Agate Fossil Beds National Monument News Release
March 2, 2023
For Immediate Release
Park Ranger Tera Lynn Gray, teralynn_gray@nps.gov 308-665-4113
Oglala Lakota College will bring their Little Shop of Physics program to Agate Fossil Beds National Monument from 12-2pm on Saturday, March 11th. This is in celebration of National Science Education Day, which is the following Tuesday.
Merle Brave and Jesse Pina, science professors from Oglala Lakota College, will bring about 30 hands-on experiments. Children, in grades K – 12, and their parents can explore one experiment of their choice or try them all.
The Little Shop of Physics program originated at Colorado State University, Fort Collins. Brian Jones, the Director and Founder of the program, states, “The big message is that science is accessible. The stuff we do is exciting, it’s fun, it’s engaging.” Jones and the program worked with Oglala Lakota College to set-up their own program and have been in partnership for over a decade.
National Science Education Day started in 1892 by forming a national committee to address the lack of standardized science education. It has since led to large changes in science curriculum and instruction. Science is all around us and there’s no better place to explore our changing world than in our national parks. “National Parks are amazing outdoor laboratories to learn about the parks themselves and the world around us,” states an NPS article on Science For Parks. (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/science/index.htm)
We hope you can join us for a fun-filled day of family and science! For more information, please contact the park at (308) 665-4113 or agfo_ranger_activities@nps.gov. No registration is needed.
Admission to Agate Fossil Beds is always free. Check out other events and activities on the park’s website at https://www.nps.gov/agfo/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is located 34 miles north of Mitchell, NE or 22 miles south of Harrison, NE on Highway 29 and 3 miles east on River Rd. The Visitor Center winter hours are 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and the trails are open from dawn until dusk. Visit us at www.nps.gov/agfo and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.