Workshops & Special Events happening this season!
April
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
HandsOn! Summer Camps
Be sure to check out our three different summer camp theme options going on in both June and July! We have opportunities for ages 5 through 14. To learn more and register, visit https://visithandson.org/summer-camp/. Space is limited. HODC member discounts available!
Tuesday, March 18th – Sunday, April 6th: EnviroScape 3-D Watershed Discovery Lab Program
Learn about keeping our planet and water beautiful in recognition of World Water Week. Get a firsthand look at what happens to water in our environment with our 3-dimensional EnviroScape watershed. Pollution and runoff are colorfully evident when falling rain carries mock versions of soil, chemicals, and oil through a watershed to a body of water. Can you help save the watershed community and our planet? The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
Discovery Cart Activities (weekly Tuesday through Friday in April)
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.
- 1st – 4th (CLOSED April 3rd) : Snap Circuits
- 8th – 11th : Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks for National Robotics Week
- 15th – 18th : K’nex
- 22nd – 25th : Legos
- 29th – May 2nd : Snap Circuits
Thursday, April 3rd
HandsOn! is CLOSED for the Association for Materials and Methods in Paleontology (AMMP) Conference.
Friday, April 4th – Sunday, May 4th: 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.
Each Saturday in April: Solar-scope Program
Take a turn using our Celestron EclipSmart solar safe finder telescope, which allows the scope to align to the sun without directly viewing it. 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 8th – Sunday, April 27th: Springtime Science Discovery Lab Program
Ring in spring with some fun and silly springtime science experiments. You won’t believe your eyes with 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 is open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.
Tuesday, April 15th: Home School Day, all day
Join us for this 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 on the Visit page of our website.
Additional activities for Homeschool Day include:
- Owl Pellet Dissection (Guided Dissection at 11am)
- Owl pellets are first come, first serve and are an additional $5 per pellet. Supplies are limited and 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.
Friday, April 18th: Dino Egg Hunt, 9am to 12pm
Join us for some egg-cellent dinosaur and fossil themed experiments, crafts, games, and egg hunting in a prehistoric forest. Activities and egg hunting are on-going, so stop by anytime during the event. Be sure to bring your own basket. (*Contains small parts and food allergens. While supplies last.) Check out our social media and website for updates and reminders!
Pricing
- FREE for ages 0-3
- $5 for members ages 4+ (must have current membership card/membership app and photo ID) (includes event and exhibit play)
- $11 per person for non-members ages 4+ (includes event and exhibit play)
- $2 Tesla Experience tickets for members and non-members
Tuesday, April 22nd: Earth Day EnviroScape Simulation
Stop by to learn all about keeping our planet beautiful for years to come in honor of Earth Day. Get a firsthand look at what happens to water in our environment with our 3-dimensional EnviroScape. Pollution and runoff are colorfully evident when falling rain carries mock versions of soil, chemicals, and oil through a watershed to a body of water. Can you help save the watershed community and our planet? Program by announcement periodically throughout the day, visit the front desk for program times. Adult supervision is required at all times. FREE with paid general admission.
Sunday, April 27th: 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 in honor of tomorrow, April 28th, being Superhero Day! 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 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 apply in addition to workshop fees.
Tuesday, April 29th – Sunday, May 18th: 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 is 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).
May
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
HandsOn! Summer Camps
Be sure to check out our three different summer camp theme options going on in both June and July! We have opportunities for ages 5 through 14. To learn more and register, visit https://visithandson.org/summer-camp/. Space is limited. HODC member discounts available!
Tuesday, April 29th – Sunday, May 18th: 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 is 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).
Discovery Cart Activities (weekly Tuesday through Friday in May)
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.
- 29th – May 2nd : Snap Circuits
- 6th – 9th : Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks
- 13th – 16th : K’nex
- 20th – 23rd : Legos
- 27th – 30th : Snap Circuits
Sunday, May 4th: May the Fourth Be With You Pop-up Programs
Levitate objects with “the force” at our 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.
Tuesday, May 6th – Sunday, June 1st: May Art Studio Programs
Stop by for a Salvador Dali 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.
Monday, May 19th: Sensory Night, 4pm-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, go to visithandson.org.
Tuesday, May 22nd – Sunday, June 8th: 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 is open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
Monday, May 26th
HandsOn! is CLOSED for Memorial Day holiday.
June
Open Mondays in June and July!
CHECK FOR AVAILABILITY
HandsOn! Summer Camps
Be sure to check out our three different summer camp theme options going on in both June and July! We have opportunities for ages 5 through 14. To learn more and register, visit https://visithandson.org/summer-camp/. Space is limited. HODC member discounts available!
Tuesday, May 22nd – Sunday, June 8th: 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 is open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
Monday, June 2nd – Sunday, June 29th: 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.
Discovery Cart Activities (weekly Tuesday through Thursday in June)
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.
- 3rd – 5th : Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks
- 10th – 12th : K’nex
- 17th – 18th (CLOSED on 19th) : Legos
- 24th – 26th : Snap Circuits
Monday, June 9th – Sunday, July 6th: 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.
Thursday, June 19th
HandsOn! is CLOSED for Juneteenth
Friday, June 20th: Bourbon, Bones, and the Big Bang!, 6:30pm – 10pm
Join us to go back in time and dive through the cosmos while trying the different mixtures bourbon has to offer! This 21+ event will include delicious food, refreshing bourbon concoctions, and activities from both the Gray Fossil Site staff and the Hands On! staff to keep you captivated until the end. Come enjoy this fun cocktail party while supporting Hands On! and exploring all the exciting finds of Gray Fossil Site! To learn more and purchase your ticket, CLICK HERE. Space is limited.
Saturday, June 21st – Sunday, June 22nd: Solar-scope Summer Celebration
Join us for some star gazing of our Sun to celebrate the first official days of summer! Take a turn using our Celestron EclipSmart solar safe finder telescope, which allows the scope to align to the sun without directly viewing it. 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.
