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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
American bumblebee drinking nectar from a pink flower

Nature in Our Cities

An Event Series Celebrating Earth Month

In honor of Earth Day and Earth Month, we're hosting a series of online programs exploring themes of urban nature, pollinators, biodiversity, and Earth optimism. Events for K-12 students, families, and adults will culminate in two public science projects. City Nature Challenge DC 2021 asks participants to find plants, animals, and fungi in the D.C. region, photograph them, and share them via the iNaturalist app. Other cities around the world will be participating as well. PolliNation DC asks community gardeners in the District to photograph the pollinators in their gardens. The information will contribute to our understanding of pollinator diversity in an urban setting. 

Online Events

Click the event titles to learn more and register. All times are Eastern Daylight Time.

For Adults

Collage of five images showing a diverse group of men, women, and children gardening, water plants, and holding up produce. At center is an illustration of five hands above the words A Community of Gardeners.
Photo collage by Cintia Cabib.

A Passion for the Planet: Art and Science in Concert
Date: April 21, 2021
Time: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

A Community of Gardeners (Film Screening and Q&A Discussion)
Date: April 27, 2021
Time: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

An Evening with Howard Youth: Exploring the Natural World of Washington, D.C.
Date: April 29, 2021
Time: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

City Nature Challenge 2021
Dates: April 30 – May 3, 2021
For adults and families

PolliNation DC 
A one-year citizen science project in Washington, D.C., community gardens 
Dates: Begins April 30
For adults and families in Washington, D.C.

For Families

A father and young daughter sitting at a table. She is talking to him and pointing a pencil at a notebook on the table.

Natural History at Home: Neighborhood Naturalists
Date: April 10, 2021
Video coming soon.

Historia Natural en Casa: Biodiversidad en tu vecindario
Date: April 25, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
This program will be presented in Spanish.

City Nature Challenge 2021
Dates: April 30 – May 3, 2021
For adults and families

PolliNation DC 
A one-year citizen science project in Washington, D.C., community gardens 
Dates: Begins April 30
For adults and families in Washington, D.C.

For Students in Grades 3-5

Two children standing next to a lawn by a sidewalk. One child is showing their smart phone to the other.
Photo by Gale Robertson, Smithsonian.

Smithsonian Science How: The Beetle's Special Adaptation for Survival: Elytra
Date: April 7, 2021
Video coming soon.

Smithsonian Science How: Sea Lions at the National Zoo
Date: April 21, 2021
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Smithsonian Science How: Pollination Webinar – Identifying Bees through Illustration
Date: April 28, 2021
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Digital Program for School Groups: Urban Habitats
Date: Register for programs through June 18, 2021

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