Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day turns 20 this year, which has the UC Davis organizers thinking about the boys and girls who participated in the first TODS in 1993.

“Perhaps they are among the people who work at UC Davis today, inspired by what they saw at TODS — people doing real things, making a difference in the world, actively employed at the university, living their dreams,” said Sandy Batchelor, WorkLife coordinator.

On Thursday, April 26, a new crop of boys and girls — ages 6 to 12 — has a chance to attend TODS, as guests of their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, caretakers, etc., whether they be faculty, staff or students. The theme is “Build Opportunity: 20 Years of Education, Empowerment, Experience.”

TODS, a national event, offers all children the opportunity to see their parents and mentors at work, to see how they contribute to society. At UC Davis, TODS has the added benefit of exposing children to higher education — by inviting them to the campus and presenting a variety of activities.

“We like to think of it as a mini Picnic Day just for kids,” Batchelor said.

Activities include Lego DNA Model Building, Atmospheric Science Show, Chemistry Magic Show, Physics Show and Geology Rocks! — plus a number of tours: Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, California Raptor Center, Aggie Stadium, Botanical Conservatory, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Vegetable Crops and Greenhouse, Dairy Barn, and the Police and Fire departments.

The TODS flier states: “Come see what it is like to work at the greenhouses (and plant vegetables to take home with you). Explore an actual sabertooth fossil and dinosaur footprint. See how our UC Davis community functions, instructs, learns and grows.”

Children also are welcome to visit the Activities and Recreation Center, for tours and activities, and the Bohart Museum of Entomology.

For lunch, you can take the kids to the Segundo, Tercero or Cuarto dining halls, for $2 (with coupon available online).

TODS registration will be taken online, from 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 17, to 10 a.m. Monday, April 23. Some events are limited in space.