The 100th Birthday of the Author of Silent Spring

The environment has become such an important issue today, but in 1962, when Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring came out, few people thought about it at all. She showed how chemical pesticides were killing the birds so that soon none would be left.  We would no longer have their singing but instead it would be a “silent springtime”. Of course more than birds were being damaged but it was something that everyone could relate to. She was one of the first to see that our environment was something we needed to take care of.

Patuxent Research Refuge National Wildlife Visitor Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road Laurel, MD 20708 www.fws.gov/northeast/patuxent/events.html:

Saturday, May 19, 10 am to 12 pm, National Wildlife Visitor Center. Rachel Carson birthday celebration. Experience the Sense of Wonder of Wildlife Ceremony, live animals and activities.

Thursday, May 24, 1 pm, National Wildlife Visitor Center. Performance of “A Sense of Wonder,” one-woman play based on Rachel Carson’s life, starring Kaiulani Lee. A Sense of Wonder is based on the life and works of Rachel Carson. It is the story of one woman’s love for the natural world and her fight to defend it, how the extremely private Rachel Carson was thrust into the role of controversial public figure. Admission is free but registration is required. Please call 301-497-5887 or see www.fws.gov/northeast/patuxent/events.html

Rachel Carson’s Home:

Saturday, May 19. Open House at Silver Spring, Maryland home where Carson wrote Silent Spring.  Speakers and refreshments. For directions and program information, contact the Rachel Carson Council at rccouncil@aol.com or 301-593-7507. For more information about the Rachel Carson Council see www.rachelcarsoncouncil.com.

Montgomery County Department of Parks:

Friday through Sunday, May 19-20, Rachel Carson Greenway Trail. The Montgomery County Department of Parks invites you to join them in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s birthday on May 19 and May 20, 2007.. All events will take place in the Rachel Carson Greenway and all events are free. For details, visit www.montgomerytrails.org for updates and maps.

Saturday,May 19

Adelphi Mill, 8402 Riggs Road, Adelphi, MD 20783, 10:00am to 2:00pm.  Visit the “fish bowl” along the trail to see the types of fish in Northwest Branch stream. A park naturalist will talk about fish and have “hands on” activities for the kids.
Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902 (301) 946-9071, www.brooksidenature.org All ages are welcome to enjoy the outdoors as you hear a story about Rachel Carson’s work to protect the environment, and listen to inspirational words from her writings. Meet in the nature center picnic area. Reservations are required. Register online at www.parkpass.org.
Burnt Mills Dam Parking Lot, 10700 Colesville Road (US 29), Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, 10:00am to 4:00pm, Hike one of the most popular sections of the Rachel Carson Greenway! These hikes are led by Park naturalists and oriented to children. Hikes are just less than 1 mile in length.
Trolley Museum, 1313 Bonifant Road, Colesville, Maryland 20905, (301)-384-6088, http://www.dctrolley.org. Enjoy FREE trolley rides at the National Capitol Trolley Museum. Films about Rachel Carson will be shown continuously in the theatre

Sunday, May 20

Rachel Carson Conservation Park, 22201 Zion Road, Burtonsville, MD 20833. 1:00pm to 5:00pm.
Rachel Carson Birthday Party Come to the birthday party for Rachel Carson! They will have cake, music and a birthday card for people to sign.
Hike the trails in the park. Join a hike led by a Park Forest ecologist to learn about the plants and trees that make Rachel Carson Conservation Park so special. Visit the special “fish bowl” to learn about local species of fish.

Rachel Carson Homestead:
Sunday, May 27
The Rachel Carson Birthday Celebration and Sustainable Feast block-party, will be held at Carson’s birthplace and home for almost half her life. Honored guests, tours of the Carson house and the one-woman play about Rachel Carson, “A Sense of Wonder,” are just a part of the celebration.  Regional conservation groups and eco-friendly vendors will also be on hand. Rachel's Sustainable Feast brings Pittsburgh's leading chefs together to feature locally-produced food from sustainable farms and vendors. The Rachel Carson Homestead is located in the Allegheny River community of Springdale, near the intersection of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA 76) and Route 28, and about 1/2 hour from downtown Pittsburgh. For more information please call (724) 274-5459 or see www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org.