Calendar of Events

Visit The Shop to design and build your own version of a nautical vessel. Using a selection of buoyant materials and a variety of tools, you can create a boat and then test its seaworthiness on the waters of The Discovery’s Truckee Connects exhibit. 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, whatever you create is yours to take home! 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.

Prepare for spring when you create a hanging planter for a sweet pea plant. Using available tools and materials, you’ll create a comfy home for your seedling to live until its ready for planting in the garden or a larger pot. 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.

Prepare for spring when you create a hanging planter for a sweet pea plant. Using available tools and materials, you’ll create a comfy home for your seedling to live until its ready for planting in the garden or a larger pot. 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, whatever you create is yours to take home! 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 The Shop to create your own handheld galaxy. Using glitter and a little chemistry, you’ll create a tiny galaxy trapped in a repurposed water bottle. 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 The Shop to put your creativity and your sewing skills to the test when you design your very own stuffed dinosaur. With the help of the museum’s educators, you’ll use available materials to design and fill your own plush dino 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 practice the safe use of the tools and materials in this space.

Visit The Shop to put your creativity and your sewing skills to the test when you design your very own stuffed dinosaur. With the help of the museum’s educators, you’ll use available materials to design and fill your own plush dino 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 practice the safe use of the tools and materials in this space.

Use your ingenuity in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent a new prehistoric-themed way to collect loose change and save for the future. Using available materials and your creativity, you’ll create your very own dino bank to keep.

Use your ingenuity in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent a new prehistoric-themed way to collect loose change and save for the future. Using available materials and your creativity, you’ll create your very own dino bank to keep.

Explore the intersection of art and science when you create a 2D piece of dinosaur art enhanced with and LED. What you create is yours to take home! 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 The Budding Musician to sing, dance, play instruments, and learn how the power of music can positively affect your child’s development in a myriad of ways. This class is age-appropriate for 12 children 12 months through 5 years.

Explore the intersection of art and science when you create a 2D piece of dinosaur art enhanced with and LED. What you create is yours to take home! 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.

Explore the intersection of art and science when you create a 2D piece of dinosaur art enhanced with and LED. What you create is yours to take home! 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, whatever you create is yours to take home! 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 The Shop to use available tools and materials to create an enclosure for your very own pet dinosaur. 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 The Shop to use available tools and materials to create an enclosure for your very own pet dinosaur. 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 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:

Put your ingenuity to the test in Spark!Lab Smithsonian when you use available tools and materials to invent your own version of the popular fidget spinner. Relieve stress and nervous energy while you fidget with a device you created! Best of all, what you make is your to take home.