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Past Events › Hands-on Activity
![DIY Grinch Traps](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/DIY_Grinch_Trap-580x400-1.jpg)
DIY Grinch Traps
Reno, NV 89501 United States
That Grinch is a pesky guy! To keep him from ruining your holiday festivities, visit The Shop to create your own version of a Grinch trap. Using a variety of materials, you can design and build a trap that’ll lure that mean-spirited and unfriendly guy and keep him from spoiling your holiday spirit. 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.…
Find out more »![Invent a Holiday Ornament](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Invent_a_Holiday_Ornament-580x400-1.jpg)
Invent a Holiday Ornament
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own holiday ornament. Using a variety of materials and your creativity, you can invest an ornament perfect for holiday decoration. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep!
Find out more »![DIY Confetti Launchers](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/DIY_Confetti_Launchers-580x400-1.jpg)
DIY Confetti Launchers
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Get ready to ring in the New Year when you build your own confetti launcher in The Shop. Using a variety of materials, you’ll create a device that converts potential energy into kinetic energy to send festive confetti into the air. What you make is yours to keep and use as you celebrate the arrival of 2022! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young…
Find out more »![DIY Confetti Launchers](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/DIY_Confetti_Launchers-580x400-1.jpg)
DIY Confetti Launchers
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Get ready to ring in the New Year when you build your own confetti launcher in The Shop. Using a variety of materials, you’ll create a device that converts potential energy into kinetic energy to send festive confetti into the air. What you make is yours to keep and use as you celebrate the arrival of 2022! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young…
Find out more »![DIY Confetti Launchers](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/DIY_Confetti_Launchers-580x400-1.jpg)
DIY Confetti Launchers
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Get ready to ring in the New Year when you build your own confetti launcher in The Shop. Using a variety of materials, you’ll create a device that converts potential energy into kinetic energy to send festive confetti into the air. What you make is yours to keep and use as you celebrate the arrival of 2022! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young…
Find out more »![Invent a Musical Instrument](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/DIY_Musical_Instruments-580x400-1.jpg)
Invent an Instrument
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Take the entire family to the top of the charts with the new tune you play on the instruments you invent in Spark!Lab Smithsonian. Using available tools and materials, design and build your own musical instrument you can actually play. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! Please note: This activity offers access to real 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 »![Cardboard City](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Cardboard_City-580x400.jpg)
Cardboard City
One event on January 2, 2022 at 12:30 pm
One event on January 5, 2022 at 4:30 pm
One event on January 8, 2022 at 10:30 am
One event on January 9, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Work with fellow museum visitors in The Shop 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 through Sunday, January 9, so make plans to visit the museum again to see the completed cityscape! 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…
Find out more »![Cardboard City](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Cardboard_City-580x400.jpg)
Cardboard City
Work with fellow museum visitors in The Shop 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 through Sunday, January 9, so make plans to visit the museum again to see the completed cityscape! 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…
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Wood_Scrap_Animals-580x400.jpg)
Open Build: Wood
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to build nearly anything you can imagine out of wood. 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 »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LEGO_BattleBots-580x400.jpg)
LEGO® BattleBots
Ready to engage in battle? Register for one of our one-day classes and you’ll learn how to build the ultimate BattleBot using using LEGO® Mindstorm robotics. Then, test your bot’s capabilities when you pit it against your fellow participants in a head-to-head, sumo-style battle. Your objective? Push your competitors’ bot out of the ring to declare victory! Register today for one of two age groups. Age Group Time Member Nonmember Registration Ages 5-8* 10:00 – 11:30am $25 $30 Ages 9-12…
Find out more »![Cardboard City](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Cardboard_City-580x400.jpg)
Cardboard City
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Work with fellow museum visitors in The Shop 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: 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 »![Robot Mazes](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Robot_Mazes-2-580x400-1.jpg)
Robot Mazes
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Experiment with coding a robot in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to attempt to navigate your ’bot through an obstacle course.
