Photos by Katharine Wilson
Maryland Day returned to The University of Maryland community for the first time since 2019. Families and students attended the annual festival, which spread across campus. Attendees could visit food stands, walk around campus and participate in activities set up by different majors at the university.
“We are always happy to come out and enjoy the campus and support all these programs,” said UMD parent and alumni Lauren Russ.
See the gallery for more photos from Maryland Day 2022.
The campus farm had a variety of animals for people to see. These included horses, a foal, sheep, pigs and cows. 
The Advanced Robotics Development Laboratory had robots for guests to interact with and an astronaut suit. The astronaut suit was on display along with a simulator for how astronauts feel inside of a spacesuit, to stress the need for mobility in space suits. “We’re showcasing a bunch of the projects that the lab has worked on,” said junior aerospace major Ruben Turner. 
The Advanced Robotics Development Laboratory had robots for guests to interact with and an astronaut suit. One of the robots was a type of machine used at the International Space Station where visitors could try and move a Buzz Lightyear action figure around. Additionally, there was a camera that moved using a QR code held up by visitors. 
The Philip Merrill College of Journalism’s event brought visitors into the campus broadcast studio to sit at the anchor booth and read the teleprompter. 
The College Park Volunteer Fire Department had fire trucks lined up at the end of the McKeldin Mall for children to sit inside. The department was also there to bring attention to its program that provides free in-station housing for college students, in exchange for volunteering in the department. “We’re here just to kind of draw up recruitment and show the fire trucks off to the kids,” said fire station volunteer and senior chemistry major Caius Kim. 
NASA had a section of booths educating the public on their current projects and missions. The university also had a telescope so passerbys could take a closer look at the sun. 
The City of College Park’s Education Advisory Committee hosted a free book giveaway. They were giving out one book per child. “We think it’s so important that kids have books in their hands to read,” said committee member Carolyn Bernache.“We want everybody to read.” Bernache also said that allowing children to self-select their own books is important.