Families celebrate Mother’s Day with hands-on science and art activities at Carbondale Science Center

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) — Families spent Mother’s Day getting creative at The Science Center in Carbondale, where mothers and grandmothers received free admission and participated in hands-on science and art activities Sunday afternoon.

Visitors created colorful paper flowers using markers, filter paper and water during a guided activity that blended art with science concepts.

The Science Center, located inside University Mall in Carbondale, has operated for more than 25 years as a hands-on children’s museum focused on science, technology, engineering, art and math education. The facility features more than 65 exhibits and welcomes thousands of visitors annually.

Connie Adams, director of The Science Center, said the event was designed to encourage creativity while also giving families an opportunity to learn and participate together.

“It’s great to be creative,” Adams said. “A lot of people know STEM, but not everyone knows STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art and math.”

During the activity, participants folded decorated filter paper into flower shapes before placing them in water, allowing the colors to spread through the paper as the water traveled upward.

Adams said activities like the flower project help children engage more when adults participate alongside them.

“Kids are going to learn more if they see the adults doing too,” Adams said. “We always encourage the adults to play too. You’re never too old for science.”

The event also served as a way to celebrate mothers and grandmothers for Mother’s Day.

“Moms are out there every day,” Adams said. “They’re keeping it all together. They’re taking the kids everywhere they need to go, making sure they’re fed. We had to do something for mothers.”

Adams also encouraged children not to worry about perfection while creating their projects.

“It’s the little imperfections that make things special,” Adams said.

The Science Center says additional family events, camps and summer activities are planned throughout the season.

Upcoming events at The Science Center include a free summer science program later this month focused on the sun, where children will rotate through four experiment stations and record scientific data through hands-on activities.

The center is also continuing its “Terrier P.U.P.S.” Pop-Up Preschool program for children ages 3 to 5 in the Carbondale area. The free program features play-based learning activities aimed at helping children build kindergarten readiness skills, while also giving parents tools to support learning at home. Families who attend multiple sessions can also earn free admission passes to The Science Center.

The Science Center also announced several summer camps, including an art-focused camp featuring Bill “Dino Guy” Adams, who helped build many of the museum’s dinosaur exhibits.

For more information visit The Science Center of Carbondale.