Workshops & Special Events happening this season!
July
Open on Mondays in July!
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.
Friday, July 4th:
CLOSED for Independence Day
Monday, June 30th – Sunday, August 3rd: July Art Studio Activities
Join us in July for Rembrandt inspired windmill chalk art, Sea-scape paper collages, Degas inspired oil pastel gesture drawings, insect pattern rubbing plates, and Hokusai wave paintings. 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 Monday 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 3rd: K’nex
- 7th – 10th: Reverse Engineering
- 14th – 17th: Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks
- 21st – 24th: Lego Building Bricks
- 28th – 31st: Snap Circuits
Monday, July 7th – Sunday, August 10th: NISE Net Exploring the Solar System: Design, Build, and Test Discovery Lab Program
To Hands On! and beyond! Celebrate the anniversary of the first man landing on the moon and Space Week.
Imagine a mission to space, draw inspiration from existing spacecraft, and then design and build your own simple model spacecraft with preformed components. After assembling, complete a series of tests to ensure that they are ready for “launch”. Did you include the necessary tools? Can the spacecraft withstand the vibration of launch, or the spin of navigating through space? If not, it is back to the drawing board—the design/build/test cycle begins again! The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
Thursday, 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 seated on ticketed individual’s lap.
Tuesday, July 11th – Friday, July 18th: S.T.E.A.M. Summer Camp-Only a FEW spots left
Only a few spots left. To learn more and register, visit https://visithandson.org/summer-camp/. Space is very limited.
Monday, July 21st – Friday, July 25th: Palentology Summer Camp –SOLD OUT but waiting list is available for cancellations
August
CLOSED on Mondays
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.
- 5th – 7th: Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks
- 12th – 14th: Lego Building Bricks
- 19th – 21st: K’nex
- 26th – 28th: Snap Circuits
Monday, July 7th – Sunday, August 10th: NISE Net Exploring the Solar System: Design, Build, and Test Discovery Lab Program
To Hands On! and beyond! Celebrate the anniversary of the first man landing on the moon and Space Week.
Imagine a mission to space, draw inspiration from existing spacecraft, and then design and build your own simple model spacecraft with preformed components. After assembling, complete a series of tests to ensure that they are ready for “launch”. Did you include the necessary tools? Can the spacecraft withstand the vibration of launch, or the spin of navigating through space? If not, it is back to the drawing board—the design/build/test cycle begins again! The Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission.
Monday, August 11th: 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 7th and includes immediately family only. Register on our website at visithandson.org.
Tuesday, August 5th – Sunday, August 31st: 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.
Tuesday, August 12th – Sunday, September 7th: 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. Watch marshmallows grow in a vacuum sealer, send fruit and veggie pieces with our potato launcher, launch a seltzer rocket, make a popping CO2 experiment in a baggie, and witness a grown-up get vacuum-sealed! Facilitated programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.
Tuesday, August 26th – Home School Day (discount admission all day with special program at 11am)
Join us for this special discount day 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 Days include guided programs at 11am 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.
- August 26th – Owl Pellet Dissection recommended for ages 6-12.
- Early Bird Reservations: $5/small pellet for HODC members and $7/pellet for non-members
- Otherwise: $7/pellet for HODC members and $9/pellet for non-members.
Tuesday, August 19th: National Aviation Day Pop-up Programs
Join us for some high-flying, fun, aviation-themed activities including a paper plane contest in honor of National Aviation Week. Programs announced periodically throughout the day. FREE with general paid admission.
Sunday, August 24th – Saturday, August 30th: EnviroScape Pop-Up Program for World Water Week
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? Programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.
September
CLOSED on Mondays
Monday, September 1st
CLOSED in honor of Labor Day
Tuesday, August 12th – Sunday, September 7th: 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. Watch marshmallows grow in a vacuum sealer, send fruit and veggie pieces with our potato launcher, launch a seltzer rocket, make a popping CO2 experiment in a baggie, and witness a grown-up get vacuum-sealed! Facilitated programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.
Tuesday, September 2nd – Sunday, September 28th: 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.
- 2nd – 4th: Lego Building Bricks
- 9th – 11th: Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks
- 16th – 18th: K’nex
- 23rd – 25th: Snap Circuits
- 30th – October 2nd: Lego Building Bricks
Tuesday, September 9th – Sunday, October 5th: Swashbuckling Science Discovery Lab Program
Arrg mateys! It’s a pirate’s life for you as you discover the swashbuckling science of being a pirate in honor of Talk like a Pirate Day. Learn at ye own risk as you test out an eyepatch perception experiment, test out which items would sink or float in they went overboard, sail ho with our pirate ship challenge, and even learn what a scallywag might say! Facilitated programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.
Tuesday, September 9th: Home School Day (discount admission all day with special program at 11am)
Join us for this special discount day 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-noon 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.
- September 9th – Investigate Forensics for National Forensic Science Week recommended for ages 5-12.
- Early Bird Reservations: $5/participant for HODC members and $7/participant for non-members
- Otherwise: $7/participant for HODC members and $9/participant for non-members.
Friday, September 19th – Friday, September 26th: Solar Scope for Fall Astronomy Week and the Fall Equinox
Join us for some star gazing of our Sun in recognition of Fall Astronomy Week and the Fall Equinox! 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. Limited access to scopes based on participants.
Tuesday, September 23rd – Home School Days (discount admission all day with special program at 11am)
Join us for this special discount day 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 on the day of the program for availability of supplies. Supplies are limited, and purchasing ahead is highly recommended.
- September 23rd -VEX Coding and Robotics recommended for ages 7-12.
- Early Bird Reservations: $10/participant for HODC members and $12/participant for non-members (
- Otherwise: $12/participant for members and $14/participant for non-members.
Mark Your Calendar…
Thursday, 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.
