Explore hands-on programs designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning in the Museum’s youngest visitors.
Storytime
Every Thursday | 10:30 am
Storytime is FREE and packed with reading, songs, and activities designed to promote language and literacy skills. Story themes vary weekly and relate to current exhibitions at the Museum.
Recommended for: Children 5 and under and their adults
Little Builders
Once a month | Saturday or Sunday at 10:30 am
Little Builders introduces the Museum’s exhibitions and collection to its youngest visitors through an hour-long facilitated program featuring exhibition exploration, hands-on crafts, and building activities.
Recommended for: Children 5 and under and their adults
Explore programs designed to inspire young builders, readers, designers, and problem-solvers through hands-on activities and exploration of the built environment.
Building Readers Club Days
Offered 4 times throughout the year
Building Readers Club Days are free half-day programs for members of the Building Readers Program that use literacy-based activities, the Museum’s exhibitions, community partners, and authors to inspire children to find their place within the world and become active participants in their own neighborhoods and built communities.
Recommended for: Children ages 3–10 and their adults
STEAM Saturday
Second Saturday of each month | 1–3 pm
STEAM Saturday is a reocurring drop-in style monthly program that uses hands-on building challenges to explore the interconnected nature of art and design and at least two of the STEM Content Areas (science, technology, engineering and math) as they relate to the built environment. STEAM Saturday often features professionals from the field as we work with many of our industry partners to develop and present this program..
Recommended for: Children ages 9–13 and their adults
Sponsored by MiTek
Just Drop In!
Fourth Saturday of each month | 10 am–1 pm
Just Drop In! Workshops are a monthly reoccurring drop-in program that provides an opportunity to engage in a building or craft activity inspired by the fascinating objects found in the museum’s collection. Each program centers its activities around one collection object and provides for deeper engagement with that object and its place within the built environment.
Recommended for: Children ages 3–10 and their adults
Schools Out! Workshops
Offered on days regional students have the day off from school
Schools Out! Workshops, held on days regional students have the day off from school, offer a facilitated program led by our team of educators using both our Museum’s exhibitions and in-classroom time to explore a topic of the built environment through hands-on building and design activities.
Recommended for: Age ranges vary by program, but usually ages 7–10 and their adults
Birthday Parties
Ages 2–6 | Select Saturdays & Sundays
Celebrate your child’s birthday at the Museum with a 1.5-hour facilitated party featuring hands-on activities, free play, themed party attire, and time for cake and snacks. Birthday parties are a member benefit for Family-level members and higher.
Recommended for: Children ages 2–6 and their adults
- Teen Workshops (ages 12+)
- Stay tuned for more information!
- Teen Council (ages 15+)
- Stay tuned for more information!
Girl Scout Badge Programs
Offered once or twice a month | September–May
Girl Scout badge programs invite Scouts from Daisy through Cadette to earn specific badges while exploring Museum exhibitions and the built environment through hands-on activities. Participants also receive a custom National Building Museum Girl Scout fun patch.
Badges offered: Nice Neighbors (Daisies); Craft & Tinker (Daisies & Brownies); Think Like an Engineer (Juniors & Cadettes); Scribe (Juniors); Book Artist (Cadettes); STEM Career Badge (all levels)
Girl Scouts: Build Your Story
Saturday, November 7 | 10 am–12 pm
Inspired by the exhibition Building Stories, Junior Girl Scouts and Cadettes will explore the creative process of bringing a book to life.
Girl Scouts: Nice Neighbors
Sunday, November 15 | 10–11:30 am
Daisy Girl Scouts can earn their Good Neighbor Badge by exploring what it means to belong to a community.
Girl Scouts: Craft and Tinker
Sunday, December 13 | 10–11:30 am
Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts will explore how designers and builders create spaces and objects to meet the needs of different users.
Girl Scouts: Designing for Disaster
Sunday, January 10 | 10 am - 12 pm
Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts will explore how designers and builders create spaces and objects to meet the needs of different users.
Spring Break Camp
Stay tuned for more information
Join us during spring break for hands-on activities, building and design challenges, and opportunities to explore the Museum’s exhibitions and the built environment.
Summer Camp
Weeklong day camps | Late June–mid-August
Summer Camp sessions run Monday–Friday from 9 am–3 pm, with extended care available until 5:30 pm. Campers explore the Museum’s exhibitions and summer installations through building and design challenges, craft opportunities, and more.
Age groups: Rising 2nd–3rd graders and rising 4th–5th graders
Coming soon!