Young scientists needed to solve fish problem

Looking for something exciting that your kids can do during the holiday break? Do your kids like mysteries? Environmental detectives are needed to help figure out the mystery of dying fish.

On Dec. 30 from 1-4pm, the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center will host a mysterious family science day. Families are welcome to join in to help solve a problem that has developed in the fictitious Gray Area. The fish in this community are dying and nobody knows why.

Join us at the scene of the crime at the Tahoe Center for Environmental Science in Incline Village, where you will be able to conduct scientific experiments and decide for yourself which one of our suspects is responsible for poisoning our water and wildlife.

Through hands-on activities and games, students will be able to learn about many of the environmental issues not only affecting the Gray Area, but also threatening Lake Tahoe.

Students will be learning about the causes and effects of many environmental threats by testing water clarity, sediment run-off, water pollution, acid rain and oil pollution.

By the end of the day, once the mystery is solved, students will have a chance to discuss solutions to some of the environmental problems they learned about and be able to apply it to their daily lives.

Our program is designed for students in grades 4, 5 and 6, but all families are welcome to join in on the fun. For children under the age of 9, we request that a guardian is present throughout the program.

This event is free and open to the public but an RSVP is mandatory and space is available on a first come, first served basis. For more information or to RSVP, contact Megan Farka at mjfarka@ucdavis.edu or (775) 881.7560, ext. 7483.