Find out more »![Cardboard City](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Cardboard_City-580x400.jpg)
Cardboard City
One event on December 28, 2022 at 10:30 am
One event on December 30, 2022 at 10:30 am
One event on December 31, 2022 at 10:30 am
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Work with fellow museum visitors in The Shop 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: 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: Textiles](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Open_Build-Textiles-580x400-1.jpg)
Open Build: Textiles
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to create nearly anything you can imagine out of textiles materials like fabric, yarn, and more. 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 »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LEGO_BattleBots-580x400.jpg)
LEGO® BattleBots
An event every week that begins at 10:00 am on Saturday, repeating until January 29, 2022
One event on February 4, 2023 at 10:00 am
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Ready to engage in battle? Register for one of our one-day classes and you’ll learn how to build the ultimate BattleBot using using LEGO® Mindstorm robotics. Then, test your bot’s capabilities when you pit it against your fellow participants in a head-to-head, sumo-style battle. Your objective? Push your competitors’ bot out of the ring to declare victory! Register today for one of two age groups. Age Group Time Member Nonmember Registration Ages 5-8* 10:00 – 11:30am $25 $30 Ages 9-12…
Find out more »![Toy Take Apart in The Shop](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Toy_Take-Apart-580x400-1.jpg)
Toy Take Apart in The Shop
One event on February 19, 2022 at 10:30 am
One event on February 20, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Ever wonder what’s inside that favorite toy? How does it work? What makes it move? Find out once and for all in this hands-on activity in The Shop that will have you dismantling a variety of toys to see what’s inside. 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: Plastic](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Open_Build-Plastics-580x400-1.jpg)
Open Build: Plastic
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to build nearly anything you can imagine out of a variety of plastics. 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 »![Clear Canvas](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Clear_Canvas-580x400-1.jpg)
Paint on Clear Canvas
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Back by popular demand, paint or draw on the Clear Canvas in Da Vinci’s Corner and then watch as the canvas is washed clean to prepare for the next amazing works of art.
Find out more »![DIY Chinese Lanterns](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Chinese_Lanterns-580x400-1.jpg)
Chinese Lanterns
One event on February 5, 2022 at 10:30 am
One event on February 6, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Celebrate Chinese New Year by creating and decorating your own paper lantern. Using paper, adhesives, measuring tools, cutting tools and battery-operated candles and LEDs, you can create your own version of this festive decoration. 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 »![DIY Chinese Lanterns](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Chinese_Lanterns-580x400-1.jpg)
Chinese Lanterns
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Celebrate Chinese New Year by creating and decorating your own paper lantern. Using paper, adhesives, measuring tools, cutting tools and battery-operated candles and LEDs, you can create your own version of this festive decoration. 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 »![DIY Chinese Lanterns](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Chinese_Lanterns-580x400-1.jpg)
Chinese Lanterns
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Celebrate Chinese New Year by creating and decorating your own paper lantern. Using paper, adhesives, measuring tools, cutting tools and battery-operated candles and LEDs, you can create your own version of this festive decoration. 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: Yarn](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Open_Build-Yarn-580x400-1.jpg)
Open Build: Yarn
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to create nearly anything you can imagine out of yarn, ribbon, twine, mason line, and more! Learn to make t-shirt yarn and try other techniques like weaving, crochet, knitting, and macramé. 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…
Find out more »![Open Build: Fabric](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Open_Build-Fabric-580x400-1.jpg)
Open Build: Fabric
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools like a sewing machine, hot glue and fabric glue to create nearly anything you can imagine out of fabric. 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 »![Toy Take Apart in The Shop](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Toy_Take-Apart-580x400-1.jpg)
Toy Take Apart in The Shop
One event on February 27, 2022 at 12:30 pm
One event on June 1, 2024 at 10:30 am
One event on June 2, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Ever wonder what’s inside that favorite toy? How does it work? What makes it move? Find out once and for all in this hands-on activity in The Shop that will have you dismantling a variety of toys to see what’s inside. 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 »