What: The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is hosting the free event “Easter Monday: A Washington Family Tradition.”

When: Monday, April 17 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Smithsonian’s National Zoo 3001 Connecticut Ave. N.W.

This year’s Easter Monday celebration features traditional Easter activities for families, such as an egg hunt, themed games and a visit from the Easter Panda. Animal keepers will host talks, feedings and 37 demonstrations highlighting a variety of species, including cheetahs, great apes, vultures, snakes and sea lions. Fun activities will give visitors an opportunity to learn more about the important conservation science that takes place at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

To safely and securely handle the crowds during high visitation periods, the Zoo implements temporary “access controls.” Controlled access means the Zoo will conduct bag checks and other forms of visitor screening, as well as restrict the number of people entering the Zoo. These measures, which may vary by day and event, are similar to procedures employed by Smithsonian museums. This event will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit the Zoo’s website.

What: Smithsonian is hosting the “Earth Optimism Summit.”

When: Friday, April 21 through Sunday, April 23 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: Regan International Trade Center 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.

On Earth Day weekend, the Smithsonian will convene the first Earth Optimism Summit, a three-day event featuring more than 150 scientists, thought leaders, philanthropists, conservationists and civic leaders, which will highlight what is working in conservation and how to scale up and replicate it. The Earth Optimism Summit will feature a mix of plenary and “deep-dive” sessions on topics and themes. The success stories to be featured include saving species such as the black-footed ferret and the California condor, creating the conditions for biodiverse and sustainable cities, tracking the movement of life across the planet and using state-of-the-art DNA methods to combat poaching and invasive species. For full schedule of events (including a list of those open to the public), a list of speakers and descriptions of their talks, visit the Earth Optimism website. Tickets for the summit also are available on the website.

What: The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is hosting the free event “Earth Optimism Day.”

When: Saturday, April 22 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Smithsonian’s National Zoo 3001 Connecticut Ave. N.W.

In conjunction with the Earth Optimism Summit, this year’s Earth Day celebration features family-friendly activities and interactive demonstrations. Zoo scientists will host talks about their work to save species such as the golden lion tamarin, black-footed ferret, scimitar-horned oryx, coral and more. Visitors will have an opportunity to learn how they can help protect the planet. This event will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit the Zoo’s website.

What: The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is hosting the free event “International Migratory Bird Day.”

When: Saturday, May 6 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Smithsonian’s National Zoo 3001 Connecticut Ave. N.W.

At this year’s International Migratory Bird Day celebration, visitors can meet Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) scientists who study birds and their environments. The event features activities and games that highlight bird conservation and the importance of stopover sites in bird migration. Scientists and conservationists from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Raptor Conservancy of Virginia, Audubon Society of the District of Columbia and City Wildlife will chat with visitors about the vital role birds play in the ecosystem and share actions that they can take to protect migratory birds. This event will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit the Zoo’s website.

# # #