Science, like most subjects, can only come alive when students are actively engaged in real-life pursuits that interest and challenge them (VanTassel-Baska and Bass 1998). Here the author describes how she was able to bring science to life for her middle school students through a series of Science Safaris--inquiry-based excursions to a variety of locations for the purpose of generating interest in science. The excursions were not closely tied to the content of curriculum in the classroom, but existed for the purpose of generating enthusiasm for and engagement in science as a domain. (Contains 2 figures.)