Hands On Museum - children painting faces

Upcoming Programs and Workshops

Workshops & Special Events happening this season!

December

Tuesdays through Thursdays in December: 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.

2^nd-4^th : Legos
9^th-11^th: Cubelets
16^th-18^th: K’nex
23^rd-24^th (Closed on 25th for holiday): Reverse Engineering

Tuesday, December 2^nd – Sunday, January 4^th: Art Studio Programs

Join us for snow-scape collages, Georges-Pierre Seurat inspired pointillism drawings, crayon resist watercolor snowflake paintings, and snowflake plate rubbings. All activities are self-guided with instructions provided. FREE with paid general admission.

Tuesday, December 2^nd – Sunday, January 11^th: Nano Science Discovery Lab

Join us for science on a super small scale! At the nanoscale, the scale of atoms and molecules, many common materials exhibit unusual properties. Come explore the world of nanotechnology with experiments that interchange each program including reflective thin films, invisibility, and more! The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.

Friday, December 5th: Parents Night Out

Behind on holiday shopping and need a sitter? Let us cover the child care from 5:30-8:30 pm on the night of December 5th! The night will include play, dinner, a Tesla Experience Show, and other themed activities.

What to Expect:

Museum Playtime
Dinner (2 pieces of pizza and assorted drinks)
Cookie Decorating Activity*
Tesla Experience Show

*Contains small parts and known food allergens including but not limited to wheat, dairy, gluten, and food dyes.

**Please note: Registration will close on November 28th

Tuesday, December 16^th: Home School Days (discount admission all day with special program at 11am)

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 programs for Homeschool Days from 11am-12:30pm with fees noted below in addition to general admission. Adult (18+) supervision required. Purchase your ticket for these activities online at least one week prior to the program to receive the early bird discount. Visit the front desk the day of the program for availability of supplies. Supplies are limited and purchasing ahead is highly recommended.

December 16^th-“Gingerbread” Houses, Polymer Snow, and Snow Dough Preview Experience at 11am
- Early Bird Reservation (must be purchased online by Tuesday, Dec. 1^st)
  - $6/participant for HODC members
  - $8/participant for non-members
- Otherwise $8/participant for HODC members and $10/participant for non-members

Saturday, December 20^th: “Gingerbread” Houses, Polymer Snow, and Snow Dough Family Pop-in Workshop (ongoing from 11:00am-3:30pm)

Stop in anytime between 11am and 3:30pm (while supplies last) to test your engineering skills by building your own graham cracker and candy “gingerbread” house. Then, make your own polymer snow and peppermint scented snow dough to take home. Children must be supervised at all times. (Contains food allergens and small parts not suitable for children under age 3.)

Purchase your ticket for these activities online at least one week prior to the program to receive the early bird discount. Visit the front desk the day of the program for availability of supplies. Supplies are limited and purchasing ahead is highly recommended.

Early Bird Reservation (must be purchased online by Saturday, December 6^th)
- $6/participant for HODC members
- $8/participant for non-members
After December 6^th:
- $8/participant for HODC members
- $10/participant for non-members

Thursday, December 25^th: CLOSED for Holiday

January

CLOSED on Mondays in January

Tuesday, December 2^nd– Sunday, January 11^th: Nano Science Discovery Lab

Thursday, January 1^st: OPEN 10:00am – 2:00pm

Tuesday, January 6^th: CLOSED for Exhibit and Facility Maintenance

Discovery Cart Activities

Stop by our Discovery Cart in January 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.

7^th– 9^th: Cubelets for National Technology Day

13^th– 16^th: K’nex

20^th– 23^rd: Snap Circuits

27^th– 30^th: Legos for National Lego Day

Wednesday, January 7^th– Sunday, February 1^st: January Art Studio Programs

Join us to learn about American meteorologist and photographer Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley. Then, create a snowflake doodle drawing, wax-resist watercolor snowflake painting, snow-scape paper collage, snowflake plate rubbing, and a snowflake coloring page. All activities are self-guided with instructions provided. Stop by and get creative! FREE with paid general admission.

