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Calendar of Events
Past Events › Hands-on Activity
![](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/2018/01/Embroidery-580x400.jpg)
DIY Embroidery
Visit The Shop to try your hand at the intricate craft of embroidery. Choose from a variety of yarns and stitch your own design. 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/2018/01/Embroidery-580x400.jpg)
DIY Embroidery
Visit The Shop to try your hand at the intricate craft of embroidery. Choose from a variety of yarns and stitch your own design. 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/2018/01/String_Art-580x400.jpg)
Valentine’s String Art
Visit The Shop to create the perfect Valentine’s Day decoration. Using hammers, nails, and a colorful selection of yarn and string, you can create a unique piece of decor filled with love. 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/String_Art-580x400.jpg)
Valentine’s String Art
Visit The Shop to create the perfect Valentine’s Day decoration. Using hammers, nails, and a colorful selection of yarn and string, you can create a unique piece of decor filled with love. 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/String_Art-580x400.jpg)
Valentine’s String Art
Visit The Shop to create the perfect Valentine’s Day decoration. Using hammers, nails, and a colorful selection of yarn and string, you can create a unique piece of decor filled with love. 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.
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/2018/01/Love_Plushies-580x400.jpg)
DIY Valentine’s Plushy
Design, cut and sew a Valentine’s Day plush toy in The Shop. Using a variety of materials and your crafting skills, create a unique Valentine’s inspired plush keepsake to keep or give as a gift. 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/2018/01/Love_Plushies-580x400.jpg)
DIY Valentine’s Plushy
Design, cut and sew a Valentine’s Day plush toy in The Shop. Using a variety of materials and your crafting skills, create a unique Valentine’s inspired plush keepsake to keep or give as a gift. 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/2017/01/TechNight-580x400.jpg)
Tech!Night
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. The World of Drones At this Tech!Night, take to the skies when you learn how drones work, what tasks they can perform,…
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Miniature_Houses-580x400.jpg)
Miniature Houses
Put your architecture and interior design skills to the test in The Shop when you use cardboard and other materials to create and decorate a miniature house. And, the dwelling 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/2018/02/Miniature_Houses-580x400.jpg)
Miniature Houses
Put your architecture and interior design skills to the test in The Shop when you use cardboard and other materials to create and decorate a miniature house. And, the dwelling 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/2018/02/Miniature_Houses-580x400.jpg)
Miniature Houses
Put your architecture and interior design skills to the test in The Shop when you use cardboard and other materials to create and decorate a miniature house. And, the dwelling 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/2018/02/Shadow_Box_Theater-580x400.jpg)
Shadow Box Theater
Visit The Shop to create a playground for light and shadow. Using your ingenuity and a variety of materials, create the stage and characters for a shadow box theater where silhouettes play the starring role. 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/2018/02/Shadow_Box_Theater-580x400.jpg)
Shadow Box Theater
Visit The Shop to create a playground for light and shadow. Using your ingenuity and a variety of materials, create the stage and characters for a shadow box theater where silhouettes play the starring role. 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/2018/02/Shadow_Box_Theater-580x400.jpg)
Shadow Box Theater
Visit The Shop to create a playground for light and shadow. Using your ingenuity and a variety of materials, create the stage and characters for a shadow box theater where silhouettes play the starring role. 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/2018/02/Spin_Art-580x400.jpg)
Spin Art
Take The Discovery’s paint turntable for a spin in The Shop and create your very own piece of centrifugal artwork. 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/2018/03/Hardware_Self_Portrait-580x400.jpg)
Hardware Self Portrait
Create an industrial impression of your likeness in The Shop. Using a variety of nuts, bolts, and other assorted hardware, you can create an artistic impression of your image using your tinkering skills. 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/2018/03/Hardware_Self_Portrait-580x400.jpg)
Hardware Self Portrait
Create an industrial impression of your likeness in The Shop. Using a variety of nuts, bolts, and other assorted hardware, you can create an artistic impression of your image using your tinkering skills. 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/2018/03/Leprechaun_Traps-580x400.jpg)
Leprechaun Traps
It’s that time of year when the pesky leprechaun starts lurking around. Increase your odds of trapping him or her, with a do-it-yourself leprechaun trap you create in The Shop. Using available tools and materials, you can design and build a foolproof trap to ensnare the tricky leprechaun and grab his pot of gold! 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…
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Leprechaun_Traps-580x400.jpg)
Leprechaun Traps
It’s that time of year when the pesky leprechaun starts lurking around. Increase your odds of trapping him or her, with a do-it-yourself leprechaun trap you create in The Shop. Using available tools and materials, you can design and build a foolproof trap to ensnare the tricky leprechaun and grab his pot of gold! 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…
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/TechNight-580x400.jpg)
Tech!Night
An event every month that begins at 3:30 pm on day Second of the month, repeating until December 12, 2018
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. Generously supported by:
Find out more »