
Calendar of Events
Past Events › Hands-on Activity

NV Nature Diorama
One event on August 3, 2025 at 10:30 am
One event on August 4, 2025 at 10:30 am
One event on August 5, 2025 at 10:30 am
Reno, NV 89501 United States
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.
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The Discovery’s Block Party
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Calling all builders and creators! Whether you’re a seasoned builder or just discovering the joy of building, this is the event for you! Join us for a museum-wide weekend of building activities and challenges for all ages and skill levels. It all happens Saturday and Sunday, August 6–10th. LEGO® Build Stations · 10:00am – 5:00pm Dive into the world of creativity when you visit various build stations located throughout the museum’s atrium. Challenge yourself to build cityscapes, fantasy worlds, vehicles… the…
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The Discovery’s Block Party
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Calling all builders and creators! Whether you’re a seasoned builder or just discovering the joy of building, this is the event for you! Join us for a museum-wide weekend of building activities and challenges for all ages and skill levels. It all happens Saturday and Sunday, August 6–10th. LEGO® Build Stations · 10:00am – 5:00pm Dive into the world of creativity when you visit various build stations located throughout the museum’s atrium. Challenge yourself to build cityscapes, fantasy worlds, vehicles… the…
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Open Build
Reno, NV 89501 United States
In The Shop, hands-on gets serious. During Open Build, take your pick from a variety of materials and use real tools to design and build nearly anything you can imagine. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! 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 »
Open Build
Reno, NV 89501 United States
In The Shop, hands-on gets serious. During Open Build, take your pick from a variety of materials and use real tools to design and build nearly anything you can imagine. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! 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 »
Small Wonder Wednesday: Shape Puzzles
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Young visitors will solve puzzles by matching shapes to their corresponding spaces, enhancing cognitive and spatial skills. Please note: This activity is offered as part of The Discovery’s Small Wonder Wednesday program and is limited to attendees ages 5 and under.
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Open Build: Flying Machines
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Take inspiration from Orville & Wilbur Wright when you visit The Shop to design and build your version of a flyer machine. Using available materials and real tool, you can create your own rendition of the famous Wright Flyer! 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.
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Cardboard City
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to create an expansive cardboard city. Build homes, skyscrapers, churches, parks, stores… whatever you can imagine. This is an ongoing collaborative project that will grow and change throughout the day. 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 »
Open Build: Flying Machines
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Take inspiration from Orville & Wilbur Wright when you visit The Shop to design and build your version of a flyer machine. Using available materials and real tool, you can create your own rendition of the famous Wright Flyer! 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 »
Open Build: Flying Machines
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Take inspiration from Orville & Wilbur Wright when you visit The Shop to design and build your version of a flyer machine. Using available materials and real tool, you can create your own rendition of the famous Wright Flyer! 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 »
Open Build: Flying Machines
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Take inspiration from Orville & Wilbur Wright when you visit The Shop to design and build your version of a flyer machine. Using available materials and real tool, you can create your own rendition of the famous Wright Flyer! 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 »
Cardboard City
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to create an expansive cardboard city. Build homes, skyscrapers, churches, parks, stores… whatever you can imagine. This is an ongoing collaborative project that will grow and change throughout the day. 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 »
Open Build: Flying Machines
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Take inspiration from Orville & Wilbur Wright when you visit The Shop to design and build your version of a flyer machine. Using available materials and real tool, you can create your own rendition of the famous Wright Flyer! 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 »
Cardboard City
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to create an expansive cardboard city. Build homes, skyscrapers, churches, parks, stores… whatever you can imagine. This is an ongoing collaborative project that will grow and change throughout the day. 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 »
Invent a Hand Puppet
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 »
The Discovery Field Journal
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to make your own pocket field notebook, a tool in science for collecting scientific observations. Use available tools and materials to personalize your field notebook and follow our provided guide to create your first field entry. 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 »
The Discovery Field Journal
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to make your own pocket field notebook, a tool in science for collecting scientific observations. Use available tools and materials to personalize your field notebook and follow our provided guide to create your first field entry. 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 »
The Discovery Field Journal
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to make your own pocket field notebook, a tool in science for collecting scientific observations. Use available tools and materials to personalize your field notebook and follow our provided guide to create your first field entry. 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 »
Invent a Hand Puppet
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 »
The Discovery Field Journal
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to make your own pocket field notebook, a tool in science for collecting scientific observations. Use available tools and materials to personalize your field notebook and follow our provided guide to create your first field entry. 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 »
Invent a Hand Puppet
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 »
The Discovery Field Journal
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to make your own pocket field notebook, a tool in science for collecting scientific observations. Use available tools and materials to personalize your field notebook and follow our provided guide to create your first field entry. 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 »
Create a Topographical Map
Reno, NV 89501 United States
While making a topographical map out of recycled materials, visitors can anticipate a creative and educational experience. They will construct 3D maps that represent terrain elevations, using materials like cardboard and paper. Through this activity, participants will learn about topography, scale, and contour lines. 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 »
Create a Topographical Map
Reno, NV 89501 United States
While making a topographical map out of recycled materials, visitors can anticipate a creative and educational experience. They will construct 3D maps that represent terrain elevations, using materials like cardboard and paper. Through this activity, participants will learn about topography, scale, and contour lines. 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 »