DNA.  Every living thing has it.  It helps us understand our shared history.  And, what we are learning today about DNA is shaping the future of our world from healthcare to agriculture, the environment and even the economy. 

National DNA Day Scavenger Hunt in Cold Spring Harbor Village: Two Days of Fun for Elementary School Children and Their Families!

Take your kids and grandkids on a self-guided scavenger hunt to discover the rich history of Cold Spring Harbor Village and its special connection to DNA. The hunt will guide you through village landmarks including The Whaling Museum, The Firehouse Museum, The Cold Spring Harbor Library and Environmental Center and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's Dolan DNA Learning Center (DNALC).

All of the clues are hidden around the village and these locations will be open to scavenger hunt participants from 11:00am-4:00pm on Saturday April 21 and Sunday April 22, 2012. Please note that on Sunday April 22, the Cold Spring Harbor Library and Environmental Center will only open at 1:00pm and the DNA Learning Center is closed. Children may pick up their hunt map at any of these locations and submit at The Firehouse Museum to receive a gift bag!

Where you start your hunt and when you visit the locations identifies on the map is up to you! Along the way, stop, shop and snack at the stores throughout the village. Parking is available along Main Street, in the parking lot in Cold Spring Harbor Village and at the public library.

DNA Day is celebrated across the country, with educational events sponsored by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), a part of the National Institutes of Health. The day commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003 and the discovery of DNA's double helix – events closely tied to the world-famous biomedical research laboratory in our backyard, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

For information on other ways to celebrate National DNA Day visit http://www.genome.gov/10506367

The NHGRI website includes links to the DNALC website. Of particular interest for young DNA sleuths are two programs that can be accessed from www.dnalc.org or individually: DNA From The Beginning at  www.dnaftb.org and DNA Interactive at www.dnai.org.

Dates and times: Saturday, April 21, 2012 and Sunday, April 22, 2012 from 11:00am-4:00pm
Location: Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor Village, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724

This event is free to the public.