The second annual showcase of the state university will have greater student involvement, anchor events on each campus

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Rutgers opens its New Brunswick and Piscataway campuses and classrooms to the public for the second annual Rutgers Day April 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rutgers Day offers an eclectic mix of more than 430 free programs, something for every age and interest. Visitors will be able to experience a rain barrel art show, participate in a flight simulator demonstration, dig for archeological treasures or engage in a group family therapy session – to name just a few of the activities. They also will find workshops on bhakti yoga, French cheeses and children’s poetry.

Rain or shine, attendees can explore the campuses and meet experts, speak with students and engage in a multitude of activities.

More than 50,000 people attended the inaugural Rutgers Day last year.

This year more than a third of the programs and performances, from community service initiatives to musical acts, will be led by students. A few examples include: Haircuts for Hope, a student group that supports donating hair for wigs for ill children; “A 4 Effort Improvisational Comedy Group”; and Alpha Phi Alpha’s step-dance performance rooted in African-American traditions.

Each campus will have signature anchor events.

The College Avenue Campus, “the historic heart of Rutgers,” will celebrate the university’s rich history with numerous programs surrounding the Old Queens building. Visitors will have the opportunity to take walking tours that include the university’s first dormitory built in 1809 and a Revolutionary War battlefield; visit the Geology Museum to see a mastodon and a 2,400-year old mummy, and participate in a trivia game and scavenger hunt where clues lie inside national and state historic landmarks like the Old Queens building and Winants Hall. For architecture-enthusiasts, there will be a presentation on Henry Janeway Hardenburg, the architect who designed Rutgers’ Kirkpatrick Chapel and is known for such New York City landmarks as the Plaza Hotel and the Dakota Apartments.

The Busch Campus will feature the School of Engineering’s open house and a number of Rutgers Athletics events. Visitors to the engineering quad can try riding a Segway, view a glass-blowing demonstration and see student designs for such innovations as a tennis ball collector, a paint machine and an automated skateboard, among others. Additionally, sports fans can get a preview of the 2010 football season at the Scarlet and White intrasquad game at Rutgers Stadium,and watch the women’s lacrosse and softball teams play in Big East competitions. They also can get an early look at the 2010 men’s and women’s soccer teams as they both play La Salle University in a spring doubleheader.

The Livingston Campus will host the “World of Work” and feature international programming provided by the Asian Cultural Center. Those looking to advance their careers, select new vocations or find employment can attend workshops on resume writing, interviewing and employee rights. Also, job seekers will have the opportunity to talk with Rutgers human resources staff to learn about university employment opportunities. Cultural groups will offer fashion shows and dances as well as demonstrate their native customs and crafts like henna tattooing.

On the Douglass Campus the 36th annual New Jersey Folk Festival will celebrate the history, heritage and traditions of the Andes through an array of music, art, food and crafts demonstrations. Performers such as Eco del Sur, an ensemble of Latin American musicians, will perform their blend of ancient Andean and contemporary music.

The George H. Cook Campus is the home to Ag Field Day, featuring student exhibitions of dairy cattle, goats, horses, pigs and sheep; the New Jersey 4-H Dog Show; plant and flower sales; student club activities; and glimpses of agricultural, marine and satellite remote sensing technologies.

Rutgers Day is sponsored in part by Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and Johnson & Johnson. For more information, go to rutgersday.rutgers.edu.