if your outdoor enthusiasm extends beyond the trail’s end and into the science of what makes the outdoors a fascinating, vital part of the human experience, that’s precisely the purpose behind the SciFest: The Great Outdoors Expo, slated for May 30 at the Saint Louis Science Center (5050 Oakland).
“We want to create a sense of belonging, no matter what your background or experience is,” says Ruth Watt, manager of STEM events for the Saint Louis Science Center. “This is our world. We live in the outdoors, so we should have a better understanding of that.”
The free-to-attend, daylong event is the second in the Science Center’s quarterly series for 2026 connecting the public with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals. The event typically hosts 3,000–4,000 attendees and includes engaging activities, informative presentations, and games.
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“It’s an opportunity to understand the water, skies, and land around the St. Louis metropolitan area and the people who work in those fields,” says Science Center public relations manager Douglas Bolnick. “Whether you’re a Ph.D. or a preschooler, you’re going to find something you enjoy.”
More than 150 STEM professionals from dozens of organizations—ranging from the U.S. Navy to Scouting America to the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival—offer a closer look at the science behind their activities, and the variety is nearly endless. Attendees can make a star wheel for identifying constellations, learn about sun safety and solar protection, or play superconductor hockey with members of the Missouri University of Science and Technology’s physics department.
A number of presentations and exhibits are themed around outer space. If you ever wanted to know how to use a telescope, decrease light pollution, or what it would be like to go camping on the moon, representatives from groups including NASA and WashU address interstellar questions.
“The goal for everyone coming is to meet someone and don’t make this a one-time thing: find your next hobby, your next career path,” Watt says. “We like to feature the science that’s happening in St. Louis, but that work touches the global ecosystem. It’s amazing that we can have that kind of impact.”
