When people understand science, the whole community benefits. A scientifically literate community is a stronger community — one where people can navigate new technologies, evaluate information and participate in conversations that shape our future. Scientific literacy isn’t about memorizing facts. It’s about understanding how the world works well enough to make thoughtful choices within it. And like any skill, it grows best when it starts early.
Early, meaningful encounters with science help youth develop the confidence and curiosity that can carry them into high school, college and eventually into the scientific careers our communities depend on. Once young people see themselves in that space, the path toward those careers becomes far more accessible.
That’s one of the reasons I’m happy to announce Spring Into Science Night, a new hands‑on science experience hosted by Lincoln Land Community College. It’s a chance for young people and their equally curious adults to explore science in a way that feels playful, approachable and fun. The evening is led by LLCC’s Biology Club, Chemistry Club and the faculty and staff of the LLCC Natural and Agricultural Sciences Department.
We often talk about “getting kids interested in STEM,” as if interest is something we can flip on like a switch. In reality, curiosity grows through early exposure, encouragement and the freedom to explore without worrying about getting the “right” answer. When young people encounter science in low‑pressure, hands‑on environments, something important happens. They start to see themselves as capable of figuring things out.
Science activities naturally strengthen critical thinking skills, but not in the worksheet‑based way many adults remember. When a child extracts DNA from a strawberry, makes a tornado in a jar or dissects a flower, they’re not just learning content, they’re learning how to ask questions, test ideas and adjust when something doesn’t work the first time. They’re learning that mistakes aren’t failures. They’re data.
That mindset matters far beyond the lab. We live in a world where information moves quickly, and not all of it is reliable. Thus, the ability to evaluate and think critically is an essential life skill we should encourage in the next generation. Science helps build that skill in a way that feels natural rather than forced.
Hands‑on learning also makes science less intimidating. Many adults carry the idea that science is complicated or reserved for people who “just get it.” But when kids have the chance to touch, observe and experiment, the subject becomes something they can literally hold in their hands. It becomes familiar, and familiarity builds confidence.
Events like Spring Into Science remind us that learning doesn’t have to be formal to be meaningful. When families explore together, when kids follow their questions and when science feels like play, we’re helping build lifelong learners.
Spring Into Science Night will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 5:30-8 p.m. on the Lincoln Land Community College campus at 5250 Shepherd Rd in Springfield. Guests should check in at A. Lincoln Commons. The event is free and open to families across the region. Whether your child already loves science or isn’t quite sure what to make of it yet, the evening offers something for everyone.
Throughout the night, families can explore a range of activities, including life‑science stations with flower dissections, plant‑your‑own projects and a live touch‑tank; marine and environmental exploration with organism dissections, a saltwater scavenger hunt and a guided prairie walk (weather permitting); and colorful chemistry and physical‑science demonstrations such as creating a tornado in a jar.
If you’re looking for a way to spark curiosity, build confidence in science and spend a genuinely enjoyable evening together, I hope you’ll join us for Spring Into Science at Lincoln Land Community College. Science belongs to all of us — and sometimes all it takes is one night, one question or one moment of wonder to help a young mind see the world a little differently.
Learn more at llcc.edu/spring-into-science.