Smithsonian Associates Celebrate 60 years of Museum Based Education

 

Smithsonian Associates just celebrated their 60th anniversary. Widely recognized as the largest museum education program in the world, they had a lovely exhibit for the anniversary in the S. Dillon Ripley center on the National Mall.

The exhibit featured speakers, photographs and highlights from 60 years of museum based informal education programming. The expansive nature of the offerings has always amazed me- from Nobel laureates to famous scientists, art critics, curators, historians, university professors, world renowned chefs and even a few local natural history interpreters.

I was surprised to find a photograph from one of our Shenandoah National Park programs prominently featured. I’m thrilled and flattered to be included in this remarkable group of informal and formal educators from around the world. Since in 1999 I have led local study tours to Shenandoah National Park, the West Virginia Highlands, Tangier Island, Great Fall Virginia plus several local gardens and parks. In 2020 founded Botanical Gardens of the World. In 2023 I founded Natural History Road Trips, both popular programs on Zoom.