Workshops & Special Events happening this season!
April
NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION: HandsOn! Summer Camps
Be sure to check out our two different summer camp options going on in both June and July! We have opportunities for ages six through 14. To learn more and register, visit https://visithandson.org/summer-camp/. Space is limited. HODC member discounts available!
Thursdays through the end of May: Little Labs for Pre-K, 9am-10:15am
Little Labs are fun and engaging learning-play sessions designed for 3-5 year olds and their caregivers to enjoy hands-on exploratory STEAM learning and play. $3 for Pre-K children with pre-registration, $4 for walk-in admission (if space allows). FREE for adults. General admission fees apply to explore museum after program. To learn more and register, visit https://visithandson.org/event/little-labs-for-prek. Space is very limited to ensure small group size
Tuesday, March 19th – Sunday, April 14th: Springtime Science Discovery Lab Program
Ring in the Spring with some fun and silly springtime science experiments. You won’t believe your eyes in our growing marshmallow Peeps experiment, test out an “EGG-cellent” floating egg experiment, and even try out some candy chromatography. Contains small parts and food allergens. The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.
Tuesday, April 2nd – Sunday, April 28th: April Art Studio Programs
Stop by for Leonardo da Vinci inspired invention sketches, springtime animal drawings in the style of Picasso, Earth Day upcycled paper collages, floral pattern rubbing plates, and April showers crayon-resist watercolor paintings. All activities are self-guided with instructions provided, with facilitated programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
April Discovery Cart Activities
Stop by our Discovery Cart to explore something new each week. All activities are self-guided. All cart program components and materials must remain on site unless otherwise noted. Each cart activity may contain small parts not suitable for children 3 and under. FREE with general paid admission.
- 2nd – 5th: Lego Building Bricks
- 9th – 12th: Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks for National Robotics Week
- 16th – 19th: K’nex Engineering
- 23rd – 26th: Snap Circuits
Friday, April 5th – Sunday, April 7th: SUN-Sational Solar Eclipse Weekend Pop-up Programs
Join us for a SUN-sational time in honor of the 2024 total solar eclipse. Build a deeper understanding of how we see solar eclipses with the Cosmic Coincidence activity. Then, safely look at the sun with our Solar Scope (weather permitting). Programs by announcement throughout the day. FREE with general paid admission.
Every Saturday in April: Solar Telescope Program
Take a turn using our Celestron EclipSmart solar telescope, which allows the user to safely observe the surface of the Sun! Weather permitting, stay tuned to social media for updates regarding weather. Program by announcement periodically throughout the day, visit the front desk for viewing times. Limited access to scope based on participants. FREE with paid general admission.
Tuesday, April 16th: Home School Day (all day)
Join us for this extra special discount day especially for our loyal home school visitors. Come together to network, explore, play, and learn about upcoming homeschool workshops! To receive the discounted Home School Day rate of $8 per person for general admission, please bring your photo ID and one of the accepted forms of home school identification listed in the “Discounts & Coupons” section of the Plan Your Visit page of our website.
Additional activities for Homeschool Day include:
- Owl Pellet Dissection (Guided Dissection at 11am and 3pm)
- Owl pellets are available on a first come, first serve basis and cost an additional $5 per pellet.
- Supplies are limited and can not guaranteed.
- Tickets for owl pellets are available at the front desk and pellets will be distributed during the guided dissection programs.
- Tesla Experience Show
- Additional $2 per person ages 4+. Tickets available at the front desk.
- Paleo Tour
- Additional $2 per person ages 4+. Tickets available at the front desk.
Tuesday, April 16th – Sunday, May 19th: Explore Science! Earth & Space Discovery Lab Program
Join us for something out of this world in honor of Astronomy Week and Astronomy Day! Explore Earth and space with a variety of experiments changing throughout each day. Activities will introduce you to research happening at NASA, Earth and planetary science, and astrophysics. These programs are made possible by the National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE). The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.
The National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Network) is a national community of informal educators and scientists dedicated to fostering public awareness, engagement, and understanding of current science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). For more information about NISE Net please visit www.nisenet.org.
