Explore the Wild During Hands-On Event at UA Museum

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama graduate students are taking families on a jungle expedition during this year’s safari-themed Hands-on Family Night at the Alabama Museum of Natural History on UA’s campus.

A collaborative effort between UA’s Graduate School, the Graduate Student Association, Graduate Parent Support and Alabama Museum of Natural History, the event will run from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the natural history museum in Smith Hall.

The event features exhibits by graduate students in different departments, as well as music, food and door prizes. It is open to students, faculty, staff and community members, and it is free.

“Family night was started five years ago to help students who are parents have a fun family event on campus where they can come out and meet other student parents and let their kids see some of the things they do at UA as a student,” said Dr. Cori Perdue, director of UA’s Graduate School Programs.

“Now that we have dozens of graduate departments involved, the event has grown, and is really cool, and so we wanted to share it with more people, such as UA faculty, staff and the community,” Perdue said. “It helps promote UA as a family-friendly campus, and it helps students who have children know they are important and that we are planning events for them to help them avoid the social isolation that many student parents often feel.”

Following this year’s safari theme, children and parents are invited to grab their safari hat and camera as they search the halls of Smith Hall for wild museum exhibits. There will be live and preserved insects on display, and children will make binoculars and receive instructions on how to use their senses on a safari.

There will also be safari-themed games and art projects. The graduate departments are making their exhibits based around the theme so there should be a lot of creative safari adventures ongoing, Perdue said.

“Kids and parents can experience so much and learn about dozens of cool things that grad students are doing across campus in interactive ways,” Perdue said. “(Family Night) helps kids see what different majors do, and it is a fun event for all ages — preschoolers to high schoolers.”