Discover Engineering Family Day

Become a creative inventor, engineer, and mathematician for a day!

A boy explores robotics at the annual Discover Engineering Family Day.

Photo by F.T. Eyre

Annually in February, the National Building Museum and the National Engineers Week Foundation welcome families, scout groups, and all curious visitors to debunk the myths of engineering and discover how professional engineers turn an idea into reality.  Kick off and celebrate National Engineers Week by participating in this free, hands-on and fun-filled festival for all ages! 

The 2009 Festival will be held on Saturday, February 21 from 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Please check back soon for more details!

Special for 2008:  

Meet Nate Ball, host of PBS's Design Squad, and watch as he rappels from the National Building Museum's roof trusses using his new invention---the ATLAS powered rope ascender. Build your very own ascender, capable of carrying a ping pong ball four feet down a zip-line (made of fishing line).

Throughout the day children and adults can:

• Explore the inner-workings of a real race car
• Design, test and build a railroad bridge
• Build paper airplanes with the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
• Take your Polaroid picture with Digit from the PBS series Cyberchase
• Cut a paper snake and see it spiral
• Create a flinker, something that neither floats nor sinks
• Make your very own parachute and watch it hover
• Solve unique and intriguing design and engineering challenges
• Try much much more.  

Free. $5 donation suggested. Individual registration is not required. Most appropriate for ages 5-13. 

Scouts and other large groups should register by calling 202.272.2448 or by emailing youthgroups@nbm.org with the following information:

Name:
Mailing Address:
Phone number:
Troop/Pack #:
Scout level:
# of Scouts:
# of Adults:

Scout groups arriving should check-in at the Scout Registration/Information table located near the center fountain.

Sponsors

Major funding for the Discover Engineering Family Day is provided by the National Engineers Week Foundation and IEEE-USA. Additional support provided by the Project Management Institute, with local support provided by the Semiconductor Industry Association; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Capital Section; American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Nation's Capital Chapter; U.S. Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program; and Maryland Society of Professional Engineers, Potomac Chapter.