This material is based upon work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC67A and 80NSSC18M0061. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Friday, April 19th – Sunday, April 21st: Earth Day EnviroScape Simulation
In honor of Earth Day 2024, stop by to learn all about keeping our planet beautiful for years and generations to come. Get a firsthand look at what happens to water in our environment with our 3-dimensional EnviroScape tabletop watershed simulator. Pollution and runoff are made colorfully evident when falling rain carries mock versions of soil, chemical fertilizers, and oil through a watershed and collect in bodies of water. Can you help clean up the EnviroScape watershed community and our planet? Program by announcement periodically throughout the day. FREE with paid general admission.
Sunday, April 28th: Superhero Science Family Pop-in Workshop, 1:30pm-4:30pm
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superhero Science! Stop by anytime between 1:30-4:30 to unmask the science behind some of your favorite superheroes and their superpowers! Test your superhuman strength and knowledge while exploring flight, magnetism, nanotechnology, and more! Then, stop by the Tesla Theater for a Tesla Experience show full of superhero theme songs. $5 per participant for members, $7 for non-members. One Tesla Experience ticket provided for each paying workshop guest. Adult supervision is required at all times. General admission fees are required to tour the museum before or after the workshop.
May
NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION: HandsOn! Summer Camps
Be sure to check out our two different summer camp options going on in both June and July! We have opportunities for ages six through 14. To learn more and register, visit https://visithandson.org/summer-camp/. Space is limited. HODC member discounts available!
Tuesday, April 16th – Sunday, May 19th: Explore Science! Earth & Space Discovery Lab Program
Join us for something out of this world in honor of Astronomy Week and Astronomy Day! Explore Earth and space with a variety of experiments changing throughout each day. Activities will introduce you to research happening at NASA, Earth and planetary science, and astrophysics. These programs are made possible by the National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE). The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.
The National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Network) is a national community of informal educators and scientists dedicated to fostering public awareness, engagement, and understanding of current science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). For more information about NISE Net please visit www.nisenet.org.
This material is based upon work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC67A and 80NSSC18M0061. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Tuesday, April 30th – Sunday, June 2nd: May Art Studio Programs
Stop by for a Salvador Dalí inspired paper collage, Mary Cassat inspired stacked tea cups drawings, Henri Rousseau inspired jungle oil pastel masterpieces, floral pattern rubbing plates, and May flowers wax-resist watercolor paintings. All activities are self-guided with instructions provided, with facilitated programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
Saturday, May 4th: May the Fourth Be With You Pop-up Programs
Join us in celebrating May the Fourth Be With You Day with a variety of themed activities throughout the day. Levitate objects with “the force” at our TVA Discovery Cart, hone your Jedi mind problem-solving skills with a character mosaic in our Art Studio, and challenge your friends to a paper aircraft flying competition in Make It. Take It. Facilitated programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
May Discovery Cart Activities
Stop by our Discovery Cart to explore something new each week. All activities are self-guided. All cart program components and materials must remain on site unless otherwise noted. Each cart activity may contain small parts not suitable for children 3 and under. FREE with general paid admission.
- April 30th – May 3rd: Reverse Engineering
- 7th – 10th: Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks
- 14th – 17th: K’nex Engineering
- 21st – 24th: Snap Circuits
- 28th – 31st: Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks
Saturday, May 18th: Music in the Garden, 11am-Noon
You’re invited to the celebration of the 2024 seasonal opening of our Discovery Garden! From 11am-noon, enjoy a live musical performance by the Kingsport Community Band as you stroll through the beautiful blooms of our garden. This unique pollinator garden is populated with flowering plants and shrubs that are related to the ancient flora of the northeast Tennessee environment during the early Pliocene epoch. This event is FREE with paid general admission.
