Gear up to celebrate Earth Day with a free Open House at the Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, on Saturday, April 21, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Learn about science with hands-on experiments for the whole family, meet the scientists working in your community, and enjoy activities in a special Kids Corner.
The Appalachian Laboratory is located at 301 Braddock Road, just ¼ mile north of exit 33 on Interstate 68. Parking is free, and refreshments and door prizes will be available throughout the day. For more information, contact Heather Johnson at 301-689-7111.
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory is home to state-of-the-art research on plant and soil ecology, aquatic chemistry, hydrology, wildlife ecology and conservation biology. Three floors of the laboratory will feature hands-on learning about science, including research unique to Allegany County.
Hands-on, family-friendly science experiments include:
- Critter Nation: Learn about insects that live on the bottom of streams and build your own caddis fly case.
- Where did Maryland's Brook Trout Go?: Use the same tools our scientists use to find out where brook trout are moving.
- Bats: Beyond the Scary Movie: Learn why bats are important to our ecosystem and how they get around without "sight."
- Is that DNA in my smoothie? Learn how to isolate DNA from fruit.
In the Kids Corner, families can discover incredible insects, learn about the importance of our forests and plant a pine tree, make a hummingbird feeder to attract feathered friends to the backyard, make an eco-friendly tote bag, create a one-of-a-kind Earth Day t-shirt, and more.
The Appalachian Laboratory Open House is in conjunction with the Western Maryland Science & Engineering Festival Satellite Event being held at Frostburg State University in cooperation with Allegany County Public Schools.