Tuesday, January 13^th– Sunday, February 8^th:Wonderful and Wacky Weather Discovery Lab Program

Calling all future meteorologists! Discover a variety of weather patterns, try out our tornado tube, watch in amazement as a cloud forms in a bottle, and make your own shaving cream clouds. The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.

Monday, January 26^th: Sensory Night, 4:00pm – 6:00pm

This event is designed for children 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, and space is very limited. Registration is required by Thursday, January 22^nd, and includes immediate family only. To register, go to visithandson.org/event/sensorynight/

February

CLOSED on Mondays in February

Tuesday, January 13^th– Sunday, February 8^th: Wonderful and Wacky Weather Discovery Lab Program

Discovery Cart Activities

Stop by our Discovery Cart Tuesdays through Fridays in February 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.

3^rd– 6^th: Cubelets

10^th– 13^th: K’nex

17^th– 20^th: Snap Circuits

24^th– 27^th: Reverse Engineering for National Engineers Week

Tuesday, February 10^th– Sunday, March 1^st:For the Love of Science Discovery Lab Program

We may not have a special formula for the science of relationships, but we do have the formula for some fun experiments to help celebrate Valentine’s Day. You won’t believe your eyes with our optical illusion heart, learn about solubility while creating a Sharpie tie dye valentine, and enjoy a show of dancing, bobbing, conversation heart candies. Contains small parts and food allergens. The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.

Tuesday, February 3^rd– Sunday, March 1^st:February Art Studio Programs

Join us for crayon-resist watercolor valentines, paper animal sculptures, Geoff Slater-inspired single-line flower drawings, snowflake plate rubbings, and Alma Thomas inspired mosaics. All activities are self-guided with instructions provided. Stop by and get creative! FREE with paid general admission.

Saturday, February 14^th: Parents Night Out, 5:30 – 8:30

Do you have plans for Valentine’s Day and need a sitter? Let us cover the childcare from 5:30-8:30 pm on the night of February 14th! The night will include programs, crafts, play, dinner, and other themed activities. Members are $25, nonmembers are $35. Registration is required. Registration closes February 10^th.

*Contains small parts and known food allergens, including but not limited to wheat, dairy, gluten, and food dyes*

Tuesday, February 24^th: Home School Day

Join us for this special discount day, especially for our loyal homeschool visitors. Come together to network, explore, play, and learn! 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 homeschool identification listed on the Visit page of our website.

March

OPEN from on Mondays in March!

Tuesday, March 3^rd– Sunday, March 22^nd: Can You Hear Me Now? Discovery Lab Program

Discover some of the smallest bones in our bodies – the ones in our ears! Celebrate Alexander Graham Bell’s birthday by learning about sound and how Mr. Bell used sound in many of his inventions. Play a song on our palm pipes, listen to our singing crystal water glasses, and even try out our Boomwhackers! The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.

Monday, March 2^nd– Sunday, March 29^th: March Art Studio Programs

Join us for a 3-D rainbow paper sculpture, crayon-resist watercolor Starry Night inspired paintings, optical illusion line drawings, Piet Mondrian inspired collages, and pattern plate rubbings. All activities are self-guided with instructions provided. Stop by and get creative! FREE with paid general admission.

Discovery Cart Activities

Stop by our Discovery Cart Tuesdays through Thursdays in March 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.

3^rd– 5^th: Legos

10^th– 12^th: Cubelets

17^th– 19^th: K’nex

24^th– 26^th: Snap Circuits

31^st– April 2^nd: Legos

Tuesday, March 17^th:Home School Day

Monday, March 23^rd – Sunday, April 26^th: Magnificent Magnets Discovery Lab Program

Did you know Earth is considered a giant magnet? Discover the power of magnets as you test various items for magnetism, unbox the magnetic properties of breakfast cereal, and even try out some neodymium magnet challenges. The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. (***Please note that this program contains neodymium magnets which may inhibit the proper function of pacemakers. This program also contains small parts that may not be suitable for children under 3 years of age.) The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR NEXT MONTH!

Friday, April 3^rd:Dino Egg Hunt, 9:00am to Noon

Join us for some EGG-cellent dinosaur and fossil themed experiments, crafts, games, and egg hunting in a prehistoric forest. Sign up for our email newsletter and stay tuned to our social media and website for updates, pricing, and more information!

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.