Discover the wonders of science together with your family at the Institute of Science! Join us for engaging Family Workshops, where you’ll dive into hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences designed to spark curiosity and inspire a love for science in all ages.
Embark on your next family adventure and make memories that will last forever!
The Science of Food
Saturday, February 1 | 1:00-3:00pm
Discover the Science of Food in this fun, hands-on workshop for the whole family! Dive into tasty activities and experiments that reveal the science behind what we eat—and how food makes learning science delicious!
This workshop is recommended for guests ages 6 and up.
Tickets are $17 for members and $20 for non-members, per person.
Registration closes on Wednesday, January 29 at 5:00pm.
Chemical Reactions in Action
Saturday, February 22 | 1:00-3:00pm
Dive into the wonders of chemistry in this action-packed, hands-on workshop for the whole family! Discover what chemistry is (and isn’t), then roll up your sleeves for exciting experiments, activities, and dazzling demos. Chemistry is everywhere—come explore it together!
This workshop is recommended for guests ages 6 and up.
Tickets are $17 for members and $20 for non-members, per person.
Registration closes on Wednesday, February 19 at 5:00pm.
Electric Adventures
Sunday, March 2 | 1:00-3:00pm
Spark curiosity with this electrifying family workshop! Kick things off with a thrilling electricity stage show, then dive into hands-on fun exploring static electricity, circuits, and the hair-raising Van de Graaff generator. Build a motor to take home, power lights with a hand crank, and end with the dazzling million-volt Tesla Coil!
This workshop is recommended for guests ages 8 and up.
Tickets are $17 for members and $20 for non-members, per person.
Registration closes on Wednesday, February 26 at 5:00pm.
Dino Fossil Detectives
Saturday, March 22 | 1:00-3:00pm
Step into the thrilling world of dinosaurs in this action-packed, hands-on family workshop! Get up close with real fossils, hold a mammoth tooth, and even shake hands with a T. rex. Channel your inner paleontologist as you create fossil casts, uncover your very own take-home fossil, and dive into the dino arms race to solve an epic Whodunnit mystery. Adventure and discovery await!
This workshop is recommended for guests ages 6 and up.
Tickets are $17 for members and $20 for non-members, per person.
Registration closes on Wednesday, March 19 at 5:00pm.
Flying High
Saturday, April 5 | 1:00-3:00pm
Soar into the science of flight in this high-energy, hands-on family workshop! Explore what makes things fly, float, and glide with fun experiments using wind tunnels, fans, parachutes, and gliders. Take cues from nature, improve your designs, then build and launch your own planes and rockets to take home. Let your imagination take flight!
This workshop is recommended for guests ages 6 and up.
Tickets are $17 for members and $20 for non-members, per person.
Registration closes on Wednesday, April 2 at 5:00pm.
Down by the Pond
Saturday, May 3 | 1:00-3:00pm
Dive into the wonders of pond life in this fun, hands-on family workshop! Start with interactive activities to explore aquatic ecosystems, then head to the pond to spot frogs, insects, birds, and more. Grab a net and discover the fascinating critters beneath the surface—what secrets do they reveal about the water's health? It's a splashy adventure you won't forget!
This workshop is recommended for guests ages 6 and up. Most of this program takes place outdoors, so please dress for the weather. We'll head outside, rain or shine!
Tickets are $17 for members and $20 for non-members, per person.
Registration closes on Wednesday, April 30 at 5:00pm.
Please note that refunds are not available for Family Workshops. However, cancellations made at least 10 days before the event date may qualify for a one-time transfer credit to another event scheduled before May 10, 2025, subject to availability. Additionally, programs with fewer than 10 total attendees may be canceled, and refunds will be issued in that case.
For questions or special accommodation requests, please call 248-645-3210 or email us at cisreservations@cranbrook.edu.