Family Fun Science Day to turn kids into investigators

From a UNT News Service press release

The University of North Texas Elm Fork Education Center will present E-CSI: Denton (Environmental Crime Scene Investigation) as its Family Fun Science Event for February. Family Fun Science Days are designed to encourage children (ages 6-12) to explore the world of science.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 2 (Saturday) at the UNT Elm Fork Education Center in the Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building, located at the corner of Hickory Street and Avenue C. Admission is $6 per child. Two caretakers per child are free and additional adults pay $6.

The program will explore crime scene investigation techniques, and participants will go through the basics of crime scene training. They will then receive a badge and use their new skills to solve a mystery at the Elm Fork Education Center. Local police, forensic science students and Environmental Protection Agency representatives will be on hand to assist the junior investigators.

Some of the activities will include fiber analysis, fingerprinting, problem solving, DNA encoding and more. The admission fee allows attendees to participate in all activities during the CSI: Denton event as well as view exhibits. Participants can also watch the day's Sky Theater show at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., with popcorn and soda provided.

Girl Scouts of America badge opportunities will be available for Juniors and Brownies participating in activities during both events. Badges are: Math Whiz & Creative Solutions; and Try-It: Senses.

The Elm Fork Education Center is the public education branch of UNT's environmental programs, which include environmental science, environmental ethics, environmental and community journalism, astronomy, environmental education and geography. The center's mission is to provide investigative encounters that engage students of all ages in field activities and discovery experiences.

For more information on the UNT E-CSI: Denton Family Fun Science Event, please contact Alana Presley at 940-369-7956, apresley@unt.edu or visit www.efec.unt.edu.

UNT News Service Press Release
Nancy Kolsti can be reached at nkolsti@unt.edu.

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