Participants pour plaster to create animal track casts during an environmental education event at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Participants pour plaster to create animal track casts during an environmental education event at Stephen F. Austin State University. SFA Gardens will host an inaugural Spectacular Science Saturday event from 9 a.m. to noon June 17 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building. Event registration will open May 15.


NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host its first Spectacular Science Saturday workshop from 9 a.m. to noon June 17 at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building.

Families with school-aged children are invited to join Dr. Alan Sowards, environmental education program director, in an exploration of science through activities, demonstrations and games designed to involve parents in the science learning experience.

The seminar is designed for children in first through fifth grades, who must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Children will get to create their own animal tracks, participate in pollination relay races, explore the importance of decomposers in the forest and tour the SFA Gardens greenhouses.

"Science is all around us,” Sowards said. “Parents can help instill the love of exploration by involving their child in outdoor education opportunities.”

Sowards has taught outdoor education science for 45 years and has received local, state, national and international recognition in environmental education. He will lead the Saturday workshop.

Participants will get to take home their own animal track cast and butterfly life cycle bracelet.

Register by emailing sfagardens@sfasu.edu beginning May 15. The workshop is limited to 15 child and guardian pairs. The cost per pair is $30 for SFA Gardens members and $50 for nonmembers.