NIH Earth Day

Join us on Thursday, April 26th from 10am – 2pm for the 2018 NIH Earth Day Celebration at Bethesda, Maryland. This year’s Earth Day theme is “End Plastic Pollution.” The event will take place at the Natcher Conference Center (Building 45), both inside and on the lawn. Embrace your passion for nature by celebrating Earth Day with a variety of child-friendly activities, games, giveaways, live animals and Farmer’s Market vendors.

Some of this year’s Earth Day festivities are specifically tailored towards the “End Plastic Pollution” theme and will provide visitors with suggestions for reducing plastic waste. For a full list of Earth Day events at various NIH locations, please click here. Some examples are listed below:

Exhibits: Scales and Tales from Maryland DNR will display live birds and reptiles. The Audubon Society will showcase the “Creek Critters” app to aid in identifying local stream wildlife. The NICHD Green Team will explain how to compost with your household waste. Learn various ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste, at the NIH and Montgomery County recycling booths. View live reptiles from the Maryland Reptile Conservation Center. A limited number of Sourwood tree seedlings will be given away for planting at home (thanks to the generosity of the NIH Federal Credit Union!)

Activities:  Join the NIH Stream Walk to learn about plants and wildlife on the campus. Build your own floating plankton with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and learn how plastic pollution can affect plankton and its predators. Spin the NIDCD “It’s a Noisy Planet” wheel to learn how to protect your hearing. Summon the clouds to create rain and witness the effects of storm water runoff with the Enviroscape Model.  Learn about sustainable foods and produce. View a display of electric and hybrid vehicles from the NIH Fleet and the NIH Electric Vehicle Users, including test rides.

Vendors: Farmer’s market venders with products for sale will include: Cupcakes Lounge, Randalia Bee Hives, Chocolatier’s Palette, M&M Plants, Chocolate Moonshine, Ahh Candles and Apple Valley.

Food Trucks: Purchase lunch from popular choices including: LA Tacos, Chix ‘n Stix, Big Cheese, and Ben and Jerry’sat Bldg. 45 and Firehouse Subs at Bldg. 1

24th Annual Take Your Child to Work Day

NIH will host the 24th Annual Take Your Child to Work Day (TYCTWD) Thursday, April 26th from 9am – 4pm.  Bring your school-age child (grades 1 – 12) to NIH for a day of discovery and exploration at the nation’s medical research agency! The registration site is now open to preview the available activities: http://takeyourchildtowork.nih.gov

**This year’s registration will be conducted in two phases.**  Registration Phase 1 will begin online at noon on Wednesday, April 4th allowing you to register your child(ren) for up to 2 limited spaced activities each.  Registration Phase 2 will open online on Thursday, April 12th at noon, and will remain open.  You can register your child(ren) for up to 2 additional limited space activities for a maximum of 4 limited space activities.  More info at http://takeyourchildtowork.nih.gov.

The registration site is only accessible using your PIV card login credentials (either at work or through VPN).  You will not need to create a profile or remember a new password.  The site allows you to download a PDF activity schedule to save or print.  Tweet using #MyNIHDay and follow us @NIHEmplSrvcs on Twitter.

FREE registration bags, courtesy of the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) for each registered child will be available for pick-up between 9am – 3:45pm April 23rd – 25th, at R&W stores located at Bldg. 31 Rm. 1W08 or Rockledge I/4202, or at the FAES gift shop at CRC/1N2582.  TYCTWD 2018 is sponsored by the Office of Research Services.  Contact us at Take-Your-Child-To-Work@nih.gov.

Parti Pics Photo Booth will be in the Bldg. 31A Patio for Take Your Child to Work Day and Earth Day events. Bring your kid or the kid in you to get fun pictures taken.