Calendar of Events

The Discovery will close at 2:00pm on Thursday, September 13, 2018 to prepare for the museum’s annual Educator Night Out. The museum will reopen at 10:00am on Friday, September 14 and resume normal hours.

Stop by The Discovery between 3:00 and 6:00pm for inspiration, collaboration and libations at the museum’s annual Educator Night Out. Open to everyone in the education field, you’ll discover innovative, engaging, standards-aligned ways to bring STEAM subjects into your classroom, as well as new Discovery Labs tied to Nevada K-12 Computer Science Standards. You’ll also learn more about the growing list of dynamic educational programs and resources offered by The Discovery. This fun, FREE event includes: Light bites and refreshments…

Discover your inner sleuth when you explore the science that solves crimes. Apply your own wound, pose for a mugshot, create blood spatter artwork, gather evidence from crime scenes, learn the intricate art of an autopsy from the staff at the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s office, and more! Labs, lectures and programming at this Social Science will include: We’ve Got a Bleeder! Create your own wound using a variety of makeup and special effects including fake blood and rotting skin.…

The Nevada State Treasurer’s Office and the SSGA Upromise 529 Plan invite you and your family to The Discovery on Saturday, October 6, 2018 to celebrate education and the future of our children. Join us at the museum for a day of fun activities meant to inspire and remind everyone to start small, and dream big. Visitors age 17 and under enjoy FREE admission all day long! Adult admission is $12.

On Thursday, October 18th, Whole Foods Market in Reno is holding its Community Giving Day and donating 5% of net sales to The Discovery to support the museum’s mission to be the place to experience science. The only thing you need to do to support this fundraising effort is shop—buy groceries, have lunch, grab a coffee or beer, etc. We appreciate your support! Whole Foods Market Reno 6139 S. Virginia Street Reno, NV 89502

Head to The Discovery for a hauntingly good time at the 8th annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat. Visit the museum in costume and trick-or-treat from gallery to gallery. There’ll be spooky decorations and delicious treats for all of the little ghosts, ghouls and goblins who dare to attend. Note: For the safety of all visitors, costumes with weapons of any kind are not allowed. Teal Pumpkin Project The Discovery’s annual Halloween Trick or Treat event takes part in the Teal Pumpkin Project.…

Kick up your spurs at Chemistry of the Cocktail – The Discovery’s premier annual fundraising event – and prepare for an exploration of the science behind wild west-themed libations. Add to that delicious fare from some of your favorite local culinary hot spots, and live and silent auctions, and you’ve got the recipe for a rootin’-tootin’ fun way to support The Discovery. For a rundown of everything that’s happening at this year’s event, check out the event preview!

Join volunteers from Spread the Word Nevada to learn about their variety of literacy programs. They’ll also have a selection of FREE books to choose from! Spread the Word Nevada℠ is dedicated to advancing childhood literacy within low-income communities by changing lives one book at a time.

Calling all nerds, preps, jocks and valley girls to an exploration of the science and culture of the ‘80s. Play classic arcade games, make your own ectoplasm, master the Rubik’s Cube, design a sequined glove, and much more, dude! Labs, lectures and programming at this Social Science will include: Go for High Score! Become an ’80s hero when you try your hand at classic arcade games from Press Start Arcade. You got next! Become the King (or Queen) of Pop…

Did you know that beginning in 2014, all Nevada children enrolled in a public kindergarten receive $50 to begin saving for college expenses? It’s called the Nevada College Kickstart Program, and all you need to do to claim your child’s account is register. Tracy Sherwood, Financial Wellness Navigator for the Washoe Country School District (WCSD), will be on hand to assist families with their student’s College KickStart accounts.

