Calendar of Events

Inspired by the inventor of Kevlar polymer, Stephanie Kowlek, visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to make your own polymer slime and explore its various properties.

In The Shop, hands-on gets serious. During “open build” take your pick of real tools and materials 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.

In The Shop, hands-on gets serious. During “open build” take your pick of real tools and materials 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.

Join Visiting Artist and music teacher, Elizabeth Cadigan, for an exploration into how the movement of air can create beautiful music. Using PVC pipe, you’ll build and decorate your own pan pipe and learn how the varying lengths of pipe create different musical notes. Note: Space is limited and preregistration is required. To register, use the registration links or call 775-786-1000. Visiting Artist program supported by:

Prepare for lift-off in The Discovery’s Spark!Lab Smithsonian when you build a paper compressed-air rocket using the provided template and then test your rocket’s flight capabilities using the museum’s compressed air launcher to send your spacecraft soaring toward the moon!

Prepare for lift-off in The Discovery’s Spark!Lab Smithsonian when you build a paper compressed-air rocket using the provided template and then test your rocket’s flight capabilities using the museum’s compressed air launcher to send your spacecraft soaring toward the moon!

Prepare for lift-off in The Discovery’s Spark!Lab Smithsonian when you build a paper compressed-air rocket using the provided template and then test your rocket’s flight capabilities using the museum’s compressed air launcher to send your spacecraft soaring toward the moon!

Create some holiday cheer and refine your craftsmanship when you use real tools and materials in The Shop to design and build your own festive holiday signs. 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.

Create some holiday cheer and refine your craftsmanship when you use real tools and materials in The Shop to design and build your own festive holiday signs. 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.

It may sound like its from the future, but its actually from the past. The theremin, invented in 1920 by Léon Theremin, is an instrument you play by waiving your hands near two antennas—you never actually touch the instrument. Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to try your hand(s) at creating a song of your own on a modern day theremin!

In The Shop, hands-on gets serious. During “open build” take your pick 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 combine small clay pots with a variety of other materials to create a personable reminder that spring is on the way. What you make is yours to take home! Safety 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. Note: Clay pots and other supplies are available while supplies last.

Visit The Shop to combine small clay pots with a variety of other materials to create a personable reminder that spring is on the way. 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. Note: Clay pots and other supplies are available while supplies last.

Deck the halls and spread holiday cheer with ornaments you make in The Shop. Choose from a variety of materials to create the perfect way to celebrate the spirit of the season. 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.

Deck the halls and spread holiday cheer with ornaments you make in The Shop. Choose from a variety of materials to create the perfect way to celebrate the spirit of the season. 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 students from the University of Nevada, Reno’s Theta Tau co-ed professional engineering fraternity to learn about engineering education and careers. Students will also be demonstrating a variety of high-tech tools and gadgets used in the engineering field of work.

Deck the halls and spread holiday cheer with ornaments you make in The Shop. Choose from a variety of materials to create the perfect way to celebrate the spirit of the season. 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.

Wherever you go, it will follow! Create a classic pull toy, using real tools and materials in The Shop, to give as a gift or keep for yourself. Whatever 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.

Wherever you go, it will follow! Create a classic pull toy, using real tools and materials in The Shop, to give as a gift or keep for yourself. Whatever 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.

Join Visiting Tinkerer Kevin Karl, from Visual Design, to paint with a pendulum, make a pinhole viewer, or design a mobile. Originally from the Midwest, Kevin is a local graphic and interpretive designer, photographer, and community educator who often dives into our diverse outdoor backdrop for ideas and inspiration. Kevin will be offering three unique sessions throughout the day: 11:00am — Pendulum Art Geared toward the younger artist, we’ll play with paint on a very large scale, by swinging from…

Wherever you go, it will follow! Create a classic pull toy, using real tools and materials in The Shop, to give as a gift or keep for yourself. Whatever 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.

Get ready to take advantage of the winter weather when you design and build your own sled out of cardboard and other available materials in The Shop. 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.