Purdue Spring Fest opportunity to learn through fun activities

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University has added many new activities for the entire family at its annual Spring Fest weekend April 18-19 and brought back favorites from previous years. 

Spring Fest will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days on the West Lafayette campus. There is no admission cost, and many events and activities are free. There is a charge for some games and refreshments.

"Spring Fest is a fun, educational, hands-on way for families to experience the best of Purdue University," said Danica Kirkpatrick, engagement program manager for the College of Agriculture. "Our participating colleges, departments and student organization host activities that allow people of all ages to explore and learn, all while having a great time."

New activities:

* Landscape Architecture: Kids can participate in a coloring contest and go home with a coloring book. There also is opportunity to talk with professionals for design advice and learn now it can help the environment.

* Public Health Student Association: Find out more information on sun protection and make a UV bracelet that turns bright colors when it's outdoors under UV light.

* Purdue Audiology Student Organization: See what the inside of an ear looks like, learn how a hearing aid works, and design your own set of ears to wear.

* Student Sustainability Council: Crafts, games, activities and treats provided.

* Purdue Pandemonium: Arts and crafts for children about the importance of community and learning how to best respect others.

* Krannert Minute Business Challenge: All ages can participate to create innovative solutions to current problems and present their ideas to a panel of judges with the help of Krannert undergraduate students. 

* Visiting our Solar System Open House: Located at Discovery Park, the VOSS team has developed a large-scale model of the solar system. Included is a tabletop model, created as an educational tool that can be used at home or in the classroom.

New Location (Lyles Porter Hall):

* IU School of Medicine: Look at a human bone to see if you can match it up with the Skeleton Queen, and learn about the body's immune system to see how to stop invading germs.

Returning family favorite events and activities include:

* 52nd annual College of Veterinary Medicine open house.

* Purdue engineering Envision.

* Science Outreach Showcase.

* 102nd annual Horticulture Show.

* 25th annual Entomology Bug Bowl.

* Cricket spitting contests.

* Roach races.

* Equine treadmill demonstration.

* Sheep shearing demonstration.

Programs and activity maps are available online at https://ag.purdue.edu/springfest. Most parking garages and lots are free and open to the public both days. Parking maps can also be found at the Spring Fest website.

Writer: Carlee Glassburn, 765-496-2384, cglassbu@purdue.edu

Source: Danica Kirkpatrick, 765-494-9113, danica@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; 

Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page