As the end of October rounds the corner, many families will need healthy alternatives to the standard holiday fare. One such alternative to trick or treating and pumpkin carving is experimenting at home with the family, which requires a little more than two ingredients and water.

Many experiments with water have garnered up to one million hits on YouTube, and most are safe for every member of the family to do. This year, the aquatics department of the Student Rec & Wellness Center (SRWC) will host fun water experiments on Zoom to see if the YouTube posts are providing mere tricks of editing or treats of scientific reality.

Water science itself has been a very important element of recreation for years since the invention of swimming pools. In order to maintain swimming pool health and safety, the science of water balance is of the utmost importance. The balance of neutrality between acids and bases must be maintained between both the water we drink and the water we can swim in. The mixing of chemicals such as baking soda can change what is known as pH (potential of hydrogen or power of hydrogen) in an aqueous solution. These changes create unique bonds with other substances. For example, by adding quinine, a commonly used ingredient in tonic water, you can make water glow in the dark.

Experiments that alter water’s physical appearance, state of matter or otherwise are not only a fun way to relax, but also a great educational experience for the family. Please join SRWC Aquatics on Zoom on Oct. 28, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. for Wednesday Watercrafts.

For more information on this upcoming program and many others, please visit asirecreation.org.