Programs

February 18^th
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

On Saturday, February 18th the Avampato Discovery Museum is bringing back one of its most popular events!

Discover Engineering Day is an opportunity for both children and adults to meet with engineers and scientists from all over West Virginia. Visitors to the Clay Center will get to try their hand at programming robots, building contraptions, and testing their ingenuity with representatives from the companies and universities that are on the cutting edge of the new developments that will impact our future. Whether you want to explore career possibilities, learn about the latest technology, or simply enjoy some fun challenges, Discover Engineering Day will be sure to have something for you!

All activities are included with admission to the Clay Center.

Advanced registration not required.

Homeschool Days
February 16
March 23
April 20

We’ve Reimagined our Homeschool Days! Now entire families are invited to participate in these hands-on educational event days! While we encourage advanced registration to ensure your space, registration will be available the day of the event if there are spaces available. The cost for each lab includes all supplies needed for completion. Parents are required to purchase admission since they will be utilizing supplies with their students. Members – $8 per person/Non-Members $15 per person.

February 16^th– Music Makers
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Join us as we make some music at the Clay Center! You’ll start your day off with a fun and engaging science demonstration all about Sound in the Caperton Planetarium and Theater. Afterwards we’ll move down to our workshop space for a hands-on lab where families will work together to create musical instruments based on the acoustic principles, we learned about in the science demonstration. After these fun presentations you’ll have opportunities to explore the Avampato Discovery Museum, see the new Guitar Exhibit called “Medieval to Metal” in the Juliet Art Museum, and even have the opportunity to add on a ticket to the movie, “America’s Musical Journey” in the Caperton Planetarium and Theater.

This workshop is appropriate for ages 6-11 however workshops are open to entire families.

March 23^rd – Space Voyagers
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Blast off with us at the Clay Center! Your day will start with an interactive and engaging Planetarium Show where we will venture into outer space to view planets throughout our Solar System. Afterwards we’ll move down to our workshop space for a hands-on lab where families will work together to solve some amazing space challenges! You’ll conduct some lunar research when a sudden moonquake causes significant damage to your life support systems. Families work together to restore these necessary systems to survive! After this fun challenge you’ll have opportunities to explore the Avampato Discovery Museum and see what other scientific discoveries you can make throughout your day! If you can’t get enough space, feel free to add on one of our Planetarium Shows to your experience.

Appropriate for ages 6-11 however workshops are open to entire families.

April 20^th – Idea Innovators
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Join us as we take a deep dive into the work of Thomas Edison! You’ll start your day off with a fun and engaging presentation in the Caperton Planetarium Theater about Thomas Edison and his inventions and innovations. Afterwards we’ll move down to our workshop space for a hands-on lab where families will work together to create blueprints and inventions of their own. After these fun presentations you’ll have opportunities to explore the Avampato Discovery Museum, see the new landscape art exhibit called “Illustrating Appalachia (Mkt update if title changes)” in the Juliet Art Museum, and even have the opportunity to add on a ticket to the planetarium show, “Spring Skies” in the Caperton Planetarium and Theater.

This workshop is appropriate for ages 6-11 however workshops are open to entire families.

Tinker Tots

Every Wednesday at 3:00pm
Every Friday at 11:00am

Looking for some BIG Fun for your tiny tot? Dance your wiggles out, dive into a story adventure and get messy with hands-on exploration that will tickle your senses. Your tots will have a blast during this special time designed just for them.