Calendar of Events

Visit The Shop  to create your own mini Nevada, full of natural wildlife and flora. Using cardboard, clay, and other materials, visitors design their own ecologically accurate diorama Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

For this edition of Cotton Ball Splat Art, create their very own Hot air balloons in honor of the Hot Air Balloon Races! young visitors will use cotton balls to create colorful patterns and designs on pre-made hot air balloon templates. Visitors will use fine motor skills to paint with cotton balls, identify colors and patterns, encourage self expression, and learn about cause and effect. This activity is offered as part of The Discovery’s Small Wonder Wednesday program and is limited to attendees ages 5 and under

It’s Officially Fall Y’all! In this activity visitors will use available supplies like wood, cardboard, fabric, plastic, store bought decorations, and more to create fall decorations for their home. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

It’s Officially Fall Y’all! In this activity visitors will use available supplies like wood, cardboard, fabric, plastic, store bought decorations, and more to create fall decorations for their home. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

It’s Officially Fall Y’all! In this activity visitors will use available supplies like wood, cardboard, fabric, plastic, store bought decorations, and more to create fall decorations for their home. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Young visitors will feed the farm animals through different sized bottle necks with different sized spoons. This activity is offered as part of The Discovery’s Small Wonder Wednesday program and is limited to attendees ages 5 and under.

Create a character that will grow with the spring flowers in The Shop. Using soil, grass seed, and a variety of other materials, you can create a character that, when nutured carefully, will grow a healthy crop of grass hair!   Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Create a character that will grow with the spring flowers in The Shop. Using soil, grass seed, and a variety of other materials, you can create a character that, when nutured carefully, will grow a healthy crop of grass hair!   Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Create a character that will grow with the spring flowers in The Shop. Using soil, grass seed, and a variety of other materials, you can create a character that, when nutured carefully, will grow a healthy crop of grass hair!   Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Join us in The Shop and discover your inner artist to paint your very own wildflower watercolor painting! Get inspired by the diverse species of wildflowers across Nevada in celebration of National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 27, 2025. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Join us in The Shop and discover your inner artist to paint your very own wildflower watercolor painting! Get inspired by the diverse species of wildflowers across Nevada in celebration of National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 27, 2025. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Join us in The Shop and discover your inner artist to paint your very own wildflower watercolor painting! Get inspired by the diverse species of wildflowers across Nevada in celebration of National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 27, 2025. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Using recycled materials and craft supplies visitors can use their imagination and create their own spooky or silly monster. Please note: Spark!Lab Smithsonian offers access to tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Using recycled materials and craft supplies visitors can use their imagination and create their own spooky or silly monster. Please note: Spark!Lab Smithsonian offers access to tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Using recycled materials and craft supplies visitors can use their imagination and create their own spooky or silly monster. Please note: Spark!Lab Smithsonian offers access to tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Come on over to Spark!Lab Smithsonian and use fabric scraps and craft supplies to design a costume for a mannequin or doll. The dolls/mannequins are not take home, but the costumes are! Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Come on over to Spark!Lab Smithsonian and use fabric scraps and craft supplies to design a costume for a mannequin or doll. The dolls/mannequins are not take home, but the costumes are! Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visit The Shop to make your own wearable spooky mask to celebrate the season. Pair your mask with a creative costume and join us for The Discovery’s 14th annual Halloween Trick or Treat on October 25, 2025! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visit The Shop to make your own wearable spooky mask to celebrate the season. Pair your mask with a creative costume and join us for The Discovery’s 14th annual Halloween Trick or Treat on October 25, 2025! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Join us in celebrating Nevada’s scientific heritage during Nevada Day Weekend! Visit The Shop to learn about Nevada’s state fossil, the ichthyosaur. With the help of the museum’s educators, you’ll use available materials to design and fill your own plush ichthyosaur. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers practice the safe use of the tools and materials in this space.

Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian and use fabric scraps and craft supplies to design a costume for a mannequin or doll. What you invent is yours to keep, however the mannequins and dolls must stay behind for others to use. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

A Catrina doll is a representation of the iconic skeleton woman, La Catrina, who is a symbol of the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. In this activity, museum visitors will make their own Catrina doll using colored paper, plastic lids, and a variety of other craft supplies for decoration. Note: This activity is designed for all ages. Younger participants may require assistance from an adult/caregiver. Adults are encouraged to help young participants use the tools and materials…

A Catrina doll is a representation of the iconic skeleton woman, La Catrina, who is a symbol of the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. In this activity, museum visitors will make their own Catrina doll using colored paper, plastic lids, and a variety of other craft supplies for decoration. Note: This activity is designed for all ages. Younger participants may require assistance from an adult/caregiver. Adults are encouraged to help young participants use the tools and materials…

A Catrina doll is a representation of the iconic skeleton woman, La Catrina, who is a symbol of the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. In this activity, museum visitors will make their own Catrina doll using colored paper, plastic lids, and a variety of other craft supplies for decoration. Note: This activity is designed for all ages. Younger participants may require assistance from an adult/caregiver. Adults are encouraged to help young participants use the tools and materials…