For more information about a specific workshop or program please contact: reservations@visithandson.org.
Saturday, February 8th, 10am-4pm – Darwin Day
Darwin Day is an international celebration of science that honors the inspirational work of Charles Darwin. Darwin is admired as a curious and courageous critical thinker and remembered best for his ground-breaking research into the history of life on Earth. This year, Darwin Day commemorates the famous naturalist’s 211th birthday!
Visitors to this event will have the opportunity to participate in family-friendly hands-on activities that explore the science of the natural world, and to engage directly with scientists as they present diverse collections of fossils, insects, plants, and more. East Tennessee Natural Museum of History scientists will be joined by scientists from nearby parks and universities.
Activities will be on-going from 10am to 4pm. All Darwin Day activities are free to the public. Standard general admission applies for Hands On! Discovery Center.
Tuesday, February 11th – Be Electrific Day!
Today only, Tesla Experience tickets are $1 for everyone (with paid general admission-excludes groups) or $3 for the Tesla Experience show only (no admission to exhibit or program spaces), with shows at 10:30, 12:30, 2:30, and 4:30. As always, children under 3 are free. Additional activities will be announced throughout the day and are free with admission while supplies last.
Tuesday, February 11th – National Inventors Day
Stop by our Discovery Carts to learn about coding and robotics with our Cubelets Modular Robotics sets. Then visit our Make It. Take It. exhibit space to tinker and craft with a variety of supplies and try out some of our maker challenges. FREE with general paid admission.
Tuesday, February 18th – Battery Power Drop-off Workshop
Join us on Alessandro Volta’s birthday to explore circuitry, make an LED creation using diodes and button batteries, investigate with an electromagnetic battery train, and make a homemade battery with a variety of materials.
- Ages 7-12.
- Cost:
- Early registration by Tuesday, February 4th is $15 for HODC members and $20 for non-members.
- Late registration is $20 for HODC members and $25 for non-members.
Monday, March 2nd, 9:30am-noon – Seussical Science Drop-off Workshop
Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday by making creations straight from the pages of his books. Make an oobleck, the infamous non-Newtonian fluid from Bartholomew and the Oobleck. Let Horton Hears a Who serve as inspiration while using microscopes to analyze the smallest matter. Heed advice from The Lorax and build your very own clean-up machine.
- Ages 5-10.
- Cost:
- Early registration by Tuesday, February 18th is $12 for HODC members and $15 for non-members.
- Late registration is $15 for HODC members and $20 for non-members.
- Museum admission is an additional cost.
- Space is limited.
Saturday, March 14th – Pi Day
Join us to celebrate the mathematical constant pi (π). Programs and activities by announcement throughout day. Free with regular admission while supplies last.
Tuesday, March 17th, 10am-2pm – Leprechaun Science Family Pop-in Workshop
Stop in anytime between 10am and 2pm to expose some Leprechaun secrets! Make Leprechaun slime, create your own solar-powered, color-changing rainbow Leprechaun bead bracelet, grow Leprechaun “eggs” that emerge and vanish in a blink of an eye, and make some sudsy Leprechaun “toothpaste”.
- Materials fee of $5 per person for HODC members, $7 per person for non-members, while supplies last.
- Museum admission is an additional cost.
- Children must be supervised by an adult (18+) at all times.
- Due to small parts, this workshop is recommended for ages 3+.
Fossil Egg Hunt – Mark Your Calendars!
Our annual Fossil Egg Hunt is Friday, April 10th. More details are coming soon!
More programs coming soon!
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.