Ready to engage in battle? Register for this class and you’ll learn how to built the ultimate BattleBot using using LEGO® Mindstorm robotics. Then, test your bot’s capabilities when you pit it against your fellow participants in a head-to-head, sumo-style battle. Your objective? Push your competitors’ bot out of the ring to declare victory! Register today for one of two age groups. Age Group Time Member Nonmember Remaining Register Ages 5-8* 10:00 – 11:30am $15 $20 0 spots Ages 9-12…

Ready to engage in battle? Register for this class and you’ll learn how to built the ultimate BattleBot using using LEGO® Mindstorm robotics. Then, test your bot’s capabilities when you pit it against your fellow participants in a head-to-head, sumo-style battle. Your objective? Push your competitors’ bot out of the ring to declare victory! Register today for one of two age groups. Age Group Time Member Nonmember Remaining Register Ages 5-8* 10:00 – 11:30am $15 $20 0 spots Ages 9-12…

Don’t miss The Discovery’s annual “teen takeover” featuring hands-on science activities, music, games and prizes, and more! Explore the entire museum including the new featured exhibition, Mindbender Mansion. Teen Science Night is hosted and organized by The Discovery’s Teen Advisory Committee: Haley Belsher – Davidson Academy, Ikenna Okpukpara – Davidson Academy, Sarah Peterson – Galena High School, Katie Schloss – Galena High School, Kaitlyn Turner – Swope Middle School, Reese Watabayashi – Davidson Academy Prizes generously donated by The Holland Project, Hub Coffee…

Ready to engage in battle? Register for this class and you’ll learn how to built the ultimate BattleBot using using LEGO® Mindstorm robotics. Then, test your bot’s capabilities when you pit it against your fellow participants in a head-to-head, sumo-style battle. Your objective? Push your competitors’ bot out of the ring to declare victory! Register today for one of two age groups. Age Group Time Member Nonmember Remaining Register Ages 5-8* 10:00 – 11:30am $15 $20 0 spots Ages 9-12…

Can you outrun a leprechaun? Find out at the 7th Annual Leprechaun Race on Sunday, March 17, 2019. This family-friendly 5K run/walk starts and finishes at The Discovery and will take you on a tour through the streets of the Midtown and Wells Avenue neighborhoods. Don’t despair if the leprechaun beats you to the finish. For every runner, jogger or walker the leprechaun passes, the pot of gold grows in size. Who will benefit from the increased pot of gold?……

Help create the new Nevada exhibition at The Discovery! Rugged, dramatic, diverse — this is how our great state will be portrayed in The Discovery’s planned exhibition, Nevada. A reimagining of the museum’s current Nevada Stories exhibition, Nevada will reside in a new location within the museum’s walls and will help create an understanding of our state’s beautiful landscapes, contrasting regions, diverse flora and fauna, and the varied industries and careers they foster. This 3,000 square-foot exhibition, boasting more than…

The Discovery would not be Northern Nevada’s most exciting educational resource if it weren’t for the tremendous support of the museum’s amazing group of volunteers. To thank you for your support of the museum’s mission, we invite you, your friends, and your family to The Discovery’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration. Please join us for a Candy Land-themed event that includes snacks, refreshments and an awards presentation for the museum’s most dedicated volunteers! Let us know you’re planning to attend!

The Discovery is excited to unveil the “Super Service Center,” an exciting new exhibit located in the museum’s Little Discoveries exhibition. Little mechanics can step into a pretend auto repair shop equipped with all the tools and equipment they’ll need to perform maintenance on a kid-sized car. The exhibit will provide young museum visitors with the opportunity to explore the field of car care while also encouraging cooperative, hands-on play. Important note: The Super Service Center is located inside the…

From caffeine and alcohol, to marijuana and prescribed meds, drugs have varied and often misunderstood effects on the body and brain. At this Social Science, you’ll explore the science of drugs and their effects – positive and negative – on humans and our community. Labs, lectures and programming for this Social Science will include: Drug IQ Put your drug knowledge to the test when you and a team of four others join in on a survey-based drug Q&A session. Winning…

Bubbles can be fascinating, beautiful and fun. But did you know bubbles can also help you explore scientific concepts such as elasticity, surface tension, chemistry, light, and even geometry? At Bubble Extravaganza, The Discovery’s event during the inaugural Northern Nevada Science & Technology Festival, you’ll be able to create bubbles of all shapes and sizes and explore the many interesting properties bubbles demonstrate. Bubble Performer Be dazzled by artist Kit Huntington, who will be creating spectacular giant bubbles on the plaza…