The 2025 MLBS Open House will be held Saturday, June 28 from 2-5pm! This family-friendly event is a unique opportunity to meet MLBS biologists and artists, explore our historic facilities, learn first-hand about Station research, and enjoy the outdoors. Come experience open labs, exhibits, hands-on activities, nature walks, arts and crafts, open art studios, and more! MLBS is a diverse community of researchers, students, artists, and others from around the world who live, learn, study, and create atop beautiful Salt Pond Mountain. Updates may be posted on the Facebook event page, and a schedule will be posted below (stay tuned!). We hope you'll join us for an afternoon of fun and learning in nature’s classroom!
When & Where
Saturday, June 28, 2025, 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Mountain Lake Biological Station, 240 Salt Pond Cir., Pembroke, VA 24136 (directions here).
Important Notes
Dogs are not allowed anywhere on station property, including in vehicles.
Carpooling is strongly encouraged! Parking is limited.
This is our workplace, but also our summer home. Please do not enter residences or any buildings that are not part of the Open House. Thank you for understanding!
Program of Activities
Scheduled Tours/Walks
|
Snake Meet & Greet Get to know the locals! (~30 minutes) |
2:15, 3:45 |
|
Guided Nature Walks Relaxed pace on flat trail, uneven terrain (30 minutes) |
2:30, 3:00, 4:15 |
|
NEON Tower Site Tour Tour of NEON “flux tower” site (30-40 minutes) |
3:30 |
Continuous Features
Ruth Patrick Hall
| Open Studio (ArtLab) |
108 |
| Fishes of the New River Valley |
109 |
| Open Studio (ArtLab) |
107 |
| Marsh Temporalities (looping video) |
Auditorium |
| National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) |
Foyer |
| The Smell of Losing: Beetle Scent Collection |
103 |
| The Secret Lives of Salamanders |
209 |
| Forked Fungus Beetles |
211 |
| Beetle Hotel (take a peek, but respect their privacy) |
208 |
| Open Sketchbook (ArtLab) (2:00-3:30) |
Library |
| “Seed” (looping video) (ArtLab) |
Library |
| Pick Your Poison: Toxic plants (and some lookalikes) |
201 |
| Mosquito Marvels: Mosquitoes, frogs, fly poison, & more! |
204 |
| Isopod Squad |
203 |
Wilbur Lab
| Plant Defense |
Front Porch |
| Hummingbird Hangout |
Front porch |
| Fungus Farming (for beetles) |
Multipurpose room |
Walton Pavilion & Riopel Pond
| Pond Biota |
Pond beach |
| Creatures Up Close |
Pavilion |
| Crafts & Face Painting |
Pavilion Lawn |
