Come to the shark side for a chompin’ good time at SharkFest sponsored by the Natural History Society of Maryland! Learn about one of the most successful creatures ever living on our planet. Explore fossil and shark teeth collections, learn about shark behavior and anatomy from experts, and marvel at the apex predator of modern times.
SharkFest combines hands-on science with games and crafts for a full day of activities for all ages. Popular stations include:
–The kid zone features a sandpit where kids can dig for fossil shark teeth and bones, just like a real paleontologist.
–Look at all those shark teeth! Marvel at how big and how small shark teeth grow with teeth from our collection. Guided by a fossil expert, learn how these teeth are continually replaced throughout a shark’s lifetime. In many ways, microteeth are even more fascinating than larger ones
–Make a shark tooth necklace from your findings. Or purchase your shark tooth in the gift shop for a small extra fee.
–Step up to a microscope to peer at real shark skin with an NHSM fossil expert.
–Speaking from our shark dive cage, Emmy-Award-winning underwater cinematographer Nick Caloyianis will join us. Ask him how the cage was damaged, with him in it, during a filming of Shark Week for the Discovery Channel.
–Oceanic Whitetip shark researcher Lucy Howey will share her current project on shark conservation with us. Stop by her table to learn how you can help sharks stay safe and healthy in our oceans.
–How do sharks smell and see? Engage your eyes and nose at the brain function exhibit to find out.
Cost varies between free and $7. Natural History Society is located at 6908 Belair Rd, Baltimore, 21206.
To delve deeper into shark waters, remember that Saturday night, July 20, is our opening night lecture series featuring Jay Bradley, Blue Wonders curator from the National Aquarium, and shark researcher Dr. Stacy Farina from Howard University. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Reserve your seat here: https://marylandnature.wildapricot.org/event-5734366.
