Oct

The Smithsonian Staff Picnic is almost here!

The 21st Annual Smithsonian Staff Picnic is just days away! This year, there will be more to experience than ever before.

DATE AND LOCATIONS

October 9 from 11:30am – 2:30pm
Arts and Industries Building (AIB), Ripley Center and Outdoors
See the Printable Picnic Map Below

2024 STAFF PICNIC_10-3

BRING YOUR BADGE

Present your Smithsonian ID at AIB and the Ripley Center for admission.
A list of pre-registered attendees without badges will be provided to security. If you do not have a Smithsonian ID, you will need to provide your first and last name at security checkpoints prior to entering AIB and the Ripley Center.

SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR TIME AT THE PICNIC

Listen to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III’s remarks at 12:30pm in AIB.
You’re invited to the Office of Visitor Services (OVS) Open House! Tour their new office spaces in the Ripley Center and find out how OVS and Smithsonian volunteers support so much of the Smithsonian’s work.
See the list below for detailed information about activities, music, demonstrations, informational tables, services, and the Smithsonian Sustainability Program. Be aware, some activities are scheduled at a specific time and space may be limited.
Pre-register for cornhole. Arrive a few minutes before your designated start time as you compete to take the crown. Limited on-site registration will be available at AIB from 11:30am-12:30pm.
Pre-register for yoga and/or tai chi classes. Yoga will begin at 11:45am and tai chi will begin at 1:00pm. Both will be held in the Ripley Center in Room 3031. Limited on-site registration will be available.

ENTERTAINMENT, ACTIVITIES, AND GIVEAWAYS

Be prepared to be amazed at the number of activities, demonstrations, and information tables. There are too many to list here so see below for the full list!
Live bands will play in AIB, and the Smithsonian’s very won Lt. Ellis will DJ in the Ripley Center. Enjoy the sounds of music and wear your dancing shoes!
A bottle opener/keychain with the sunburst logo will be distributed to attendees, as supplies last. Limit one per person.

HEALTH SERVICES

Free flu shots will be available in the Ripley Center in Room 3113. Prior to the event, please review the CDC’s Vaccine Information Statement. Occupational Health Services asks that you complete, print out and bring an informed consent form with you to the event to help speed up the process. Click here to access the form. If you are not able to complete the consent form ahead of times, you will be asked to complete one onsite before you are vaccinated.
First aid will be available throughout the event in Room 3113 in the Ripley Center and in the NE Range in AIB. If you are experiencing an emergency, please contact 202-633-2995 for help in AIB and 202-633-3990 for help in the Ripley Center.

FOOD AND DRINK OPTIONS

Barbecue meals (chicken, beef and pork), and sides will be provided by Mission BBQ.
Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals will be provided by Eco Caters. Please only take a vegetarian meal if you requested one in advance via the registration form.
Buffet stations can be found in AIB and in the Ripley Center. Food will be provided while supplies last.

SUSTAINABILITY

Help make this a zero-waste event! The Recycling Task Force (RTF) wants to keep picnic materials out of the landfill. This can only be done with your help. The RTF will have diversion kiosks available. Staff will help guide the correct disposal of recyclables, compostables, and (hopefully no) trash/landfill waste.
Attendees will have an opportunity to purchase a recycled, reusable tote bag made from Smithsonian banners as part of the Smithsonian Sustainability Program. The bags are sold at $20 each, and all profits will fund energy-saving projects such as LED lighting to save the Smithsonian an estimated $66 per bag over five years. Only cash and checks are accepted. Checks should be made payable to the Smithsonian Institution.

ACCESSIBILITY

ASL interpretation will be provided during Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III’s remarks and for Smithsonian Stories taking place in AIB.
Two roving ASL interpreters will be available, as needed, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Floating interpreters can be met at the Disability Employee Resource Group table in the Ripley Center.
Contact Michelle Cook (CookM2@si.edu) with any accessibility-related questions or to request accommodations for other picnic activities.

STAFF PICNIC ACTIVITIES

Arts & industries Building:
- Enjoy musical performances from colleagues and others with Smithsonian roots.
  - 11:45am – 12:20pm – James Zimmerman and Friends
  - 12:21pm – 12:25pm – Remarks from Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III
  - 12:25pm – 1:00pm – Red Castle Blues Band
  - 1:00pm – 1:35pm – Life after Dinosaurs
  - 1:35pm – 2:10pm – DWQ Jazz Band
- Compete, or cheer on your colleagues in the world-famous Smithsonian-wide Cornhole Tournament.
- Meet with representative of the newly formed Smithsonian Veterans Council.
- Connect with NMAI’s collections and exhibitions staff through a button-making activity.
- Test your engineering skills with a giant Tumbling Tower block game.
- See the latest projects underway by Congress of Scholars
- Learn how to play the Pokémon trading card game; and get your own set to take home (while supplies last).
- Make your own door hanger, and/or enjoy some coloring with NMAH’s Community Committee.
- See the Smithsonian’s 3D viewing platform. The Digitization Program Office will demonstrate how to use this cutting-edge digital storytelling tool.
- Hear some presentations from the Materials Cultural Forum.
Ripley Center:
- Music, DJ’d by OPS’ Lt. Theodore Ellis.
- See the selected entries from the Staff Art Show.
- Find out how the Office of Visitor Services and Smithsonian Volunteers support so much of our work and engage with visitors at an Open House.
- Get moving with Yoga (noon) and Tai Chi classes (1:00pm), brought to you by the SHAPE Committee. Space is limited, advance registration recommended.
- Free flu shots will be available in the Ripley Center in Room 3113. Prior to the event, please review the CDC’s Vaccine Information Statement. Occupational Health Services asks that you complete, print out and bring an informed consent form with you to the event to help speed up the process. Click here to access the form. If you are not able to complete the consent form ahead of times, you will be asked to complete one onsite before you are vaccinated.
- Have some fun with the Internet Technology Security Team (ITSS) while learning about cyber security best practices and pitfalls.
- Meet representatives and get more information on four of the Smithsonian’s Employee Resource Groups, and other units and staff groups, including the Office of Human Resources (OHR), Preparedness and Response in National Collections, DEAI Collective, SITES and Smithsonian Affiliations.
- Reconnect with retired colleagues and get information on the fantastic activities planned by the Smithsonian Alumni Program
- Enjoy a doll-making craft, led by the Smithsonian Libraries & Archives team.
- Get information on the next Combined Federal Campaign.
Outside:
- The Office of Emergency Management will have staff and fire trucks on site to share information and answer your questions.
- Learn about amateur radio from the Smithsonian Amateur Radio Group.
- Put your face in a book, with the National Museum of Asian Art’s free book giveaway.
- Meet with representatives from the Office of Planning, Design, and Construction
- Talk with members of the Strategic Plan Implementation Team (StratTeam) about the Our Shared Future strategic plan for 2023-2027.
- Get a selfie in SI Gardens’ Bug Mobile.
- Meet Joseph Henry, the Smithsonian’s first Secretary.
- Learn how to help curb bird/glass deaths with the National Zoo’s Bird House