Calendar of Events
Past Events › Hands-on Activity
Design a Stadium
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to design a stadium considering what activities it will host and the best way to accommodate all guests. 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.
Find out more »
Snowflake String Art
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to create the perfect decoration for winter. Using hammers and nails, you can create a winter-inspired shape to trace with festive winter string. Best of all, what you make is yours to take home! 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.
Find out more »
Design a Stadium
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to design a stadium considering what activities it will host and the best way to accommodate all guests. 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.
Find out more »
Snowflake String Art
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to create the perfect decoration for winter. Using hammers and nails, you can create a winter-inspired shape to trace with festive winter string. Best of all, what you make is yours to take home! 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.
Find out more »
Design a Stadium
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to design a stadium considering what activities it will host and the best way to accommodate all guests. 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.
Find out more »
Snowflake String Art
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to create the perfect decoration for winter. Using hammers and nails, you can create a winter-inspired shape to trace with festive winter string. Best of all, what you make is yours to take home! 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.
Find out more »
Do-It-Yourself Sun Catcher
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to create a beautiful and functional device to harness the power of the sun. Using wax paper, tissue paper, and a variety of other materials, you can create a sun catcher that looks like stained glass. 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.
Find out more »
Do-It-Yourself Sun Catcher
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to create a beautiful and functional device to harness the power of the sun. Using wax paper, tissue paper, and a variety of other materials, you can create a sun catcher that looks like stained glass. 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.
Find out more »
Do-It-Yourself Sun Catcher
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to create a beautiful and functional device to harness the power of the sun. Using wax paper, tissue paper, and a variety of other materials, you can create a sun catcher that looks like stained glass. 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.
Find out more »
New Year’s Racers
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Ring in the new year and visit The Shop to put your automotive design skills to the test. Using a variety of materials, you can design and build your very own race car. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! 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.
Find out more »
Invent a Hand Puppet
One event on January 4, 2026 at 10:30 am
One event on January 10, 2026 at 10:30 am
One event on January 11, 2026 at 10:30 am
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Let the performance begin! Visit The Discovery’s Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own version of a hand puppet. Using a variety of materials, you can design and create a hand puppet and then conduct a performance for friends, family and fellow museum visitors on the Spark!Lab puppet stage. 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.
Find out more »
New Year’s Racers
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Ring in the new year and visit The Shop to put your automotive design skills to the test. Using a variety of materials, you can design and build your very own race car. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! 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.
Find out more »
Invent a Hand Puppet
One event on January 4, 2026 at 10:30 am
One event on January 10, 2026 at 10:30 am
One event on January 11, 2026 at 10:30 am
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Let the performance begin! Visit The Discovery’s Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own version of a hand puppet. Using a variety of materials, you can design and create a hand puppet and then conduct a performance for friends, family and fellow museum visitors on the Spark!Lab puppet stage. 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.
Find out more »
New Year’s Racers
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Ring in the new year and visit The Shop to put your automotive design skills to the test. Using a variety of materials, you can design and build your very own race car. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! 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.
Find out more »
Do-it-Yourself Bookends
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Keep your literary collection organized and carefully displayed with bookends you make in The Shop. Using real tools and a selection of wood and craft supplies, you can build bookends to keep your book in perfect, standing order. 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.
Find out more »
Invent a Hand Puppet
One event on January 4, 2026 at 10:30 am
One event on January 10, 2026 at 10:30 am
One event on January 11, 2026 at 10:30 am
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Let the performance begin! Visit The Discovery’s Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own version of a hand puppet. Using a variety of materials, you can design and create a hand puppet and then conduct a performance for friends, family and fellow museum visitors on the Spark!Lab puppet stage. 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.
Find out more »
Do-it-Yourself Bookends
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Keep your literary collection organized and carefully displayed with bookends you make in The Shop. Using real tools and a selection of wood and craft supplies, you can build bookends to keep your book in perfect, standing order. 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.
Find out more »
Invent a Hand Puppet
One event on January 4, 2026 at 10:30 am
One event on January 10, 2026 at 10:30 am
One event on January 11, 2026 at 10:30 am
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Let the performance begin! Visit The Discovery’s Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own version of a hand puppet. Using a variety of materials, you can design and create a hand puppet and then conduct a performance for friends, family and fellow museum visitors on the Spark!Lab puppet stage. 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.
Find out more »
Do-it-Yourself Bookends
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Keep your literary collection organized and carefully displayed with bookends you make in The Shop. Using real tools and a selection of wood and craft supplies, you can build bookends to keep your book in perfect, standing order. 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.
Find out more »
Design a Stadium
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to design a stadium considering what activities it will host and the best way to accommodate all guests. 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.
Find out more »
Relief Tiles
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to show off your skills in sculpture and get creative with air dry clay. Using clay carving tools and acrylic paint, you can create a decorative relief tile with a three-dimensional effect. 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.
Find out more »
LEGO® Robot Rumble
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Register for a LEGO® Robot Rumble session and you’ll learn how to build and code the ultimate autonomous, fighting robot using using LEGO® Mindstorms. Then, test your bot’s capabilities when you pit it against your fellow participants in a head-to-head battle. Your objective? Push your competitor’s bot out of the ring to declare victory!
Find out more »
Design a Stadium
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to design a stadium considering what activities it will host and the best way to accommodate all guests. 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.
Find out more »
Relief Tiles
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to show off your skills in sculpture and get creative with air dry clay. Using clay carving tools and acrylic paint, you can create a decorative relief tile with a three-dimensional effect. 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.
Find out more »