We welcome groups of all ages and sizes! With the help of our staff, groups of 10 to 180 students can design a program to suit their needs. Your program can include, but is not limited to, the activities listed below. Small group programs (10-59 students) typically last about an hour. Large group programs (60-180 students) usually have 20-minute activity rotations.

Radiation 101 (grades 6-12)

This program introduces students to nuclear science and radiation. Using Geiger counters to measure natural background radiation, radioactivity of common substances, and radioactive isotopes, students will discover the difference between the three types of radiation and model methods of reducing radiation exposure.

60 Minutes to Doomsday (grades 6-12)

Time is running out! Prevent the next nuclear disaster before it’s too late. Students will work together to save the world in this role-playing diplomacy adventure. Using logical reasoning, ‘intelligence,’ debate, and rhetoric to produce a persuasive argument, students will see how their choices determine the course of world history.

Secrets & Spies - 25 Students or fewer (grades 3-8)

How does secret information become useful intelligence? Students come face-to-face with spies, gadget-makers, scientists, and engineers, and try their hand at code-cracking. Loose lips sink ships. Will yours?

Amazing Atoms (grades 1-4)

Dive into the building blocks of the universe and discover that everything around us—air, water, people, and even stars—is made of matter, and all matter is made up of atoms. Through interactive models and constructing their own custom atoms, students will explore the Periodic Table of the Elements and the structure of atoms by identifying protons, neutrons, and electrons, and learning how their arrangement makes each element unique.

Choose Your Own EdVenture*—The Choose Your Own STEM Ed-Venture program is available for groups of up to 60 students. Groups choose one of the STEM EdVenture programs for about an hour or two. After their STEM Ed-Ventures, groups can explore the museum on their own.

Van de Graaff (Electrostatics/Static Electricity)
Get hands-on with the power of static electricity! This classic electrostatic generator builds up electric charge to produce hair-raising effects and harmless shocks for brave volunteers. Discover how high-voltage, low-current electricity behaves—plus, feel the fun for yourself!

Isotope Discovery (Atomic Structure/Radioactive Decay)
In this hands-on activity, students gain a deeper understanding of atoms and the Periodic Table of the Elements using beads to explore atomic structure, compare isotopes, and simulate radioactive decay processes like alpha and beta decay. Through guided discussion, model-building, and visual comparisons, students gain a deeper understanding of atomic particles, isotope notation, and how unstable atoms change over time to become more stable.

Vacuum Chamber and "Kid in a Bag" (Air/Atmospheric Pressure)
Watch marshmallows expand and contract like magic as air is removed from a sealed chamber—and then step into science yourself! In “Kid in a Bag,” participants (shoulders down) will safely experience the invisible force of atmospheric pressure in a totally unforgettable way.

Hovercraft (Friction & Air Pressure)
Step aboard a DIY hovercraft and glide across the floor on a cushion of air! Learn how air pressure and friction work in real-time while enjoying the thrilling sensation of near-frictionless movement.

Making Slime (Properties of Matter/Non-Newtonian Fluids)
Mix up gooey, stretchy slime and explore the weird world of non-Newtonian fluids. This hands-on experiment with polymers shows how materials can be both solid and liquid, and every participant gets to take home their custom slime!

Geiger Counter Demo (Nuclear Science & Radiation)
Hear the clicks, see the science! Explore what radiation really is as you use a Geiger counter to detect invisible particles in real-time. Learn about Alpha, Beta, and Gamma radiation and how shielding protects us from these energetic forces.

Chemistry in Color (Chemical Reaction)
Watch chemistry come to life in bold colors! From acids and bases changing hues to the famous “blue bottle” reaction, explore oxidation, reduction, and reaction rates through stunning, color-filled demonstrations

Squishy Circuits (Circuits/Conductivity) Shape, build, and light up your own circuits using special conductive and insulating dough. Learn the basics of electricity in a totally hands-on, creative way as you build working lights, buzzers, and more!

Cup Gliders (Physics of Flight) Use plastic cups to explore the Magnus effect and Newton’s Third Law in a totally unexpected way. Toss your glider and see how spinning shapes fly. Simple materials, surprising results!

Rockets (Propulsion, Newton’s Laws of Motion, Aerodynamics) Straw Rockets: Design, build, and launch mini DIY rockets. Then tweak your design to fly higher and farther using an air-pressure launcher! Stomp Rockets: Build a paper rocket and send it soaring using only air power. Perfect for testing your engineering skills and learning about propulsion!

Dry Ice "Boo" Bubbles (States of Matter, Sublimation) Explore states of matter as dry ice sublimates directly from solid to gas. This chilly experiment turns states of matter into something you can see, touch, and pop!

Ozobots (Computer Science/Programming Logic) Meet Ozobots—tiny robots that follow your every command drawn in color. Use special codes to control their movement and explore the basics of programming in a fun, intuitive way.

3Doodlers (3D Printing/Thermoplastics) Use a handheld 3D pen to write and draw in 3D! Whether you’re tracing or drawing mid-air, explore how heat, plastic, and your creativity combine to form real 3D objects you can take home.

DIY Lava Lamps (Density, Immiscible Liquids) Create a mini lava lamp with oil and water and explore how liquids of different densities interact. Add some fizz for extra fun and watch colorful blobs dance and rise as you learn the science behind the layers.