Calendar of Events

Visit The Shop to create your own piece of thermoplastic art and then watch as it shrinks to size before your very eyes. Create things like earrings, bookmarks, keychains, and more, and learn how this amazing material softens when heated, but hardens when it cools. 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 piece of thermoplastic art and then watch as it shrinks to size before your very eyes. Create things like earrings, bookmarks, keychains, and more, and learn how this amazing material softens when heated, but hardens when it cools. 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:

Join Visiting Tinkerers Rachael and Debbie Lambin to create a Valentine’s Day inspired book sculpture. This mother-daughter team of artists will help you create an intricate literary sculpture that gets its inspiration from the titles and stories contained in the book it inhabits. All materials needed for this projected will be provided. Our thanks to the Meyer family for their generous support of the Visiting Tinkerer program.

Visit The Shop to create your own Valentine’s Day plush toy using a no-sew technique. Choose from a variety of materials to create a fun and fuzzy way to celebrate this holiday of love. 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 Valentine’s Day plush toy using a no-sew technique. Choose from a variety of materials to create a fun and fuzzy way to celebrate this holiday of love. 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 combine repurposed packing foam with pipe cleaners and toothpicks to create unique artistic sculptures. What is 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.

Visit The Shop to combine repurposed packing foam with pipe cleaners and toothpicks to create unique artistic sculptures. What is 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.

Visit The Shop to combine repurposed packing foam with pipe cleaners and toothpicks to create unique artistic sculptures. What is 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.

Prepare to engineer your version of the next automotive trendsetter in The Shop. Using available tools and materials and a selection of wooden wheels, you can design and build your very own automotive creation 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.

Prepare to engineer your version of the next automotive trendsetter in The Shop. Using available tools and materials and a selection of wooden wheels, you can design and build your very own automotive creation 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.

Prepare to engineer your version of the next automotive trendsetter in The Shop. Using available tools and materials and a selection of wooden wheels, you can design and build your very own automotive creation 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 The Shop to create your own version of a classic refrigerator decoration. Using available materials, and provided magnets, you can create an artistic and functional magnet to hold notes, photos or whatever comes to mind. 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 version of a classic refrigerator decoration. Using available materials, and provided magnets, you can create an artistic and functional magnet to hold notes, photos or whatever comes to mind. 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 version of a classic refrigerator decoration. Using available materials, and provided magnets, you can create an artistic and functional magnet to hold notes, photos or whatever comes to mind. 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. March Tech!Night guest: Reno Robot Club Generously supported by:

Sometimes unexpected materials can be used for artistic expression. Visit The Shop to use a variety of nuts, bolts, screws and other hardware to create a unique piece of art. 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.

Sometimes unexpected materials can be used for artistic expression. Visit The Shop to use a variety of nuts, bolts, screws and other hardware to create a unique piece of art. 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.

Just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day, visit The Shop to design and build your own leprechaun-trapping mechanism. Who knows, with creativity and ingenuity you might just catch him! And, best of all, what you build 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.

Just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day, visit The Shop to design and build your own leprechaun-trapping mechanism. Who knows, with creativity and ingenuity you might just catch him! And, best of all, what you build 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.

Visiting other planets requires specialized transportation methods. Visit The Shop to chose from a variety of tools and materials to create your own version of a self-propelled Mars Rover or Jupiter Jeep. 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.