Chris Banyas
Life Editor
On April 11, the Idaho Museum of Natural History will put on its annual Science Trek.
The event is for children in third through fifth grade, and aims to target their minds with the possibilities of the different sciences.
In addition to the displays hosted by the museum, the children will be given the opportunity to explore a variety of scientific disciplines hosted by the different departments of Idaho State University.
Beginning in 1989, the idea was the brainchild of Rebecca Thorne-Ferrel, who worked for many years as the education program coordinator for the museum and recently retired.
“I’d been thinking about it but I didn’t have the resources,” said Thorne-Ferrel.
“One day through the office door comes a wonderful lady by the name of Marcia Hosking, and she works in the Development office for Idaho Public Television,” she continued.
Hosking explained that Idaho Public Television was interested in putting on a program for families and hoped that the museum would be interested.
“I said, ‘Yeah? Would you like to do a sleepover?’” said Thorne-Ferrel.
Initially, the Science Trek was limited to the museum and the exhibits on display.
Soon Thorne-Ferrel expanded the idea to include the scientific resources already present on the campus.
“The science community at Idaho State University has always been incredibly supportive,” said Thorne-Ferrel.
“They take 10 children into their laboratories and have a hands-on activity for them, give them a real aspect of what it’s like to do science,” she continued.
After 25 years and nearly 3,200 child trekkers, it is safe to say that the idea has been a success.
Some children come from as far away as Arizona.
Thorne-Ferrel has come out of retirement in order to keep the event running.
Children have the option of choosing between such programs as: Fossils, Fossils, Fossils; Dem Bones: Anatomy; and Get Buggy in the Greenhouse, among others.
Parents have the option of letting their children loose into the scientific world or staying to experience the wonders with them.
While many parents might wonder about leaving their children to experience everything solo, Thorne-Ferrel has had a remarkable track record with the trekkers.
“In 25 years I’ve only had one child go home homesick,” said Thorne-Ferrel.
In recent years, Thorne-Ferrel has noticed something about those parents who are bringing their children to the Science Trek.
“Sometimes the parents who come to help out and volunteer to help keep track of the kids, because I’ll have a hundred-and-some-odd children, some of the parents were trekkers when they were kids,” said Thorne-Ferrel.
Many ISU students participate in the Science Trek as well, offering assistance to those professors who put on the various programs, as well as gaining experience in working with children.
One student helper, Cole Morrison, a junior in the Biology program, will be helping out with children who choose to experience the Botany: Leaf Skeletons program.
“I look forward to showing the kids the neat things that we get up to in the herbarium,” said Morrison. “We’ve got a great team of smart people down here and lots of neat activities to get the kids more interested in science and botany.”
Registration is currently open for the 2014 Science Trek, and must be completed before the date of the event.
The cost per child is $40, but there are a limited number of scholarships made possible by the Pocatello Kiwanis Club available to help cover the cost of the event for families.
Applications are available online through the museum’s website at imnh.isu.edu, or they may be picked up on location.
The registration deadline is Friday, March 21.
