Calendar of Events

Be inspired by the creativity and innovation of Muppets creator Jim Henson when you visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own hand puppet. Using available materials, you can create a unique character all your own and learn about how The Muppets went from idea to hit television sensation.

Visit The Discovery on the second Wednesday of every month for Tech!Night, a program designed to put emerging technology in the hands of museum visitors. Tech!Nights 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.

Experiment with propulsion when you design and build your own balloon rocket in the The Shop. Combine a variety of new and recycled materials with an ordinary balloon to create a rocket powered by air. 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.

Worms are a productive part of any spring garden, but they’re also pretty cute. Visit The Shop to combine a variety of new and recycled materials to create a cuddly, clever sock worm. 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 are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Ready to engage in battle? Register for this class 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 Remaining Register Ages 5-8* 10:00 – 11:30am $25 $30  0 spots Ages 9-12…

Take to the skies when you visit The Shop to create your own rubber band-powered helicopter. Combine simple materials and a plastic propeller to create a helicopter you can wind up and send flying into the clouds! 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.

Ready to engage in battle? Register for this class 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 Remaining Register Ages 5-8* 10:00 – 11:30am $25 $30 0 spots Ages 9-12…

Join our friends from Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful in The Shop to turn an old, worn out t-shirt into a useful tote bag. Bring your own t-shirt, or grab one of ours, and follow the simple instructions to easily transform a tired t-shirt into a tote bag perfect for daily use. 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…

Join our friends from Envirolution to take part in a variety of hands-on activities related to sustainable energy. You can create your own circuit, electromagnet or shake light, and even generate electricity by peddling a bicycle!

Harness the power of the wind when you build a sailboat in The Shop using repurposed materials. Combine a variety of upcycled materials to design and build your own sailboat to catch the wind and traverse any body of water, even the kitchen sink! 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 our friends from Envirolution to take part in a variety of hands-on activities related to sustainable energy. You can create your own circuit, electromagnet or shake light, and even generate electricity by peddling a bicycle!

Harness the power of the wind when you build a sailboat in The Shop using repurposed materials. Combine a variety of upcycled materials to design and build your own sailboat to catch the wind and traverse any body of water, even the kitchen sink! 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.

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.

Visit Art Alcove to create a unique work of art using repurposed corks. Combine wine corks with a variety of other materials to create a three-dimensional work of art all your own. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep!

Use your creativity and “the force” when you create you own LED lightsaber in The Shop. 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 our friends from State of Nevada Division of Water Resources to experiment with a floodplain model and learn more about how we use infrastructure to align the need for new development with local flood hazards and flood control.