Experience Scary Science during Mostly Green Halloween at Stetson’s Gillespie Museum

Explore the mysteries of nature while wearing a costume during the Mostly Green Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-noon, at the Gillespie Museum on Stetson University’s campus.

The free Science Saturday event will include an opportunity to learn about the wonders of the animal and plant worlds with engaging, hands-on activities and experiments designed by Stetson students.

“Science Saturday events provide Stetson students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge and share their excitement about the natural world with young scientists,” said Karen Cole, PhD, director of the Gillespie Museum.

Attendees can participate in outdoor adventures with Cindy Bennington, PhD, professor of biology, and her plant ecology class, members of Stetson’s Hatter Harvest garden and interns from the Volusia Sandhill Ecosystem, which is an urban reforestation that features longleaf pines, turkey oaks, persimmons and Bigflower pawpaws.

Participants also will have a chance to search for plants during a scavenger hunt, investigate the energy of plants, feel the diverse shapes and textures of plant parts in the Mysterious Microscope chamber and discover Florida spiders by creating a web.

Professor Minerva McGonagall of “Harry Potter” fame will be supervising a potions lab and Florida native plants and organic vegetable seeds will be available through the museum’s Adopt-a-Native-Wildflower program and Stetson Seed Library.

Visitors can also explore the museum’s mineral collections and earth science displays, including its newest exhibition, “Agatized Coral and Other Silicified Fossils of Florida.” Costumes are encouraged. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Gillespie Museum is located at 234 E. Michigan Ave. in DeLand. For more information, call 386.822.7330 or visit www2.stetson.edu/gillespie.

Sandra Carr