Tuesday, May 21st – Sunday, June 9th: Sink or Swim? Discovery Lab Program
We’re diving into World Oceans Day with a program all about sea water. Stop by to learn about density, salinity, and a myriad of ocean life in recognition of World Oceans Day. Try out some “Sink or Float?” challenges, put our density cubes to the test, and learn about convection currents with a demonstration using a special compartmented aquatic tank. The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
Monday, May 20th: Sensory Night, 4-6pm
This event is designed for individuals with sensory integration needs. Lighting and sound are adjusted as well as many other environmental elements. Hands On! is closed to the public during this event. Sensory Nights are FREE, and space is very limited and only available for immediate family. Pre-registration is required. To register, click HERE.
Monday, May 27th: Closed for Memorial Day holiday.
June
Open Mondays in June and July!
NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION: HandsOn! Summer Camps
Be sure to check out our two different summer camp options going on in both June and July! We have opportunities for ages six through 14. To learn more and register, visit https://visithandson.org/summer-camp/. Space is limited. HODC member discounts available!
Tuesday, May 21st – Sunday, June 9th: Sink or Swim? Discovery Lab Program
Stop by to learn about density, salinity, and ocean life in recognition of World Oceans day. Try out some sink or float challenges, test out density cubes, and learn about convection currents with a demo using a split tank. The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
June Discovery Cart Activities
Stop by our Discovery Cart to explore something new each week. All activities are self-guided. All cart program components and materials must remain on site unless otherwise noted. Each cart activity may contain small parts not suitable for children 3 and under. FREE with paid general admission.
- 4th – 7th: Lego Building Bricks
- 11th – 14th: Snap Circuits
- 18th – 21st: K’nex Engineering
- 25th – 28th: Lego Building Bricks
Monday, June 3rd – Sunday, June 30th: June Art Studio Programs
Stop by for Katsushika Hokusai inspired wave paintings, Sea-scape paper collages, make your own M.C. Escher inspired tessellations, geometric pattern rubbing plates, and radial word art. All activities are self-guided with instructions provided, with facilitated programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
Monday, June 10th – Sunday, July 7th: Star Spangled Science
We want YOU to love science! Join is in celebrating Independence Day with a program filled with patriotic science activities! Launch effervescent “rockets” across the room, help create colorful liquid fireworks in a jar, then watch our famous apple launcher send apple pieces flying into the air! The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.
Wednesday, June 19th: Closed for Juneteenth holiday.
Thursday, June 20th: Solar Scope for Summer Solstice
Join us for some star gazing of our Sun on the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year! Take a turn using our Celestron EclipSmart solar telescope, which allows the user to safely observe the surface of the Sun! Programs by announcement periodically throughout the day. Weather permitting, stay tuned to social media for updates regarding weather. Program by announcement periodically throughout the day. Limited access to scope based on participants. FREE with paid general admission.
For more information about a specific workshop or program please contact: reservations@visithandson.org.
Workshop Guidelines – Please read carefully:
- Space is limited and varies based on the workshop.
- Payment in full and a completed registration form is required to secure place in workshop.
- A full refund will be provided if you cancel a minimum of two weeks in advance. If a cancellation is made less than two weeks in advance, any payments will not be refunded or transferred.
- Museum admission is an additional cost and is not included in any workshop fees.
- All attendees must be within the age ranges specified for each workshop. Proof of age may be requested. If staff has been misinformed of a child’s age, all fees paid will be forfeited and the attendee will be dismissed.
- All attendees must be fully toilet trained. Attendees not fully toilet trained will be dismissed.
- Hands On! reserves the right to cancel any workshop and fully refund payments in the event a workshop is cancelled based on low attendance/registration or unforeseen circumstances.
- Parents/guardians must sign each attendee in and out of the workshop.
- We are unable to accommodate early arrivals, or late pickups. Failure to comply with pick-up times may result in your attendee being unable to register for future workshops.
- Keep toys, books, and all other personal belongings at home. Hands On! is not responsible for lost/ stolen/ damaged items.
- To ensure a fun, effective, consistent, and safe experience, parents/guardians/siblings may not be present in the workshop, however, they are welcome to visit HODC during the duration of the workshop (General admission costs apply).
- We reserve the right to dismiss an attendee based on behavior issues, aggression, foul language, or failure to follow rules.
- All fees paid will be forfeited in the event of dismissal for any reason.
- Coupons and special offers are not applicable with any workshop fees.
