Close encounters of the science kind

Face-painted kids and smiling parents fanned out across the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Md., on May 15 for the annual open house. They learned about horseshoe crabs, underwater research robots, toe-biting bugs and the rich history of the land. The official count is not yet in, but ask SERC’s outreach coordinator Karen McDonald if she was happy with the turnout and the answer is: yes. Ask her if she’s still recovering from organizing the day’s activities and the answer is also yes.

 A special thanks to SERC’s volunteers, partner organizations, board members and staff for making the day a success. A special thanks to The Chaney Foundation for sponsoring the event and to Peter G. Cane for photographing the day.

Mark your calendars for next year’s open house: Saturday, May 14, 2011.

(This story originally appeared on SERC’s blog, Shorelines.)

Related posts:

OVS celebrates 50 years of service The Strength of the Smithsonian: Results from the Smithsonian Volunteer Survey The Strength of the Smithsonian: Results of the Volunteer Survey We Appreciate Volunteers…