Dig It! The Secrets of Soil exhibit photo courtesy of John Steiner, Smithsonian Institution.

With August’s abrupt arrival, summer session is almost over. Even if you’ve been done with school for ages, you may still want to keep that brain sharp, if only to make yourself sound interesting at parties. While most of the area’s galleries are a bit out-of-commission, the museums are still packing in the events.

>> Recently opened on July 18 and running through January 3 is Dig It! The Secrets of Soil at the Natural History Museum. The exhibit covers a massive 5,000 square feet with interactive learning activities which explore fungi, bacteria, worms, and other organisms often hidden from view. Check the website for a wealth of related learning materials for the kiddies.

>> Head to the Botanical Garden on Saturday, August 16 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for their Family Day, One Planet – Ours! Sustainability for the 22nd Century . Green activities abound as visitors enjoy gelato; help create a straw bale house and a hand-held wind turbine; learn about solar cooking, local foods, and organic gardening; and meet experts in the field of sustainability. Event activities are free and rain-or-shine. Check out the Cool Globes sculptures while you’re there, or join USBG Conservation Horticulturist Ray Mims on Wednesday, August 27 from 12 to 1 p.m. at the conservatory terrace for an exhibit tour.

>> The Smithsonian Resident Associate Program offers a number of lectures, performances, tours and other educational opportunities each month on a variety of topics. This month, you can traverse the fifty-mile path of British troops in their 1814 effort to seize the U.S. Capitol on the 24th, learn about Norse mythology on the 7th, and view hidden Afghani artifacts on the 11th. Check the website for a full schedule.