Programs, Workshops, & Special Educational Events happening this season!
*Hands On! Discovery Center reserves the right to alter, cancel, or move scheduled programs, events, and exhibit openings. *
July
Open on Mondays in July!
Monday, June 8th – Sunday, July 5th: Star Spangled Science
We want YOU to love science! Join us in celebrating Independence Day with effervescent “rockets”. Then, help create liquid fireworks in a jar and 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 paid general admission.
Monday, July 6th – Sunday, Friday, July 31st: Can You Feel the Pressure? Discovery Lab Program
Did you know that you have 14 pounds of air pressure pushing on every inch of your body? Join us in the Discovery Lab as we learn about the properties of air and air pressure through fun interactive demonstrations, launch a seltzer rocket, make a popping CO2 experiment in a zip lock bag, and witness someone get vacuum-sealed! Facilitated programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.
Pollination Investigation by Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service
Discover the Who?, What?, When?, Where?, and Why? of pollination through play in our traveling poster exhibit now on display!
Learn about the vital bonds between plants and pollinator animals, enjoy thematic table activities found throughout the exhibit hall and in the Tot Spots. And after you’ve explored the poster exhibit, be sure to venture out into our Discovery Garden to experience these pollination interactions in real life!
Catch it today before it flutters away!
All poster designs have been made available through the generous support of the Smithsonian Institution Exhibition Service.
Saturday July 4th: CLOSED for Independence Day
Discovery Cart Activities (weekly Tuesday through Thursday in July)
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.
- June 30th – July 2nd: K’nex
- 7th – 9th: Reverse Engineering
- 14th – 16th: Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks
- 21st – 23rd: Lego Building Bricks
- 28th – 30th: Snap Circuits
Friday, July 10th: Nikola Tesla’s Birthday
Join us for the most electrifying party of the summer. Today only, Tesla Experience tickets are $1 for everyone with paid general admission (excludes groups). As always, children under 3 are free as long as they are seated on ticketed individual’s lap.
August
CLOSED on Mondays
Saturday, August 1st – Sunday, August 30th: Pop! Into Science – Discovery Lab Program
Our Discovery Lab is transforming into a bubbly wonderland where physics and fun collide! Try your hand at the Bouncing Bubble Challenge using our special bubble gloves and master the art of surface tension to create geometry-defying cubic bubbles. The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.
Discovery Cart Activities (weekly Tuesday through Thursday in August)
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 – 6th: Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks
- 11th – 13th: Lego Building Bricks
- 18th – 20th: K’nex
- 25th – 27th: Snap Circuits
Monday, August 10th – 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! will be closed to the public during this event. Sensory Nights are FREE, but space is very limited to ensure a consistent and enjoyable experience. Pre-registration is required by Thursday, August 6th and includes immediate family only. Click HERE to register.
Tuesday, August 4th – Sunday, August 30th: August Art Studio Activities
Stop by for Gustave Caillebotte method perspective drawings, Andy Warhol inspired pop art collages, and Emil Nolde style watercolor flowers, and famous artwork plate rubbings. All activities are self-guided with instructions provided, with facilitated programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
Sunday, August 23rd – Friday, August 28th: EnviroScape Pop-Up Program for World Water Week
Celebrate World Water Week by discovering ways that you can help keep our planet’s water supply clean and beautiful with our 3D watershed program!
Get a first-hand look at what happens to water in our world with a 3-dimensional EnviroScape model watershed. Pollution and runoff are made colorfully evident when falling rain carries mock versions of soil, chemicals, oil, and other pollutants across a topographic landscape and into a body of water. Can you help save the model watershed community and our planet?
Programs will be announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.
September
CLOSED on Mondays
Monday, September 7th – CLOSED for Labor Day
Tuesday, September 1st – Sunday, September 27th: September Art Studio Programs
Stop by for Alma Thomas style mosaics, Suzanne Valadon inspired cat drawings, and watercolor landscape paintings in the style of Grandma Moses. All activities are self-guided with instructions provided, with facilitated programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
Discovery Cart Activities (weekly Tuesday through Thursday in September)
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.
- 1st – 3rd: Lego Building Bricks
- 8th – 10th: Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks
- 15th – 17th: K’nex
- 22rd – 24th: Snap Circuits
- 29th – October 1st: Lego Building Bricks
Tuesday, September 1st – Wednesday, September 30th: Earth & Space Discovery Lab
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.
Tuesday, September 8th: Home School Day with StarLab Planetarium Presentations (discount admission all day)
Join us for this special discounted day created especially for our homeschool community! Connect with other homeschooling families, explore the museum, enjoy hands-on learning, and discover upcoming homeschool workshops at Hands On! Discovery Center.
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 on the Plan Your Visit page of our website.
Your Home School Day admission also includes a presentation in our StarLab Planetarium! Shows begin at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 p.m. and last approximately 15 minutes. Seating inside the planetarium dome is limited, and guests must be accompanied by an adult (18+) while attending the show. Reserve your spot today!
The StarLab Planetarium at Hands On! Discovery Center was made possible through generous funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Tuesday, September 15th – Sunday, September 20th: Solar Scope for Fall Astronomy Week and the Fall Equinox
Join us for some daytime stargazing of our Sun in recognition of Fall Astronomy Week and the Fall Equinox!
Take a turn using our Celestron “EclipSmart” solar-safe telescope, which allows the viewer to safely observe features of the Sun.
Programs by announcement periodically throughout the day. Weather permitting. Stay tuned to our social media for updates regarding weather changes. Limited access to telescopes, based on participants.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR… Friday October 23rd – BOO!SEUM
Join us for our spook-tacular, but not too scary, evening of fun and science! Hands On! is hosting its annual Halloween event, BOO!SEUM, which will include experiments, candy, arts and crafts, games, and exploration time in the museum. Stay tuned to our website and social media for more details by going to visithandson.org.
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.
