Teens and Tweens

This is your family's chance to experience a great family adventure while you learn about everything from birds to butterflies, crickets to katydids! Participants in BioBlitz will join teams of scientists and skilled naturalists to study biodiversity in a fun, hands-on way.

Middle schoolers (ages 12 to 15) can enjoy a mind-bending night of trivia fun! Trivia Funhouse will host seven rounds of trivia for middle schoolers and their friends to compete for prizes. Teams can enter the patriotic-themed "best dressed" competition by decorating themselves and their table in the most red, white and blue gear. The team with the best dressed table will win extra mulligans to increase their chance of victory. 

At the Lodge of Des Peres. Doors open at 6:15 and trivia starts at 7 p.m. Cost is $120 for a table of 8. Advanced registration is required.

Are you curious about the physics of aerial arts and dance? How jugglers hone their craft? The mechanics of magic? Learn all this and more through presentations by professional scientists and performing artists. There will be opportunities for audience participation throughout.

 Hands-on activities begin at 3 p.m. and the program begins at 3:15 p.m.

Guests are welcome to stay after and try Aerial Silks.

Kids ages 6 and up can learn more about the interesting lives of these eight-legged hunters. If possible, this program will include a spider hike, so please dress for the weather.

Butterflies are beautiful creatures with many unique characteristics. Learn the life history of butterflies and identification techniques for common species found throughout Missouri. You'll also learn how to attract these pollinators to your own backyard. For ages 10 and up.

10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.. Free. At Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center. Reservations are requested.

More information: mdc.mo.gov  

Alien Worlds and Androids brings the work of scientists to life in an exhibition that presents the possibility of life existing beyond Earth through the use of robots, telescopes, space probes and high-tech laboratories.

Learn about the science behind NASA's New Horizons spacecraft as it probes the dwarf planet and its moons at the August First Friday at the Saint Louis Science Center. First Friday will feature free hands-on activities, presentations, sci-fi trivia, sci-fi films and more.