Calendar of Events

Modeling clay is a great way to start a project. It’s easily malleable consistency makes it easy to use (and reuse) for creating a prototype for nearly any project. Visit The Shop to try your hand at using modeling clay to design 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 cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help…

Using Play-Doh, young learners will create structures and shapes, fostering creativity and fine motor skills. Get ready to poke, squeeze, pull, chop, shred, cut, roll and squash! 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.

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 cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

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.

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 cardboard. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Get ready for the rodeo with a wooden belt buckle you create in the The Shop! Use real tools and a variety of materials to design, build and decorate a rustic, rodeo themed belt buckle. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

3D printing technology is changing the fields of design and manufacturing at a rapid rate. Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to witness the layer-by-layer creation of various objects, learn about the materials and technologies involved, and understand the applications and implications of 3D printing across industries like healthcare, engineering, and art.

Get ready for the rodeo with a wooden belt buckle you create in the The Shop! Use real tools and a variety of materials to design, build and decorate a rustic, rodeo themed belt buckle. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

3D printing technology is changing the fields of design and manufacturing at a rapid rate. Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to witness the layer-by-layer creation of various objects, learn about the materials and technologies involved, and understand the applications and implications of 3D printing across industries like healthcare, engineering, and art.

3D printing technology is changing the fields of design and manufacturing at a rapid rate. Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to witness the layer-by-layer creation of various objects, learn about the materials and technologies involved, and understand the applications and implications of 3D printing across industries like healthcare, engineering, and art.

Visit The Shop to create a beautiful and functional device to harness the power of the sun. Using wax paper, tissue paper, and a variety of other materials, you can create a sun catcher that looks like stained glass. 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.

Get ready to explore sharks, nature and the environment in this special program designed to inspire a passion for marine biology in young girls. Presented in partnership with the Gills Club, girls will participate in a variety of hands-on activities lead by Gills Club scientist Maggie McClain. Participants will explore the anatomy of preserved sharks, including understanding how shark vertebrae are an indicator their age. Participants in the grades 6-7 session will also get to perform a necropsy to further…

Visit The Shop to create a beautiful and functional device to harness the power of the sun. Using wax paper, tissue paper, and a variety of other materials, you can create a sun catcher that looks like stained glass. 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.

Young learners will explore creativity and gross motor skills when they create a unique work of art by dipping cotton balls in paint and throwing them at a canvas. 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.

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, July 20-21. LEGO® Build Stations 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 possibilities are endless!…

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, July 20-21. LEGO® Build Stations 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 possibilities are endless!…

Join 7-year-old prodigy violinist Juliette Leong, and 12-year-old pianist and composer Alexander Loosley for a unique classical music performance. Performance presented as part of the Artown festival. Juliette is a violinist, artist, mathlete, teacher, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, who is enrolled in college courses. She is the top prizewinner of 17 international competitions, including 1st Place at the Reno Chamber Orchestra 2024 Vahe Khochayan Young Artist Competition, 1st Place at the 2024 Reno Pops Solo & Orchestra Concerto Festival, to name…

In honor of Harry Potter’s birthday, you’re invited to Wizardly Weekend here at The Discovery! Through a variety of hands-on activities, you can explore aspects of the book and film series… create your own wand, design your house badge, craft a wizard’s hat, and much more! Both Wizards and Muggles are encouraged to attend!

Join 7-year-old prodigy violinist Juliette Leong, and 12-year-old pianist and composer Alexander Loosley for a unique classical music performance. Performance presented as part of the Artown festival. Juliette is a violinist, artist, mathlete, teacher, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, who is enrolled in college courses. She is the top prizewinner of 17 international competitions, including 1st Place at the Reno Chamber Orchestra 2024 Vahe Khochayan Young Artist Competition, 1st Place at the 2024 Reno Pops Solo & Orchestra Concerto Festival, to name…

In honor of Harry Potter’s birthday, you’re invited to Wizardly Weekend here at The Discovery! Through a variety of hands-on activities, you can explore aspects of the book and film series… create your own wand, design your house badge, craft a wizard’s hat, and much more! Both Wizards and Muggles are encouraged to attend!

Visit The Shop to build a cozy home for your feathered friends. Using wood and available tools, you can design and build your own version of a classic birdhouse. 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 Spark!Lab Smithsonian to combine art with invention when you create a Thaumatrope, also known as a “wonder turner.” A thaumatrope, invented in 1826 by J.A. Paris, is an optical toy that was popular in the 19th century. A disk with a picture on each side is attached to two pieces of string. When the strings are twirled quickly between the fingers the two pictures appear to blend into one.

Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian and use the process of invention to build a car that’ll protect its precious cargo. Using available materials and the invention process, you can create a vehicle that will protect a plastic egg in the event of a crash. Even if your egg breaks, you can tweak your design and test it again, and again, and again! Please note: Spark!Lab Smithsonian offers access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to…