“It’s really a day of hands-on science for all ages,” Helou said. “It’s a little bit celebratory, but it’s really a day of education.”

The event featured a Darwin impersonator, an amphibian and reptile room, a “KidZone,” birthday cake and various exhibits with different artifacts throughout the museum.

Several different MSU organizations and departments worked together ahead of time to put the event together.

Rich Bellon, donned in 19th-century gentlemen’s wear, posed as Charles Darwin and answered guests’ questions.

Bellon, an assistant professor for Lyman Briggs College and the MSU Department of History, said his costume has become a tradition throughout the years.

He said he thinks the event is especially beneficial for children.

“They can see that science is not just something you learn about in a textbook, but something you can investigate,” he said.

Molecular genetics senior Laura Harding, who has been a volunteer for several years, was manning the fossil table and explaining different fossils and skeletons.

“I probably most enjoy how curious the kids are and (helping) them feed and boost their curiosity,” Harding said.

She also explained that children were given a “passport” to take with throughout all of the exhibits.

At each exhibit they would ask questions and get stamped, and at the end they would get a prize for getting stamps at each display.

Steve Baibak came to the event with the goal of engaging his 3-year-old daughter in science. He said Discovery Day was both enjoyable and educational for himself and his daughter.

He said he was particularly interested in the insects in the exhibit.

“It’s all fresh, it’s all new, it’s something she hasn’t experienced before…it gets her excited about things,” he said. “How often do you get to touch a live scorpion?”

Special education sophomore Leila Wyatt said she really enjoyed taking her little siblings to the animal room, which featured snakes and lizards among other creatures.

She said it was especially creative because it was more engaging for people than simply looking at fossils and exhibits.

In the basement, a table hosted by MSU’s Forestry Department featured an interactive project that guests could create with seeds, graduate student and volunteer Megan Edwards said.

Edwards said that participants would take the seeds and put them on a wet paper towel to place in the sunlight, and after a month would grow about an inch if taken care of properly.

“I just love sharing science with kids,” Edwards said. “I love seeing their faces light up when they’re able to get their hands dirty.”