--- title: A Baby’s-Eye View of UMD date: 2023-10-26T05:30:00-04:00 author: University of Maryland canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/a-babys-eye-view-of-umd" section: Articles --- # A Baby’s-Eye View of UMD *October 26, 2023* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih) > Arboretum Program Introduces Caretakers and Kids to Plants, Pollinators Across Campus *IMG 8125 1920x1080 — Meg Smolinski (center), outreach coordinator for the UMD Arboretum, introduces the weekly "Walk with an Arborist and Your Baby" tour to Charlotte Alberts and her two children (right) as Lindsay Barranco (left), coordinator of experiential learning for the Institute of Applied Agriculture, looks on.* Charlotte Alberts reached the top of the [Memorial Chapel ](https://stamp.umd.edu/centers/memorial_chapel/about_memorial_chapel)steps with 11-month-old Marcy strapped to her front and 3-year-old Griffin balanced on her back. “It’s been a morning,” she said. It was her first time coming to the University of Maryland campus, and she was running 10 minutes late on a warm October Friday. “But you’re here, yay!” cheered Meg Smolinski, outreach coordinator for the [UMD Arboretum](https://arboretum.umd.edu/) and co-host of “Walk with an Arborist and Your Baby.” There’s no judgment, just joy, during these weekly sojourns across campus that give caretakers of young children an excuse to go outside, learn a little about plants and pollinators, and visit portions of the UMD campus they’ve never seen. “Being able to see insects and flowers, focusing on something other than screens and chaos, is great. And watching the kids interact with nature is amazing too,” said Alberts, an entomologist at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. That’s exactly the type of feedback Smolinski is thrilled to receive. She created the program after she had her first child in fall 2019 and struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety. Getting outdoors was one of the few things that helped her feel better, so she adapted the walks she previously offered for the UMD Arboretum to new parents. “When you go on parental leave, it’s very lonely, honestly,” she said. “You’re used to going into an office and seeing your coworkers. Your spouse goes back to work, or you’re a single parent, and you’re just home with a new baby.” \[*[What Do ‘Yew’ Know About UMD Trees?](https://today.umd.edu/what-do-yew-know-about-umd-trees)*\] She hosted the first ones in January and February 2020, but the pandemic put those on pause. This fall, Smolinski relaunched the program, advertising it on local parents’ groups, on social media and across campus. She connected with Lindsay Barranco, coordinator of experiential learning for the [Institute of Applied Agriculture](https://iaa.umd.edu/), and Madeline Potter ’19, an [entomology](https://entomology.umd.edu/) graduate student and [UMD Extension](https://extension.umd.edu/) agent associate, who take turns joining her to lead the tours. *a woman points at a tree in a field while a woman carrying two children looks on — Smolinski points out a persimmon tree* **Sidebar note:** “Walk with an Arborist and Your Baby” tours are offered every Friday from 11-11:45 through Nov. 17. Participants meet in front of Memorial Chapel and are encouraged to [sign up](https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080f48adac2ba2fd0-walk4#/) in advance. Baby-wearing is recommended, but routes are also available for families using strollers. If parent groups or preschools are interested in custom tours, contact Meg Smolinski at . **Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community) **Tags:** [Entomology](https://today.umd.edu/topic/entomology), [University of Maryland Extension](https://today.umd.edu/topic/university-of-maryland-extension-2) **Units:** [College of Agriculture and Natural Resources](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-agriculture-and-natural-resources), [Facilities Management](https://today.umd.edu/topic/facilities-management)