Calendar of Events
Past Events
Programmable Mars Rovers
One event on June 22, 2019 at 10:30 am
One event on June 23, 2019 at 12:30 pm
Combine your LEGO® expertise with a your programming skills when you build a programmable Mars rover in Spark!Lab Smithsonian. Be sure to take into consideration the Red Planet’s harsh landscape and then design, build and program a rover to safely navigate Mars’ diverse terrain.
Find out more »Kickstart College Savings
One event on June 19, 2019 at 3:00 pm
One event on June 26, 2019 at 3:00 pm
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.
Find out more »Planetary Buttons
Choose your favorite planet, or planets, and make a wearable button with its likeness. Using available images and our handy button press, you can create a pin-back button with Earth, Mars, Venus or whatever your favorite planet may be. 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 »Programmable Mars Rovers
Combine your LEGO® expertise with a your programming skills when you build a programmable Mars rover in Spark!Lab Smithsonian. Be sure to take into consideration the Red Planet’s harsh landscape and then design, build and program a rover to safely navigate Mars’ diverse terrain.
Find out more »Planetary Buttons
Choose your favorite planet, or planets, and make a wearable button with its likeness. Using available images and our handy button press, you can create a pin-back button with Earth, Mars, Venus or whatever your favorite planet may be. 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 »Programmable Mars Rovers
Combine your LEGO® expertise with a your programming skills when you build a programmable Mars rover in Spark!Lab Smithsonian. Be sure to take into consideration the Red Planet’s harsh landscape and then design, build and program a rover to safely navigate Mars’ diverse terrain.
Find out more »Motorized Mars Rovers
Tackle the harsh and varied landscape of the Red Planet with a motorized rover you design and build in The Shop. Combine a miniature motor with a variety of available materials to create a powered rover that can traverse Mars. 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.
Find out more »Motorized Mars Rovers
Tackle the harsh and varied landscape of the Red Planet with a motorized rover you design and build in The Shop. Combine a miniature motor with a variety of available materials to create a powered rover that can traverse Mars. 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.
Find out more »DIY Firework Launcher
Celebrate Independence Day with a “bang!” Visit The Shop to build a do-it-yourself firework launcher. Using available tools and materials, you can create a festive rocket and a launcher to send it soaring into the night sky. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep for your 4th of July celebration! 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…
Find out more »DIY Firework Launcher
Celebrate Independence Day with a “bang!” Visit The Shop to build a do-it-yourself firework launcher. Using available tools and materials, you can create a festive rocket and a launcher to send it soaring into the night sky. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep for your 4th of July celebration! 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…
Find out more »LED UFOs
Design and build your very own interpretation of what alien transportation might look like in The Shop. Using available tools and materials, you can create an unidentified flying object (UFO) that could bring visitors from other planets to ours. 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 »Visiting Artist: Nathaniel Benjamin
Join Visiting Artist Nathaniel Benjamin as he creates a unique, space-themed, 3D work of chalk art on the plaza in front of The Discovery. About Nathaniel Benjamin Nathaniel approaches his art practice through a playful, surrealistic lens, examining the interaction between self and other. Raised mostly in the Midwest, his religious childhood inspired him to study mysticism and mythology, subjects that inform much of his imagery. He earned his BFA with an emphasis in printmaking from the University of Nevada, Reno,…
Find out more »LED UFOs
Design and build your very own interpretation of what alien transportation might look like in The Shop. Using available tools and materials, you can create an unidentified flying object (UFO) that could bring visitors from other planets to ours. 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 Zoetropes
Create your own space-themed zoetrope in The Shop. Using a variety of materials, you can create a pre-film animation devices that produces the illusion of motion by displaying a sequence of drawings or photographs showing progressive phases of that motion. 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 Zoetropes
Create your own space-themed zoetrope in The Shop. Using a variety of materials, you can create a pre-film animation devices that produces the illusion of motion by displaying a sequence of drawings or photographs showing progressive phases of that motion. 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 »Tour the Stars
Dating all the way back to our time as hunter-gathers, humans have pondered their existence within the Cosmos. Join our friends from Tahoe Star Tours for a discussion of our place in Universe and then gaze at the night sky through powerful telescopes and formulate your own theories about whether we’re alone amongst the stars. Note: This event begins at the Downtown Reno Library (301 S. Center Street) at 8:30pm. Stargazing will take place in The Discovery’s parking lot beginning…
Find out more »Intergalactic LED Postcards
One event on July 23, 2019 at 9:30 am
One event on July 24, 2019 at 10:30 am
One event on July 25, 2019 at 9:30 am
Following your travels through The Discovery’s space-themed exhibitions, design and construct a postcard to send to friends and family. And don’t forget to add a battery and an LED for additional intergalactic flair! 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 »Apollo 11 Moon Landing 50th Anniversary
On July 20, 1969, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully landed two astronauts on the surface of the moon. From the moon’s surface, astronaut Neil Armstrong deemed the feat, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The Discovery invites you to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with a variety of space-themed labs and activities throughout the museum all day. Learn about the science that helped humans travel to the moon,…
Find out more »Intergalactic LED Postcards
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Following your travels through The Discovery’s space-themed exhibitions, design and construct a postcard to send to friends and family. And don’t forget to add a battery and an LED for additional intergalactic flair! 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 »Visiting Artist: Carol Foldvary-Anderson
Something fishy is going on at The Discovery! Visiting Artist Carol Foldvary-Anderson will be sharing with museum visitors just how fun and easy creating your own fish out of colorful air dry clay can be! Working with simple shapes and everyday tools, you too can create a fish that can be a happy fantasy. About Carol Foldvary-Anderson “Creating beauty and inspiring joy is the essence of what my art represents,” states multi award-winning mixed media artist and arts educator, Carol…
Find out more »Circuit Aliens
Combine cute and cuddly with simple circuitry when you create your very own Circuit Alien in The Shop. Using available materials, you can create a clever little alien and then add LED lights and a battery to make it shine bright on travels through space! 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…
Find out more »Circuit Aliens
Combine cute and cuddly with simple circuitry when you create your very own Circuit Alien in The Shop. Using available materials, you can create a clever little alien and then add LED lights and a battery to make it shine bright on travels through space! 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…
Find out more »Museum Store Back-2-School Sale
An event every day that begins at 9:00 am, repeating until August 11, 2019
Gear up for the upcoming school year with the huge selection of science toys, books, gadgets and games in the Museum Store. From August 5 through August 11, members and WCSD educators receive 20% off their entire purchase. Nonmembers receive a 10% discount. Note: Valid on Museum Store merchandise only. May not be combined with any other discount or offer. Not valid on gift cards, memberships, museum admission or special event tickets. Your purchase in the Museum Store supports The…
Find out more »Bottle Rockets
Blast off for the moon and beyond with a compressed air bottle rocket you build in The Shop! Using a recycled water bottle and a variety of other materials, you can design and build a rocket that uses compressed air to take flight. Best of all, what 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…
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