The NUTURES program at The University of Toledo will host a Family Science Night at Imagination Station 6-8 p.m. Saturday, March 1 for families with kids in pre-K through third grade where families can explore the science center, participate in science activities, win prizes and more. 

Participants will learn about water erosion by constructing a river to flow in a specific direction and how your heart rate reacts to different activities. Families also will work together to complete an engineering challenge as they build an 18-inch tower from newspaper and tape that needs to support the weight of a baseball and stand up to a fan.

“Families are encouraged to explore, discuss and think together,” said Deanna Bobak, project director for the NURTURES program. “When children learn and play right alongside their parents and siblings, the entire family walks away with a greater interest and understanding of science.”

“Imagination Station is proud to be able to partner with NURTURES to bring STEM education to families,” Lori Hauser, CEO of Imagination Station, said. “Involving the entire community in science education, as NURTURES does, is a great for northwest Ohio.”

NURTURES, which stands for Networking Urban Resources with Teachers and University enRich Early Childhood Science, is a partnership led by The University of Toledo’s Judith Herb College of Education, in collaboration with Toledo Public Schools, area nursery schools and day cares, and science and community organizations.

The program, which is supported with a $10 million grant from the National Science Foundation, works to include discovery in early childhood science education by engaging students in preschool through third grade, as well as their parents and teachers. The Sci-FUN community event helps the program with its goal to reach 10,000 families.

The next Nurtures Sci-FUN community event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at Wildwood Preserve Metropark.

For more information visit nurtures.utoledo.edu.