The 2,650-acre campus of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland, encompasses a mix of forests, farmland, wetlands, and shoreline and is home to some of the world’s most enduring environmental research projects. Spend the day with SERC’s expert staff as you explore this environmental research hub and learn about its cutting-edge ecological studies.

A morning hike on the Discovery Trail, a 1.3-mile path that winds through lush landscapes, offers the chance to explore the types of ecosystems that SERC works to protect. At the Woodlawn History Center, built in 1735, uncover stories of the area’s rich history—from Native American settlement to the present day—through artifacts found by volunteer scientists from the Smithsonian Environmental Archaeology Lab. Discover the intersection of environmental science and archaeology as researchers explain the ways human activity has shaped the land and its ecosystems over time.

A tour of SERC’s core research center looks at the groundbreaking research that tackles global environmental challenges, from climate change to habitat loss, while providing insight into how SERC’s work contributes to a more sustainable future. SERC’s physical campus is also a model of sustainability, including seven top-tier LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) buildings, geothermal and solar renewable energy installations, and a wastewater treatment center.

After lunch, visit the South Campus for a look at the BiodiversiTREE research project, where scientists are studying how tree diversity can shape the health of a forest and the life within it.

Wrap up your day at the Global Change Research Wetland. Here, researchers run futuristic experiments to simulate how climate change could affect wetlands over the next century. You gain appreciation for how wetlands both protect us from climate change and need protection themselves.

Know Before You Go

• The tour departs by motorcoach from downtown Washington, DC with a designated secondary pick-up outside the city.
• Tour participants meet at and leave by bus from the Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C St., SW, with a stop at the New Carrollton Metro East Side Kiss & Ride lot at 7:55 a.m.
• This tour includes a boxed lunch.

• Note: Some areas on the tour are not accessible.

General Information

• Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
• Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
• As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
• For additional tour information:
• Study Tour Policies
• Refund/Cancellation Policy