This year, NIH celebrates its 11th Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, on Thursday, Apr. 28. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the institutes and centers will host educational and fun activities designed to let your child (ages 8-15) experience the world of biomedical research.

More than 1,100 children are expected to participate in the event. Activities will be hosted at several locations throughout campus. You can help by identifying activities that offer children a learning experience in the occupations at NIH. Activities should introduce kids to the roles their parents play and expose them to careers they might not have envisioned.

The planning committee seeks volunteers to sponsor activities, which can take place in labs, conference rooms, even offices. Think about what you can do to educate kids about careers in science, medicine and civil service. To sponsor an activity or exhibit, contact the planning committee.

The committee also requests NIH giveaways including pens, cups, brochures, pencils, water bottles, etc. for inclusion in "goody" bags to be handed out at registration on the morning of the event. The committee especially needs help designing interesting on-the-job activities.

If you are not up to sponsoring your own activity, but still want to see children engaged in career education, consider helping plan and conduct the event. The committee welcomes volunteers any time between now and the event on Apr. 28.

Individuals with disabilities, who need sign language interpreters and/or reasonable accommodation should contact Gary Morin, (301) 496-4628, 480-3122 TTY, (800) 877-8339 Federal Relay or email MorinG@od.nih.gov. Requests should be made at least 5 days before the event.

Contact Sandra King, activities chair, (301) 402-3663, Sandra.King@nih.gov for general information, or committee chair Morin. Visit http://takeyourchildtowork.nih.gov for information on activities and registration. The committee plans to open registration in mid-April.