Calendar of Events
Past Events › Hands-on Activity
DIY Fidget Spinners
Visit The Shop to use available tool and materials to create your own version of the popular fidget spinner. Building on a provided bearing and weights (while supplies last), you can use a variety of materials to create a custom-design fidget spinner made to your exacting specifications. 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.
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DIY Fidget Spinners
Visit The Shop to use available tool and materials to create your own version of the popular fidget spinner. Building on a provided bearing and weights (while supplies last), you can use a variety of materials to create a custom-design fidget spinner made to your exacting specifications. 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.
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Tech!Night July
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:
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Open Build
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.
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DIY Mobiles
Take advantage of the afternoon breezes in Northern Nevada with a do-it-yourself mobile you create in The Shop. Using available tools and materials, you can create a mobile that will dance and sway in the wind. 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.
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Glitter Fireworks
Join our friends from The Smile Shop Pediatric Dentistry for a clever hands-on project just for young artists! During Small Wonder Wednesday, use white glue and glitter to create an artistic impression of 4th of July fireworks! Programming presented by:
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DIY Mobiles
Take advantage of the afternoon breezes in Northern Nevada with a do-it-yourself mobile you create in The Shop. Using available tools and materials, you can create a mobile that will dance and sway in the wind. 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 »
DIY Mobiles
Take advantage of the afternoon breezes in Northern Nevada with a do-it-yourself mobile you create in The Shop. Using available tools and materials, you can create a mobile that will dance and sway in the wind. 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 »
Sculpture Studio
Combine your artistic ability with your engineering skill in The Shop when you use available tools and materials to create an Artown-inspired sculpture. 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.
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Sculpture Studio
Combine your artistic ability with your engineering skill in The Shop when you use available tools and materials to create an Artown-inspired sculpture. 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 »
Sculpture Studio
Combine your artistic ability with your engineering skill in The Shop when you use available tools and materials to create an Artown-inspired sculpture. 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 »
DIY Clip-on Banners
Get ready for back-to-school with a clever clip-on banner you make in The Shop. Adorn your favorite backpack or book bag with a colorful and artistic tag that makes it distinctly your own. All tool and materials are provided! Best of all, 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…
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DIY Clip-on Banners
Get ready for back-to-school with a clever clip-on banner you make in The Shop. Adorn your favorite backpack or book bag with a colorful and artistic tag that makes it distinctly your own. All tool and materials are provided! Best of all, 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…
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DIY Clip-on Banners
Get ready for back-to-school with a clever clip-on banner you make in The Shop. Adorn your favorite backpack or book bag with a colorful and artistic tag that makes it distinctly your own. All tool and materials are provided! Best of all, 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…
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Linocut Print Making
Explore the process of linocut printing in The Shop. Using a variety of tools, you’ll create your own linocut design and use it to create a print with colorful ink. Best of all, what you make 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.
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Linocut Print Making
Explore the process of linocut printing in The Shop. Using a variety of tools, you’ll create your own linocut design and use it to create a print with colorful ink. Best of all, what you make 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.
Find out more »
Linocut Print Making
Explore the process of linocut printing in The Shop. Using a variety of tools, you’ll create your own linocut design and use it to create a print with colorful ink. Best of all, what you make 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.
Find out more »
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, 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.
Find out more »
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, 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.
Find out more »
Tortoise Shell Workshop
Visit The Shop to decorate a realistic foam cast of a tortoise shell. The shell you decorate 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.
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Airplane Building
An event every day that begins at 5:30 pm, repeating until August 19, 2017
Celebrate National Aviation Day in The Shop by designing and building your own airplane. Using available tools and materials, you can design a flying model or a static display of your favorite piece of aviation history or futuristic flying contraption. 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.
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DIY Eclipse Viewer
Visit The Shop to create a do-it-yourself eclipse viewer. Using available materials and an ordinary cardboard box, you can create a viewer that will allow you safely observe the solar eclipse happening on Monday, August 21, 2017. You’ll also have the chance to learn more about the science of solar eclipses. 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…
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Solar Eclipse 2017
On Monday, August 21, 2017 people across the United States will witness the sun disappearing behind the moon, turning daylight into twilight, causing the temperature to drop rapidly, and revealing massive streamers of light streaking through the sky around the silhouette of the moon. Although Reno will not be in the path of the total solar eclipse, viewing the partial eclipse will still be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Prime viewing of the eclipse from The Discovery will be at approximately 10:19am.…
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DIY Eclipse Viewer
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to create a do-it-yourself eclipse viewer. Using available materials and an ordinary cardboard box, you can create a viewer that will allow you safely observe the solar eclipse happening on Monday, August 21, 2017. You’ll also have the chance to learn more about the science of solar eclipses. 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…
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