Partnering with TCU's Department of Environmental Sciences, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden hosted Environmental Science Education Family Day, a free event designed to engage the public in interactive learning about local ecosystems and environmental conservation efforts. Funded through a USDA-NIFA grant in partnership with the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and Tarleton State University, the event offered free admission to the first 200 families.
Families eager to learn about aquatic ecosystems visited TCU’s Environmental Sciences
booth. Led by Allison Stamatis, Ph.D., the booth demonstrated how local water quality can be assessed using aquatic organisms.
Stamatis showcased samples collected from Mary’s Creek in Tarrant County and Holland
Lake in Parker County, featuring various critters including dragonfly and damselfly
nymphs, caddisflies, beetles, snails and crawfish. Participants had the opportunity
to see and touch these organisms, gaining insight into their roles in indicating water
health.
“The excitement from both kids and adults was palpable, with gasps and squeals when they held a dragonfly nymph,” Stamatis said.
The event also featured a petting zoo, hands-on activities and the participation of community partners. Participants also played a game where they could use their newly-acquired skills to figure out if the water in a sample pond was good, fair or poor by picking out and identifying the specific organisms that were located in each one. This interactive activity engaged families and enhanced their understanding of environmental health.
“Environmental issues impact us all, and there’s a role for everyone to get involved and make a difference in our community,” Stamatis said.
Other community partners including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas also participated, offering educational exhibits and activities. The event united various organizations and attendees to raise awareness about environmental conservation and sustainability. Through these experiences and collaboration, the TCU Department of Environmental & Sustainability Sciences aims to inspire families to take an active role in protecting the environment.
