Calling all young scientists to Stetson University’s Volusia Sandhill Ecosystem Teaching Landscape, Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Gillespie Museum, located at 234 E. Michigan Ave., invites the public to the new teaching landscape at the adjacent Rinker Environmental Learning Center to become a part of this restoration project.

The Teaching Landscape: Volusia Sandhill Ecosystem is a long-term project facilitated by Karen Cole, director of the Gillespie Museum, and Cindy Bennington, associate professor of biology at Stetson University. Funded by the Gillespie, the Biology Department, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Stetson Faculty/Staff Tree Fund, this outdoor classroom has also been awarded two grants: $10,000 from the Volusia County Tree Replacement Fund for establishing longleaf pines and other trees associated with the sandhill ecosystem; and $7,000 from the Florida Forest Department’s Urban and Community Grant Program.

Science Saturday’s activities will include: a little spade work in the landscape, art projects using natural materials from the sandhill habitat, and teaching stations on the basics of seed dispersal and pollination. Join the Gillespie staff and the Stetson Sandhill Gang for this event, which is free and open to the public.

For more information call the Gillespie Museum at (386) 822-7330 or e-mail [email protected].