Workshops & Special Events happening this season!
September
CLOSED on Mondays
Monday, September 2: CLOSED for Labor Day
Thursday, August 15th – Sunday, September 8th: 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 flying 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.
Tuesdays through Fridays in September: 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.
September 3rd – 6th: Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks
September 10th – 13th: Lego Brick Building
September 17th – 20th: Snap Circuits
September 24th – 27th: K’nex Engineering
Tuesday, September 3rd – Sunday, September 29th: 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.
Tuesday, September 10th – Sunday, October 6th: Swashbuckling Science Discovery Lab Program
Arrg mateys! It’s a pirate’s life for us as we 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 17th – Sunday, September 22nd: Red Panda Days
Join us to learn more about prehistoric and modern red pandas (and their special significance to the Gray Fossil Site) in recognition of International Red Panda Day! Programs, activities, and crafts announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission. Stay tuned to our website and social media for more details.
Saturday, September 21st – Tuesday, September 24th: 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 scope based on participants.
***SPECIAL EVENTS COMING IN OCTOBER***
Saturday, October 12th: STEAM Showcase (10am – 2pm)
Stop by anytime between 10am and 2pm for a showcase that’s all about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). Explore a variety of interactive and fun opportunities for curious minds of all ages. The focus is to introduce our visitors to what STEM/STEAM exactly is as well as early workforce development and career path cultivation. Organizations from across the region will be on-site showcasing their expertise. FREE with general paid admission. Stay tuned to our website and social media for more details.
Thursday, October 24th: BOO!SEUM (4:30-7:30pm)
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 science experiments, candy*, arts and crafts, games, and exploration time in the museum! Stop by anytime between 4:30 and 7:30, however the event will end promptly at 7:30pm. Be sure to wear your most festive costume and bring your own trick-or-treat bag! Stay tuned to our website and social media for more details.
(*May contains small parts and food allergens. While supplies last.)
BOO!SEUM 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
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.
