What is Citizen Science?
Citizen Science is ordinary people of any age gathering scientific information locally and sharing it with the global scientific community. Whether you are participating in star finding, birdwatching, sharing pictures from your backyard to help track plant and species populations, or taking a walk in your neighborhood with an air monitor, you can contribute! Citizen Science is perfect for all ages and great for family activities.
Today’s opportunities to participate in Citizen Science are boundless. Odds are there is a citizen science project that coincides with any hobby, interest or curiosity that you may have. Participating is easy! Often, you can use your mobile phone or the internet to collect and submit observations and to see results.
Our Citizen Science event series is perfect for beginners! Join us for any of the events and learn how you can participate! Events are open to all ages, from upper elementary age students to adults. Please use the “add more people” button when registering to let us know how many people will be attending.
Southern Maryland Astronomical Society presents The Moon
Friday, March 22, 7:30 p.m.
Lexington Park Library
Register to attend The Moon
Enjoy an evening with Southern Maryland Astronomical Society (SMAS) as they teach us about the Moon and (weather permitting) we observe the Moon and Jupiter. To celebrate the very bright Moon due to a Full Moon occurring on Monday, March 25, 2024, SMAS will guide us in two Moon related hands-on activities! There will be a 3-D Moon Phase Modeling Demonstration and different Moon Phase Flip Charts for attendees to use on a rotating basis. With the large telescopes provided by Southern Maryland Astronomical Society (SMAS), Outdoor Observing will follow. Please dress appropriately.
Build your own kit!
Activity Guide
Data Worksheet
Sky Quality Meter-L (SQM-L) (Do not substitute) – Hand-held meter for measuring sky brightness.
Red LED flashlight – To guide to nighttime viewing areas without disrupting user night vision or nocturnal animals who are less sensitive than humans to the red range of light.
Planisphere – Rotating star finder that helps identify constellations at any time of night during the year.
How to Create Your Own Bird B&B
Molly Moore, President of the Southern Maryland Audubon Society, will teach you how to attract more birds and pollinators to your yard, patio, or deck without spending a fortune. Whether you have a big garden or an apartment window box, get tips on providing native plants, water sources, and shelter that birds need to thrive. And we’ll show you how to make your windows and surroundings safer for the birds you attract. Weather permitting, we will move outside to identify birds visiting the library grounds. Please dress appropriately. Bring binoculars if you have them, but we will also have loaners.
Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m.
Lexington Park Library
Register to attend How to Create Your Own Bird B&B
Build your own kit!
Activity Guide
Binoculars 10×25 Compact
Apps for Identifying Birds and Recording Data – Merlin, Audubon, and ebird
Clipboard
Field Notebook
Local identification guide, such as Maryland & DC Trees & Wildflowers: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Plants (Wildlife and Nature Identification) Pamphlet
Bird Identification Book, such as Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America by Roger Tory Peterson
- Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
- National Audubon Society Field Guide to Birds
- Slow Birding: the Art and Science of Enjoying the Birds in Your Own Backyard by Joan Strassmann
- Gardening for the Birds: How to Create a Bird-friendly Backyard by George Martin Adams
- Audubon Birdhouse Book: Building, Placing, and Maintaining Great Homes for Great Birds by Margaret A. Barker
Is Beekeeping for You? A Mini Guide to Becoming a Beekeeper
Beekeeping can be enjoyed by almost anyone, whether you live on a farm or have nothing more than a backyard. The best way to learn the craft is with an experienced beekeeper. Susan Polsky, of The Association of Southern Maryland Beekeepers (ASMB) and a beekeeper for years, will share with us what we should consider before deciding whether to pursue beekeeping. Keeping a hive is something many wish to do for the environment (and the honey!) but you may find yourself feeling a tad overwhelmed with the information available to you. Join us for this presentation so you can be well-informed before starting your journey to becoming a beekeeper.
Saturday, April 20, 9:30 a.m.
Lexington Park Library
Register for Is Beekeeping for You?
Build your own kit!
Activity Guide
Data Sheet
Binoculars 10×25 Compact
Stopwatch
Field Notebook
Pollinator Book, such as The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North American’s Bees
- The Bee Book by Fergus Chadwick
- Birds, Bees, & Butterflies: Bringing Nature into Your Yard & Garden by Nancy J. Hajeski
- The Idle Beekeeper: the Low-effort, Natural Way to Raise Bees by Bill Anderson
- The Beekeeper’s Handbook by Diana Sammataro
- Wisdom for Beekeepers: 500 Tips for Successful Beekeeping by James E. Tew
Want More Citizen Science?
Find thousands of additional projects you can participate in using the Project Finder on SciStarter. Create a SciStarter.org account to track your progress, receive personalized recommendations, learn about local events and to connect with project scientists and other citizen scientists.
Thank you to The Patuxent Partnership for supporting this series of events and the creation of kits!