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Calendar of Events
Past Events › Hands-on Activity
![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mars_Rover-580x400.jpg)
Exploration Station: Mars Rover
In this Exploration Station, participants will learn about how scientists and engineers use robotic rovers and other vehicles to explore distant worlds, and experience some of the challenges and teamwork required to navigate a rover across the surface of a planet millions of miles away. Players acting as “Mission Control” and a “Rover” must work together to navigate a large obstacle course. Participants can also design their own rover to overcome the particular challenges of exploring a distant planet.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Monster-Bots-580x400.jpg)
Monster ‘Bots
Visit The Shop to create a creepy, crawly motorized monster just in time for Halloween. Using available materials, batteries and miniature motors, you can create a scary, wiggling robot. 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/2019/10/Spooky-Straw-Rockets-580x400.jpg)
Spooky Straw Rockets
Visit The Shop to use a variety of materials to create your very own Halloween themed straw rocket. 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 are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Spooky-Straw-Rockets-580x400.jpg)
Spooky Straw Rockets
Visit The Shop to use a variety of materials to create your very own Halloween themed straw rocket. 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 are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/OpenBuild-580x400.jpg)
Open Build in The Shop
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 »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Felt-Monsters-580x400.jpg)
Felt Monsters
Put your crafting skills to the test when you visit The Shop to create a Halloween themed felt monster! Using a variety of materials and a simple sewing technique, you can create a cute and cuddly Halloween ghost, ghoul or goblin 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/2019/10/Felt-Monsters-580x400.jpg)
Felt Monsters
Put your crafting skills to the test when you visit The Shop to create a Halloween themed felt monster! Using a variety of materials and a simple sewing technique, you can create a cute and cuddly Halloween ghost, ghoul or goblin 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/2019/10/Felt-Monsters-580x400.jpg)
Felt Monsters
Put your crafting skills to the test when you visit The Shop to create a Halloween themed felt monster! Using a variety of materials and a simple sewing technique, you can create a cute and cuddly Halloween ghost, ghoul or goblin 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/2019/10/Fall-Tree-580x400.jpg)
Kinetic Fall Tree
The season of trembling leaves is upon us. Visit The Shop to combine a variety of materials to create a tree sculpture with leaves to move with the power of kinetic energy. 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/2019/10/Fall-Tree-580x400.jpg)
Kinetic Fall Tree
The season of trembling leaves is upon us. Visit The Shop to combine a variety of materials to create a tree sculpture with leaves to move with the power of kinetic energy. 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/2019/11/Luner-Lander-580x400.jpg)
Lunar Landers
Traverse the Moon’s surface with a lunar lander you design and build in The Shop. Using a variety of materials and a motor and counterweight, create a motorized contraption that will move on its own as if conducting an automated lunar mission. 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 spac
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Luner-Lander-580x400.jpg)
Lunar Landers
Traverse the Moon’s surface with a lunar lander you design and build in The Shop. Using a variety of materials and a motor and counterweight, create a motorized contraption that will move on its own as if conducting an automated lunar mission. 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/2019/11/Fall-Luminares-580x400.jpg)
Fall Luminaires
Combine a mason jar with a variety of fall-inspired elements to create a luminaire that will provide a warm glow on chilly fall evenings with the help of a battery powered tealight. Join us for these educator-led, 45 minute workshops in The Shop. Space in each session is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. 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 »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Transit_of_Mercury-580x400.jpg)
Transit of Mercury
Approximately 13 times each century, Mercury passes between the Earth and the Sun aligned so that the disc of the planet can be seen through a telescope crossing the Sun. On November 11, 2019 in Reno, the Sun will rise with the transit already in progress. Join our friends from Tahoe Star Tours to view the transit through computerized Celestron telescopes. The next transit visible from Reno won’t happen until 2049! Note: The viewing will take place outside The Discovery. The…
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Fall-Luminares-580x400.jpg)
Fall Luminaires
Combine a mason jar with a variety of fall-inspired elements to create a luminaire that will provide a warm glow on chilly fall evenings with the help of a battery powered tealight. Join us for these educator-led, 45 minute workshops in The Shop. Space in each session is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. 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 »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/DIY-Sail-Car-580x400.jpg)
DIY Sail Cars
Harness the power of the wind when you visit The Shop to design and build your own sail car. Using a variety of materials, you can create a vehicle that uses a sail to catch the wind and race to its destination. 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 are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this…
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/DIY-Sail-Car-580x400.jpg)
DIY Sail Cars
Harness the power of the wind when you visit The Shop to design and build your own sail car. Using a variety of materials, you can create a vehicle that uses a sail to catch the wind and race to its destination. 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 are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this…
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/TechNight-580x400.jpg)
Tech!Night November
Visit The Discovery on the second Wednesday of every month for Tech!Night, a new program designed to put emerging technology in the hands of museum visitors. Tech!Nights will feature a variety of high-tech tools and techniques, gadgets and games – command a robot, print in 3-D, and even code a new game – happening monthly in Spark!Lab Smithsonian.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/OpenBuild-580x400.jpg)
Open Build in The Shop
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 »![Invent a Board Game](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Invent_a_Board_Game-580x400.jpg)
Invent a Board Game
Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your very own board game. Using available materials, you can invent a board game, write the rules of play, and create the pieces for your game as well. Challenge your friends and family to play your game and then refine your idea based on their feedback!
Find out more »![Cardboard City](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Cardboard_City-580x400.jpg)
Cardboard City
One event on November 29, 2019 at 10:30 am
One event on November 30, 2019 at 10:30 am
Work with fellow museum visitors in 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 Saturday, November 30, so make plans to visit the museum again to see how it turns out! 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 »![Invent a Board Game](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Invent_a_Board_Game-580x400.jpg)
Invent a Board Game
One event on November 29, 2019 at 10:30 am
One event on November 30, 2019 at 10:30 am
One event on January 18, 2020 at 10:30 am
One event on January 19, 2020 at 12:30 pm
Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your very own board game. Using available materials, you can invent a board game, write the rules of play, and create the pieces for your game as well. Challenge your friends and family to play your game and then refine your idea based on their feedback!
Find out more »![Magnetic Ice Dancer](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Magnetic_Ice_Dancer-580x400.jpg)
Magnetic Ice Dancer
One event on December 4, 2019 at 2:30 pm
One event on December 7, 2019 at 10:30 am
Visit The Shop and combine a pair of magnets with paper craft to create a magical ice dancer with a rink to skate on. 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 »![Magnetic Ice Dancer](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Magnetic_Ice_Dancer-580x400.jpg)
Magnetic Ice Dancer
Visit The Shop and combine a pair of magnets with paper craft to create a magical ice dancer with a rink to skate on. 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 »