be used all summer to continue exploring the world around them in backyards, parks and forest preserves.

“Science doesn’t have to just happen in a lab,” said Sue Sheehan, Fermilab Education Office. “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.

For the third 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 first through seventh grade students. Scout troops are welcome. The event is free and will take place rain or shine. No registration is required.

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

About Fermilab:

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.