By Carroll College hosted its annual Darwin Day celebration on Feb. 9, offering youth and families a hands-on introduction to evolution through interactive activities.
Organized by senior biology students, the event featured a variety of evolution-themed games, activities, and snacks, all designed to make science both fun and accessible. Josie Gale, a senior biology major from St. Paul, Minnesota, said it is rewarding to see the excitement in the children.
“It’s fun to see young kids get so excited about science,” Gale said. “Their enthusiasm reflects on the four years I’ve spent studying biology.”
One of the most popular attractions was the “Stuffed Animal Evolution Tree,” where children placed stuffed animals representing different species on a tree based on shared traits. Another favorite was “Gummy Bear Hide and Seek,” which taught natural selection by having children match gummy bears to their environment. “We exposed kids to science and the thought process behind evolution through different activities,” said Travis Almquist, a biology professor at Carroll College. “The Evolutionary Tree is one of my favorites because it uses stuffed animals, allowing the kids to place animals and match traits, so they can see how different characteristics relate to one another.”
Now in its fourth year, the event has become a community tradition, with more than 50 children and their families attending each year. Many participants return annually to continue their exploration of biology. Michael Deguzman, a senior biology major from Lewistown, Montana who helped organize the event, said the variety of activities showcased the diversity of biology. “What’s great about this is that it tackles biology from all these different angles,” Deguzman added. “Biology is such a diverse range of studies, and this event shows kids a lot of different parts of it.”
The event has become a tradition for both the Carroll College community and local families, providing an interactive way to introduce children to the concepts of science and evolution. By simplifying complex biological ideas and presenting them in an accessible format, Darwin Day aims to offer young learners a foundation in scientific thinking and promote curiosity about the natural world said Professor Almquist. As the event grows in popularity each year, it continues to contribute to fostering a greater understanding of science among the next generation.
